A city retreat

Houston fave Frank Billingsley's house hits the market for $1.5 million

Set just off Mid Lane is a beautiful, custom-built home. Located at 38 Hackberry Lane, the four-bedroom, three-and-a-half bath home with great details is now on the market for $1.525 million, represented by Corey Lipscomb of Martha Turner Sotheby's International Realty.

With 3,356 square feet of living space and sitting on a lot that’s more than 8,300 square feet, the home is currently owned by Frank Billingsley, current executive producer and co-host of Houston Public Media’s Hello Houston. Audiences will also recall him as the longtime meteorologist for KPRC-TV in Houston.

Upon entering the home’s double doors, potential buyers will be captivated by the home's dark, hardwood floors, and a dramatic, custom, wrought-iron staircase. The entryway also offers views of the living room, which features a fireplace, recessed lighting, and French doors that lead to a covered patio and the pool. A wet bar with porcelain counters and an ice maker are right off the living room, handy access for sharing cocktails with guests.

The formal dining room has custom millwork, inlaid hardwood floors, and French doors leading directly to the pool deck. Large windows offer abundant natural light and sweeping views of the backyard.

The kitchen offers porcelain countertops, a gas range, stainless appliances, and plenty of storage. It’s anchored by an island that has bar seating. A breakfast room is an ideal spot to begin the day with a cup of coffee.

Upstairs, the primary suite has its own fireplace and sitting room, making it a true owner’s retreat. The primary suite bath has a double sink vanity, seamless glass shower and separate soaking tub, as well as a walk-in closet. The additional bedrooms on the second floor each have a Hollywood bath. The fourth bedroom is on the third floor, with a full bath and walk-in closet.

The beautifully landscaped yard is perfect for entertaining, with a covered loggia with fireplace, hot tub, pool, and a covered patio.

With its location not far from Highland Village, Central Market, and the Galleria, this is a home that those who want to be in the heart of it all, while still feeling like they have an oasis in the city.

Photo by Josh Gremillion for Martha Turner Sotheby's International Realty

The kitchen is anchored by an island with bar seating

home-for-sale celebrities frank billingsley

Rent report

This Houston suburb had the highest apartment rent prices in June

The City of Sugar Land, Texas – City Government/Facebook

The asking rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Sugar Land was $1,450 in June, and two-bedroom units were $1,870.

Apartment rent prices in June were more expensive in Sugar Land than they were anywhere else in Houston, according to the latest monthly rental report from Zumper.

The rent report, which analyzed active listings from the previous month across all cities in the Houston metro, tracks the most and least expensive rent prices for one- and two-bedroom apartments, and determines the cities with the fastest growing rents. Listings were aggregated by city to calculate median asking rents.

Despite having the most expensive rent in the Houston area last month, the asking rent for one--bedroom apartments in Sugar Land was technically lower than it was a year ago. Sugar Land's asking rent for one-bedrooms dropped 0.7 percent year-over-year to $1,450, while asking prices for two-bedroom units grew 3.3 percent to $1,870.

Galveston saw the highest jump in one-bedroom prices year-over-year this past June, with asking rent for single-bedroom units rising 2.7 percent to $1,140. Two-bedroom apartments in Galveston dropped 2 percent year-over-year to $1,450.

One-bedroom rent in Pearland decreased 1.5 percent to $1,340 in June, which Zumper found was the second-highest rent price in Houston. Year-over-year prices for two-bedroom units rose nearly 3 percent to $1,770.

Houston proper had the third most expensive rent in the metro area last month, with prices for one-bedroom units remaining flat year-over-year at $1,280, while two-bedroom units decreased 7.4 percent to $1,500.

Houston-area cities with affordable rent compared to the statewide median
Zumper's report revealed that the median asking rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Texas came out to $1,134 last month, but there was no figure given for two-bedroom units.

Out of the 13 Houston-area cities included in the report, six had affordable asking rent prices lower than the statewide median: Huntsville ($850), Pasadena ($900), Texas City ($910), Lake Jackson ($920), Baytown ($940), and La Porte ($1,100).

Huntsville rent prices were the cheapest in the metro last month, but rent in Baytown decreased the most dramatically since last year with prices plunging 14.5 percent. Huntsville's current asking price is 5.6 percent lower than it was this time last year, which was the second-lowest drop.

These are the June rent prices for one-bedroom apartments in the three remaining Houston-area cities:

League City – $1,200
Spring – $1,180
Conroe – $1,150

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