“The slump in Houston’s housing market shows no sign of abating. Single-family sales fell 29.9 percent in January ’23 compared to January ’22. This was the weakest January since ’19, a month in which the region had 200,000 fewer jobs and 350,000 fewer residents,” according to the Greater Houston Partnership, the largest Chamber of […]
Hurricane season is coming.
Hurricanes are some of the most devastating storms a homeowner can face. Hurricane-force winds can reach more than 170 mph.
Hurricane Harvey, the strongest storm to hit Texas since 1961, had wind speeds of 130 mph. The storm gave homeowners a surprise lesson in how much wind damage costs in Houston […]
A guide to foundation problems
Your house is built on a patch of dirt, and like it or not, the dirt moves over time. That’s why homes in Texas often have foundation issues. A home’s foundation is the structural base that holds up the rest of the house, so fixing foundation problems can be […]
The rates of mortgage defaults in the U.S. and in states like Texas signal the current state of the economy. The mortgage industry took a serious hit with the 2008 crisis that left many without homes and impacted unemployment rates and other economic indicators.
Monitoring mortgage default rates in Texas helps to predict future growth […]
Many times, people who love city life give all of that up so that they can move somewhere safe for their children. Moving to suburban areas many times gives children the space and freedom of having a backyard, better education opportunities and daycare options, and more options for meeting other children their age.
While moving […]
The summer real estate season is right around the corner in Houston. If you’ve decided to move before the school year starts again, now is the time to start boning up on Houston’s surging real estate market.
If you’re a first-time home buyer, or your growing family needs more space, or you’ve decided it’s time […]
When a formerly depressed neighborhood suddenly becomes hot, rapid growth can transform an area almost overnight. But it can also bring expensive growing pains. Is gentrification making Houston unaffordable?
Gentrification can happen quickly. As higher-income buyers move into a growing neighborhood, the cost of living goes up. Rents typically escalate, forcing poor and working-class families […]
Old neighborhoods don’t have to be ugly.
Think of the prettiest old homes you’ve ever seen. The kinds of neighborhoods just north of any American downtown that have existed for as long as the city they call home. When it comes to neighborhoods, old doesn’t necessarily mean ugly. Although Houston isn’t as old as some […]
The time has come. You’ve finally decided to tackle that big remodeling project you’ve been putting off for years. Maybe you’re redoing the kitchen or converting your garage into a spare bedroom.
Whether you do the work yourself or hire a contractor, it may be the case that you need to get a permit before […]
Abandoned properties aren’t just eyesores—they’re also symptoms of economic forces at work in the community. This can signify a decrease in property values and an increase in welfare levels.
Texas has its fair share of abandoned homes. In Houston for example, the vacancy rate of abandoned homes is 10%, with roughly 235,229 vacant units. These […]
