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    The Ice Cream Mansion

    The ice cream mansion? A massive luxury "farm house" in Blue Bell country hits the market for $1.49 million

    Barbara Kuntz
    Barbara Kuntz
    Nov 21, 2014 | 12:39 pm

    Editor's Note: Houston, the surrounding areas and beyond are loaded with must-have houses and properties 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.

    Experience a gentler, less-hurried way of life at the 10-acre Morning Glory Farm, a serene outpost within the hills and valleys of the historic Texas Independence Trail Region in the Blue Bell Ice Cream haven of Brenham, now for sale at $1,497,500 as a family vacation destination, corporate retreat or even a bed and breakfast.

    A bit of background
    The country estate began more than 35 years ago when previous owners, seeking to create a weekend get-away, moved a historic 1925 Washington County school house onto the land. Renovations followed when the present owners purchased the property in 1997 and added modern plumbing and electricity to the already spacious home.

    Pasture meadows and an organic garden are part of the country experience.

    They crowned the country gem Morning Glory Farm and set about further transforming the house and grounds into the attractive, manicured yet natural multi-structure estate that it is today.

    Walk through
    Native Loblolly pines line the front drive from the gate at FM 390 North to the main house as well as a guest cottage and bunkhouse, now part of the compound and fashioned after the remodeled school house. A meadow of Bahia grass and wildflowers and a constant-level pond with fountain, lighted pier and gazebo also welcome owners to the retreat.

    The main house features a Texas-style front porch, opening to 15-foot ceilings, hand-sawed hardwood floors and a generously sized living and dining area with banks of windows. The updated kitchen includes artisan tile countertops and an island with pull-up seating.

    The master suite extends to a sitting area and an office, with the master bath boasting double sinks, shower, jetted tub and a walk-in closet. Two secondary bedrooms, one with a play loft, share a Hollywood bathroom.

    Perfect for extended family and guests, the guesthouse offers five bedrooms and three bathrooms, an open living and dining area and a fully equipped kitchen. The bunkhouse has an open kitchenette, living and dining rooms and a large dormitory-style bedroom sharing a Hollywood bath with the main living area. Both cozy structures come complete with deep front porches to relax on while catching a country breeze and taking in views of the property.

    Step outside
    Amenities abound in the great out-of-doors, including a grotto pool with a waterfall, wide stone terraces meandering from house to house and a gazebo with school bell to ring to rally guests inside for a hearty, home-cooked meal. Pasture meadows and an organic garden are part of the country experience. Horses are allowed at this leisure ranch. The two-car garage is detached.

    Notes: Morning Glory Farm is only 75 minutes from Houston and 10 minutes from the Brenham airport. The estate includes two irrigation systems and two water wells. An additional adjacent 20 acres at Morning Glory Farm are available and may be purchased separately.

    Square footage: 2,606 (main house)

    Asking price: $1,497,500

    Listing agent:Robert Frank, Martha Turner Sotheby's International Realty

    The main house at Morning Glory Farm was once a one-room school house built in 1925. Now it welcomes and invites after complete restoration and refurbishing.

    1 On the Market Morning Glory Farm in Brenham November 2014
      
    Photo courtesy of © TK Images
    The main house at Morning Glory Farm was once a one-room school house built in 1925. Now it welcomes and invites after complete restoration and refurbishing.
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    rent affordability news

    Houstonians need to make nearly $68,000 to afford rent in 2025

    Amber Heckler
    May 13, 2025 | 12:30 pm
    Dolce Midtown Apartments Houston
    Photo courtesy of Dolce Midtown Apartments
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    A new rental report from Zillow has revealed Houston renters need to make about 23 percent more money than they did five years ago in order to afford rent in 2025.

    Zillow analysts examined the income needed to afford rent in 50 major U.S. metros, and determined rent prices in each city as of April 2025.

    The average Houston renter needs to make $67,731 a year to afford living in the city, the report found. To afford rent for a single-family home, the income needed increases even further to $85,017.

    Despite Houston's rising rent cost of living, it's still more affordable than many other cities. Nationally, the average income needed for someone to comfortably afford rent comes out to nearly $81,000. The study says that figure has increased nearly 35 percent since 2020.

    "Housing costs have surged since pre-pandemic, with rents growing quite a bit faster than wages," said senior Zillow economist Orphe Divounguy. "This often leaves little room for other expenses, making it particularly difficult for those hoping to save for a down payment on a future home. High upfront costs are often overlooked, which can keep renters in their current homes."

    Rent prices in Houston averaged $1,693 last month, which is less costly than the national average rent price of $2,024. Additionally, Houstonians are spending about 24 percent of their income on rent, while the typical American spends almost 30 percent of their income on rent.

    Renters are also saving hundreds of dollars in comparison to those that own their homes, as a recent SmartAsset study discovered the median monthly housing costs for a Houston homeowner came out to $2,219.

    At least we're not living on the East or West Coast, where eight U.S. metros require six-figure incomes to afford rent. Residents in San Jose, California need to make $136,532 a year to afford rent, the highest out of all 50 U.S. cities. Rent prices in San Jose came out to $3,413 in April.

    Here's how much money renters need to afford living in other Texas metros, according to Zillow:

    • Dallas – $71,413
    • Austin – $68,840
    • San Antonio – $58,590
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