Fascinated about shifting to Houston? You’re not alone.
Houston, Texas is the thirteenth largest rising metro space in the US and the biggest metropolis in Texas. Individuals transfer to Houston for the nice Goldilocks climate — temperatures hardly ever dip under 45 levels and attain the low 90s in the summertime, not too scorching and never too chilly. It’s house to the company headquarters for Walmart, McDonald’s, Kroger, and United Airways, amongst others, and with future job progress at a predicted 30.9%, town will solely proceed to draw newcomers.
Whether or not you’re shifting to Houston for a job or in search of a spot to retire, town can have a neighborhood that matches your need record. However with so many choices, it may be onerous to slender down your decisions. Totally different homebuyers have totally different wants — a retiree trying to downsize might be in search of various things than a household of 4.
We talked to actual property brokers who work in Houston each day and dug into some analysis to establish the perfect neighborhoods for patrons in Houston, irrespective of the place they’re at in life.
Household-friendly: West College
Named the finest metropolis to reside in America in 2018 and 2019, West College Place (or West U), attracts many households. Situated southwest of Houston, it has a few of the top-rated colleges within the Houston Impartial District.
Honey Dunlap, an agent in Houston, Texas, who works with 70% extra single-family houses than the common agent in her space, says that West U “appears like a neighborhood in a film — large, brick conventional houses, numerous households, numerous range.”
It’s near Hermann Park, a 445-acre city park which hosts the Houston Zoo, and has a railroad, pedal boats, and two playgrounds. Inside West U, you’ll additionally discover 10 native parks with all the pieces from sports activities amenities to playgrounds.
There are six native swimming pools which provide a mixture of indoor and outside swimming. It’s straightforward to see why 93.8% of house owners in West U are married, the common family dimension is 3.18, and the median age of residents is 42.1 — the world primarily attracts households.
The Museum District can also be simply accessible to a few of the metropolis’s important points of interest — you’ll be able to take your children to the Youngsters’s Museum or go star-gazing within the Planetarium on the Houston Museum of Pure Science. Afterwards, seize a chew at one of many many eating places in and across the Rice Village Purchasing Mall, a close-by upscale, open-air mall. Dunlap says that it’s so near Houston, “the placement is tough to beat.”
The median house value is $1.1 million, and the vast majority of West U residents personal their houses. Rents are round $2,260, although solely 9% of individuals in West U hire. The common West U resident has a 19-minute commute, because it’s well-located near Rice College, the Texas Medical Heart, and different main employers.
West U’s nickname is The Neighborhood Metropolis for a motive — it has a small-town vibe with entry to big-city facilities.
Traditionally charming: The Heights
Houston Heights, or “The Heights” to locals, is a big historic landmark. Locals constructed houses right here to flee mosquitoes throughout occasions of yellow fever and cholera, and the neighborhood has the texture of a bygone-era. Bungalows, Queen Annes, Craftsman, People Nationwide, and People Victorian houses line the walkable streets.
Mark Dimas, an agent who works with 84% extra single-family houses than different brokers in Houston, Texas, says that the Heights “is thought for its eclectic array of distinctive and historic and Victorian houses.”
Within the Heights, you’re shopping for a piece of historical past — although an costly one, as houses price, on common, $1.1 million. Properties are smaller, with round 2,000 sq. toes and a median of three bedrooms and two baths — although heaps are fairly massive, with about 6,000 sq. toes.
Town has declared the neighborhood a traditionally protected space, which suggests there are strict guidelines for constructing, and totally different subdivisions might need a householders affiliation (HOA). The smaller neighborhood has 5 colleges. The vast majority of residents are of their 30s and 40s, and 43.5% of households are married {couples} with kids.
Dimas says that there’s “By no means a tough time discovering one thing thrilling to do, with numerous swanky eating places, artwork festivals, vintage outlets, museums, and absolutely anything else your coronary heart wishes.”
Though the demographics skew youthful, Dunlap has seen numerous purchasers shifting again into town as they turn into empty nesters.
“The Heights has the best vibe in Houston, houses are very small, most of them are previous and redone now,” she says. “I’ve numerous purchasers which might be empty nesters that raised their children within the suburbs and need to transfer into city, downsize, transfer into the Heights.”
It’s a hip space the place you’ll be able to stroll to numerous bars and eating places, so she describes these purchasers as residing their second childhood after they transfer there.
As a result of it’s near downtown, most individuals who reside within the Heights have a brief commute, beneath half-hour. Common hire is $2,450, and newer development townhomes and residences have elevated the variety of youthful individuals residing within the space. The Heights’ turn-of-the-century structure attracts a variety of individuals, all obsessed with their metropolis.
Younger professionals: Midtown
Stylish, bizarre, energetic, and hip — younger professionals are flocking to Houston’s Midtown neighborhood. It’s near downtown and Texas Medical Heart, and a brief commute to many employers from one in all its three METRORail stations. The extremely walkable neighborhood options bars, eating places, museums, and purchasing.
“Midtown is rapidly turning into often known as the ‘Hub of Houston,’” says Dimas. “With fast improvement and vibrant nightlife, Midtown has turn into one of the crucial energized and thrilling areas of city!”
The median age of people that reside in Midtown is 33.4, and the common family has two individuals in it — the vast majority of households don’t have children. In step with the youthful, double-income, no-kids vibe, 76% of residents hire fairly than personal. The median house value is $315,289, nevertheless, and hire runs round $1,400 a month, so it’s one of many cheaper areas in Houston.
Though it’s not a brilliant family-friendly neighborhood, it does have entry to nice colleges. The realm has been rising, with many new luxurious high-rise residences and condos constructed over the previous few years. Even with rising curiosity, it stays an reasonably priced housing possibility for a lot of of Houston’s youthful residents.
Nature lover’s paradise and deliberate group: The Woodlands
The Woodlands lived as much as its identify — only a 30-minute drive from Houston, this 28,000-acre forested suburb is a deliberate group good for nature lovers. Newly constructed luxurious homes have a median house value of $374,300; when you’re keen to commute into town you’ll get a extra bang to your buck right here. Rents are decrease, too, at $1,566 a month.
In keeping with Dimas, the Woodlands “is so fascinating with miles of nature, strolling, and biking trails; there’s a plethora of household actions to embrace.”
For those who transfer to the Woodlands, you may not spend a lot time at house. Facilities embody kayaking, mountain climbing, swan boat rides, and an outside amphitheater the place you’ll be able to absorb exhibits like Miranda Lambert, The Who, and the Dave Matthews Band. However the suburb doesn’t neglect the mind — these colleges are a few of the finest in Houston.
Whereas 71% of residents personal their houses, there’s a first rate quantity of rental housing. Properties are constructed for bigger households — with most having a minimal of 4 bedrooms and two to 3 baths and a pair of,600 sq. toes. Townhomes and condos are smaller, with two bedrooms.
The city has residential improvement requirements that govern new development, however you’ll be able to nonetheless purchase so much and construct your dream house.
Eating choices cluster close to I-45, and also you’ll discover all the pieces from Mexican to pizzerias to grills. This group balances city facilities with a give attention to nature. Outside fanatics and people who need an energetic way of life will discover what they’re in search of within the Woodlands.
Retiree-friendly: Shenandoah
This Houston suburb ranks No. 1 on Area of interest’s record of finest locations to retire in and round Houston. On the perimeters of the Woodlands, you have got entry to the nice nature it gives and 4 golf programs. Temperatures by no means dip under 41 levels, even in the course of winter, and in the summertime they’re within the 90s.
Dunlap says that lots of people assume that Shenandoah is a part of the Woodlands, however the space is really “its personal integrated little pocket, with good, fairly houses which might be extra reasonably priced.” It has “a couple of neighborhoods with patio houses and townhomes the place I’ve moved older purchasers.”
Simply east of I-45, you have got two hospitals, one rehabilitation middle, and several other clinics close by. Median house costs are $261,000, and rents are $1,071. Whereas solely 55% of residents personal their houses, there are a number of senior residing amenities that skew this share decrease. There are a selection of senior residing choices, together with a reminiscence care facility, condominium residing, and assisted residing, in addition to in-home care obtainable.
A fast drive into downtown Houston, you’ll be able to catch a musical on the Society of the Performing Arts or attend a live performance or stand-up present on the Bayou Music Heart.
“It’s an reasonably priced possibility in case you have children or grandkids which might be within the Woodlands and also you moved right here to retire,” says Dunlap.
One thing for everybody: Northampton
Dunlap says that Northampton is one in all her favourite neighborhoods round Houston, a hidden jewel that’s ”not only a neighborhood, it’s a group.” Over time she’s helped tons of of different households purchase, promote, and rework their houses in Northampton.
Linked to the Woodlands, and with entry to most of the similar eating and cultural actions, houses on this neighborhood have massive yards and towering timber. You’ll additionally discover parks, swimming pools, ponds, tennis, and “an esplanade that takes you again in time,” she says.
Whereas this outside way of life appeals to younger households — and it additionally has nice colleges — retirees will discover so much to love right here, too.
It’s house to the difficult course on the personal Willow Creek Golf Membership. Dunlap says that “You see neighbors on golf carts headed to the course to play a spherical or have dinner and drinks on the membership.”
Uncommon for many grasp deliberate communities, that are usually constructed over 10 years, houses locally have been constructed and developed over 50 years. So that you’ll discover houses priced anyplace from the $300s to $1 million or extra, of various ages, shapes, circumstances, and kinds. Whether or not you favor a ranch-style house or a Colonial, you will discover it in Northampton.
As Dunlap places it, “There may be merely no place else prefer it, and fairly a couple of of us say, there’s a magical feeling you get.” There’s one thing for nearly everybody!
For those who’re house purchasing in Houston, Texas, HomeLight’s Agent Match device may also help you discover a prime agent to information your property shopping for journey. The brokers in our community are the perfect of their space and have a deep data of the areas they serve—- as mirrored by the truth that they promote extra houses and shut quicker than the common brokers of their areas. Working with one in all our brokers, you will discover the right neighborhood for you in Houston.
Header Picture Supply: (Austin Hervias / Unsplash)
