Indulge in a sumptuous dining experience at one of downtown’s many and diverse establishments. Kick back with friends at a local neighborhood watering hole after work. Sit spellbound watching the poise of graceful Houston ballet dancer Lauren Anderson as she glides across the stage at Wortham Theater. Zoom from the Museum District, the Texas Medical Center or Reliant Park to the center of downtown Houston in minutes on Metro’s light rail. Cheer the Astros under the night sky at Minute Maid Park on a balmy October eve as they strive to go all the way.

Don’t know Texas St. from Prairie St., where the fabled tunnel system starts and stops or the closest hotel to the Toyota Center? You will find that and more here at our new HoustonDowntown web portal. Enjoy navigating the site and we look forward to seeing you downtown!

As for downtown Houston real estate, more and more Houstonians are choosing a downtown address. Downtown Houston's current residential population of 3,000 is expected to more than triple by 2010.

Professionals working downtown, empty nesters and reverse commuters are increasingly attracted to downtown, with its growing opportunities for loft living. Approximately 3,017 units have been built within 1.5 miles of downtown in the past few years. Another 4,000 are expected to be complete in the next few years.

The Theater District - a 17-block area in downtown’s epicenter - provides venues for ballet, opera, theater companies, symphony and Broadway performers. Nationally it ranks second to New York in terms of sheer numbers of concentrated theater seats in a downtown area.

In 2002, the Theater District welcomed the new Hobby Center for the Performing Arts. And in February 2003, the Downtown Aquarium opened, offering up-close views of exotic marine life, seafood restaurants, Ferris wheel, carousel and much more. Nearby, Bayou Place boasts live music, restaurants and a movie theater for passers-by who want to sample the infinite offerings.

On downtown’s eastern border, the expanding George R. Brown Convention Center introduces its companion hotel, as well as a new basketball stadium to complement an existing state-of-the-art baseball facility. For more info, go here... http://www.houstondowntown.com/home/default.asp
 

Experience the history and excitement of Midtown!

Midtown is fast becoming one of Houston's most culturally diverse areas, while its commercial and residential landscapes have become the most prized in the city.

With its thriving mixed-use community, Midtown offers an environment that exemplifies the unique experience of urban living. It is a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood in the heart of Houston where many are choosing to live, work, play, and invest.

Houston has several places to live that are close in, but Midtown is the only place that is-in!

For information on the latest Midtown happenings, read the current edition of the Midtown Paper!

Midtown has a rather large large business community, including a Vietnamese business district, three cultural arts museums and 40,000 square feet of performing arts revitalization. The community-oriented, urban neighborhood has grown tremendously and has become a hub of restaurants and shops. For more information, go here... http://www.houstonmidtown.com
 

Bellaire is a city in Harris County, Texas within the Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown metropolitan area. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the city population was 15,642 and is completely surrounded by the cities of Houston and West University Place.

Bellaire is famed for its Little League baseball team, which entered the World Series on one occasion. In addition, the city's sole public high school, Bellaire High School, is well-known for its academic and athletic programs. The Bellaire High School baseball team, Bellaire Cardinals, won the Texas High School Baseball championship seven times with several former or current Major League Baseball players.

Bellaire is known as the "City of Homes" as the city is mostly residential; the city mainly functions as a bedroom community for upper-middle class families. There are a few offices along the 610 Loop within the city limits. As of 2000, Bellaire is the 27th wealthiest location in Texas by per capita income. The median house price in central Bellaire for 2006 was $519,494.

The 6,000 homes in Bellaire are a mixture of 1950s and 1960s two- and three-bedroom ranch styles and brand new Georgian brick and Mediterranean stucco mansions. The practice of tear-downs – replacing old frame and brick bungalows with new, larger construction – is a common practice in Bellaire real estate. Bellaire experienced an 8.6 percent increase in property values last year. More than 200 homes valued at more than $500,000 were sold.
 

West University Place, often called West University or West U for short, is a city located within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown Metropolitan Area and Harris County. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the city population was 14,211.

West University Place is completely surrounded by the cities of Houston, Bellaire, and Southside Place. The street boundaries of West University Place are Bissonnet, Kirby, Holcombe/Bellaire and Community. The city is nicknamed "The Neighborhood City" as the city is mainly a bedroom community for middle and upper middle class families.

The United States Postal Service uses "Houston" for all West University Place addresses.

A charming mix of bungalows and new brick homes, West University is known both inside and outside Houston as a quality family-friendly community and has some of the finest real estate in Houston, in fact it's the third most expensive neighborhood in Houston and the 9th wealthiest location in Texas by per capita income. It's close proximity to Houston's medical center also makes it very attractive.

West University officials take special care with construction, putting specific restrictions and codes on the development of lots in the area. Such care makes sure West U neighborhoods are attractive and hold their value, thus making it one of the most desirable real estate areas in Houston. These neighborhoods are sprinkled with parks, and all of the streets are lined with trees. Residents, both young and old, are active and involved in the life of the community. Real estate prices range from $320,000 to over $2 million. The median price per square foot increased by 7.6 percent this past year. Lots range from $180,000 to $500,000+.

Close by is Rice Village, home to prestigious Rice University. The Rice Village area is one of the most vibrant and exciting in Houston. Beautiful tree lined, residential streets surround the university. Great shopping and eating can be found at The Village which has more than 350 stores, including 70+ restaurants. The 16-block area has an eclectic mix of unique shops and designer boutiques. Real estate ranges in cost from the $300s to $800s plus for a single family home.

Southampton is across from Rice University and this upscale neighborhood is also near the Texas Medical Center, the Museum District and not too far from downtown. Southampton was developed in 1922 by E.H. Fleming and is comprised of mostly large bungalows and Georgian style homes, most of them beautifully preserved. Stunning new construction homes are also available. Beautiful Oak trees form a canopy over Rice and Sunset boulevards, making it a memorable area. Older homes generally sell from the high $300,000 + new construction starts in the the 1 million range.

Southside Place is a special small secret. Shaped like a backward “L” slipped into the boundaries of West University, Southside Place has 440 homes and 1,500 residents. Only nine streets from one end to the other and only one block wide, Southside Place has street names in alphabetical order from Bellaire to Jardin. The tiny town was created in 1924 when E.L. Crain organized the small rows of bungalows. Chinese tallows became the trademark of the neighborhood.

Residents of Southside Place cherish the small town atmosphere of the community. Statistics show the average sales price of a home is over $800,000. The range is from $310,000 to well over $1 million. The average value of a lot is $325,000. The average household income in West University-Southside Place is $200,000 per year. Almost a third of the residents in the West U-Southside Place area hold some type of graduate degree.

The Museum District is a place where young and old, families on vacation and business travelers on a break can enjoy richly diverse cultural exhibits and activities. And the area in and around Hermann Park is one of the most beautiful in any city anywhere.

The Houston Museum District is an area of Houston where many of the city's museums are located. The district is centered on the Hotel Zaza (currently being renovated) and the adjacent Mecom Fountain. The Museum District also houses Rice University, the Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research and Hermann Park which includes the Houston Zoo and the Miller Outdoor Theatre. The Museum District is also near the University of Saint Thomas.

Some of the museums and institutions include:

The district is served by the Museum District Station light rail station on the Red Line of the METRORail light rail system. The southbound and northbound platforms are separate from one another.

The Texas Medical Center, with more than five million patient visits annually and one of the highest densities of clinical facilities and basic science and translational research of any location, is the largest medical district in the world. The center is located in Houston, Texas. It contains 42 medicine-related institutions, 13 hospitals, and two medical schools.

Adjacent to the center is Rice University, Hermann Park, Reliant Park and the Museum District. The center is sometimes referred to as the "Houston Medical Center" due to its location south of Downtown Houston (the central business district) and Midtown Houston.

The Texas Medical Center was established in 1945 through the generous philanthropy of businessman Monroe Dunaway Anderson. Anderson believed that a medical center that consisted of many different hospitals, academic and research institutions and support organizations should be built in Houston, next to Hermann Hospital. Anderson founded the M.D. Anderson Foundation prior to the charter of the medical center with an endowment of $300,000. The fund's first gift was a check of $1,000 to the Junior League Eye Fund for eyeglasses. Two years after establishing the M.D. Anderson Foundation, Anderson died, leaving $19 million to the organization, the largest charitable fund ever created in Texas. In 1941, the Texas state legislature granted funds to the University of Texas for the purpose of starting a cancer research hospital. The M.D. Anderson Foundation matched the state's gift to the university by supplying funds and land to construct the hospital.

President Roosevelt approved the purchase of 118 acres from the Hermann Estate in 1944 for the construction of a 1,000-bed naval hospital in Houston. The hospital, later renamed the United States Veterans Administration Hospital, opened in 1946 and became a teaching facility for the Baylor College of Medicine. Also in 1946, several projects were approved for inclusion in the Texas Medical Center including: Hermann Hospital, St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, The Methodist Hospital, The Shriners Crippled Children's' Hospital, and the Houston Academy of Medicine-Texas Medical Center Library. The M.D. Anderson Hospital for Cancer Research of the University of Texas began construction in 1953. Texas Children's Hospital admitted its first patient in 1954.

During the late 50's, the Texas Institute for Rehabilitation and Research opened. The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute at Houston added the Gimbel Research Wing. Texas Woman's University Nursing Program began instruction.

In 1962, the Texas Heart Institute was chartered and became affiliated with St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital and Texas Children's Hospital. Ben Taub Hospital of the Harris County Hospital District opened.

In 1993, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center began a $248.6-million expansion project which constructed an inpatient pavilion with 512 beds, two research buildings, an outpatient clinic building, a faculty office building and a patient-family hotel. From 2005 to present, the George and Cynthia Mitchell Basic Sciences Research Building, the Ambulatory Clinical Building, the Cancer Prevention Center and a new research building on the South Campus opened. The for profit Proton Therapy Center, the largest facility in the United States where proton therapy is used to treat cancer, opened in July of 2006.

The Memorial Hermann Healthcare System is constructing the six-floor, 165,000-square-foot Memorial Hermann Heart & Vascular Institute. Also under construction is the 30-story Memorial Hermann Medical Plaza, which will be largest medical office building in the Texas Medical Center and is currently the largest construction project in Houston.[2] The new construction is part of the system's city-wide "Century Project" initiative.

Baylor College of Medicine with affiliated St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital opened The Baylor Clinic on June 29, 2005, a new adult outpatient center. A second structure, to be completed in 2008, will provide an estimated 250,000 square feet of additional space for ambulatory care.

River Oaks, a well-established, Inner Loop neighborhood with some of the finest real estate in Houston. Known for it's location just minutes from Houston's central business district and cultural center. Its accessibility to shopping and dining in The Galleria, Highland
Village and River Oaks Shopping Center. This exclusive area is known for it's fine estates, beautiful homes, ancient oaks, magnificent azaleas and impeccably manicured lawns. Closer to Shepherd/West Gray, you can find newer construction in the form of townhomes and patio homes, more affordable than it's mansions slightly to the North.

Now more than 50 years old, Afton Oaks is a deed-restricted Inner Loop residential community of approximately 525 homes. Located between the Galleria and Highland Village, the neighborhood provides close proximity to the many cultural, professional and retail centers of Houston.

Royden Oaks lies just West of River Oaks and like River Oaks, it boasts luxury homes and prestige although the lot sizes tend to be smaller than those in River oaks

 

Near town is an area located in west-central Houston, Texas and is one of the city's major cultural areas. The location comes with distinctive character of eccentricity and diversity. The location and boundaries of Neartown is colloquially referred to as Montrose.

Near town is bounded by U.S. Highway 59 to the south, Allen Parkway to the north, Bagby Street on the east, and Shepherd Drive to the west. Once a magnet for the hippie movement, Houstonians would consider it as a hybrid of San Francisco's the Haight-Ashbury and The Castro.

The Heights, just north of downtown is a diverse, small town community in the heart of Houston that is truly unique. Here community spirit and pride is alive and well. It is characterized by charming tree-lined streets that frame the largest concentration of historic Victorian homes in Houston. The unique 19th street historic business district has a variety of antique and specialty shops that make the area a Mecca for antique shoppers. Heights Boulevard, the main esplanade is a living photograph of "how it used to be", featuring distinctive turn-of-the-century homes, privately maintained parks, and businesses keeping in the turn of the century style. The Heights has annual events such as the Historic Heights Home and Garden Tour, Heights Fun Run, Heights Festival and Holiday Open House. Hundreds of volunteers greet thousands of visitors who come to celebrate the history and tradition of the community at these events. Real estate in the area ranges in the low $200's for a small bungalow to over over one million dollars for a grand Victorian mansion. For more info, go here... http://www.houstonheights.org

The Uptown/Galleria area exudes a cosmopolitan air. Because of its high-rise skyline, some visitors often confuse it with downtown, but this West Loop area has its own distinct character. Houston’s uptown district, the Galleria/Post Oak area, has been called Houston’s Urban Village. As Houston has grown to become the nation’s fourth largest city, it has developed a unique urban environment outside of downtown, yet centrally located. This area weaves a thriving business district, acclaimed retail stores, luxury hotels, condominium and apartment towers, and prestigious residential neighborhoods with Houston’s natural beauty into a vibrant community known as Uptown. Uptown Park, a European-style shopping center, takes you away to a shopper’s dream. Fountains, landscaping and colorful buildings give the city an elegant Italian-style piazza with shops, boutiques and cafés. Practically in Uptown Park are the Montebello and the Villa d'Este, two luxury highrises.

Housing in the Galleria area ranges from recently built contemporary lofts, expensive and elegant highrises, older condos, prestigious patio homes in gated communities to expensive custom homes.
Showcasing four-star hotels and global cuisine, this area caters to international visitors and Houstonians alike. Ample green space is sprinkled throughout this smartly landscaped shopping and business community.

Tanglewood, near Uptown also in the Galleria area is another upscale neighborhood. Homes here range in the 400K to over $2.5 million range. There are also wonderful patio and townhomes available and it's now the home of former President, George Bush and his wife Barbara Bush.

Royal Oaks -zip code 77082 is situated within Houston city limits, to the West of Uptown, off Westheimer Rd. It is a resort-type gated community that is built around a world-class, private golf course; a 45,000 sq-ft Royal Oaks Country Club country Club. Homes range from the $350’s to more than $1 million.

JULY 2006-Voted by http://money.cnn.com/magazI have ines/moneymag/bplive/2006/index.html as the #3 best place to live!!

Sugar Land, Texas is located in Fort Bend County, one of the fastest growing counties in the United States. This location provides easy access to the medical center, Downtown, Greenway Plaza, the Astrodome and the Compaq Center. Many of Houston's sports figures have chosen to live in Sugarland. Shopping is close by with 7 shopping malls within 20 minutes, including the First Colony Mall in Sugar Land. The acclaimed Fort Bend School District brings families to this area for quality education and the amenities of the master planned communities in the area offer excellent activities for young and old alike.

The first truly master-planned community of this market was First Colony. It is a rapidly growing, energetic community that offers a unique lifestyle for all it's residents including the sought after Sweetwater Country Club. Every day conveniences include exceptional schools, abundant recreational amenities, a strong homeowner's association and architectural control. Green spaces are filled with little leaguers and toddlers at play.

Other wonderful subdivisions are: Avalon, Lake Olympia, New Territory, Greatwood and Sienna Plantation. Homes prices in these areas range from the $150's to the millions.


 

Copyright 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 B&D Marketing. All rights reserved
** Contact the Webmaster: webmaster@bdmarketing.com **
This site is designed for use with Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 (and above), Netscape 4.7
United Texas Realtors
Information provided is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified.
Claims of Copyright Infringement