Houston Real Estate Listings, Houston Homes for Sale, Houston Condos, Houston, Texas, TX

Houston Real Estate Overview

Houston is the largest city in the state of Texas and the fourth-largest in the United States. Houston is the county seat of Harris County, the third most populous in the country. Houston is one of 11 U.S. global cities as it is ranked "Gamma World City" by the Globalization and World Cities Study Group & Network.

This world-class city offers excellent housing choices in every price range, in both urban neighborhoods and outlying communities. Relocating to Houston could be the best move you’ve ever made. Houston’s plentiful neighborhoods, superior medical care and quality educational opportunities make adjusting to new surroundings painless.

As real estate moguls developed Houston, the number of appealing neighborhoods became expansive. Houston’s broad selection of builders makes for a competitive market, with some of the country’s largest builders based here. Houston boasts one of the most diverse populations among major U.S. cities.

Houston Master-Planned Communities

Anyone shopping for a home in or around Houston will often hear the phrase “master-planned community.” Developers launched this concept in the late 1960s and it has been extremely successful. Homes in these communities have strict regulations and deed restrictions. They feature amenities such as plentiful trees and greenbelts, community centers, educational facilities and recreation areas such as pools, ballparks and golf courses. These communities are found in the areas surrounding Houston and include Conroe, Copperfield, Fort Bend County, Friendswood, Jersey Village, Katy, Kingwood, League City, Pearland and The Woodlands among others. Master-planned communities offer a mix of lush scenery and modern conveniences, with locations near wooded acreage and bodies of water enhanced by abundant schools, shopping centers and restaurants.

Houston Wooded Neighborhoods

Houston is an astonishingly green city. As Houston’s population and physical size grew, the city itself took in regions that were established as rural areas and suburbs. The result is a vast city of business districts mingled with friendly neighborhoods. The City of Houston includes incorporated communities such as West University Place, named because of its proximity to Rice University.

In recent years, there has been a resurgence in residential development inside Loop 610, the freeway that encircles central Houston. Other close-in areas include Meyerland, Houston Heights, South Main, MacGregor, Riverside, Third Ward, Acres Homes, Denver Harbor and Idylwood. These areas feature many historical homes and old-fashioned neighborhoods brimming with character.

No description of Houston’s neighborhoods would be complete without mentioning River Oaks. This upscale area is home to big names, big oaks and big homes. New construction is less available, but the high quality of existing homes makes renovation worthwhile.

Urban Living

The Downtown Houston area offers a vibrant neighborhood for city dwellers. In addition to being the city’s central business district, downtown is home to the exciting performances in the Theater District, Major League Baseball at Minute Maid Park and both NBA and WNBA, plus professional hockey and major concerts at the Toyota Center. Downtown restaurants abound, many with award-winning cuisine. The social scene boasts everything from sports bars and beer emporiums to chic dance clubs and music venues.

Downtown Houston and nearby Midtown offer a multitude of residential options. New high-rise apartment buildings offer amenities such as a loft floor and intown convenience. Similarly, many historical buildings have been converted into lofts with plenty of history and character, along with modern conveniences.

Just south of Downtown Houston, Midtown is an up and coming neighborhood. Numerous mid-rise (two to three-story) apartment developments as well as high-rise lofts provide convenient and stylish living options. Some lofts feature restaurants and retail shops on the ground floor with apartments above. Also in this area, townhomes offer a more private residential option, similar to stand-alone, single-family homes.

The METRORail light rail service provides transportation throughout both Downtown and Midtown. The rail line’s service spans from the University of Houston-Downtown, on the northern border of downtown, all the way to Reliant Park, home of Reliant Stadium and the Houston Texans. The rail line includes stops in the Museum District, Texas Medical Center and Rice University.

Schools and Higher Education

The quality of educational programs plays a major role in your relocation decision. Houston I.S.D. is the largest independent school system in Texas and the seventh-largest in the nation. However, Houston I.S.D. is just one of the 31 independent school districts in Harris County and its surrounding areas. Many of these school districts have received awards of excellence from the State of Texas. Approximately 400 private and parochial schools also serve the area.

To carry Houston’s youth into the professional world, the area has 25 institutions of higher learning. Junior colleges, universities, law schools, medical schools and a wealth of professional and technical training schools provide endless educational opportunities for adults.

Houston Cost of Living

Houston has the lowest cost of living and the lowest median housing costs among 27 major U.S. metropolitan areas with populations of more than 1.7 million.

Houston Neighborhoods

Addicks, Afton Oaks, Aldine, Alief, Allendale, Alvin, Astrodome, Atascocita, Baytown, Bellaire, Binz, Braeburn, Braeswood, Braeswood Place, Briar Meadow, Briar Forest, Carverdale, Champions, Channelview, Chinatown, Cinco Ranch, Clearlake, Conroe, Crestmont, Cypress Fairbanks, Deer Park, Denver Harbor, Eastex, Edgebrook, El Dorado, Eldridge, Ellington, Fairbanks, Fairfield, Fifth Ward, First Colony, Fort Bend Houston, Fourth Ward, Friendswood, Galena Park, Garden Oaks, Genoa Township, Greatwood, Greenspoint, Gulfgate, Gulfton, Harrisburg, Hidden Valley, Houston Gardens, Houston Heights, Humble, Hunterwood, Independence Heights, Inwood Forest, Jacinto City, Jensen, Kashmere Gardens, Katy, Kemah, Kingwood, Lake Houston, Langwood, Laporte, Lawndale, Lazy Brook, League City, Little Saigon, MacGregor, Magnolia Park, Manchester, Meadowbrook, Med Center, Memorial, Meyerland, Midtown, Midtown Houston, Minnetex, Missouri City, Montrose, Myerland Area, Near Northside, Neartown, Newport, Northwest Crossing, Northline, Northshore, Northside, Oak Forest, Oates Prairie, Park Place, Park Ten, Pasadena, Pearland, Pecan Park, Pine Valley, Pleasantville, Port Houston, Richmond, River Oaks, Riverside, Rosenburg, Seabrook, Second Ward, Settegast, Sharpstown, Shoreacres, South Acres, South Houston, South Main, South Park, Southbelt, Spring Branch, Spring Branch Central, Spring Branch East, Spring Branch West, Spring Shadows, Stafford, Sugar Land, Sunnyside, Tanglewood, The Woodlands, Third Ward, Timbergrove, Tomball, Trinity, University Place, Upper Kirby, Uptown Houston, Washington Avenue Area, Wayside, West Memorial, West Oaks, Westbranch, Westbury, Westchase, Westwood, Willow Meadows, Willowbend, Willowbend Area, Willowbrook, Woodlake.

The Houston real estate links at the top of the page will help you find Houston homes for sale, Houston real estate agents and Houston home values. Get access to Houston real estate listings and Houston home listings, including the Houston MLS, Houston REALTORS, Houston new homes, Houston condos, Houston condominiums, Houston property, Houston land, Houston acreage and Houston foreclosures. These free real estate services feature all Houston cities, Houston towns, Houston suburbs and Houston neighborhoods. The websites linked above also contain information on Houston home selling, Houston home buying, Houston mortgages, Houston insurance, Houston movers and other Houston realty services for anyone looking to sell a home or buy a home in Houston, Texas, TX.

Also: City of Houston, Texas Official Website