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    On the Market

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

    Barbara Kuntz
    Barbara Kuntz
    Jan 7, 2014 | 7:04 am

    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 report

    New report reveals how many Texans are paying too much for rent

    John Egan
    Jul 31, 2026 | 10:30 am
    Luxury apartment
    Photo by Francesca Tosolini on Unsplash
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    Millions of Texas renters, both current residents and new arrivals, suffer from wallet whiplash.

    A new report from the Texas Affiliation of Affordable Housing Providers shows 45 percent of the state’s renters spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing. Renters occupy more than 4.2 million Texas households, representing nearly half of the state’s residents.

    Worse yet, 81 percent of extremely low-income households in Texas spend more than 50 percent of their income on housing, the report says. For that income group, Texas has a shortage of 864,000 affordable homes.

    Thirty percent is the standard financial benchmark for spending too much income on rent, while 50 percent puts a renter in the “severely cost-burdened” bucket.

    “To sustain growth and secure future prosperity, Texas will need more than 320,000 additional affordable homes [rented and owned] to address workforce housing affordability and meet the demands of a growing population,” says the report.

    “Today, the state is creating thousands of new jobs,” the report adds, “but housing supply has not kept pace with demand, driving up housing costs and constraining continued economic growth.”

    Not surprisingly, people who live in or move to three of Texas’ biggest metro areas get hit with the state’s highest apartment rental rates. Here’s Apartments.com’s list of the 10 most expensive places for renters in Texas, based on apartments whose average size ranges from 713 square feet in Austin to 771 square feet in Plano:

    • 1. Frisco — $1,477 per month
    • 2. Plano — $1,461 per month
    • 3. Austin — $1,417 per month
    • 4. Dallas — $1,413 per month
    • 5. McKinney — $1,363 per month
    • 6. Grand Prairie — $1,327 per month
    • 7. Irving — $1,318 per month
    • 8. Garland — $1,237 per month
    • 9. Fort Worth — $1,217 per month
    • 10. Houston — $1,183 per month

    San Antonio boasts some of the lowest average rent among Texas’ 10 most affordable markets: $1,075 per month. Mesquite, a Dallas-Fort Worth suburb, also fits into that category, with average monthly rent of $1,052.

    Earlier this month, Gov. Greg Abbott announced more than $114 million in grants to help develop or rehabilitate properties, providing more than 4,400 affordable rental units.

    “As our state grows, we must ensure that Texans have access to the affordable housing they need to thrive,” Abbott says.

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