scrubbedexpat097

A home for wayward Bats....

Mandana

Talking of catteries, has anyone else found that while they're 'ok', they are far smaller than the ones back home?

Bob

cost of living isn't really all that much cheaper for a lot of things though, plenty of hidden costs to be aware of

Jmaster911

I live in Dallas but manage a facility in Stafford. I stay in a hotel 3-4 days per week in Sugarland and really like the area. The Humidity will kill you at first, you walk outside and just feel like you need another shower. Oh and I was there this week when we had the huricane - nothing really just a load of rain (it missed us).

If you have kids, get a house with a pool, it will keep them cool in the summer. Don't wory about heating the thing, my pool is up to 85 right now due to the heat - lol

Have fun, let me know when you here and we can go out for a beer.

scrubbedexpat097

As I said earlier, Sugarland may look like a nice area but on the whole Fort Bend County has a very high crime rate and the schools are not all rated very highly.


But if you like big ugly looking houses all squashed into small sub divisions with repeating strip malls and shopping centers between each one then it is the place to be. Hwy 6 can also be a complete nightmare.


I may dislike it more because 19 years ago when we first moved here it was all farm land and small communities, now it is just an addition to Houston.

I'm glad we live further south and I hope we keep our small country feel for a while longer....

Elvira

Don't you wish they had greenbelts like we have in England. The endless urban sprawl of so many US towns is one of the things that depresses me most about living here.

scrubbedexpat097

Certainly do The excessive building is part of the flooding problems we now have in this area. It didn't used to happen

Jmaster911

and Houston is one of the worst!!

scrubbedexpat097

Houston floods because it is all built on Bayous........

Steerpike

When you drive across the golden gate bridge, there is almost zero development; isn't that a 'green belt'? When you drive south of SF on 280, there is a continuous body of undeveloped forest land almost the whole way to San Jose. San Francisco itself has two giant parks (Golden Gate Park and the Presidio). Why are you so depressed???

sportaxi

[QUOTE=Sugarmooma;6657367]As I said earlier, Sugarland may look like a nice area but on the whole Fort Bend County has a very high crime rate QUOTE]

Sugarmooma,

This all makes interesting reading, whoever I am a little confused (often am ) A lot of the various published ratings for Sugar land show it as one of the most desired places in the US to live, with low crime rates. Are these statistics designed to show it better than what it is (i.e. get people in here) or is just certain areas within the Fort Bend County that should be avoided. Your opinion would be gratefully appreciated, as we are considering living in the First Colony area, which is in good school catchments (as we have been told). I will be traveling to work down hwy 6 towards hwy 6/288 junction, so I thought that I would be travelling against the flow (therefore quieter traffic).. Have I been misled by the realtor... :curse:

another bloody yank

I don't think she lives in SF. Besides, coming from Elvira, that was pretty close to a compliment.

TruBrit

isn't sugarland where the jails are? we were advised to live in katy as opposed to sugarland for the reasons you said and because of the jails. tbh over the yrs i've been here sugarland and katy are all rolled into one and all so ugly, such a shame.

scrubbedexpat097

[QUOTE=sportaxi;6658006]


I'm not trying to put you off.......

Fort Bend County is a fairly large county and does have some relatively crime free areas. First Colony is probably one of those areas. It probably has all you need in very close proximity of where you will live.

School statistics change regulary........so what you are told by the realtor may or may not be true (but their job is to sell you a house!).

Do you really think buying a house straight away is a good idea or am I confused and you are just renting?

As for traffic.........either way can be chaotic, especially if there are roadworks or a minor wreck

BTW............are your kids High School age? Did you know Manvel have just built a new High School.

Good luck

scrubbedexpat097

...........and the road chaos gets worse and worse. I guess they are now back to where they started on the Katy freeway.......and now starting all over again.