The YMCA in Cinco Ranch was once named after Enron executive Ken Lay, before he was later disgraced and his name was removed from the facility. Despite this possibly dubious connection to one of the biggest scandals of the Houston area, Cinco Ranch is a master-planned community that's actually a highly desirable place to live.
Cinco Ranch was a real working ranch before Texas even existed as a republic. The original owners raised cattle and grew rice there. But today it's a master-planned community on the outskirts of Katy, a large suburb of Houston, which has attracted thousands. By the time the plans for the community are done, Cinco Ranch will have more than 14,000 homes - enough for a small city in itself in just over 8,000 acres.
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Moving to Cinco Ranch
Cinco Ranch is geared toward people buying houses and looking to stay a while, although you will likely be able to find some rental housing. Only about a quarter of the residents in Cinco Ranch are renters. There aren't many one or two bedroom apartments for rent in Cinco Ranch, although any apartments you can find are likely to have gated entrances. If you are looking for rental homes in Cinco Ranch, be sure to give yourself plenty of time to look for one.
If you want to live in Cinco Ranch, make sure you have a healthy bank balance and the kinds of employment and financial references that would be expected of someone who will pay rent on time. If you have spotty credit or a shaky job history, you may find it very difficult to find homes for rent here. Although, you may be able to get around such concerns if you have large amounts of cash on hand for the deposit on that luxury apartment.
Neighborhoods in Cinco Ranch
While each neighborhood within Cinco Ranch can look pretty similar, but there are still some distinctions between each one.
Canyon Gate: This is a great choice for people who love to be active. With bicycle lanes along Canyon Gate Blvd, a recreation complex that includes a skate park and a pool and an indoor fitness center, you can stay healthy and fit right at home.
Stanford Park: This area features a lot of townhomes, which are a favorite choice of people who want access to the Cinco Ranch lifestyle without all the maintenance and upkeep of a traditional single-unit detached home.
Bayou Oaks: This neighborhood is one of the most luxurious neighborhoods within Cinco Ranch. As a gated community with some of the highest property values within all of Cinco Ranch, this is where you go when you want the ultimate in privacy and luxury.
What to Do in Cinco Ranch
Cinco Ranch is like a subdivision on steroids. Like most master-planned communities, it's a beautiful and clean place to live. Living in Cinco Ranch really does live up to the very definition of a "community," including shared evening activities for residents, like playing Bunco.
Most of all, Cinco Ranch is a place where you need a car. Although the community itself has bike trails and lots of places to enjoy on foot, the majority of Cinco Ranch residents need wheels to get around. The Houston metropolitan area is big and sprawling, and public transportation options are limited. But when you have such a beautiful, well-planned place to live, spending a little more time in the car to get home is a trade-off that thousands of residents are willing to make.