Houston, TX Pinemont Dr. / rental?

[vjanened]

Looking for some info/home looking in the Area of 7200. Pinemont Drive, Houston, TEXAS 77040.

I am a sad, terrified mother who is stressing awful over this situation. Hoping to connect with some Houston locals near or around the area in which the fiance will be working. Please someone share your insight concerning Houston. Looking for some info/home looking in the Area of 7200. Pinemont Drive, Houston, TEXAS 77040.

My daughter is moving there with her fiance after graduating. They will be visiting the next weekend or so to find a place. TIA

[txteacher]

Sorry, I can't help with looking for a home. I don't really know that housing area. I do drive up that way sometimes. It is on HWY 290. What are your concerns about her moving to Houston? I really love it here. Don't get me wrong, it has it downsides (heat, bad public transportation, traffic...).

[supercpnmom]

Look at HAR.com Best realestate info for all of the houston area.

[bluebell99]

As a lifelong Houstonian let me assure you this is a fantastic city that has it's share of problems. That said, I wouldn't live anywhere else.......the area you are concerned about is northwest of the city off of HWY 290. It's not too bad providing your daughter and her fiance choose to live WEST of 290 rather than EAST of 290. According to the zip code you provided the fiance's workplace is inside Beltway 8. Outside Beltway 8, farther north it gets much better toward the east.

Don't worry the 290 area is pretty good.....they will have LOTS of housing options available to them, as well as good shopping, entertainment, etc. The downside is that 290 is one of the worst freeways in Houston for rush-hour traffic (and they are all pretty bad!)

I hope your daughter and her fiance enjoy living here, they will find the people very friendly and the summers very HOT. Houston is a great place to live!

Blue

[jaws1]

I can see your concern, looking up Rogersville, TN.... It's gonna be a big change from living in your area.

I grew up in Houston, then we moved out to a little town (now becoming an extension of Houston) when I was in high school. It's quite different.

Now matter where you live in Houston and suburbs, I would advise (things we take for granted):
1. LOCK your car, even when sitting in drive way
2. KEEP FRONT DOOR locked, even when at home ... if you have a fenced in back yard, you might be able to leave backdoor unlocked when at home.
3. Do NOT live ANY valuables visible in your car.
4. Do NOT assume everyone is your friend ... they aren't.
5. Do NOT just invite someone in your home that you haven't known (I'd say) a month or so, and have an idea of who/what they really are. Meet them at a cafe or restuarant until you get to know them.
6. Don't expect someone to pull over and help you if you have a flat or car trouble ... if they do, keep a few feet between them and you, and your cell phone in your hand. There ARE good folks here, but there's bad folks, too.

The "kids" probably have some good common-sense and gut-instincts. Tell them to listen to that more than what folks tell them!

I haven't known anyone that lived in that area, for years. It's an older part of town, which isn't to say that's good or bad. You find good neighbors and bad neighbors everywhere.
BUT, if they see graffitti on buildings ... look someplace else to live.

Houston Crime Maps -- you might look here to get places you might want to avoid. Just looking at that zip code, I'd stay away from the apartments at 5800 Hollister.

They might want to look around the Jersey Village/Cypress area -- just outside Beltway8 (BW)/Sam Houston Tollway on 290QW. I don't know what they have in mind for rent, and the Jersey Village/Cypress area may cost more, but they may feel safer. He'll have to drive a little, but he's a country-boy like my dh ... what's driving 30 miles to work when you're used to driving 40 miles or so to a high school football game?!

Outside the BW, I'd stay away from the Addicks area and Eldridge Rd between 290 & I-10 ... when we have heavy rains, it still floods in some parts of that area pretty easily (I can't remember exactly WHERE ... but feel sure someone here will clarify!). -- Don't get me wrong, a lot of folks live there, but you just gotta know the risks, so ASK!

I'd also stay away from getting someplace area I-45/North Fwy or US 59/Eastex Fwy south of FM1960 ... I grew up in that area --when you see convenience stores with bars on windows and doors, that's a GOOD clue of what type of neighborhood it is.

I don't know where they went to college. If it was a big college town, then they probably got some more "smarts" from that!!

Don't know that any of this will help calm a Mom's nerves/fears, but it may give you some info to start working with!
I know it's hard not knowing which parts of town to avoid living in because of crime or floods, etc. ... been there, done that ... didn't like it!

Maybe some others can tell you areas of town close enough to the 290/Pinemont area where they enjoy living!
(I still live out in the country, and want to move further out! ... getting too "city-fied" out here now with subdivisions, apartments, etc. springing up all over.)

[chriscree]

Commuting is really big here...We live in Spring which is north west of the city of Houston my DH works in Memorial...it is a "commute" for him to get to work He uses the toll way which costs $80 a month but it is worth it to live in a great neighborhood with great schools/ churches and places to shop and feel safe.

we have great bus service via park and rides and great intown transit on the metrorail and metro buses.
If they are worried about finding a safe neighborhood they should look for a place near some of these transit centers.

[eos42]

How was their visit? I live on the east side of 290 and while I love it because it's my home, there are far more desirable places to live.

That address is in a nice area and there are very nice subdivisions close. Still, they should plan on at least a 45 min. commute to work. There is a transit center on Pinemont that is not too far from that address, too, so that's a plus if they decide to live farther away.

One thing about Houston is that, unlike many places where there is a seedy side of town, we have seedy 'pockets.' You can go to a fancy 5 star restaurant and there may be a homeless shelter on the next block.

It's a great place and the people are wonderful, for the most part.

Advice for your daughter: Keep 360 degrees of awareness at all times, especially in parking lots. Walk with confidence and listen to her intuition.

[jcirillo]

I too live on the east side of 290. I actually live between 43rd Street and Pinemont. My husband and I both grew up in this area and would never move from here. All of our friends that we have been friends with for over 30 years still live in the area as well. Our families also live here. This area and a little further "east" on 43rd Street are actually very desirable areas to live in, because of being so centrally located. We have property located in this area from $150,000 to $750,000. With that said, there have been issues in this area over the years, but nothing different than any other part of Houston. There is crime in the wealthiest parts of the city as well. I think your daughter and her fiance will enjoy this area. My daughter is 25 and got married in December. Her and her husband live 7 minutes from me and they love it. All of the neighborhoods around here either have the older people that grew up in this area living there or the younger generation moving in. In case they are interested, I am speaking of the Oak Forest/Garden Oaks area. Good luck to them and to you, being a mother myself, I know you will miss your daughter.

[hbunn1984]

We picked a great complex right off beltway 8/ west road...and the great thing is traffic isnt terrible there in the morning. It falls about a mile short of where traffic starts backing up. I commute 20 miles daily..takes me 30 min. This is jersey village area, and everything i need is right there. Kroger is right in front of my condo & I love being able to just walk out the gate and over to the store anytime. It really is well lit and feels very safe there at nite. I havent noticed any shady looking people either. The local police actually park outside the complex alot to enjoy the starbucks there. :)
If your daughter wants to look, they are the watermarke condos. They are fairly new (5 years old) so everything is still really nice there. I moved here from east texas not long ago, and love the place. It takes 5 min to hop onto the beltway and head out wherever I need to go. I havent had the fun of navigating 290- in the mornings- but I have heard it can be a headache. Good luck to her and I'm sure she will love houston with everything it has to offer here.

[gatosqueak]

I love living in sugar land, which is completely on the other side of town. Where we bought our house, the commute isn't so bad. I go up 90 to 610 in the mornings.