Advice on location to buy first time house

My partner and I (both of us are 30) are looking to buy our first home and have narrowed it down to Shadow Creek Ranch in Pearland and Sienna in Missouri City. We currently rent in Shadow Creek Ranch and have loved the area so far. We’d love to hear from current homeowners or anyone familiar with these areas to help us make the best decision.

We know the obvious Pros and Cons for each –

Shadow Creek Ranch –

Pros- 1) Close to Houston 2) Highly rated Elementary, Middle and High Schools 3) Great amenities – restaurants, grocery stores, lakes, trails etc 4) Safe neighborhood

Cons – 1) Older Houses 2) Less options available

Sienna –

Pros – 1) Newer construction 2) Younger (?) community ( i am assuming this) 3) Builder concessions in rates

Cons – 1) Out-of-the-way location – Longer drives to restaurants, Houston and grocery stores 2) Highly rated elementary schools but middle and high schools are not rated as high 3) High Property Taxes 4) Additional fees (?) (would be great to know some more information on this)

We are thinking semi-long term ( ~5-10 years maybe), so would be great to know the following from current residents or from those who have experience buying in the areas –

1) Schools – Are the schools in Sienna good? (We don’t have kids yet but would be good to have information on them) 2) Property Value and Future Growth – Which area do you think has better long-term investment potential? 3) HOA & Restrictions – Are there any concerns with HOA rules or fees in either neighborhood? 4) Community vibes – how is the community in both the areas?