The sprawling metropolis of Houston TX real estate near the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico has proven its resiliency once again. Kiplinger recently ranked Houston as the No. 1 Best City in the United States. Single-family homes in Houston TX master-planned communities in places like Sugar Land, Katy and Pearland are as popular now as are the downtown urban lofts and condos for professionals and singles.
Houston's Upscale UpTown District
Houston TX homes are priced extremely competitively in comparison with other large metro areas. Greater Houston Texas real estate is spread out over 600 square miles, mostly in Harris County, but also into Fort Bend and Montgomery counties. With 5.5 million people in the area (2.2 in city limits)?and 15 percent growth since 2000?residents are a diverse mixture of people ranging from executives to cowboys and folks from many other nations.
Kiplinger looked for three main ingredients: technology, talent, and tolerance. They measured innovations, such as the number of patents per capita. In fact, Kiplinger found that 31.3 percent of the residents are part of the creative class. These include scientists, engineers, architects, educators, writers, artists, and entertainers?types that influence a city as they inject vitality and vibrancy into the fabric. The bohemian indicator was also strong, signaling a thriving arts community and cultural amenities. The city indeed boasts world-class museums.
According to Jane Bennett Clark in the 2008 edition of Kiplinger, "Houston has reclaimed its title as energy capital of the U.S. and added aerospace, technology and medical companies to the mix, generating more than 100,000 jobs in 2007. Leading the nation in job growth, the city also boasts a moderate cost of living, well below the national average." The average household income is $133,354 (I read this as a Sugar Land average income figure not to be directly compared to the Houston median income of $50,250.) and the median household income in Houston is $50,250, reflecting a 13.1 percent increase since the year 2000.
Then, too, after the oil bust of the 1980s, the city began investing in its downtown. The proactive stance has resulted in many new and exciting changes including a light rail system, Discovery Green Park, an expanded convention center, a renovated Main Street, and a new baseball stadium.
Houston Astros Minute Maid Park
Following that came Fortune 500 companies and now there are more of them here than in any city outside of New York.
With a strong economy, abundant jobs, a reasonable cost of living, achieving schools, and plenty of fun things to do, is it any wonder that the city ranked as the Best City to Live Work and Play?
Contact Roger Mallett of Trend Setter Realty at 281-635-7424 for information about real estate in the Houston, Sugar Land, Katy, Pearland and The Woodlands communities.
