Home & Property
Local home & property news and services in Houston, TX.
Home & Property — page 2
How to Spot Mold in a Houston Home Before It Becomes a Major Problem
With dew points pushing 75°F and AC systems running nine months a year, Houston homes have specific mold vulnerabilities that national advice doesn't cover. Here's how to check yours, what a real i…
How Generator Installation Permits Work in Houston and What It Costs in 2026
After Beryl reshaped the market, here's what Houston homeowners should expect to pay, how long they'll wait, and which line items on a contractor quote deserve a second look.
What Houston's Short-Term Rental Rules Actually Require in 2025
No licensing regime, no dedicated STR ordinance. But deed restrictions, Hotel Occupancy Tax obligations on direct bookings, and the city's nuisance complaint system can still shut you down.
The Houston Homeowner's Hurricane Season Prep Checklist for 2026
What Beryl broke, what insurers are watching, and what you need to fix before June 1
What Houston Homebuilders Are Actually Offering Buyers This Summer
Reported from sales office calls and appraisal district records — not builder marketing copy.
Which Houston Neighborhoods Have Improved Their Flood Risk After Harvey's Drainage Projects
Seven years after Harvey, some neighborhoods genuinely carry less flood risk than they did in August 2017. Others are still waiting on money that's been allocated but not yet put in the ground. Her…
How Much Does HVAC Replacement Cost in Houston in Summer 2026
National averages won't help you when it's 98°F and your unit is dead. Here's what Houston contractors are quoting this summer and how to avoid getting gouged.
What Houston Homeowners Are Actually Paying for Flood Insurance in 2026
When Tropical Storm Beryl made landfall July 8, 2024, near Matagorda, tens of thousands of Harris County homeowners who had spent years debating whether flood insurance was worth the premium got a …
A Plain-Language Guide to Building an ADU in Houston in 2026
No zoning code doesn't mean no rules. Here's exactly what Chapter 42, deed restrictions, and the flood maps actually require before you break ground.
Is Houston Still a Buyer's Market? What That Actually Means for Negotiations
Houston's housing market in mid-2026 leans toward buyers, but only in the right zip code. The citywide headline looks encouraging. The reality inside it is messier. Walk into a negotiation armed on…
How Houston's Subsidence Problem Affects Your Foundation and Insurance
Harris County's ground is measurably lower than it was a generation ago. The ZIP codes still sinking fastest face a compounding threat that most homeowners—and many real estate agents—don't fully u…
What Homestead and Other Property Tax Exemptions Houston Homeowners Often Miss
The $100,000 school district break, the senior tax freeze, full veterans' exemptions — what you qualify for, what it's worth, and how to file before April 30.
How to Read the Houston Flood Zone Map Before You Buy or Rent
A step-by-step guide to the tools that actually work for Harris County, what the zone labels mean for your insurance costs, and where the official maps have dangerous gaps.
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