Today we are going to cover 10 Things You Should Know About Living in Katy, Texas if you are thinking about Moving to Katy, TX
Good Morning Friends!
I am so excited you found this blog post in our little corner of the Interwebs. For those of you that don't know me, my name is Jordan Marie Schilleci (aka Jo), and I am the local real estate agent behind Jo & Co. But to establish why you should trust me, and my words (opinion) about Katy, let me dive a little deeper..
I started raising my children in Katy (think Cinco Ranch) a handful of years back, and know the area very well. I still have friends in every corner of Katy, visit it weekly, and a part of me likes to call it home. It is beyond beautiful. The exact area I lived in was master planned, and catered to every luxury I needed. Including the opportunity to walk or bike to everything my little heart desires: Whole Foods, Target, Trader Joe's, Homegoods, and the list goes on.
Besides all the sidewalks, hike & bike trails, and businesses, what drew people there was and is the schools. The schools are almost all rated an A. There is a lot to know about Katy, before moving there, and I would love the opportunity to not only share these facts and opinions with you, but to also be your real estate agent. So if you are considering a move to the area, or are moving to the area, and you need a real estate agent who truly cares, please reach out to me. All of my contact information is below, but for now, let's dive in..
10 Things You Should Know About Living in Katy, Texas
1. Katy is dissected by two major highways, breaking it into four quadrants. The two highways are Grand Parkway 99 (tollway to the north and free road (through Katy only) to the south), and Highway 10 running east and west. Below I will break down the four quadrants.
1. Old Katy - This is the the northwest section. Most people choose this area because it houses the lovely elementary school Katy Elementary. There is some new and old construction, along with some larger lots in Old Katy, as well as the Downtown area. In our local MLS, this area is referred to as, Old Towne, but do know, all the time I lived there, not one single person every called it that.
2. North - This section in our MLS is partly on the west side of Grand Parkway 99 (this is a new highway), but 4/5 of it is north of Highway 10 and east of Grand Parkway 99. There is a lot of newer development in this area, but many of the schools aren't on the top of the district's list.
3. Southeast - Just as its name portrays, this section can be found south of Highway 10 and east of Grand Parkway 99. It houses some of the most beloved and original to Katy's popularity, neighborhoods, including Nottingham Country and Kelliwood. This area does include part of Cinco Ranch, and one of my favorite areas Grand Lakes. The schools in this area are all favorites, especially Nottingham Country Elementary School. If you are looking for character with great schools, this might be area for you.
4. Southwest - This section can be found south of Highway 10 and west of Grand Parkway 99. The bulk of Cinco Ranch, along with many other new communities, can be found in this area. I would go as far to venture that this area of Katy, has fueled most of its growth in the last 10-15 years. Besides Cinco Ranch and Seven Meadows, other favorites include Cross Creek Ranch, Firethorne, Jordan Ranch, Tamarron, Falcon Ranch, King Lakes, The Reserve at Katy, Trails of Katy, Willow Creek Farms, Woodcreek Reserve, and Young Ranch. This section also houses the favorite schools that anyone moving to Katy is sure to love.
Homes for Sale in Katy, Texas | LINK
Homes for Sale in Cinco Ranch | LINK
Homes for Sale in Firethorne | LINK
Homes for Sale in Cross Creek Ranch | LINK
Homes for Sale in Jordan Ranch | LINK
New Construction Homes for Sale in Katy | LINK
2. The schools of Katy, have fueled the growth of Katy. About 1/10 of the homes in these four areas of Katy zone to Katy ISD schools, while 1/10 zone to Lamar Consolidated ISD. I would go far as to estimate that 85% of the schools in the Katy area are A rated.
2019 Accountability: For the second year in a row, Katy ISD achieved an overall rating of an A. Katy ISD is a flourishing suburban school district that encompasses 181 square miles in southeast Texas. Its eastern boundaries stretch to Houston's energy corridor approximately 16 miles west of downtown Houston and extend along Interstate 10 to a few miles west of the city of Katy.
Lamar Consolidated Independent School District (CISD) received an overall “A” rating for 2018-2019 by the Texas Education Agency’s (TEA) A-F Accountability System. Out of the more than 1,200 school districts and charter schools in Texas, Lamar CISD was one of only 301 districts to receive the "A" rating. At the campus level, 28 campuses earned one or more Distinction Designations and three campuses earned all Distinction Designations for which they were eligible.
3. Many people that live in Katy, work in "The Energy Corridor" or Sugar Land, followed by Downtown Houston. The travel time during rush hour to Downtown hovers around one hour on most days, about 25 minutes to The Energy Corridor, and about 35 minutes to Sugar Land. Low traffic hours differ greatly, so I recommend looking at your particular commute time before deciding if Katy is the right area of Houston for you.
4. The most common complaint about living in Katy, is the traffic. There are a lot of homes in a small area, with most travel meaning you must cross a major highway or take a major highway. I would just recommend staying home during rush hour, and Sunday evenings to avoid the bulk of it.
5. There are so many parks in the Katy area. So after schools, I would say, second on the list of reasons to move to Katy, would be the parks. Favorite parks in the area include.. "The one right outside your door." I would go as far to say, there is most likely a park within a 5 minute walk of your front door. Followed by: Mary Jo Peckham Park, Katy Park, Exploration Park, Willow Fork Park, and Mason Creek South (Hike & Bike Trail).
6. Katy houses the Katy Mills Outlet Mall. If you love outlet malls, then Katy has one for you. The outlet mall is also where you can find one of the many movie theaters.
7. There is still a lot of growth happening in Katy, which means new construction homes. One-third of the homes for sale in Katy, as of February 2020, are new construction homes.
8. There is a lot of growth in Katy on the outskirts. Another road that runs parallel with Highway 10 is Westpark Tollway, also known as 1093. This road also intersects Grand Parkway 99, and the south side houses lots of growth. The most popular new construction starting with a neighborhood who has sold the most homes is Aliana, Harvest Green, McCrary Meadows, Creekside Ranch, Lakes of Bella Terra, Lakeview Retreat, Talavera, Grand Mission Estates, Camellia, Fieldstone, Grand Vista, Briscoe Falls, and Imperial.
Homes for Sale in Aliana | LINK
Homes for Sale in Harvest Green | LINK
Homes for Sale in McCrary Meadows | LINK
Homes for Sale in Creekside Ranch | LINK
All Homes for Sale - South of 1093 | LINK
New Construction Homes for Sale - South of 1093 | LINK
*South of 1093 includes the communities listed in the "growth in Katy on the outskirts" paragraph above.
*These searches can be easily changed, and take you to HAR.com.
9. You will not go hungry in Katy! Katy houses some of the best restaurants in Houston. Check out the below list!
Top 20 Restaurants in Katy, Texas | Must Visit Them All
- Whiskey Cake
- Dish Society
- Tiger Noodle House
- Pho Saigon
- Abuelo's Mexican Restaurant
- Local Table
- The ROKO Grill
- That's My Dog
- Da Vinci Ristorante Italiano
- Pappa Gyros
- Grett's BBQ Shop
- Peli Peli
- Snooze an A.M. Eatery
- Alegria Brazilian Grill
- Willy Burger
- Black Bear Diner
- Hoodadak
- Tasty Ko
- Maika'i Hawaiian BBQ
- Grazia Italian Kitchen
Top 20 Mexican Restaurants in Katy, Texas | All 4.2 - 4.7 Stars!
- Ray's Mexican Restaurant
- Taqueria Tex-Taco
- Torchy's Tacos
- Taqueria El Toluca
- El Jarrito Mexican Restaurant
- Taqueria Jamay Jalisco #2
- Las Mananitas Mexican Restaurant
- Los Balito's Taco Shop
- El Asador
- Victoria's Mexican Grill and Bar
- El Ranchero Mexican Restaurant & Cantina
- Necas Mexican Restaurant
- Los Balito's Taco Shop
- Abuelo's Mexican Restaurant
- Las Tarascas
- Los Cucos
- Cafe del Sol
- Alicia's Mexican Grille
- Chuy's
- La Finca
10. Fort Bend is the most diverse county in the United States. Fort Bend has been called the most ethnically diverse county in America, with a population that comes close to an equal division among blacks, Asians, Latinos, and white residents. Fort Bend, home to 627,000 people, was also the fifth-fastest-growing large county in the country between 2010 and 2012, according to Forbes magazine. | NY Times Article
I hope you found this post beneficial; I look forward to hearing your story, and meeting you.
When you are ready or if you have any questions, we ask you to please free to reach out to us! My cell phone number is 832-493-6685, and I love texts and phone calls (I keep my phone on silent when I sleep, so please do not hesitate to reach out.).
Your Realtor,
Jordan Marie Schilleci, REALTOR®, Jo & Co. Realty Group
Call/Text 832-493-6685 | Email | Instagram | Facebook | Reviews | Home Search App | YouTube
The Home Search App link above, is a great way to work together. You first download HAR.com, and then click the link to connect us. :)
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