Buying a Home in Houston, Texas

(The Houston Skyline overlooks its spacious domain)

Houston is located in Ft. Bend, Harris, Montgomery County

What do you get when you combine southern hospitality, Old West charm, and nearly 2 million people from all over the world? Well, the city of Houston, of course! The nation's fourth-largest city is not shy when it comes to welcoming visitors, tourists and new residents. In fact, nearly 40 million people per year use Houston's two major airports. The city is indeed an active one, and the strength of the economy is simply one indicator of its lively character. Employment in Houston continues to rise as new businesses choose this wonderful city as their new home. Currently, there are eighteen Fortune 500 companies that call Houston home, and with an unusually high number of energy firms per capita the city has been called the "Energy Capital of the World". New and growing businesses are blessed with a strong infrastructure, a highly skilled work force, many of which come from the area's forty local institutions of higher learning, and a quality of life that isn't spoiled by Houston's size.

Known as the "Bayou City", Houston's economy owes a lot to these area waterways, all of which irrigate the lush landscape and provide important access to the Gulf of Mexico. In addition, area parks take advantage of the open spaces formed by these bayous, offering much for the outdoor enthusiast.

Speaking of space, Houston has more than 8,700-square miles of land within its city limits, making it the largest city in the nation from a geographic standpoint. To put this into perspective, the countries of Israel and El Salvador have less combined land than the city of Houston. As the city has evolved, Houston has made excellent use of this natural resource, moving forward on commercial, residential and cultural developments that have positively impacted the area's residents. The result is a cosmopolitan city composed of people from 45 different religious backgrounds and a city school system that caters to speakers of a dozen languages. Given this incredible diversity, points of interest dealing with the arts and culture have flourished. Houston boasts of a Theater District that is second only to New York City with its concentration of seats in one geographic area. In addition, the city has more than 500 cultural, visual and performing arts organizations, 90 of which are devoted to multicultural and minority arts. More historical sites can be found at the George Ranch Historical Park, or the San Jacinto Battlefield, the site where Texas won its independence from Mexico.

Houston claims so many distinctions, all of which have worked to shape this unique city. Along with being the nation's fourth-largest city, Houston has the second-lowest cost of living among major metropolitan cities in the country. Perhaps the major source of this city's active nature is the fact that 71% of its residents are under the age of 44, with 37% under age 24! Nearly all of Houston's most popular attractions are modern and exciting, including Space Center Houston, Six Flags AstroWorld, and Bayou Place, which features restaurants, theaters and concerts all under one roof in the heart of downtown. For sports enthusiasts, Houston has the NBA Rockets, the WNBA Comets, the MLB Astros, and the city will once again be home to an NFL team in August 2002, the Texans. Nearly all of these teams will be playing in new venues and will provide a tremendous financial asset to the community of Houston.

A visit to Houston must include a sampling of the area's exquisite shopping and dining choices. For the finicky appetite, Houston offers over 11,000 restaurants ranging from casual delis to award-winning bistros. Houstonians are known to eat out more often than residents of any other city...bon appetit! These eateries are conveniently distributed throughout the city, many standing adjacent to popular shopping areas, such as the Galleria and the Park Shops in Houston Center.

Houston is located in eastern Texas, 10 miles from Galveston Bay and 25 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. The city is serviced by I-45, I-10, and several US routes and state highways, and two major airports, so you will have no trouble getting here. Come enjoy this all-American town!