Tag Archives: apartments

Republicans finally agree on a property tax cut

Posted on July 11, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Our moderate-length semi-statewide bit of unpleasantness is coming to an end. Probably. The $18 billion compromise between the Texas House and Senate — which includes more than $5 billion approved for relief in 2021 — would give increased tax relief … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Republicans finally agree on a property tax cut

Coliving

Posted on June 16, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

I’m fascinated by this. In one of Montrose’s newest residential projects opening next year, renters will be able to walk into fully furnished spaces stocked with basic supplies, paying rents below market rate in one of Houston’s trendiest neighborhoods. Rent … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Converting empty downtown office space into residences

Posted on June 5, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Something to think about. Across the country, office-to-housing conversions are being pursued as a potential lifeline for struggling downtown business districts that emptied out during the coronavirus pandemic and may never fully recover. The conversion push is marked by an emphasis on affordability. Multiple … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Justice Department probing RealPage

Posted on December 3, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Possibly good news for renters. The Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division has opened an investigation into whether rent-setting software made by Richardson-based tech company RealPage is facilitating collusion among landlords, ProPublica reported. The inquiry is being launched as questions have … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Justice Department probing RealPage

From the department of “The rent is too damn high”

Posted on November 1, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

A lawsuit to watch. Renters are suing Richardson-based RealPage and some of the largest property management firms in the nation for allegedly forming what they call a “cartel” to artificially inflate apartment prices above competitive levels. Five renters are challenging … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on From the department of “The rent is too damn high”

Assistance for renters coming

Posted on January 10, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Good, but of course much more is needed. Houston officials expect to get up to $70 million in federal stimulus funds to help renters in the city make their monthly payments and use toward other housing expenses. The $900 billion … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Assistance for renters coming

“Bad, but not awful”

Posted on January 13, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Your Houston economy, folks. As Houston enters the second year of the worst oil downturn in decades, its once-booming economy has sputtered, and the strain finally is starting to show. Houston could flirt with recession in 2016 as the oil … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on “Bad, but not awful”

The rent is too damn high

Posted on November 11, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The Houston area isn’t such a cheap place to live any more. A job boom bringing highly paid energy workers to Houston and a pronounced decline in the percentage of people buying houses have combined to drive up the cost … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Livin’ small

Posted on January 20, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Kids today and their crazy ideas about how to live. The modern apartment is increasingly likely to look like this: a 380-square-foot space with a separate bedroom; a kitchen with fewer cabinets and more shelves; and a place in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Livin’ small

So long, Skylane Apartments

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

This is happening in my neighborhood, and it’s already generated a lot of interest from the locals. The aging Skylane Central apartments, perched near the entrance of the Woodland Heights neighborhood, are headed for demolition as a developer makes plans … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Don’t forget about apartments

Posted on March 26, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

On the subject of how Battleground Texas can achieve its aims, Greg adds a note and some numbers about apartment complexes. I opted to look at one of the most GOP-friendly places in Harris County: HD130 in the northwestern corner … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Your other one-minute real estate update

Posted on January 2, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Basically, real estate good in Houston. Inventory of homes for sale has fallen to a level not seen in more than a decade. Builders are trying to keep up with a growing demand from buyers relocating here for jobs. Realtors … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Your other one-minute real estate update

Sugar Land has its own Ashby

Posted on April 9, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The unhappy dissenters part of it, anyway. The planned development of the city’s last piece of open land would turn the abandoned Imperial Sugar site – the very genesis of the city – into an $800 million urban space with … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Sugar Land has its own Ashby

A deluxe efficiency in the sky

Posted on March 18, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The hot trend in real estate is small apartments. Apartments in Houston are shrinking. As rents have gone up, developers have been building smaller units and a lot more of them to meet growing demand from apartment dwellers who want … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

The Bellaire “urban transit village”

Posted on November 30, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Very interesting. Nearly a year in the drafting, a sweeping change to Bellaire’s zoning laws creating an “urban transit village” where there is now a collection of nondescript warehouses will soon be before City Council. On Nov. 1, the city’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Bellaire “urban transit village”

Apartment boom coming

Posted on November 23, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

I have many things to say about this. High occupancies and rising rents for apartments are driving a new wave of development in Houston’s high-end urban neighborhoods. More than 3,500 units in a dozen complexes are under construction primarily inside … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Recycling for apartments coming to Houston

Posted on November 15, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Last December I noted a program in San Antonio to expand recycling to apartment complexes. I said at the time that I hoped Houston would do the same as it broadens its recycling capabilities. I’m glad to say that late … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

RIP, Arabia Shrine Center

Posted on July 3, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Swamplot noted that a demolition permit had been pulled for the Arabia Shrine Center on Braeswood near Kirby. Nancy Sarnoff tells us what is to come once the buildings have been razed. Three years after an apartment developer bought the … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on RIP, Arabia Shrine Center

Recycling for apartments

Posted on December 18, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The city of San Antonio is taking a big step forward in expanding its recycling program. The new amendment ensures that all families and individuals living in apartments, condominiums, townhomes, high rise condominiums and San Antonio Housing Authority properties have … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Water rate rebate passes Council

Posted on July 9, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Back in April, Council approved a water rate hike. There were some complaints from apartment owners at the time about the size of the rate increase that would apply to them, and the city agreed to make some changes to … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Farmers Branch prepares to waste more money

Posted on April 30, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

It sure must be nice to have all these taxpayer dollars to spend on such frivolities. [Farmers Branch] plans to appeal a court ruling against its ordinance, which would prevent landlords from renting houses or apartments to illegal immigrants — … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Council may consider higher water rate hikes

Posted on April 21, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

As we know, a water rate hike of about 12 percent was proposed by Mayor Parker earlier this month. That ran into some resistance from apartment dwellers, since the hike would be higher for multi-family residences than it would be … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Apartment dwellers push back on water rate hike

Posted on April 10, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

From Prime Property: The Houston Apartment Association is urging its members to resist the city’s proposed water and sewer rate hikes that, in their current form, would hit apartment tenants much harder than single-family homeowners. In a blog entry on … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Water rate hike coming

Posted on April 7, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

We knew this was coming, and now here it is. Mayor Annise Parker’s administration is proposing drastic water and sewer rate increases to shore up Houston’s Combined Utility System, which has operated with multimillion-dollar budget deficits for several years. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments