Editor's note: Houston is loaded with must-have houses for sale in all shapes, sizes and price ranges. Throughout the month of June, CultureMap editor-at-large Shelby Hodge snoops through some of our faves and gives you the lowdown on what's hot on the market.

1217 Dunlavy

Location, location, location — we love the location of this three-story, loft-like townhouse a stone's throw from the lively retail/restaurant blocks of West Gray. From here, you can walk to a movie at River Oaks Theatre or stroll over to La Griglia or Tony Mandola's for dinner. Forgot the butter and eggs? Kroger is a block away. Whether your shopping habits run to Ann Taylor or to Marshall's, it's all within walking distance.

Walk through: Two bedrooms share a bath on the ground floor where the contemporary metal stairway (very chic) leads up to the living room/dining/kitchen floor. Here, the loft ambiance, created by side walls that are open to the roof line, gives this space a feeling of abundance and light. It's an open floor plan that plays up the exceptionally large kitchen and makes the townhouse ideal for heavy entertaining. Live here and it's a party every Saturday night.

The stairway then leads to a little piece of heaven — the third floor that is the master suite with windows looking east to downtown and west to the tree-shrouded neighborhood. The ceiling to the roof line offers this space a feeling of enormity.

Although completed in 1998, this townhouse reads purely 21st century.

Wow factors: Ceilings on the first and second floors are open truss, a dramatic rustic look that enhances the loft feel. Wide-plank hardwood floors on the second and third floors deliver a richness to the contemporary design. Spacious balconies off of the living room and master are additional bonuses.

Not so cool: The window to the east in the master suite faces the big gray roof of the house next door. (The downtown skyline, however, can be seen from the bath.) Frosting the glass has been suggested to camouflage the less-than-appealing view.

Bonus: This townhouse is on the corner, meaning more privacy, side access to the two-car garage and more windows which ramp up the volume on the light.

Square footage: 2,666

Taxes: $8,328

Asking price: $379,000

Listing agent: Andreas Weber of John Daugherty Realtors

Update: John Daughtery Realtors reports that this gem just went under contract.