Drive Time Search

Fighting Houston's commuter horror stories: New real estate tool ranks houses based on commute times

A brand-new feature on the Houston Association of Realtors' revamped website allows apartment, condo and house hunters to search by job commute length (how many minutes it will take to get from the new place to their workplace).

This is an important consideration for buyers, the realtors association learned in a recent consumer survey.

Called the "Drive Time Search," the filter also includes additional commute search options such as by school, neighborhood place of worship and other important destinations with results based on typical traffic in each area. The tools are part of HAR's multiple listing service database expansion to statewide and use technology from logistic company INRIX — which, by the way, now ranks Houston as the 50th most traffic congested city out of 200 large metropolitan areas worldwide. (Austin stands at No. 10 in that same "Traffic Scorecard.")

"Texans are so dependent on their cars that it only makes sense that consumers should be able to conduct a real estate search based on their commute time."

CultureMap took the active commute feature on a test drive using the beta test now offered as the site is completely overhauled and found it easy to navigate. Visitors are welcomed with this message: "We constantly strive to stay ahead of the curve and provide the best online experience and resources for real estate consumers. With that in mind, we have been developing a "new" HAR.com with new features, data and real estate listings from across the state of Texas."

The "Drive Time Search" button, complete with a photograph of heavy traffic, appears right away, along with other illustrated buttons such as "Open House," "Commercial Real Estate," "International Real Estate" and "Find a Pro." Click the drive search to open the next step and actually enter your preferences, with commute options of 15, 30 and 45 minutes and a range of arrival times.

Also listed on this page are the commonly listed variables: Status (for sale vs. for rent), minimum and maximum price ranges, square footage and number of bedrooms and bathrooms.

Hit "Search," and you've arrived to a Google map outlining the area and pinpointing the different properties available within the selected drive time. Click on a specific property to view a general description and link to the full listing.

"This information is so valuable that we not only placed the functionality on the front page of our site but also on every detailed listing page, school page, apartment detailed page, home value page and sold detailed page," Nancy Furst, HAR chairwoman, said in a statement.

"Texans are so dependent on their cars that it only makes sense that consumers should be able to conduct a real estate search based on their commute time."

The Drive Time Search on HAR's newly designed website allows house hunters to filter their findings by commute time.

HAR drive time commute time new feature on new website January 2015

Houston Association of Realtors

The Drive Time Search on HAR's newly designed website allows house hunters to filter their findings by commute time.

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West Katy Grows

5-acre green space and Houston restaurants anchor new Katy development

Rendering courtesy of NewQuest

Texas Heritage Marketplace, a mixed-use development under construction in Waller County, spans 165 acres with a five-acre central green space.

Katy continues to grow, this time with the addition of Texas Heritage Marketplace — an 800,000-square-foot mixed-use development under construction in Waller County. While the project spans 165 acres at the southwest junction of I-10 and Texas Heritage Parkway, it’s the nearly five-acre central green space that will be surrounded by a curated mix of restaurants and retailers that sets it apart, according to the project's developer.

"We want to raise the bar on green space concepts. We envision a mix of inviting dining concepts and spa- or fitness-related brands to play off the entire project's lifestyle component," said Bob Conwell, senior vice president of NewQuest, in a statement. Conwell is leading pre-leasing efforts for the Houston-based real estate firm.

Escalante’s, Tony C’s Pizza and Beer Garden, Aji Izakaya, and Kilwin’s are the first wave of tenants to secure a spot in the 39,811 square feet of premium retail space encircling the green space. Half of that square footage is already either leased or in negotiations.

"Signing Escalante's is a badge of honor for Texas Heritage Marketplace's green space. It's well-known that the upscale restaurateur is very selective about its locations," said NewQuest senior vice president Bob Conwell.

The future Escalante’s outpost will be the Tex-Mex chain’s eighth location in the Houston area. Tony C’s Pizza and Beer Garden, a sports bar concept named after Red Sox legend Tony Conigliaro, is making its Greater Houston debut with the project.

"Aji Izakaya and Kilwin's are equally well-known brands in the market and both are expanding," Conwell said. "We're starting with four strong attractions as place-makers for the green space."

A large heritage oak tree that NewQuest saved from the path of nearby highway construction will serve as a focal point of the green space, with a water feature and native plants adding to the attraction.

"We're being highly selective about the tenants who will co-exist in the green space,” David Meyers, managing director of leasing and development partner for Houston-based NewQuest, said in a statement. “They ultimately share a common bond, which is to encourage people to stay longer and return frequently.”

Texas Heritage Marketplace, which broke ground in January, is already slated to be home to at least four national anchors, including a Target store expected to open in October 2026 and EoS Fitness. The anchors alone are projected to draw roughly four million visits annually. A 50,000-square-foot medical facility (with potential expansion to 70,000 square feet) and at least 500 high-end multifamily units are also planned

"It's rare to see a project of this magnitude being built today," Conwell said. "Once construction is fully underway, meaning walls are going up, the market's anticipation will really start to take off."

Rendering courtesy of NewQuest

Texas Heritage Marketplace, a mixed-use development under construction in Waller County, spans 165 acres with a five-acre central green space.

openings texas heritage marketplace