bayou city bargain

Houston ranks No. 3 in U.S. for best ‘bang for the buck’ for new homes, says report

It really pays to buy a new home in Houston.

Photo by Ariel Skelley/Getty

In today’s home market, buyers are looking to get the most house for the lowest price. It turns out that in this regard, the Houston metro area delivers one of the biggest bangs for the buck.

A new ranking from residential real estate platform Home Bay puts Houston at No. 3 among the country’s 50 biggest metros on the “most bang for the buck” meter, based on the median price per square foot of a new, single-family home. In 2021, the typical 2,185-square-foot new home in the Houston area cost $359,995, or $167 per square foot, according to Home Bay.

“Examining price per square foot is more important than in the past because housing prices are also outpacing income,” Home Bay says.

Two other Texas metros join Houston in the “most bang for the buck” category:

No. 5 San Antonio, with a median price of $172 per square foot for a new 2,036-square-foot home costing $349,900.
No. 8 Dallas-Fort Worth, with a median price of $186 per square foot for a new 2,145-square-foot home costing $399,950.

Memphis, Tennessee, tops the “most bang for the buck” list, with a median price of $92 per square foot. Across the U.S., the median price per square foot stands at $169.

Also in the Home Bay report, Houston appears at No. 5 for the median size of a new single-family home (2,158 square feet at the end of 2021). Two other Texas metros make the top 10 in this category: No. 6 Dallas-Fort Worth (2,145 square feet) and No. 8 Austin (2,100 square feet).

Memphis also leads this list, at 2,630 square feet for the median size of a new single-family home.

Home Bay used data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Realtor.com to come up with its rankings.

HAUTE PROPERTIES

675-acre Hill Country ranch where George Strait rehearsed lists for $19.5M

Photo by Michelle Watson CultureMapSnap

George Strait developed his early sound at Lone Woman Ranch.

Lone Woman Ranch, the Hill Country estate where country stars like George Strait, George Jones, and Ace in the Hole Band rehearsed, is up for sale for $19.5 million.

Located 65 miles from San Antonio in Hays County on 675 acres, the secluded ranch once served as an artistic getaway for emerging Texas artists. The property, listed by Olmos Park firm Republic Ranches. is named after the nearby Lone Woman Mountain, and its elevation gives an incredible view of the county. On a clear day, you can see downtown Austin.

The land comes with two residences, both built near the entrance gate. The primary stone house has original hardwood floors, a recently remodeled kitchen and bathrooms, as well as a new HVAC system. The secondary residence was used as a rehearsal space. Both have had long-term residents who made improvements, and both have their own septic systems, wells, and electric meters.

The real appeal of Lone Woman Ranch, however, is the extensive woods, creeks, and natural setting. It is next to 6,000 acres of conservation land, including Storm Ranch. The entire mountain is also included in the property, making it a veritable mini-kingdom for the owner with unobstructed privacy on three sides.

Two ponds are on the site — a 4-acre and a 1-acre — both fully stocked. Runoff from the larger pond creates picturesque seasonal limestone waterfalls.The surrounding woods are full of wildlife, including white-tailed deer, turkeys, doves, and more. The property is under wildlife exemption.

It's little wonder the ranch was a muse to so many country musicians. A network of ranch roads provides access throughout the property, including most of the way up Lone Woman, giving views around every corner. Only Strait can tell you whether his 1996 hit "King of the Mountain" was inspired by the ranch.

Photo by Michelle Watson CultureMapSnap

George Strait developed his early sound at Lone Woman Ranch.

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