Benders has some nice homes, we looked there first when we moved to this side of town (along with Harmony and Woodson's Reserve). We looked at building and buying, mainly because of the favorable tax rate and acre+ lots. FWIW Woodson's didn't have any nice lots for their homes, they're all on top of each other. Existing nice homes in Benders were either out of our budget (1M+), or aging shells that would have cost 1M+ anyway by the time you did the work to bring it up to snuff. Ultimately when it came down to it, there were a lot of things that pushed us into a less expensive home north of 99 in the Falls. One of the biggest things I'm glad we avoided is the parking lots on the south side that are Birnham Woods Dr. and Rayford Rd. trying to get to 99. HEB is over there, and I have to really need something to want to go on that side. We have friends that live a mile North as the crow flies in White Oak Estates, but because we have to go all the way around it's a 15 minute drive.
I'm going to cut to the chase. Unless you have crazy money, everything in Houston is going to be a compromise. Tax rates will vary from 1.9 to 3.9 in the span of a mile. Most newer homes will have tiny garages, unless the plan included a 'bump out' to make them a realistic width. Lot sizes in subdivisions are getting comically small now, they're actually selling 40x120's. 70x120 is considered "premium." Acreage means you're spending a huge premium, or going out a ways.
I'm going to cut to the chase. Unless you have crazy money, everything in Houston is going to be a compromise. Tax rates will vary from 1.9 to 3.9 in the span of a mile. Most newer homes will have tiny garages, unless the plan included a 'bump out' to make them a realistic width. Lot sizes in subdivisions are getting comically small now, they're actually selling 40x120's. 70x120 is considered "premium." Acreage means you're spending a huge premium, or going out a ways.