the high life

Woodsy and lake-laden new north Houston development promises lush living starting under $300K

The Highlands Porter Texas Montgomery County

The Highlands is meant to evoke the feeling of a massive, wooded state park.

One lesson from the global pandemic is that locals are now willing to travel far outside the confines of the Loop for a higher quality of life — and especially for green space. To wit: Potential buyers are swarming to new developments such as PrairieLand Village and the ranch-inspired Massey Oaks — both outside the Loop.

Now, a massive development north of Houston promises large recreational lakes, a 300-acre nature preserve and a sandy beach along the San Jacinto River, and some 4,000 new homes starting at just under $300,000.

Houston-based Caldwell Communities has announced The Highlands, a new, 2300-acre project located just west of FM 1314 along the Grand Parkway, specifically in Porter, Texas in Montgomery Couty. The Highlands is meant to be reminiscent of a national park, press materials note, boasting lush lakes, woods, a new 18-hole golf course, and even a waterpark with a lazy river.

Developers are hoping to draw budget and lifestyle-minded shoppers with more than 300 acres of nature preserves, the aforementioned beach, miles of paved and natural hiking trails, an on-site elementary school, and more.

The community is currently being developed, with a soft opening planned for late fall and a grand opening slated for mid-2022, according to a press release. Those interested can sign up for information via the official website and get the latest updates, home plans, and more.

Golfers, through resident HOA dues, can enjoy a social membership to the semi-private 18-hole golf course, Highland Pines, built by Augusta Pines developer Tour18. Highland Pines will be the first all-zoysia grass course and will offer a juniors program for kids looking to enhance their golf skills, a release note.

A new onsite elementary school is slated for fall 2024 and will be zoned to New Caney ISD. Area students currently attend Crippen Elementary, New Caney Middle School, and New Caney High School.

As for the reasonably priced homes, a planned model home park will include builds from names including Beazer Homes, Caldwell Homes, Coventry Homes, David Weekley Homes, Drees Homes, Empire Communities, Highland Homes, Lennar Homes, Newmark Homes, Partners In Building, Perry Homes, and Ravenna Homes.

For those who might balk at the location, The Highlands will be close to all major freeways, including I-45 and Hwy 69, and near major area employers such as Anadarko, Chevron, and Exxon Mobil.

“From the forty miles of rated trails along an elevated ridge of the property to the unique nature-inspired waterpark, residents at The Highlands will experience a wealth of amenities unlike any other we've designed,” Caldwell vice president of marketing Jennifer Symons said in a press release. “It feels like an escape from Houston, yet still close to it all, so homeowners get the best of both worlds.”

home-for-sale city-news-roundup

renter livability report

New study ranks Houston as one of the worst places for renters in U.S.

Photo by Leo Yao on Unsplash

Houston flopped toward the bottom as one of the worst places for renters in the nation.

Renters looking for a place in Texas that balances affordability, convenience, and quality of life may want to look outside of Houston, which was just named the 144th "best" city to rent in America.

Houston's rental market apparently leaves much to be desired, according to WalletHub's newly released report, "Best & Worst Places to Rent in America." Experts analyzed 182 U.S. rental markets based on 21 relevant metrics, including the difference between rental rates and mortgage payments, rental affordability, the local cost of living, job availability, and more.

Surprisingly, Amarillo was deemed the No. 1 best Texas city for renters, and it ranked 10th nationally. Hot Dallas suburb Plano came in second place statewide and ranks 12th for a second year in a row, leaving Austin in third place and 13th overall (up from No. 31 last year).

The report said Houston has the 120th best quality of life out of all 182 U.S. cities in the report, and the city ranked 127th nationally in the "renter market and affordability" category. Ouch.

WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said the best cities for renters offer much more than inexpensive housing, a good job market, and recreational activities. For example, rent prices in the top cities cost tenants as little as 15 percent of their income.

"You’ll also have access to robust laws that protect renters, such as limiting deposits to only a month or two of rent," Lupo added.

Houston residents know their city better than a study ever could, so they can decide if the city's renter market isn't up to par. A separate RentCafe study found the city has become a magnet for Gen Z renters searching for good job opportunities, recreation, and good schools. And now that local rent prices are declining, things might be starting to look up for Houston renters.

Though renting can be more cost effective than owning a property, WalletHub said it's not always a better choice.

"The right road to take depends on a variety of factors, including an individual’s or family’s financial means and how well the local real-estate market is doing," the report said. "Like home prices, rental rates can vary significantly by region, state or city."

Other Texas cities that ranked among the top 100 best places to rent in America include:

No. 24 – El Paso
No. 34 – Grand Prairie
No. 37 – Laredo
No. 48 – Brownsville
No. 49 – Arlington
No. 50 – Fort Worth
No. 63 – Corpus Christi
No. 64 – San Antonio
No. 66 – Irving
No. 79 – Garland
No. 81 – Lubbock

wallethub reports rent report renting real estate