room for horses, too

Katy compound with custom chicken coop hits the market at $4.5 million

Many homebuyers want more than just a house. They seek somewhere that provides ample room for family and friends, in a space that has modern amenities as well as serenity.

Those homebuyers want 3113 Saddlebrook Lane in Katy. Listed at $4.5 million, it’s the most expensive home on the market in the bustling Houston suburb and is represented by Kim Rensimer of Martha Turner Sotheby's International Realty.

View of he pool and guest house of 3113 Saddlebrook Lane

Photo by Home Capture, courtesy Martha Turner Sotheby's International Realty

The pool and spa of 3113 Saddlebrook Lane

With a main house, guest house, pool and spa, outdoor kitchen, and space for RV parking, this 3.82-acre property offers a lot to love.

The main residence offers 5,947 square feet of living space across two stories, with an impressive amount of natural light, six bedrooms, and four full baths. Coming through the double-door entry, it’s clear this space was made to impress. The entry’s travertine flooring offers an elegant welcome. A wine room is tucked under the main staircase. The living room’s neutral-toned walls are offset by dark wood exposed beams, creating a cozy space to unwind. Built-in shelves offer storage and display space.

The state-of-the-art kitchen is both a gathering space and a home cook’s dream, with Thermador and Liebherr appliances, a pot filler, dual sinks, quartz countertops, a breakfast nook, built-in desk, and views of the backyard. Just off the kitchen is the laundry room, with access to the three-car garage and a powder room.

The home's primary suite has its own sitting area, built-in speakers, large windows, space for a private study, and a spa-like bath. Upstairs, find four bedrooms with oversized walk-in closets.

This exquisite estate is surrounded by lush green spaces, majestic oak trees, and a serene pond, creating an idyllic setting for relaxation and outdoor activities. Horses are allowed. 3113 Saddlebrook Lane also has a custom chicken coop and custom-designed garden.

Inside and out, this Katy home has much to offer its next owners. There’s easy access to both 99 and I-10, and the home is zoned to Katy ISD. Those seeking a spot that blends modern life with rural serenity would be wise to look closely at 3113 Saddlebrook Lane.

rent report

New report reveals how many Texans are paying too much for rent

Photo by Francesca Tosolini on Unsplash

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Millions of Texas renters, both current residents and new arrivals, suffer from wallet whiplash.

A new report from the Texas Affiliation of Affordable Housing Providers shows 45 percent of the state’s renters spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing. Renters occupy more than 4.2 million Texas households, representing nearly half of the state’s residents.

Worse yet, 81 percent of extremely low-income households in Texas spend more than 50 percent of their income on housing, the report says. For that income group, Texas has a shortage of 864,000 affordable homes.

Thirty percent is the standard financial benchmark for spending too much income on rent, while 50 percent puts a renter in the “severely cost-burdened” bucket.

“To sustain growth and secure future prosperity, Texas will need more than 320,000 additional affordable homes [rented and owned] to address workforce housing affordability and meet the demands of a growing population,” says the report.

“Today, the state is creating thousands of new jobs,” the report adds, “but housing supply has not kept pace with demand, driving up housing costs and constraining continued economic growth.”

Not surprisingly, people who live in or move to three of Texas’ biggest metro areas get hit with the state’s highest apartment rental rates. Here’s Apartments.com’s list of the 10 most expensive places for renters in Texas, based on apartments whose average size ranges from 713 square feet in Austin to 771 square feet in Plano:

1. Frisco — $1,477 per month
2. Plano — $1,461 per month
3. Austin — $1,417 per month
4. Dallas — $1,413 per month
5. McKinney — $1,363 per month
6. Grand Prairie — $1,327 per month
7. Irving — $1,318 per month
8. Garland — $1,237 per month
9. Fort Worth — $1,217 per month
10. Houston — $1,183 per month

San Antonio boasts some of the lowest average rent among Texas’ 10 most affordable markets: $1,075 per month. Mesquite, a Dallas-Fort Worth suburb, also fits into that category, with average monthly rent of $1,052.

Earlier this month, Gov. Greg Abbott announced more than $114 million in grants to help develop or rehabilitate properties, providing more than 4,400 affordable rental units.

“As our state grows, we must ensure that Texans have access to the affordable housing they need to thrive,” Abbott says.

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rent report

New report reveals how many Texans are paying too much for rent