On the Market

A $3.8 million castle in the sand: Lavish Galveston mansion is all about the beachfront

Editor's Note: Houston and the surrounding areas 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 castle in the sand is catching waves of attention as a dream sunny family retreat for generations to come — and just in time for Galveston's yearlong celebration of its 175th birthday.

A majestic house in the Beachtown community offers 5,200 square feet on four levels, with seven bedrooms to comfortably accommodate friends and relatives for the 2014 celebration festivities and, of course, pure relaxation any year and any time of year. With a $3.795 million asking price, the custom home at 1609 Seaside Drive sits on three beachfront lots, allowing for bountiful bay and gulf views. All doors and windows are rated for 150 mph wind impact.

Walk Through
Up the elevator or stairs above the large patio, shower, garage and storage leads guests to the main foyer on the second level. The large kitchen is open to the living/dining area, which is surrounded by beachfront scenery via large windows.

One guest room is located on this floor, while four bedrooms, including the richly-appointed master bedroom and luxurious bath, are on the third level. The remaining bedrooms sit high above on the fourth level for more fantastic vistas.

Seven and one-half baths, media room, study, lounge area, exercise room and children's loft playroom fill the home with plenty of options for all ages.

Step Outside
Wrap-around porches on three sides of the house afford private views from sets of double-French doors. Community space extends the life outdoors with more than 1,700 square feet of deck space. A large private porch with slate floor, corbels and more columns beckons lounging. The lush passage with gazebo provides a short, scenic stroll to the beach or to the town center, where amenities such as a pool, gourmet cafe, ice cream shop and stores await.

Square footage: 5,200

Asking price: $3.795 million

Listing agent: Kelly Kelly, Re/Max

The east side of the home with Beachtower walkover.

3 On the Market 1609 Seaside Galveston December 2013 by Robert Mihovil

Photo by © Robert Mihovil

The east side of the home with Beachtower walkover.

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rent affordability news

Houstonians need to make nearly $68,000 to afford rent in 2025

Photo courtesy of Dolce Midtown Apartments

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A new rental report from Zillow has revealed Houston renters need to make about 23 percent more money than they did five years ago in order to afford rent in 2025.

Zillow analysts examined the income needed to afford rent in 50 major U.S. metros, and determined rent prices in each city as of April 2025.

The average Houston renter needs to make $67,731 a year to afford living in the city, the report found. To afford rent for a single-family home, the income needed increases even further to $85,017.

Despite Houston's rising rent cost of living, it's still more affordable than many other cities. Nationally, the average income needed for someone to comfortably afford rent comes out to nearly $81,000. The study says that figure has increased nearly 35 percent since 2020.

"Housing costs have surged since pre-pandemic, with rents growing quite a bit faster than wages," said senior Zillow economist Orphe Divounguy. "This often leaves little room for other expenses, making it particularly difficult for those hoping to save for a down payment on a future home. High upfront costs are often overlooked, which can keep renters in their current homes."

Rent prices in Houston averaged $1,693 last month, which is less costly than the national average rent price of $2,024. Additionally, Houstonians are spending about 24 percent of their income on rent, while the typical American spends almost 30 percent of their income on rent.

Renters are also saving hundreds of dollars in comparison to those that own their homes, as a recent SmartAsset study discovered the median monthly housing costs for a Houston homeowner came out to $2,219.

At least we're not living on the East or West Coast, where eight U.S. metros require six-figure incomes to afford rent. Residents in San Jose, California need to make $136,532 a year to afford rent, the highest out of all 50 U.S. cities. Rent prices in San Jose came out to $3,413 in April.

Here's how much money renters need to afford living in other Texas metros, according to Zillow:

Dallas – $71,413
Austin – $68,840
San Antonio – $58,590

zillow housing report rent prices affordability houston