Houston, TX

Posted: Sun, Aug 09 2009, 12:31 am Post subject: Houston, TX

We have the possibility of moving to Houston.

We are yeshivish.

Where do I start? What's info on job market, housing market, different areas (where would we fit in?), schooling, shuls, etc. etc. etc.

ANY ANY info would be most appreciated.

[Also, is the heat bearable? What is the average temp during the different seasons of the year?]

Diamond Member Joined: Nov 30 2006 Posts: 2595

I don't think there is a "yeshivish" area, as such. The YI area is frummer, from what I remember--that's Fondren Southwest, but you'd really want to contact someone in Houston as the frum area borders a not-so-great one and you need to know which streets to buy on. Meyerland is the other Jewish area, from secular to Orthodox (more modern); this is by (mainly outside) the SW corner of the 610 loop. IIRC, Meyerland is pricier as it is zoned to one of the best high schools in Houston (not a concern for you, but it raises the value of the homes).

The YI of Houston website is very informative and I recommend looking there: http://www.yihouston.org/

Schools I don't know (my knowledge of Houston is because my mother was nearly relocated there--she had no school aged children by this time). This link may be helpful:
http://www.lookstein.org/schoo.....rieve=yes#
(The YIH site seems to list the same schools).

The summers are very tough. It is hot and it is humid. The friends I have in Texas have really been sweltering this summer with many days over 100F. Winters are mild. There's about 3-4 months of unbearable and the rest ranges from warm to chilly but almost never cold. You cannot live without air conditioning in Houston (aside from the heat, your entire house will mold). Keep cooling costs in mind when you look at houses. Yes, big houses are inexpensive; cooling them is not.

In the in-town areas, housing comes in 2 price bands: older, smaller, and very reasonable, and newer (often tear downs) which are pricier. Houston has a ton of land and they just keep building--and many people are happy to keep following the cheap houses. If you don't mind something built in the 1960s or 1970s, you can get a house at a very good price. Property taxes are high for the South (makes up for no income tax) and many areas have HOAs, so ask about CCRs (restrictions on what you can do with your home) and fees.

Gold Member Joined: Jan 22 2008 Posts: 1742

You would probably fit in best with the Meyerland community, although it is a kiruv shul (seed).

Platinum Member Joined: Aug 12 2007 Posts: 20496

Can you swim to shul on Shabbat?

Gold Member Joined: Jan 22 2008 Posts: 1742

No, you find a house within short walking distance. It's not that bad, believe me I mind New York a whole lot more and it's hotter there.

Silver Member Joined: Nov 27 2005 Posts: 748

Contact Torch, they are a kiruv kollel and all very yeshivish:
http://www.torchweb.com/

Posted: Sun, Aug 09 2009, 9:56 am Post subject: re: Houston, TX

Houston is a very affordable place to live. If you are yeshivish, I recommend the Young Israel neighborhood. It is not in a good area, but there are neighborhood watches. I recommend visiting Houston first before you make your decision.

We used to live there. We were able to save a lot and afford where we live now.

Good luck!

Posted: Sun, Aug 09 2009, 10:07 am Post subject:

yeeeeee haw !!!
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Posted: Sun, Aug 09 2009, 9:24 pm Post subject: re: Houston, TX

I have family that lives in Houston and I have stayed in two out of the three neighborhoods mentioned. As someone who consideres themselves yeshivish I would tell you to look most in the YI area. The kollel families are there and the crowd and the Rabbi are much more yeshivish than in the other (UOS) neighborhood. Also, while the UOS neighborhood is a "better" area, there is a sewage plant or ravine or something and in the summer it is just NASTY smelling outside. Also, I believe in the YI area there has been a breakaway minyan on the more modern side, so YI has stayed more yeshivish.

The houses are CHEAP. Even the larger, newer ones are still WAY less expensive than anything in another major city. The grocery stores carry a lot of kosher food and the dairy restaurant we ate in the last time I was there was really good. It's still out of town like and there is a mix of people in all the communities.

Spend shabbos there and see how you like it. Also, the YI area, while considered a "less desirable" neighborhood is pretty much of an enclave and within the neighborhood people are out walking around and the neighborhood is very well taken care of. I remember the first time I spent a shabbos there and everyone kept talking about how 'bad' the neighborhood was. I really thought I was going to be in some crime ridden ghetto with a couple of houses, but it didn't feel like that at all.

Good luck. The people I know that have moved there really like it, and eventually they get used to the weather.

Posted: Sun, Aug 09 2009, 10:26 pm Post subject: re: Houston, TX

OP here:

Thank you thank you thank you for all of the replies!

Please keep them coming.

I wish I could give more details about our inquiry into Houston, but for now I cannot. We would definately spend a Shabbos (or 2!) there before making a decision.

And yes, a quick search on realtor.com had my tongue hanging out at the beautiful spacious homes (many w/ pools!) that can be had for cheap. Read < $200,000; even significantly less.

Thanks again, but don't want to stop the flow of advice and experiences coming!

Executive Member Joined: Sep 27 2009 Posts: 492

Houston is great!! YI or Meyerland is probably the best for you. Meyerland is growing a lot....dramatically in the past couple of years. There is a TDS that just started. It's NOT New York, but it is filled with a lot of NY/NJ people who moved there. Houston is a VERY jewish city overall and the orthodox community is a growing community. For HS there is at least one MO school if not 2 and I think they just started a girls BY HS. For boys, I don't think there is anything yet, but if chofetz chaim isnt to LW, there is a branch in Dallas that boards. I don't live in houston, but I have great friends who do. If you want more info I can talk to them for you. good luck!

Posted: Thu, Dec 10 2009, 1:43 pm Post subject: re: Houston, TX

You've probably already moved by now, but if my 2 cents can help at all, here goes: We lived in Houston for a year and belonged to the Meyerland Minyan community. We moved away about 6 months ago and I can't even begin to tell you how much we miss that community. out of all the communities we ever belonged to, that one by far is the best, everything about it, the people, the sense of community and most importantly the Rabbi and rebbetzin. They are amazing and so welcoming!! I still take classes with, whom I still call my rebbetzin, every week over the phone and invariably can't help but feel sad we no longer belong there...My husband and I can't stop thinking about the Meyerland Minyan community and always have a smile on our face when we do. Also the homes are much nicer, the neighborhood is much, much safer than the YI hood. Houses are affordable and close to the shul, I think the Rabbi lives the farthest away at about 6-7 blocks away.

My son went to the TDS "Sephardic gan/Torah Emet" and he LOVED it and we also were extremely pleased with everyone there. The school recently experienced an amazing growth, which speaks of how well they are doing and how happy parents are with the school. Yes, they have created a BY HS and as far as I heard are working on a boys HS. There is another orthodox school, which has a HS, but is a little more on the modern side, it's called Beren Academy.

There are plenty of restaurants (I believe 5) nearby and the 2 big grocery stores very close to the shul are loaded with kosher items.

Wishing you all the best and all I can say is we hope to return to Houston some day and without a doubt we'd move back into the meyerland Minyan community.

Posted: Thu, Dec 10 2009, 1:54 pm Post subject:

I lived in Houston for about 9 months. it's a very close-knit community. every place has it's bonuses and drawbacks. housing is definitely affordable there, for sure you need a car though, etc. most of the other posters have covered everything I could say.

I did find the heat to be a drawback, but you can get used to almost anything. I was part of the Chabad community (still am lol B"H).

hatzlacha in your decision and any move.
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