Looking for best housing areas in Waco for someone who is single. I need a simple starter home.
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Best Housing in Waco for single
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Last: 8 mo ago by Yogi
People will be helpful if you could be more specific.
You like to walk to restaurants/bars? Or, you like it quiet?
You want an apartment or a detached home? Need a yard for pets?
Rough idea about price range?
Any other info?
If you are looking for quiet, established neighborhood, small yard, HOA, $300k, single occupancy home…..
I'm a big fan of The Woods (Brannon Drive) if you're willing to put in a little cosmetic work. Small w/patio lots, quiet and well maintained. I looked at several units with my mom last fall and if I were single I would consider there or more likely the adjacent windmill hill area. I thought it was mostly old people but in driving around saw many under 40. They move pretty fast, both current listings are under 20 days.
If your looking new construction there are lots of developments in area surrounding airport and lots more south of Waco.
I'm a big fan of The Woods (Brannon Drive) if you're willing to put in a little cosmetic work. Small w/patio lots, quiet and well maintained. I looked at several units with my mom last fall and if I were single I would consider there or more likely the adjacent windmill hill area. I thought it was mostly old people but in driving around saw many under 40. They move pretty fast, both current listings are under 20 days.
If your looking new construction there are lots of developments in area surrounding airport and lots more south of Waco.
My daughter had a 2/2 condo on Lake Shore for sale for 5 months, but she finally moved it (pending closing). We're moving her out this weekend.
If something disastrous happens with closing, I'll let you know.
I've got mixed emotions about the new home construction (DR Homes) on Ritchie Rd in the Midway area. I've walked thru some of these during construction. I wouldn't live in those on a dare (no offense to those that need to start out in those.)
Having said that, Midway will ALWAYS the most desirable school district. These homes will appreciate. They are small enough for a single to manage.
It's not a bad place, but if you buy need, make sure that inspect everything during the construction and have an outstanding home inspector to protect you.
If something disastrous happens with closing, I'll let you know.
I've got mixed emotions about the new home construction (DR Homes) on Ritchie Rd in the Midway area. I've walked thru some of these during construction. I wouldn't live in those on a dare (no offense to those that need to start out in those.)
Having said that, Midway will ALWAYS the most desirable school district. These homes will appreciate. They are small enough for a single to manage.
It's not a bad place, but if you buy need, make sure that inspect everything during the construction and have an outstanding home inspector to protect you.
Coke Bear said:
My daughter had a 2/2 condo on Lake Shore for sale for 5 months, but she finally moved it (pending closing). We're moving her out this weekend.
If something disastrous happens with closing, I'll let you know.
I've got mixed emotions about the new home construction (DR Homes) on Ritchie Rd in the Midway area. I've walked thru some of these during construction. I wouldn't live in those on a dare (no offense to those that need to start out in those.)
Having said that, Midway will ALWAYS the most desirable school district. These homes will appreciate. They are small enough for a single to manage.
It's not a bad place, but if you buy need, make sure that inspect everything during the construction and have an outstanding home inspector to protect you.
Window Box condos?
You didn't say how old you were; if you are under 30, then an home without a yard, or a condo may be preferable. Being single doesn't limit you to school districts, but your costs of buying a house/condo/patio home will be affected by property taxes and the school district you are in will impact the price.greggor25 said:
Looking for best housing areas in Waco for someone who is single. I need a simple starter home.
Yes
My wife and I bought one in 1997, I think. It was our first house. Sold it in 2001 when we left Waco. Always enjoyed it. Saw one for sale a while back, almost bought it just to have a place to stay in Waco. Might have been the one she had.Coke Bear said:
Yes
Very cool!
It's a great place and pretty convenient to most areas of Waco.
It's a great place and pretty convenient to most areas of Waco.
I'd look around the edges of Castle Heights or from there through the uptown / downtown corridor since school district doesn't matter. I think those areas will continue to develop and do well given how much momentum there is in downtown Waco.
Woodway is certainly safe, but if I were single I would not want to live out there.
Woodway is certainly safe, but if I were single I would not want to live out there.
Edmond Bear said:
People will be helpful if you could be more specific.
You like to walk to restaurants/bars? Or, you like it quiet? I was thinking quiet
You want an apartment or a detached home? Need a yard for pets? Small house with yard for dogs.
Rough idea about price range? 250-300K
Any other info?
I'm 41 and single. Moved back fron DFW to be with family. I can WFH so that had a little to do with me moving back.
I'll agree and go into a little more depth.Robert Wilson said:
I'd look around the edges of Castle Heights or from there through the uptown / downtown corridor since school district doesn't matter. I think those areas will continue to develop and do well given how much momentum there is in downtown Waco.
Woodway is certainly safe, but if I were single I would not want to live out there.
In and around Castle Heights asking prices are +/- $200-300 sqft. Not much in Castle Heights proper right now (and most of those houses are bigger anyway).
If you go toward downtown into Karem Park or on Washington/Columbus outside 26th, there is more of a mix of larger and smaller, some of which have been fixed up and some which still need some work. Most built in the 1920s and 1930s, but there are some neat smaller houses if any are available.
Past the curve on Austin (which is the end of Castle Heights proper) toward Waco Dr are mostly smaller starter homes from the 1950s. Most wood frame, or a mix of brick and frame. Most have only a 1 car garage, but their favorable location has led most of them to be refreshed, remodeled and updated. Most will be 1500-2000 sqft and could be fairly reasonable.
You could cross Waco Dr also. Between 38th and New Road are mostly mid 50s, and a lot of them have been updated. Between 38th and 26th toward downtown is a bit more hit and miss; some have been nicely redone, but others are still kinda decrepit and sketchy. Would take an urban pioneer of sorts, and may depend more on which block you are on. But prices north of Waco Dr can be more in the $150/sqft range.
The downside to this area for at least the last 50 years has been WISD, which is marginal at best. But if schools aren't your issue it's a good area to be in.
Shoot if I was 41 and single I'd either be in a condo downtown or in a barndominium in China Spring/Lorena/Robinson.
That's a good call, too.hodedofome said:
Shoot if I was 41 and single I'd either be in a condo downtown or in a barndominium in China Spring/Lorena/Robinson.
I'd lean downtown condo, but not sure what I'd do with all my dead animal heads. Barndo is primo for that.
In an ideal world we have both. Walking distance to Barnett's brunch on the weekends, while sitting on the patio watching the sunset on your 10 acres during the week.Robert Wilson said:That's a good call, too.hodedofome said:
Shoot if I was 41 and single I'd either be in a condo downtown or in a barndominium in China Spring/Lorena/Robinson.
I'd lean downtown condo, but not sure what I'd do with all my dead animal heads. Barndo is primo for that.
hodedofome said:In an ideal world we have both. Walking distance to Barnett's brunch on the weekends, while sitting on the patio watching the sunset on your 10 acres during the week.Robert Wilson said:That's a good call, too.hodedofome said:
Shoot if I was 41 and single I'd either be in a condo downtown or in a barndominium in China Spring/Lorena/Robinson.
I'd lean downtown condo, but not sure what I'd do with all my dead animal heads. Barndo is primo for that.
Wasn't that long ago you could've hopped the river and done it. Long as you were willing to tear down a few $15,000 homes.
I'd check for any openings in Collins
I'm checking out China Sping area.hodedofome said:
Shoot if I was 41 and single I'd either be in a condo downtown or in a barndominium in China Spring/Lorena/Robinson.
I am in my 40's and live in Hewitt. I like it here. My situation is different though with a wife and a kid. If I was single, I would be looking for a condo downtown. My wife and I have talked about doing that after my kid goes to college. I doubt we will due to my love of having a fenced in yard for my dogs, and our dislike of packing/moving/unpacking.
Thanks for giving me your age. The next question is: Do you want a yard or not? In some places you can have a yard, and a HOA (Homeowners' Association) will maintain it for you. If you want a single family home with a yard, then I take it you welcome the extra work to maintain the yard in a manner that suits yourself and your neighbors.greggor25 said:
I'm 41 and single. Moved back fron DFW to be with family. I can WFH so that had a little to do with me moving back.
If you want to spend less time with a yard, or have it maintained by an HOA, then you will need to focus on a patio home (i.e. the Windmill Hill area off of LakeShore Drive or Sugar Creek in Woodway, or one of the newer units off of Highway 84).. No yard means you will be looking at a Condo (i.e. Window Box or Lake Air Tower or one of the newer units downtown). Having a yard will almost surely mean a SFH (Single Family Home or owning 1/2 of a duplex where you control all the yard behind your fence and what yard is between your fence and your neighbor's yard and/or the street.
Once you decide on the question of a yard or not and who will maintain it (cost vs. benefits, etc) then your next question will be deciding on how many bedrooms you want and if you want a one or two story home.
Once you have those decisions made, let me know, and I'll take you to Step 3.
It all depends on where you want to live. As in do you want to be in Waco proper or one of the suburbs.
You mentioned China spring and you can find some good starter homes out there.
One piece of advice I would give is stay away from HOAs. I despise them. Lived in one for about two years and will never live in another one.
We moved in and in the first week of living there got a notice of a "violation." Some of the plants in the flowerbed had died in the months the house sat empty when the owners moved out and before we bought.
I also once received a violation for grass clippings in the street and in the photo that was included as evidence you could clearly see me mowing the grass.
You mentioned China spring and you can find some good starter homes out there.
One piece of advice I would give is stay away from HOAs. I despise them. Lived in one for about two years and will never live in another one.
We moved in and in the first week of living there got a notice of a "violation." Some of the plants in the flowerbed had died in the months the house sat empty when the owners moved out and before we bought.
I also once received a violation for grass clippings in the street and in the photo that was included as evidence you could clearly see me mowing the grass.
If those are the ones I'm thinking of, they're pretty established. My father was building them on the day I was born.GoBearsGo said:Coke Bear said:
My daughter had a 2/2 condo on Lake Shore for sale for 5 months, but she finally moved it (pending closing). We're moving her out this weekend.
If something disastrous happens with closing, I'll let you know.
I've got mixed emotions about the new home construction (DR Homes) on Ritchie Rd in the Midway area. I've walked thru some of these during construction. I wouldn't live in those on a dare (no offense to those that need to start out in those.)
Having said that, Midway will ALWAYS the most desirable school district. These homes will appreciate. They are small enough for a single to manage.
It's not a bad place, but if you buy need, make sure that inspect everything during the construction and have an outstanding home inspector to protect you.
Window Box condos?
"Smarter than the Average Bear."