It is extremely challenging to get accurate Katy demographics, since Katy is not all incorporated. According to the Katy Area Economic Development Council’s Website (www.katyedc.org):
“Powered by one of the most acclaimed school districts in the state of Texas, Katy area’s growth is fueled by an abundant and talented population, which is growing at of rate of roughly 5% annually.
Approximately 340,000 people reside in the Katy area and are drawn here by the Katy Independent School District (Katy ISD), which now has over 77,000 students. The Katy area is larger in population than the City of Pittsburgh, PA. Katy’s past growth between the years 2000 and 2010 increased by 84%. This phenomenal growth is projected to continue, fueled by Katy ISD, energy companies and corporations, businesses and entrepreneurs. By the year 2022, projections show that over 391,000 people will call the area home.
Employment in the Katy area continues to grow at similar pace. The civilian employed population is 180,758 persons with growth projected to 217,652 persons by the year 2022 (20.4% increase). The Katy area has a low unemployment rate at 4.6%.
The demographics of the Katy area are grounded in a strong income base with exceptional educational attainment. The average household income is $127,335 in the Katy area and projected to increase to $147,821 by the year 2022. The strong income base translates to strong educational attainment above the national average, with over 44% of the population having bachelor’s or graduate degrees.”
>> See Katy schools for detailed information. Download the “Best Places to Live in Katy” guide for current school ratings and multiple lists, sorted in different ways, to find the exact school you’re looking for.
Katy Demographics by High School
Take a look at the Katy demographics of the schools zoned to the area you are looking at if you want a more accurate picture of the area.
Taylor High School (Southeast Katy)
Cinco Ranch High School (Southeast and Southwest Katy)
Seven Lakes High School (Southwest Katy)
Tompkins High School (Southwest Katy)
Katy High School (Northwest Katy – Some Southwest Katy)
Most Katy neighborhoods have their own utility providers, especially for water, trash, and sewer service. So find your Katy neighborhood and look up the utilities on that page.
City of Katy Only
If you live in the incorporated part of Katy (check here), then the common providers of Katy utilities are shown below.
Katy Property Taxes–Unfortunately, property taxes in Texas are among the highest in the country. But before you panic, just remember that we don’t have a state income tax in Texas…so one sort of offsets the other. I tell my out-of-state clients to find out the state income taxes they paid last year and add that to their property taxes, and then compare that number to the property taxes here.
Each Katy subdivision (and there are over 200!) has different property tax rates…and they can change from year to year. Subdivisions in our newest neighborhoods, like Firethorne and Tamarron, tend to have the highest property tax rates (3.2 to 3.6) and subdivisions in our older neighborhoods, like Kelliwood or Nottingham Country, tend to have the lowest tax rates (2.2 to 2.8).
Older homes within the same neighborhood
may have lower tax rates than newer homes in newer sections.
The tax rate in a subdivision tends to go down over time. That doesn’t mean your taxes go down over time, because the home value is probably increasing, but your tax rate will probably decline with time.
One thing I like to point out though…our newer homes tend to be much more energy-efficient than our older homes; so you will save money in energy costs when you buy a newer home. That may help partially offset the higher taxes.
There are tax benefits and other benefits in owning your own home (which can make up for the high Katy property taxes). Please read The Benefits of Home Ownership to learn more.
Something else you need to know…the tax appraised value on a home does not usually equally the market value of the home in Texas. If a home is older, it’s tax appraised value may be significantly lower than it’s market value. So don’t use those numbers when calculating a sales price!
As a home owner in Texas, your Homestead Tax Exemption is a large exemption to reduce the amount of Katy property taxes that you pay. Applying for a Homestead Tax Exemption (info) is a one-time activity in Texas that home owners need to do the first year they buy a home…not something you do every year. The deadline is typically April 30 each year and you can’t apply until you have lived in the house on December 31st.
Your application must include a copy of your Texas Driver’s License or DPS Identification Card and the address on the driver’s license or identification card MUST be the same as the address on which you are filing an Application for Residence Homestead Exemption (because you can only get this exemption on ONE home you live in).
To get up-to-date Katy property tax rates, search for the subdivision (or the neighborhood name) below. When you view a neighborhood page, look at the “Subdivision Tax Rates” section and add up the five or six different tax types (city, school, drainage, levee, etc.) to determine the overall tax rate for the subdivision.
NOTE: This tool works best on a desktop…not a smart phone.
NOTE: If this tool (widget) doesn’t work correctly, please go to: Subdivision Lookup
Katy TX is a unique area that consists mostly of “master planned communities.” We typically refer to these Katy master planned communities as “neighborhoods.” Most neighborhoods are further divided into subdivisions. There are over 200 subdivisions in Katy! Some neighborhoods like Cinco Ranch and Kelliwood are divided into many subdivisions. Here’s how this happens…
When a developer decides to create a planned community, it doesn’t develop the entire plot of land all at once. It opens a section or two at a time. Each section typically has 2 to 5 different builders who are building homes within a certain price range. So one subdivision may contain homes in the $200-400K price range, and another may contain homes in the $400-600K price range, and yet another may contain homes $750K and up.
So within one Katy master planned community you may have home prices from $200K to over $1 million, but they would be subdivided so that you should never see a $200K house next to a $900K house. Also some subdivisions may have different features than surrounding subdivisions such as a water front section, gated section, golf course section, etc.
For the larger Katy master planned communities you will notice that various subdivisions may be zoned to various elementary schools–and maybe even different middle schools and high schools–all within the same neighborhood. So it is very challenging for newcomers to get a handle on where to live!
Another complication is that various subdivisions may have different HOA (home owner’s association) maintenance fees…even within the same neighborhood. This is because various subdivisions may have different amenities and features from surrounding subdivisions. For example, Avalon Seven Meadows is actually an upscale subdivision in the Seven Meadows planned community, but is treated as if it is its own neighborhood.
The HOA fees in Katy master planned communities (sometimes referred to as maintenance fees) are annual fees that cover the cost and upkeep of the neighborhood’s shared amenities such as street lights, sidewalks, common areas, park, swimming pool, tennis courts, etc. There are Pro’s and Con’s for having home owner associations but if you want to live in Katy, you might as well resign yourself to the fact that you are probably going to have to deal with one because there are very few parts of Katy that are not covered by an HOA.
HOA fees are typically paid annually and, as specified previously, they can vary from house to house within the same subdivision, so always check with your real estate agent before purchasing a specific home. These fees can change (slightly) from year to year as well. Some HOAs also have transfer fees (applied each time you buy or sell a home that is within an HOA) that may be paid by either the Seller or the Buyer. There can also be compliance inspections and certificates during home sale transactions, depending on the HOA, which is another cost when purchasing or selling a home. These fees are all typically under $200 each (transfer fee is separate from the compliance certificate fee). You need a good real estate agent who can guide you through all of the requirements during a real estate transaction so you don’t end up with a home that hasn’t met its HOA compliance, and then have to (unexpectedly) pay more money to get it up to compliance after you move-in! Inexperienced agents or agents from other areas may not know and understand these complicated HOA requirements.
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“Best Places to Live In Katy Texas”
This is the ultimate guide about Katy TX! It has all the information on Katy, demographics, things to do, schools and up-to-date ratings, maps, detailed neighborhood comparison charts, and information on the top 20 (or so) neighborhoods…all in one place!
Katy Master Planned Communities
The following alphabetized list shows the top Katy master planned communities. Click a neighborhood to see a detailed description including the schools, maps, commute times, amenities, home values, and more. You may want to go to Katy neighborhoods to see these neighborhoods organized by the type of neighborhood: new construction, best schools, top 10, etc.
Price Range: Home prices range from $560K to $1.2M Description Avalon at Seven Meadows, situated on the west side of Katy in Fort Bend County, is conveniently located near the intersection of Grand Parkway and Westpark Tollway. Predominantly constructed in the mid-2000s, this neighborhood boasts around 296 homes, primarily designed in Traditional or Mediterranean styles. These homes typically feature two stories, 4 bedrooms, 3+ baths, spanning approximately 4200 square feet, with 2-car garages and a median lot size of 11,000 ... [Read More]
Price Range: Home prices range from $287K to $430K Description Camillo Lakes Katy is located on the northwest side of Katy (77493) in Harris County…close to the 99 Grand Parkway and Morton Rd. This is a “new construction” neighborhood, and most of the approximate 635 homes in this neighborhood are traditional in style with smallish lot sizes. On average, these homes are two-story homes with 4 bedrooms, 2.5 b baths, and approximately 2225 sf with 2-car garages, and a median ... [Read More]
Price Range: Home prices range from $585K to $2.45M Description Cane Island Katy is located on the northwest side of Katy in Harris County…close to the I-10 Interstate. Primarily built since 2015, most of the approximate 1000+ homes in this neighborhood are traditional in style. On average, these homes are two-story homes with 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, and approximately 3100 sf with 2-car garages, and a median lot size of 8556 sf. There are waterfront homes available in this neighborhood ... [Read More]
Price Range: Home prices range from $500K to $760K Description Cardiff Ranch is a residential neighborhood situated on the far-west side of Katy in Fort Bend County, Texas. Its location is convenient, positioned close to FM1464 and between I-10 and Westpark Tollway, offering easy access to major transportation routes. The neighborhood primarily consists of homes built since 2010, with over 230 properties estimated to be present. These homes typically exhibit a Traditional architectural style. On average, they are two-story residences ... [Read More]
Price Range: Home prices range from $340K to $687K Description Churchill Farms is located on the far-west side of Katy in Fort Bend County, close to FM1464 and in between I10 and Westpark Tollway. It actually has a Fulshear, TX, address. Primarily built since 2013, most of the 300+ homes (approx.) in this neighborhood are Traditional in style. On average, these homes are two-story homes with 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, and approximately 3280sf with 2-car garages, and a median lot ... [Read More]
Price Range: Home prices range from $220K to $360K Top 6 Things About Cimarron: Convenient location Good schools Affordable prices Nearby shopping Low annual HOA fee Not located in a high-risk flood zone Description Cimarron is located on the east side of Katy in Fort Bend County…close to I10 and Grand Parkway (southeast corner). Primarily built in the late 1970s, most of the 1500 homes (approx.) in this neighborhood are one-story ranch-style homes. On average, these homes have 3 bedrooms, ... [Read More]
77450 77494 Home prices range from $249K to $975K Home prices range from $298K to $1.8M Description Cinco Ranch Katy TX is a very large master-planned neighborhood that spreads across both the east and west sides of Katy’s Grand Parkway and across two ZIP Codes (77450 and 77494). Parts of Cinco Ranch are gated, on the Cinco Ranch Golf Course, or have water views. Whatever type of home you are looking for, you will probably be able to find it ... [Read More]
Price Range: Home prices range from $335K to $1.7M Description Cross Creek Ranch is located on the southwest side of Katy in Fort Bend County…close to FM1093 (Westpark Tollway). In fact, Cross Creek Ranch is actually located in Fulshear TX 77441. Part of the neighborhood (the east side) is zoned to Katy ISD, so it is included as a Katy neighborhood. The west side of the neighborhood is zoned to the Lamar Consolidated ISD school district. Primarily built since 2007, ... [Read More]
Price Range: Home prices range from $287K to $958K Description Elyson Katy is a “new construction” neighborhood located on the northwest side of Katy in Harris County…close to 99 Grand Parkway and FM 529 (Freeman Rd). This is about 10 minutes north of Interstate I-10. Primarily built since 2016, most of the approximate 1500+ homes in this neighborhood are traditional in style. On average, these homes are two-story homes with 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, and approximately 2737 sf with 2-car ... [Read More]
Top 6 Things About Falcon Landing: Convenient location High performing schools Affordable prices Nearby shopping Lower property taxes Not in high-risk flood zone Description Falcon Landing is located on the west side of Katy in Fort Bend County…close to the southwest corner of Grand Parkway and I10. Primarily built in the late 1990s, most of the 600+ homes (approx.) in Falcon Landing are Traditional in style. On average, these homes are two-story homes with 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, and approximately ... [Read More]
Top 7 Things About Falcon Point: Convenient location High performing schools Affordable prices Nearby shopping Golf course homes available Lower property taxes Not in high-risk flood zone Description Falcon Point Katy is located on the west side of Katy TX 77494 in Fort Bend County…close to the southwest corner of Grand Parkway and I10. Primarily built in the late 1990s, most of the 500+ homes (approx.) in this neighborhood are Traditional in style and many are located on the Falcon ... [Read More]
Top 5 Things About Falcon Ranch: Convenient location High performing schools Affordable prices Nearby shopping Not in high-risk flood zone Description Falcon Ranch is located on the west side of Katy in Fort Bend County…close to the southwest corner of Grand Parkway and I10. Primarily built in the late 1990s, most of the 850+ homes (approx.) in this neighborhood are Traditional in style. On average, these homes are two-story homes with 4 bedrooms, 2+ baths, and approximately 3000sf with 2-car ... [Read More]
Price Range: Home prices range from $303K to $1M Description Firethorne Katy is located on the far-west side of Katy in Fort Bend County…close to I10 and FM1463. Primarily built since 2008, most of the 3000+ homes (approx.) in this neighborhood are Traditional in style. On average, these homes are two-story homes with 4 bedrooms, 2+ baths, and approximately 3300sf with 2-car garages. This newish neighborhood does not have mature trees but it does have a community clubhouse with fitness ... [Read More]
Price Range: Home prices range from $400K to $860K Description Fulbrook on Fulshear Creek Katy is located in 77441 in Fulshear Texas, which is on the southwest side of Katy and in Fort Bend County. Many people choose this neighborhood when they are looking for a new construction home and want good schools with a “country living” flair. It is close to the new Texas Heritage Parkway and Westpark Tollway (FM 1063) so it has good access to head east ... [Read More]
Top 5 Things About Governors Place: Convenient location Good schools Affordable prices Nearby shopping Not in high-risk flood zone Description Governors Place is located on the east side of Katy in Fort Bend County…close to I10 and Grand Parkway (southeast corner). Primarily built in the 80s and 90s, most of the 500 homes (approx.) in this neighborhood are one-story ranch-style homes. On average, these homes have 4 bedrooms, 2+ baths, and approximately 2500sf with 2-car garages, and a median lot ... [Read More]
Price Range: Home prices range from $320K to $1M Description Grand Lakes Katy is located on the east side of Katy in Fort Bend County…close to Grand Parkway and Westpark Tollway. Primarily built from 1998 to 2008, most of the 2700+ homes (approx.) in this neighborhood are Traditional or Colonial in style. On average, these homes are two-story homes with 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, and approximately 3500sf with 2-car garages, and a median lot size of 9000+sf. This upscale neighborhood ... [Read More]
Price Range: Home prices range from $435K to $1M Description Grayson Lakes Katy is located on the far-southwest side of Katy in Fort Bend County…close to the I10. It may also be referred to as “Country Lakes at Grayson Lakes.” Primarily built in the mid-2000s, most of the 530+ homes (approx.) in this neighborhood are Traditional in style. On average, these homes are two-story homes with 4 bedrooms, 2+ baths, and approximately 3400sf with 2-car garages, and a median lot ... [Read More]
Price Range: Home prices range from $272K to $800K Description Jordan Ranch is located on the southwest side of Katy (actually Brookshire Texas in 77423) in Fort Bend County…close to the I-10 Interstate. Primarily built since 2016, most of the approximate 800+ homes in this neighborhood are traditional in style. On average, these are two-story homes with 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, and approximately 2300 sf with 2-car garages, and a median lot size of 6781 sf. There are some waterfront ... [Read More]
Price Range: Home prices range from $350K to $1.3M Description Kelliwood Katy is a very large master-planned neighborhood that spreads along South Fry road on the far-east side of Katy TX…close to George Bush Park and the Energy Corridor. This neighborhood was built during the late 80s and throughout the 90s so the trees are mature and the scenery is beautiful. Parts of Kelliwood are gated, on the Willow Fork Golf Course, or have water views. Whatever type of home ... [Read More]
Price Range: Home prices range from $390K to $600K Description Marcello Lakes Katy is located on the northwest side of Katy in Harris County. Primarily built since 2017, most of the approximate 300 homes in this neighborhood are traditional in style. On average, these homes are two-story homes with 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, and approximately 2600sf with 2-car garages, and a median lot size of 7150sf. In Marcello Lakes, every home has a waterfront lot. Water sports and electric powered ... [Read More]
Price Range: Home prices range from $203K to $1.3M Description Nottingham Country Katy is located on the east side of Katy in Fort Bend County…close to I10 and the Energy Corridor. Primarily built in the 70s and 80s, most of the 2500+ homes (approx.) in this neighborhood are Traditional or Colonial in style with some one-story Ranch homes too. On average, these homes are two-story homes with 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, and approximately 2700sf with 2-car garages, and a median ... [Read More]
Price Range: Home prices range from $290K to $923K Description Pine Mill Ranch Katy is located on the far-west side of Katy in Fort Bend County…close to FM1463. Primarily built since 2008, most of the 1400+ homes (approx.) in this neighborhood are Traditional in style. On average, these homes are two-story homes with 4 bedrooms, 2+ baths, and approximately 3200sf with 2-car garages. This newish neighborhood does not have mature trees but it does have a community clubhouse, two playgrounds, ... [Read More]
Price Range: Home prices range from $249K to $539K Description Polo Ranch Katy is located on the southwest side of Katy in Fulshear, TX, Fort Bend County. Primarily built since 2019, most of the approximate 300+ homes (so far) in this neighborhood are traditional in style. On average, these homes are one-story homes with 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, and approximately 1800sf with 2-car garages, and a median lot size of 7000sf. Two-story homes are available. Polo Ranch Katy features a ... [Read More]
Price Range: Home prices range from $347K to $1.1M Description Seven Meadows Katy is is located on the west side of Katy in Fort Bend County…close to the northwest corner of Grand Parkway and Westpark Tollway. Primarily built in the mid 2000s, most of the 1700+ homes (approx.) in this neighborhood are Traditional in style. On average, these homes are two-story homes with 4 bedrooms, 2+ baths, and approximately 3100sf with 2-car garages, and a median lot size of 9500sf ... [Read More]
Price Range: Home prices range from $313K to $618K Description Silver Ranch Katy is located on the far-west side of Katy in Fort Bend County…close to FM1463. Primarily built since 2008, most of the 640+ homes (approx.) in this neighborhood are Traditional in style. On average, these homes are two-story homes with 4 bedrooms, 2+ baths, and approximately 2900sf with 2-car garages. This newish neighborhood does not have mature trees but it does have a community clubhouse, playground, swimming pool, ... [Read More]
Price Range: Home prices range from $250K to $700K Tamarron Katy is located on the far-west side of Katy in Fort Bend County…close to FM1463. This is a new neighborhood that just started in 2014 and currently has several hundred homes built with plans to have a total of 4000+ homes (approx.) when completed. On average, these homes are two-story homes with 4 bedrooms, 2+ baths, and approximately 2900sf with 2-car garages. This newish neighborhood does not have mature trees ... [Read More]
Top 5 Things About West Memorial: Convenient location Affordable prices Nearby shopping Lower property taxes Not located in a high-risk flood zone Description West Memorial Katy is located on the east side of Katy in Fort Bend County…close to I10 and the Energy Corridor. Primarily built in the 1970s, most of the 1100+ homes (approx.) in this neighborhood are one-story Ranch homes. On average, these homes have 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, and approximately 1800sf with 2-car garages, and a median ... [Read More]
Price Range: Home prices range from $252K to $600K Top 5 Things About Westheimer Lakes North: High performing schools Affordable prices New construction homes available Energy-efficient homes available Not located in a high-risk flood zone Description Westheimer Lakes North is located on the southwest side of Katy in Fort Bend County…close to FM1063 (Westpark Tollway). Primarily built in the late 2000s, most of the 1100+ homes (approx.) in this neighborhood are Traditional in style. On average, these homes are two-story ... [Read More]
Price Range: Home prices range from $650K to $1.6M Top 10 Things About Windsor Park Estates: Convenient location High performing schools Lower property taxes Beautiful neighborhood with lakes and mature trees Luxury homes available Not located in a high-risk flood zone Description Windsor Park Estates is located on the far-east side of Katy in Harris County (77094)…close to I10 and the Energy Corridor. Primarily built in the early 1990s, most of the 100+ homes (approx.) in this neighborhood are large ... [Read More]
Price Range: Home prices range from $800K to $1.9M Top 9 Things About Windsor Park Lakes: Convenient location High performing schools Lower property taxes Beautiful neighborhood with lakes and mature trees Neighborhood amenities Fishing and boat access available Not located in a high-risk flood zone Luxury homes available Manned gate for access Description Windsor Park Lakes is a gated community located on the far-east side of Katy in Harris County (77094)…close to I10 and the Energy Corridor. Primarily built since ... [Read More]
Price Range is from $468K to $2M Top 5 Things About Woodcreek Reserve: High performing schools Nearby shopping Neighborhood amenities Beautiful neighborhood with mature trees Not located in a high-risk flood zone Description Woodcreek Reserve Katy is located on the far-west side of Katy in Fort Bend County…close to the I10. Primarily built in the mid-2000s, most of the 380+ homes (approx.) in this neighborhood are Traditional in style. On average, these homes are two-story homes with 4 bedrooms, 3 ... [Read More]
Price Range: Home prices range from $369K to $731K Description Young Ranch Katy is located on the southwest side of Katy in Fort Bend or Waller County…close to the I-10 Interstate. Primarily built since 2016, most of the approximate 600+ homes in this neighborhood are traditional in style. On average, these homes are two-story homes with 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, and approximately 2942sf with 2-car garages, and a median lot size of 8600sf. “Drive into Young Ranch and discover a ... [Read More]
People moving to the Katy area are often concerned about Katy flood zones. The good news is that, for the most part and with a few exceptions, most Katy neighborhoods are located out of Special Flood Areas. There are a few areas that are in 500-year Floodplain (yellow zone) and a few more that are near creeks, bayous, and low-lying areas that put them in the 100-year Floodway (purple).
Beware of new construction neighborhoods that are located in 100-year and 500-year flood zones! If you are buying a home, get my report for Katy flood maps.
To understand the flood lingo, a home in a 100-year flood zone has a 1 percent chance of flooding every year. If you are located in the 500-year flood zone, that likelihood is reduced to .2% every year. But keep in mind that natural disasters rarely follow the rules of probability to the letter. Instead of thinking of this as a fast and hard rule, it is simply meant to be a guideline for builders, homeowners, and community planners.
I’m not a flood expert, weather expert, engineer, surveyor, etc…I’ve just lived on the Texas Gulf Coast for over 40 years and experienced many floods, hurricanes and tropical storms. Here’s my opinion based on what I have experienced…
Pretty much all areas of the United States (and the world) have to deal with natural disasters. In California it’s earthquakes, mudslides, and wild fires. In the Midwest it’s tornadoes. In the Northeast it’s winter storms and blizzards. Many parts of the country deal with flooding…especially near rivers. Other parts deal with severe droughts. The fact is, you can’t completely avoid natural disasters anywhere…so you need to minimize your risk and prepare for them as best you can.
If you want to live anywhere on the Gulf Coast (Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida) or anywhere in the Houston region, then you will need to be prepared for hurricanes and flash flooding. One thing history has shown us regarding flooding…history means nothing! Each time we experience a major flood, you will see many flooded home owners on the news saying something like, “We’ve lived here over 30 years and never flooded before.” Last year (2019) there was a major flash flood and the new thing we heard afterwards was, “We didn’t flood in Harvey, but we flooded this time.”
So just because a home has never flooded before, does NOT guarantee it will not flood in the future. It just means it has a lower risk for flooding. Likewise, just because a home flooded during Hurricane Harvey, does NOT mean it will ever flood again. That was a historical storm that, most experts believe, is unlikely to occur in Katy again in our lifetime.
So, if you are buying a home in most parts of Katy Texas that do not back to a natural water source, then your risk for your home flooding is relatively low, especially compared to the rest of the Houston area. However, I still recommend you buy flood insurance! Trust me, it’s worth your “peace of mind” when hurricane season rolls around.
NOTE: In my definition of “flooding” I am referring to the interior of your home being infiltrated with flood/surface water. This does not refer to typical street flooding, since our streets are part of the designed drainage system in our area.
During Hurricane Harvey, two unprecedented things occurred that caused a few homes in Katy to flood (less than 8 percent, and that’s including businesses and retail establishments). The areas around the Addicks and Barker Reservoirs had the most severe issues, but some flooding occurred around natural bayous, creeks, and other low-lying areas.
Hurricane Harvey dropped a record-breaking amount of rain in the Houston region…over 50 inches (“only” 31 inches in Katy). The amount of rain that fell cause the Addicks-Barker Reservoirs to overfill.
While Katy flood zones are typically rated as Zone X, 100-year floodplain, or 500-year floodplain, Hurricane Harvey is being described as a an unprecedented, 1,000 year or even 3,000 year event (read more)! This means that homes that flooded during that once-in-a-life time weather event may never flood again.
It has been reported that less than 8 percent of Katy homes and businesses (approximately 7,209) were flooded during Hurricane Harvey…so don’t let what you see on TV give you the wrong impression…most of the homes in Katy TX do not flood on a regular basis and did not flood even during this HISTORIC hurricane. The water got high and some of the roads were flooded for a few days (mostly around Fry Rd, east of Grand Parkway), but this was an unprecedented weather event which may never occur again.
With that in mind, I will say that it will be very important for home buyers to watch out for repaired homes and to make sure they have been repaired properly. The main thing that most people worry about is mold problems in homes that have flooded. Supposedly, once the homes have been properly dried out, then mold cannot grow. Mold requires moisture to grow. While mold spores are around us all the time, they will not grow and become a problem when the source of the moisture is eliminated. It’s usually hidden leaks and on-going moisture that allows mold to grow. (read more)
By now, homes that were repaired after Hurricane Harvey, should be properly dried out and restored. If there are any concerns of mold issues, it’s easy to have an environmental air analysis performed by an expert and determine if the home has a hidden problem with high levels of mold spores. If it does, then move on to another home. If it doesn’t, then you get an updated home in a beautiful area of Katy (where the homes tend to be older and outdated).
The Texas Legislature passed a law, effective September 1, 2019, that now requires home sellers to fully disclose flood zones and flood history for homes. Section 5 of the Sellers Disclosure now looks like this:
So this will be information you will receive when you buy a home in Texas.
But beware of investors who have never lived in the home and can, therefore, avoid reporting these issues. This is why you may want to avoid some investment properties. If a Seller company wants you to sign away your legal rights regarding Deceptive Trade Practices and their disclosure responsibilities (such as Zillow or OpenDoor), then BUYER BEWARE. (“Buyer Beware” is “code” for “don’t buy it!”)
How to Avoid Buying a Home in a High-Risk Flood Zone
If you want to watch out for homes in high-risk flood areas (and you should!), then hire a real estate agent who will watch out for you (Sheila Cox 😄). Most home builders’ agents, in new construction neighborhoods, will NOT tell you that their neighborhood is in a 100-year flood plain…but I will. I have had to inform multiple clients about this over the years (and they were very grateful for me).
The year before Hurricane Harvey, I had a client who wanted to look at homes in a specific neighborhood, close to the Brazos river, that I knew had serious issues (although it hadn’t flooded yet). I informed her about the issues and prevented her from buying there. Guess what? Many homes in that neighborhood flooded during Harvey. It was a mess! My client was so grateful that I prevented her from buying in that neighborhood.
Unfortunately, the MLS does not provide a search field for “previous flooding” or flood zones. However, since I know the area so well, when I set up homes searches for my clients (request yours here), I can filter out the areas that I know are located in higher-risk flood areas. It’s not perfect, but it’s a good way to avoid risky areas. Then, when a client expresses interest in a specific home, I always double-check the flood map and the Seller’s Disclosure before I show the home. It’s really good to have someone looking out for your best interests!
I highly recommend that you do NOT rely on the “Flood Factor” ratings in this area, or you may buy a risky home. Get more information in my report…
Get My Katy Flood Report
With Maps
(includes flood maps for new neighborhoods)
Author of www.KatyHomesForSaleTX.com and the Katy Flood Report (so you know that I know this area!)
RedFin Users Beware!
There’s a new information source on flooding that I am very concerned about because it seems INACCURATE according to our actual real-world flood history and the FEMA flood maps. Here’s an example.
On RedFin, for 19731 Eagle Canyon Way, they show a Flood Risk Factor of 1 Minimal in FEMA Zone X, see below.
You have GOT to be kiddin’ me!
That home (see map location) is located in the Canyon Gate neighborhood of Katy 77450 which is one of the few Katy neighborhoods that was ordered to evacuate during Hurricane Harvey and actually suffered WIDE-SPREAD flooding (see cool map). If ANY neighborhood in Katy should be considered a “risky” flood area it’s Canyon Gate.
Here’s a screenshot from my phone showing the Mandatory evacuation notice from Fort Bend County…
As show in the image below, Canyon Gate had approximately 798 homes flooded during Hurricane Harvey…practically the entire neighborhood.
Hurricane Harvey Impact Map – FEMA Damage Assessment Model
Also see actual flood photo of Canyon Gate, below…
When I view that home (19731 Eagle Canyon Way) on my MLS database, I see that it is actually in FEMA Zone X500, which is a 500-yr floodplain, and it’s on the very edge of a 100-yr floodplain (see image below). In my opinion, this home should be considered at least a moderate flood risk.
Especially since the home owner’s are reporting that it has already flooded! (see Seller’s Disclosure below)
This is why you need a local area expert and not some AI-generated website helping you with your home purchase.
Now let’s contrast that to an area that has NO HISTORY OF FLOODING to my knowledge. I actually evacuated to this area during Hurricane Harvey, and I personally drove the streets (which were NOT flooded).
NOTE: During Harvey a lot of neighborhoods had street flooding, but no flooding into the homes. In the Houston area, streets are designed as part of our drainage system…that’s where our storm drains are located. So during major rain events, the streets may flood for a few hours (so you can’t drive them) but the homes do not flood.
Here’s RedFin’s Flood Factor rating for 5123 Cinco Forest Trail…it says 6 Major Flood Factor.
Ok, anything is possible in the future, but my MLS database shows this home is in a Zone X (see image below) which is “Out of Special Flood Hazard Area.” And like I said, I drove this area (not this specific home) during Hurricane Harvey, so I am an eye-witness to what happened in this area when it received approximately 30-inches of rain!
And the home owners report NO HISTORY OF FLOODING, see below.
Map Summary of This Example
The map below shows what areas in Katy actually flooded during Hurricane Harvey in 2017. The Cinco Forest Trail house on the lower-left side (no flodding) is reported as “High Risk” on RedFin, and the Eagle Canyon Way house on the lower-right side (flooded) is reported as “Low Risk” on Redfin.
Natural waterways and the areas that flooded are in blue.
So which house would you rather buy?
The one that RedFin reports as Low Risk or the one they report as Major Risk?!
In summary, I don’t think that RedFin’s flood risk assessment is something that home buyers should rely on…at least not in my area. That’s my opinion and it’s based on real-world observations.
Flood Insurance Important for ALL Gulf Coast Areas
As a resident of the Gulf Coast, you should know that hundreds of homes in the Houston area that are not in high-risk flood zones and had never flooded before during any other flood or hurricane event, did flood during Harvey. So that means…you never know for sure and you had better carry Flood Insurance on your home at all times! In my opinion, a $400-500 flood insurance policy is worth the peace of mind you have from knowing you won’t be financially devastated if a storm sits on top of your neighborhood and drops 50 inches of rain! I don’t know of any areas in the country that can handle that much water…do you?
One of my biggest pet-peeves is hearing people in the Houston region say, “I don’t need flood insurance because my home has never flooded before.” Duh. Neither did approximately 85 percent of the homes that flooded during Hurricane Harvey! One thing I can guarantee you about flooding on the Gulf Coast…there are NO guarantees.
I live in a low-risk flood zone X area and I have flood insurance!
Pretty much all areas of the United States (and the world) have to deal with natural disasters. In California it’s earthquakes, mudslides, and wild fires. In the Midwest it’s tornadoes. In the Northeast it’s winter storms and blizzards. Many parts of the country deal with flooding…especially near rivers. Other parts deal with severe droughts. The fact is, you can’t completely avoid natural disasters anywhere…so you need to minimize your risk and prepare for them as best you can.
With that in mind, I will say that it will be very important for home buyers to watch out for repaired homes and to make sure they have been repaired properly. The main thing that most people worry about is mold problems in homes that have flooded. Supposedly, once the homes have been properly dried out, then mold cannot grow. Mold requires moisture to grow. While mold spores are around us all the time, they will not grow and become a problem when the source of the moisture is eliminated. It’s usually hidden leaks and on-going moisture that allows mold to grow. (
If you want to watch out for homes in high-risk flood areas (and you should!), then hire a real estate agent who will watch out for you (Sheila Cox 😄). Most home builders’ agents, in new construction neighborhoods, will NOT tell you that their neighborhood is in a 100-year flood plain…but I will. I have had to inform multiple clients about this over the years (and they were very grateful for me).
As a resident of the Gulf Coast, you should know that hundreds of homes in the Houston area that are not in high-risk flood zones and had never flooded before during any other flood or hurricane event, did flood during Harvey. So that means…you never know for sure and you had better carry Flood Insurance on your home at all times! In my opinion, a $400-500 flood insurance policy is worth the peace of mind you have from knowing you won’t be financially devastated if a storm sits on top of your neighborhood and drops 50 inches of rain! I don’t know of any areas in the country that can handle that much water…do you?