Crazy Penthouse Perks

This $1.5 million River Oaks penthouse comes with its own knight in shining armor

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.

A knight in shining armor keeps guard at the entrance of a palatial River Oaks loft-style penthouse that's now on sale for $1.5 million.

Walk through

Located on the top floor of Renoir Lofts at 1005 S. Shepherd Drive, corner unit 814 is one of the largest residences in the 19th century Europe-inspired building and affords panoramic views of Houston. Highlights include floor-to-ceiling windows in the two-story great room and an open floor plan perfect for entertaining. Marble flooring extends throughout the first floor.

It is one of the largest residences in the 19th century Europe-inspired building and affords panoramic views of Houston.

Two enormous chandeliers hanging from the 20-foot-tall ceilings are included in the purchase, as are the custom remote sunshade blinds. Artwork by abstract expressionist Nicole Gavin, installed for a recent open house, is also available for sale.

At one end of the great room is the dining area, with the living room/den in the middle and kitchen at the far end. The cooking hub is spacious and features top-of-the-line stainless steel appliances. A kitchen island with bar stools offers more seating. A second bedroom with full bath is located on the first floor.

Upstairs homeowners will find a large loft study/office. The master bedroom boasts painted wood floors and lots of natural light through arched windows. The master bath is complete with dual vessel sinks, plenty of cabinet space, large tub and oversized corner shower.

Step outside
Unit 814 comes with two premium parking spaces right at the garage entrance and two storage units. Maintenance fees, not based on square footage per unit, are $650 monthly. River Oaks Shopping Center is nearby, as is downtown Houston.

Square footage: 3,468

Asking price: $1,499,000

Listing agent: Kristin Shawn McGill, Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan

The master bedroom features painted wooden floors and lots of light through arched windows.

3 On the Market 1005 S. Shepherd Dr. No. 814 penthouse May 2014

Photo by © Mike Wilcox

The master bedroom features painted wooden floors and lots of light through arched windows.

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Buzzy Suburb

Conroe ranks among most desirable U.S. suburbs to move to in 2025

Photo courtesy of Margaritaville Lake Resort

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A new list on the most desirable suburbs in America puts one buzzy Houston-area city in the top 20: According to a recent growth report by moving services website moveBuddha, Conroe comes in at No. 19 on the list of American suburbs that everyone wants to move to.

The survey ranks the suburbs that are the most in-demand in the most populous U.S. metros for 2025.

It ranks cities by two criteria: recent mover search data from January 2024 to February 2025 which reflectsmoves planned for the current year; and the most recent Zillow Home Value Index data for home averages in each of the 50 biggest metros.

Conroe had a "move in-to-out ratio" of 1.45, meaning there are 145 searches for moves in for every 100 searches for moving out.

This charming city's explosive growth can be attributed to its small-town feel, renter-friendliness, and much more.

The No. 1 suburb on the list was Summerville, South Carolina, 25 miles northeast of Charleston. The three other cities that topped Frisco were Meridian, Idaho just outside Boise; St. Augustine, Florida, 40 miles southeast of Jacksonville; and Vancouver, Washington, 10 miles north of Portland, Oregon.

According to the report's findings, Conroe is also among a select few desirable suburbs that can provide affordable housing without giving up its popularity. The average Conroe home was worth $318,335 in December 2024, which is nearly $39,000 lower than the national average home value.

"These suburbs prove that affordability doesn’t mean compromise, offering newcomers a chance to settle in growing communities without breaking the bank," the report's author wrote.

Conroe's affordability also makes it much more appealing than other Texas suburbs that made it on moveBuddha's list. Homes in the Dallas-area suburb of Frisco – which ranked No. 5 nationally – were worth $671,173 in December. A move to that particular North Texas city won't come cheap.

The report does caution top suburbs like Conroe that offer a "city-like culture" can sometimes inherit problems of those same cities residents are trying to escape from, such as high housing costs and congested traffic.

"Whether they’re following in the footsteps of a booming metropolis or quietly living off the charm of a slower-paced past, these top suburbs were made to fit every taste and budget," the report said.

Other desirable Texas suburbs
Besides Frisco and Conroe, only two other Texas cities ranked among the top 50 most in-demand American suburbs: The North Austin suburb of Georgetown (No. 18) and Canyon Lake (No. 42) outside San Antonio.

The top 10 most desirable suburbs to move to in 2025 are:

No. 1 – Summerville, South Carolina (Charleston)
No. 2 – Meridian, Idaho (Boise)
No. 3 – St. Augustine, Florida (Jacksonville)
No. 4 – Vancouver, Washington (Portland)
No. 5 – Frisco, Texas (Dallas-Fort Worth)
No. 6 – Tempe, Arizona (Phoenix)
No. 7 – Saint Paul, Minnesota (Minneapolis)
No. 8 – Fort Mill, South Carolina (Charlotte, North Carolina)
No. 9 – Clermont, Florida (Orlando)
No. 10 – Cary, North Carolina (Raleigh)

dallas frisco suburbs reports real estate