a piece of history

River Oaks mansion by famed architect hits market for $18.9 million

The River Oaks Country Club, Lamar High School, Bayou Bend, and Rice University's Fondren Library share something in common with the home at 2110 River Oaks Boulevard. They were all designed by Houston architect John F. Staub.

Unlike the country club, the high school, the house museum, and the library, 2110 River Oaks Boulevard is for sale, listed by Laura Sweeney of Compass Realty. Home buyers can own a piece of Houston's history for $18.9 million.

Staub, who was educated at MIT and moved to Houston in the early 1920s, designed the home in 1938. It sits on more than 1.6 acres, and includes the main house, a four-car garage with an upstairs, two-bedroom guest apartment, and an entertainment pavilion. Most recently owned by Larry Brookshire, the house has been lovingly restored and thoughtfully reimagined by the team of architect Martha Bute in collaboration with interior designer Bruce Budd.

The result is a home that offers modern amenities and conveniences, while preserving the look and feel of this historic home. The remodel includes museum-quality finishes, impeccable scale, and sublime views of the estate's park-like setting. Highlights include an elevator, a slate roof, and a chilled water AC system.

Photo by TK Images/Courtesy of Compass

2110 River Oaks Boulevard, designed by Houston architect John F. Staub, is for sale for $18.9 million.

2110 River Oaks Boulevard is a home that offers the gracious living that comes with one of Houston's premier addresses. Ample gathering spaces offer room to entertain, while the primary suite is an oasis for owners. This is a home that, as it approaches its 90th year, embraces its past even as it offers all of the luxury amenities of the present.

home-for-sale river-oaks

renter livability report

New study ranks Houston as one of the worst places for renters in U.S.

Photo by Leo Yao on Unsplash

Houston flopped toward the bottom as one of the worst places for renters in the nation.

Renters looking for a place in Texas that balances affordability, convenience, and quality of life may want to look outside of Houston, which was just named the 144th "best" city to rent in America.

Houston's rental market apparently leaves much to be desired, according to WalletHub's newly released report, "Best & Worst Places to Rent in America." Experts analyzed 182 U.S. rental markets based on 21 relevant metrics, including the difference between rental rates and mortgage payments, rental affordability, the local cost of living, job availability, and more.

Surprisingly, Amarillo was deemed the No. 1 best Texas city for renters, and it ranked 10th nationally. Hot Dallas suburb Plano came in second place statewide and ranks 12th for a second year in a row, leaving Austin in third place and 13th overall (up from No. 31 last year).

The report said Houston has the 120th best quality of life out of all 182 U.S. cities in the report, and the city ranked 127th nationally in the "renter market and affordability" category. Ouch.

WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said the best cities for renters offer much more than inexpensive housing, a good job market, and recreational activities. For example, rent prices in the top cities cost tenants as little as 15 percent of their income.

"You’ll also have access to robust laws that protect renters, such as limiting deposits to only a month or two of rent," Lupo added.

Houston residents know their city better than a study ever could, so they can decide if the city's renter market isn't up to par. A separate RentCafe study found the city has become a magnet for Gen Z renters searching for good job opportunities, recreation, and good schools. And now that local rent prices are declining, things might be starting to look up for Houston renters.

Though renting can be more cost effective than owning a property, WalletHub said it's not always a better choice.

"The right road to take depends on a variety of factors, including an individual’s or family’s financial means and how well the local real-estate market is doing," the report said. "Like home prices, rental rates can vary significantly by region, state or city."

Other Texas cities that ranked among the top 100 best places to rent in America include:

No. 24 – El Paso
No. 34 – Grand Prairie
No. 37 – Laredo
No. 48 – Brownsville
No. 49 – Arlington
No. 50 – Fort Worth
No. 63 – Corpus Christi
No. 64 – San Antonio
No. 66 – Irving
No. 79 – Garland
No. 81 – Lubbock

wallethub reports rent report renting real estate