Posts Tagged ‘Downtown’

High Rise Condos in Houston, Texas

Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011

Houston high rise condos appeal to a wide range of buyers and renters alike; people who prefer an urban lifestyle and the proximity to work and play, retirees, young professionals, those who have tired of the constant chores and upkeep of a single-family home, etc.

Additionally, condo amenities offer considerable appeal; secured parking, security systems, swimming pools and workout rooms, card rooms and libraries, entertainment facilities and meeting rooms, luxurious grounds and impressive lobbies in many cases.

Large balconies, panoramic views, state-of-the art appliances, marble and granite countertops, well-designed floor plans and much more are to be found in many upscale condo developments as well.

Houston boasts many outstanding examples of luxury high rise condos, although, for the more budget restricted, older, lower-priced condos can be found as well.

Houston High Rise Condo Choices

The newest and first high rise condo scheduled for an opening in Houston in 2010 is the nearly completed Highland Tower, a luxury high rise located on Bancroft Lane between San Felipe and Westheimer, nearby to the Highland Village Shopping Center. The target date for the first move-in is April.

The Cosmopolitan Condos have the added attraction of proximity to the popular Galleria Mall, a prestigious uptown location, and access to the city’s high fashion district.

The Bristol, another Galleria District luxury high rise in a highly desirable neighborhood, offers a wide choice of condominium homes ranging in price from $300,000 to $500,000, and two level penthouses costing from $800,000 to a million-and-a-half.

Commerce Towers located at 914 Main, is a luxury hi-rise with an ideal location, right on Main Street Square and the downtown tunnel. Over 400 shops, entertainment, the theatre district, and the Metro Light Rail add all the amenities anyone could ask for, and you have the ultimate in a luxury high rise condo.

So, if urban living suits your lifestyle, a Houston high rise condo may be just what you’re looking for.

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Real Estate in Downtown Houston

Tuesday, March 15th, 2011

Downtown Houston is at the heart of the city’s business and financial districts, and through years of extensive modernization and renovation, downtown Houston real estate now consists of a notable entertainment district, and many upscale residential housing developments for the sophisticated urbanite.

Many older buildings have been converted into trendy loft space to accommodate a continued influx of young professionals attracted to the employment opportunities available in Houston, the home of many internationally known Fortune 500 companies.

Some of the most desirable loft developments are located within close proximity to the historic and theatre districts. Over recent years a number of choice apartment developments have risen as well, such as the 30-story, 340 unit One Park Place, located downtown at 1500 McKinney Street, and bordering Discovery Green Park.

Houston’s downtown business district is a towering monument to the skyscraper, with many notable 50, 60 , 70 story and higher office buildings creating one of the most impressive skylines in the nation, such as: The Wells Fargo Plaza ( 71 floors ,)The JP Morgan Chase Tower ( 75 floors, ) and the One Shell Plaza ( 50 floors, built in 1971, and the first major skyscraper building to be constructed in Houston.

Until the decline of Enron, Class A office space in Houston was at a premium. Since then, Enron’s fall and the nation’s severe economic downturn have combined to negatively impact the city’s office space to the point at which more than ten percent of Houston’s downtown office space is vacant.

Unquestionably, Houston’s strong economic base will be the basis for this vibrant city’s full economic recovery as the nation, and the world’s economies continue to improve

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Downtown Houston’s Holiday Happenings

Monday, December 7th, 2009

There is no better way to get into the holiday spirit than by partaking in one of Houston’s many holiday events. So, what are you waiting for? Dig that Santa hat out of the closet and head out to enjoy the holidays, Houston-style!

Downtown Houston is Transformed!

Get started on your holiday adventure by heading downtown and seeing the transformation of Main Street Square into a virtual winter wonderland! From the monstrous lighted trees and oversized snowflakes to the cool peppermint stick displays that make your sweet tooth ache just by looking at them, downtown Houston is all-things Yule.

Best of all, this giant holiday light display is free of charge! So, if you’re tight on money but big on holiday cheer then it pays to head over to Main Street Square; it will surely put a little fa-la-la in your step!

Tree Lighting Ceremony and Holiday Parade Usher in the Holidays

The tree-lighting ceremony at the Wortham Theater Center and the H-E-B Holiday Parade are just two of the reasons why so many Houstonians have flocked to the downtown district every year during the holidays.

New Downtown Attractions Delight Visitors of all Ages

In addition to downtown’s dress-up for the holidays, there are also two, new downtown attractions that are gracing the area: the Houston Pavilion shopping and entertainment center and Discovery Green Park.

A beautiful, 7,200 square-foot ice skating rink lures skaters to the Discovery Green Park, and the weekly movie night is a great way to spend the evening enjoying Houston’s warm, outdoor temperatures. Weekly movie nights run every Thursday through January 18.

The downtown district is also offering free trolley rides to and from several downtown locations throughout the holidays to alleviate parking troubles. Trolley stops include the Wortham, City Hall and the Shops at Houston Center, and the free rides continue through the last weekend in December.

The Downtown District spent about $200,000 on holiday decorations this year, although they will certainly be worth the expense as Houstonians and tourists alike begin relishing in the holiday experience throughout Houston’s vibrant, dynamic downtown district.

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A Sluggish Condo Market may mean Great Deals for Downtown Renters

Thursday, October 15th, 2009

One person’s downfall may be another person’s opportunity; at least when it comes to real estate.

Let’s face it: the economy is taking a beating, and the downtown Houston condo market has felt its wrath. Many building owners are now taking to the streets and offering such incentives as free appliances and free parking in exchange for a lease.

Landlords have become increasingly aggressive as of late, likely due to the fact that downtown Houston condos just aren’t flying off the market. And if they can’t get buyers into their properties, they’ll get renters.

As a result, there is an abundance of apartment buildings throughout downtown Houston that are now leasing, as property owners struggle to fill their homes and generate income.

Great deals can be had in even the highest-end properties, where an oversupply is causing more than a bit of a strain on the market.

Houston saw an occupancy rate in its rental properties of just 85.3 as of August, that’s down a percent from a year earlier. Apartment lease prices have also dropped in the last year, from an average of $725 in 2008 to $719 at the end of August.

Many renters are taking full advantage of this market, renting high-end apartments for a fraction of what they would have been rented for just a couple years ago. Many renters are even snagging free rent for signing long-term leases.

For example, the upscale apartment complex of Venue, located in the highly desirable Museum District, is offering a free month’s rent, along with a subsidized rail ridership for the first year.

It is important to note that apartment homes outside of the Loop have not seen large cuts like homes inside the Loop.

As the job market slowed in Houston, with some 80,000 jobs lost between July 2008 and July 2009, city homes were not in high demand, thereby creating a unique opportunity for renters searching for the finest digs for a great deal.

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