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Housing Location Conundrum
Posted on 5/30/26 at 9:07 pm
Posted on 5/30/26 at 9:07 pm
Interested in the MT’s take on this question - would you rather buy the best house in a so-so area/neigbborhood, or the worst house in the best neighborhood?
I’ll leave this philosophical question there with no additional details.
I’ll leave this philosophical question there with no additional details.
10
Posted on 5/30/26 at 9:19 pm to skewbs
I prefer in the middle. I was looking at building in Conroe and I would have been a couple hundred grand higher than the highest sold house with large lot premium and changes to the house I had done.
I passed due to that reason and the tax rate of the neighborhood. Ended up buying average to lower end.
I passed due to that reason and the tax rate of the neighborhood. Ended up buying average to lower end.
Posted on 5/30/26 at 10:45 pm to skewbs
quote:
worst house in the best neighborhood
100% of the time
Posted on 5/30/26 at 11:07 pm to skewbs
Bought / sold a bunch.
When selling…
Up-price pull from others (yours lower than theirs) is your friend.
Down-price pull from others (yours higher than theirs) is NOT your friend.
Worst house in best neighborhood wins most of time.
When selling…
Up-price pull from others (yours lower than theirs) is your friend.
Down-price pull from others (yours higher than theirs) is NOT your friend.
Worst house in best neighborhood wins most of time.
Posted on 5/31/26 at 4:54 am to skewbs
quote:
the worst house in the best neighborhood?
You could “fix it up.”
The neighborhood is not likely to change.
Posted on 5/31/26 at 6:11 am to skewbs
quote:always. This isn’t really a conundrum
the worst house in the best neighborhood?
Posted on 5/31/26 at 7:15 am to skewbs
quote:
or the worst house in the best neighborhood
Not even a question.
Posted on 5/31/26 at 7:37 am to skewbs
The one that is in the area with the most favorable demographics.
Posted on 5/31/26 at 8:40 am to skewbs
I actually bought the nicest house in the neighborhood. But I did it for a few reasons:
1. I wanted to live on the water in Tampa
2. My house was 1/2 or 1/3rd the cost of similar waterfront homes in Tampa
3. I plan on living in my house forever (2% interest rate, VA loan)
4. The money I've saved, I can make the house extremely nice
5. The neighborhood has already significantly improved since I bought the home
6. My house has probably already doubled in appreciation
1. I wanted to live on the water in Tampa
2. My house was 1/2 or 1/3rd the cost of similar waterfront homes in Tampa
3. I plan on living in my house forever (2% interest rate, VA loan)
4. The money I've saved, I can make the house extremely nice
5. The neighborhood has already significantly improved since I bought the home
6. My house has probably already doubled in appreciation
Posted on 5/31/26 at 8:55 am to skewbs
My buddy is single and for the last 10-15yrs or so he does this...
Lives in an apartment.
Looks for new neighborhoods.
Buys on the low end in that neighborhood.
Lives in the house for 1-2 yrs while a lot more of the neighborhood is built.
Sells the house once the values go up.
Usually sells for at least 100-150k more than original purchase price. Invests the money.
Moves in to apartment for 6-12 month lease.
Rinse and repeat.
Lives in an apartment.
Looks for new neighborhoods.
Buys on the low end in that neighborhood.
Lives in the house for 1-2 yrs while a lot more of the neighborhood is built.
Sells the house once the values go up.
Usually sells for at least 100-150k more than original purchase price. Invests the money.
Moves in to apartment for 6-12 month lease.
Rinse and repeat.
This post was edited on 5/31/26 at 8:56 am
Posted on 5/31/26 at 9:18 am to SG_Geaux
This sounds great on paper but is highly contingent on regional markets. Try doing this in the Austin, TX area the past few years and he would be worse off due to exponential drop in home values.
Posted on 5/31/26 at 10:49 am to Paul Allen
Your friend is obviously single... 
Posted on 5/31/26 at 1:29 pm to cgrand
Ok, a little more context. In Houston, I’m seeing friends/acquaintances buy incredible homes in transitioning neighborhoods. Large, new homes with all the bells and whistles. My wife (no pics) is dead-set on limiting our search to just a couple neighborhoods which are admittedly out of our price range unless it’s a fixer upper or we sacrifice multiple ‘wants’.
So the conundrum is - get everything we want in the house in a transitioning neighborhood, or, get the exact location we want, and sacrifice multiple wants on the house itself.
So the conundrum is - get everything we want in the house in a transitioning neighborhood, or, get the exact location we want, and sacrifice multiple wants on the house itself.
This post was edited on 5/31/26 at 1:30 pm
Posted on 5/31/26 at 1:49 pm to skewbs
quote:
would you rather buy the best house in a so-so area/neigbborhood, or the worst house in the best neighborhood?
Rather be early on gentrification like 90s Montrose in Houston rapid gentrification than house poor in river oaks
If the so-so neighborhood has no hope of gentrification, than give me the worst house in a good location
Posted on 5/31/26 at 1:53 pm to skewbs
quote:
Ok, a little more context. In Houston, I’m seeing friends/acquaintances buy incredible homes in transitioning neighborhoods. Large, new homes with all the bells and whistles. My wife (no pics) is dead-set on limiting our search to just a couple neighborhoods which are admittedly out of our price range unless it’s a fixer upper or we sacrifice multiple ‘wants’.
curious to what neighborhood
Posted on 5/31/26 at 2:16 pm to skewbs
quote:that
get the exact location we want, and sacrifice multiple wants on the house itself.
still not a conundrum
what everyone else is doing is irrelevant. Location will always protect your purchase. You can deal with less house trust me. Particularly if it’s on a nice big lot with room to maneuver
Posted on 5/31/26 at 2:24 pm to skewbs
quote:
transitioning neighborhoods
The Heights?
As you know, “Houston” has all kinds of “Houston’s”.
Bought and sold in Houston 3 times. Last one in 2014 so I am dated. That NW side with Texans and Chevron relocations will be booming spread in coming years.
Posted on 5/31/26 at 6:06 pm to TigerintheNO
quote:
100% of the time
Yep. Does t have to be the worst, but close. Let the other people's house lift your property value up, not drag it down.
Posted on 6/1/26 at 8:00 am to Dire Wolf
quote:
curious to what neighborhood
West U and Bellaire versus Spring Branch / Garden Oaks / Oak Forrest.
Posted on 6/1/26 at 8:10 am to skewbs
quote:
West U and Bellaire versus Spring Branch / Garden Oaks / Oak Forrest
So not exactly slumming it regardless
I’d worry about the commute more than anything.
The only real outlier is spring branch ISD which is a massive upside
Pool situation in west u and bellaire is pretty great for families. Houston public pools blow. However garden oaks, Timbergrove, oak forest is all solid. Live over there now and love it
Just avoid having to commute via Ella and 610, that stretch between Ella and 34th is hell
This post was edited on 6/1/26 at 8:16 am
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