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$300,000 Playland House

Playland: This $300,000 house comes with its own wooded wonderland, waterfall pool & putting green

Barbara Kuntz
Barbara Kuntz
Apr 29, 2014 | 6:01 am

Editor's Note: Houston, the surrounding areas and beyond are loaded with must-have houses for sale in all shapes, sizes and price ranges. In this continuing series, CultureMap snoops through some of the best and gives you the lowdown on what's hot on the market.

With an expected 10,000 new employees moving to the major Exxon Mobil corporate campus near The Woodlands in 2015, a little gem of a house with a backyard oasis is sure to go fast — especially at the listing price of $300,000.

Walk through

The quaint single-family house sits at the end of a cul-de-sac on a one-block street, affording owners peace and quiet under towering pine trees. The back of the property is just across Lake Woodlands Drive from the award-winning Palmer Course of The Woodlands Country Club.

Enter into the large, open main room with hardwood floors and center contemporary fireplace serving as an architecturally interesting divider between the living area and dining room. The kitchen features an artisan backsplash, under counter lighting, pass-through snack bar and moveable island in the middle.

The breakfast nook at the end of the kitchen takes in views of the backyard via oversized windows. In fact, the backyard is visible from the kitchen, living and dining rooms and all three bedrooms in the house, thanks to multiple double-paned windows.

Hardwood floors continue into the master bedroom and lead to French doors taking owners to a private deck. Double sinks and a huge double shower with bench are highlights of the master bath. The other two bedrooms, each with walk-in closets, share a second bath with clawfoot tub and vessel sink.

Step outside
The backyard is truly a retreat with natural-style swimming pool, hot tub and spa, waterfalls, bridge to a garden escape and sandy beach. A path off the patio takes you into a wooded wonderland with four-hole putting green, sand trap and chipping area. Outdoor seating is spread throughout the yard, offering a new owner many places to enjoy the outdoors.

The brick-and-wood house comes with a two-car attached garage on the 15,240-square-foot lot.

Square footage: 1,800

Asking price: $300,000

Listing agent: Betty Bellomy, John Daugherty, Realtors

Another view of the main room, looking toward the dining room with views of the back yard.

22 On the Market 39 Cottage Grove place The Woodlands April 2014
Photo courtesy of © TK Images
Another view of the main room, looking toward the dining room with views of the back yard.
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renter livability report

New study ranks Houston as one of the worst places for renters in U.S.

Amber Heckler
Jul 9, 2026 | 9:15 am
Houston cityscape
Photo by Leo Yao on Unsplash
Houston flopped toward the bottom as one of the worst places for renters in the nation.

Renters looking for a place in Texas that balances affordability, convenience, and quality of life may want to look outside of Houston, which was just named the 144th "best" city to rent in America.

Houston's rental market apparently leaves much to be desired, according to WalletHub's newly released report, "Best & Worst Places to Rent in America." Experts analyzed 182 U.S. rental markets based on 21 relevant metrics, including the difference between rental rates and mortgage payments, rental affordability, the local cost of living, job availability, and more.

Surprisingly, Amarillo was deemed the No. 1 best Texas city for renters, and it ranked 10th nationally. Hot Dallas suburb Plano came in second place statewide and ranks 12th for a second year in a row, leaving Austin in third place and 13th overall (up from No. 31 last year).

The report said Houston has the 120th best quality of life out of all 182 U.S. cities in the report, and the city ranked 127th nationally in the "renter market and affordability" category. Ouch.

WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said the best cities for renters offer much more than inexpensive housing, a good job market, and recreational activities. For example, rent prices in the top cities cost tenants as little as 15 percent of their income.

"You’ll also have access to robust laws that protect renters, such as limiting deposits to only a month or two of rent," Lupo added.

Houston residents know their city better than a study ever could, so they can decide if the city's renter market isn't up to par. A separate RentCafe study found the city has become a magnet for Gen Z renters searching for good job opportunities, recreation, and good schools. And now that local rent prices are declining, things might be starting to look up for Houston renters.

Though renting can be more cost effective than owning a property, WalletHub said it's not always a better choice.

"The right road to take depends on a variety of factors, including an individual’s or family’s financial means and how well the local real-estate market is doing," the report said. "Like home prices, rental rates can vary significantly by region, state or city."

Other Texas cities that ranked among the top 100 best places to rent in America include:

  • No. 24 – El Paso
  • No. 34 – Grand Prairie
  • No. 37 – Laredo
  • No. 48 – Brownsville
  • No. 49 – Arlington
  • No. 50 – Fort Worth
  • No. 63 – Corpus Christi
  • No. 64 – San Antonio
  • No. 66 – Irving
  • No. 79 – Garland
  • No. 81 – Lubbock
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