On the market

A spectacularly remodeled mid-century modern for under $500,000 produces houseenvy

This view of the living area shows the glass wall overlooking the backyard.
The view of the house from T.C. Jester is sleek and contemporary enoying plentyof curb appeal.
A view of the living area from the kitchen. The space above the electricfireplace is designed for a flat screen TV.
The master bath and adjacent walk-in closet were carved from the middle bedroomof the once-three bedroom house.
The living area features beamed ceiling, original brick floors and a glass walloverlooking a verdant backyard.
The kitchen was compeletly rebuilt with European-style custom cabinetry andquartz countertops.
The guest bedroom is small but efficient.
The master bedroom opens to the backyard through a wall of glass.

Editor's Note: Houston is loaded with must-have houses for sale in all shapes, sizes and price ranges. In this continuing series, CultureMap Editor-at-Large Shelby Hodge snoops through some of our faves and gives you the lowdown on what's hot on the market.

UPDATE: The contract on this house fell through and it's back on the market. Check it out at the open house this Sunday, Sept. 9.

1136 Shelterwood

Robert Searcy of Texas Real Estate & Co. has a thing for mid-century modern houses so as soon as the gem at 1136 Shelterwood in Timbergrove Manor went on the market, he emailed me.

"I specialize in mid-century moderns, of course, and this one is truly exceptional. It was designed by Hamilton Brown, former council member Peter Brown’s father, and Peter was hired to help with the restoration. This is no flipper type house. (Remodeling expert Will Martin) spared no expense. "

The house was taken back to its studs and refurbished with all new wiring, new plumbing, insulated commercial windows and frames . . .

The house was so spectacular in a retro-Palm Springs sort of way and so well-priced (under $500,000), that Searcy received a contract (sale pending) on it the morning that I arrived to take a look-see. Ordinarily, that would have nixed the property from my consideration.

But the house was just too well done not to share with readers. So consider this a remodeling masterpiece rather than an On the Market.

The original house was comprised of three bedrooms and two baths, squeezed into 1,843 square feet. Martin and Brown reduced the count to two bedrooms, incorporating the middle bedroom into the master bath and closet thereby making the house pleasantly livable.

Throughout the extensive make-over Martin recorded the effort on his blog. As he noted when the house was completed, "This has been one of my very favorite projects in a long time and it's finished!"

The main living quarters are open plan with living room, dining area and kitchen all flowing into one delightful space defined on one end by the electric fire place with glass rock bed (see the intriguing faux flames and details here) and on the other by the kitchen bar. Love the new kitchen that has been completely redone and is outfitted with custom European cabinetry, quartz countertops and the latest in range, fridge and washer/dryer.

God bless Martin for installing solid wood doors. No plastic or hollow veneers, thank you.

For this project, Martin took the house back to its studs and refurbished with all new wiring, new plumbing, Icyne spray foam insulation and LowE insulated commercial windows and frames. The latter two are important as the house sides up to T.C. Jester where on occasion traffic can be an issue. However, on my visit, even though cars whizzed by, I didn't hear them.

New wood floors throughout much of the house, herringbone brick floor in the living area and recessed lighting are additional fine touches. Exposed brick walls, tongue and groove ceiling, walls of glass and the patio with fireplace are all magical touches that give this house such appeal. And God bless Martin for installing solid wood doors. No plastic or hollow veneers, thank you.

The spanking new 7-foot-high cedar privacy fence guarantees a secure feel when relaxing in the living area that features a vast expanse of glass wall opening to the backyard.

Another bonus to this home is the location — very nice neighborhood with lots of mature trees, large lawns and only minutes from the urban action.

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bang for your buck

These are the 6 most affordable ZIP codes for Houston renters

Facebook / City of Bellaire, Texas

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Trying to afford buying a home in Houston is difficult enough with current mortgage rates, and doubly so if you're already paying high rent on an apartment or a house. But there are six Houston ZIP codes where renters can get the most bang for their buck, according to a new study by financial services company CashNetUSA.

To find the most affordable ZIP codes to rent in the U.S., analysts compared median household incomes by ZIP code to the average annual rent costs using the Zillow Observed Rent Index. ZIP codes where the average annual rental costs required the lowest percentage of median household income were considered the "most affordable."

Two Houston-area ZIP codes specifically stood out in CashNetUSA's ranking of the most affordable ZIP codes for renters in America: 77401 in Bellaire (No. 9) and 77094 in the Energy Corridor (No. 12).

According to the study's findings, the average monthly cost of a rental in Bellaire comes out to $2,401.25, and the median annual income of a Bellaire household is $210,577. Analysts then calculated that the annual rent of a home in the Bellaire ZIP code only takes up 13.68 percent of a household's median income, which is the ninth-lowest in the nation.

But as Houstonians know all too well, Bellaire residents aren't exactly struggling to pay their rent, seeing as they live in one of the wealthiest places in America.

Meanwhile in Houston's 77094 ZIP, annual rent costs only represent 13.88 percent of a household's median annual income. The area – which encompasses the Kingsland Estates, Green Trails, Green Trails Oaks, Windsor Park Estates, Windsor Park Lakes, and Barker neighborhoods – has a median household income of over $168,000, and average rent costs add up to $1,944.58, according to the study.

CashNetUSA found the No. 1 most affordable ZIP code for renters nationwide is 66224 in Leawood, Kansas, where annual rent only takes a 10.57 percent cut out of a household's median annual income.

Elsewhere in Texas, San Antonio's 78248 ZIP ranked as the No. 4 most affordable ZIP code for renters in the U.S., and the No. 1 most affordable ZIP code statewide. The North Texas ZIP code 75013 in Allen ranked two spots behind Houston to claim the No. 14 spot nationally.

The most affordable Houston ZIP codes for renters
CashNetUSA further unveiled the five most affordable ZIP codes across major U.S. cities, including in Houston, Austin, and San Antonio.

Following 77094 (which took the No. 1 spot citywide) is 77008 (No. 2), which spans Greater Heights, Houston Heights, Shady Acres, and Lazybrook/Timbergrove. Rent costs in this ZIP code averaged out to $1,856 per month, the report found.

Landing in the No. 3 spot is 77024, which includes four of Houston's historic Memorial Villages, including Hedwig, Bunker Hill, Hunters Creek, and Piney Point. The report said average rent in the area comes out to $1,730 per month, which takes up 16.88 percent of a household's median annual income.

The remaining top two most affordable ZIP codes for Houston renters are located in 77007 (Washington Avenue Coalition/Memorial Park, Rice Military, and Crestwood/Glen Cove) and 77345 in Kingwood, which is about 30 miles north of downtown Houston.