Tag: Homes for Sale

77062, Bay Oaks, Clear Lake, Homes for Sale, Open Houses, Tours

05/15/08 11:52pm

Neighborhood Guessing Game Over: Front Door on the Side

Interiors, Neighborhood Guessing Game, Oak Forest

4 Comments

Neighborhood Guessing Game 7: Den

This week’s puzzle prompted some terrific efforts again from our photo-detective readers. With four votes each, Timbergrove and Oak Forest were the most popular guesses. Next came Garden Oaks (with 3 votes), followed by Tanglewood, Meyerland, Willow Meadows, Willowbend, Knollwood Village, and Shepherd Forest, with 2 votes each. Other guesses were Bellaire, Norhill, Timberside, “Mandell/Montrose on Banks or Milford,” Highland Village, Mangum Manor, Lazybrook, Sharpstown, Stella Link/Med Center area, Woodside, Woodshire, Ayrshire, Braes Heights, Afton Oaks, Piney Point, Hedwig Village, Bunker Hill Village, and Briargrove.

This week’s winner is Starkeshia, a guessing-game regular who was the first to name . . . Oak Forest!

The house looks like nearly a total redo, but there also appear to be some original features left such as the front windows, and the front door, hardwoods everywhere, sliding closet doorsâ€¦Iâ€™d say this is a mid century home. Looks too small to be in Meyerland or Bellaire, however.

Our honorable mention goes to margo, for identifying an entertaining but perhaps not especially useful clue: there appear to be burglar bars on the bathroom windows!

Karen also had some comments that helped build the Oak Forest-area consensus:

I see aluminum windows and molding that say early 50s. Small kitchen w/o breakfast area says small house. Ceilings are too low for a bungalow. Wood floors are all new, so could be an Alison redo, but the kitchen base cabinets look original to me, so odds are there was no flood here, just a nice updating job.

Stay with us for the scoop!

77018, Homes for Sale, Interiors, Neighborhood Guessing Game, Oak-Forest

Home Design

05/12/08 11:33am

Midcentury Modern Hand-Me-Down in Tanglewilde

Homes for Sale, Open Houses, Tanglewilde

2 Comments

9547 Meadowbriar Ln., Tanglewilde, Houston

Upset that you missed that 1956 Lars Bang home in Braesvalley Swamplot featured last month? An option was taken out on it the same day we featured it.

But . . . the buyers of that house have put their own Tanglewilde Modern on the market. It was built the same year. Realtor Robert Searcy says it’ll have an open house, as Houston Mod’s “mod of the month,” next week.

After the jump: That turquoise tile, and that giant whisk!

77063, Homes for Sale, Modern Design, Open Houses, Tanglewilde

Champions

05/09/08 5:00pm

Weekend Open House Tour: Champions

Homes for Sale, Open Houses

Champions has a golf course, Cy-Fair schools, and FM 1960. What’s not to like . . . unless you’re a loser? Plus: tall trees, and neighborhood names like Champions Park, Champions Place, Champions Colony. This weekend’s tour of open houses includes a home in nearby Barrington Woods. It’s a winner too!

5907 Lookout Mountain Dr., Champions Colony, Houston

Location: 5907 Lookout Mountain Dr.
Details: 3-4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths; 2,335 sq. ft.
Price: $169,000
The Scoop: Late-seventies 2-story home on large cul-de-sac lot next to Champions Golf Course, in Champions Colony. Mostly tile floors; partial brick exterior. Beamed-ceiling Living Room has adjacent Bar. On market for 2 weeks.
Open House: Saturday, 1-4pm

More Champions . . . after the jump!

77069, Champions, Homes for Sale, Open Houses, Tours

Art

05/08/08 8:01am

Sock Monkey Palace Special: $53K Socked Off

Braeswood, Home Decor, Homes for Sale, Interiors

No Comments

Dining Room of 7309 Greenbriar St., Houston

Round about the end of April, artist Gloria Becker lopped $53,000 off the asking price of her art-and-animal-filled home at 7309 Greenbriar (near Main) featured here a month ago. It’s now listed for $795K.

Have any of you seen this place?

7309 Greenbriar St. [HAR]
Sock Monkey Palace: Spiffed Up for Sale [Swamplot]

77030, Art, Braeswood, Home Decor, Homes for Sale, Interiors, Price Reductions

05/02/08 11:53pm

Weekend Open House Tour: Westhaven Estates

Open Houses, Westhaven Estates

No Comments

Westhaven Estates is patio-home heaven! There are no wasted yards, and all homes are carefully protected from the streets. This weekend: Tour some freestanding homes for sale here!

2323 Potomac Dr., Westhaven Estates, Houston

Location: 2323 Potomac Dr.
Details: 3 bedrooms, 3 baths; 3,018 sq. ft.
Price: $584,900
The Scoop: 1999 Dollhouse Mediterranean in 8-building gated compound. Carport fronts 2-car garage. Master retreat has gas fireplace and bay window; adjacent Media Room with wet bar and balcony is next to separate Study. Hardwood floors on second-level living areas. Has been on market for 2 months already.
Open House: Sunday, 2-4 pm

More patio homes this way . . . !

77057, Homes for Sale, Open Houses, Tours, Westhaven Estates

Homebuilders

05/02/08 2:15pm

Tattooed in Willowbrook: Pulte Makes a Lasting Impression

Homes for Sale, New Construction: Residential, Real Estate Marketing, Willowbrook

Tattoo Ad for Pulte Homes in Willowbrook in Houston Press

Media-specific marketing helps bring everybody together! Just wait until the buyers of new Pulte homes in Willowbrook lured by this uh, interesting ad in this week’s Houston Press move in next door to folks attracted to the neighborhood by some very different marketing.

Tattoo fans: Watch the video below and meet your new neighbors!

77070, Homebuilders, Homes for Sale, New Construction: Residential, Pulte Homes, Real Estate Marketing, Willowbrook

Glendower Court

05/01/08 11:57pm

Neighborhood Guessing Game Over: Poof!

Homes for Sale, Interiors, Neighborhood Guessing Game, Townhomes

3 Comments

Neighborhood Guessing Game 5: Kitchen

There were some terrific responses to our Neighborhood Guessing Game this week. Nobody was able to name the exact neighborhood of our mystery home . . . but we do have a winner!

This week’s guesses didn’t pile onto a few favorite neighborhoods, but they were somewhat concentrated. Four of you guessed the Galleria or areas to the east or west; three guessed West U. There were two votes for Rice Military or WOW near the roundabout; one for River Oaks and one for east River Oaks — “more of the Upper Kirby District almost.” Woodlake, Tanglewood, Montrose, Raintree Place, Wilchester, Crestwood, Med Center-Inner Braeswood, “one of the older neighborhoods north of Rice,” and Westhaven Estates got one guess each.

And the winner of this week’s contest is . . . the altogether-too-modest K, who declares herself to be “terrible at these” — before nailing it with her observations:

Definitely an 80s home; no getting around that. The tacky tile on the floor in the study, the basketweave brickwork on the kitchen floor, the gaudy master bath, the white tile on the kitchen island â€” they all scream 80s.

That said, the place is huge and at least somewhat updated. Iâ€™m also guessing that itâ€™s on three levels, but it looks River Oaks â€” not West U. The coffered ceiling in the living room and the tray ceiling in the dining rome are very River Oaks touches, as are most of the furnishings (the Oriental rugs, the overstated antiques, the vases and artwork, etc.).

Iâ€™m definitely going with River Oaks here, the old 019. But since itâ€™s newer, Iâ€™m going with an area further to the east of the older, more established homes by the country club, more of the Upper Kirby district almost.

That last paragraph serves as a pretty good set of directions to Glendower Court, which is the actual subdivision of this week’s home.

An honorable mention goes to Joni Webb, for deducing that “it’s got atriums.” She and K are both bloggers!

After the jump: Those atriums! And more details on our Glendower Court . . . townhouse. Plus . . . it’s gone!

Glendower Court, Homes for Sale, Interiors, Neighborhood Guessing Game, Townhomes

Bellaire

04/25/08 11:51pm

Weekend Open House Tour: Southdale

Homes for Sale, Open Houses, Southdale

In this episode: Bellaire east of Newcastle, aka Southdale. Close to parks, schools, pools, and trains! Our open-house tour features new homes, newer homes, and an actual Bellaire original.

4340 Valerie St., Southdale, Bellaire, Texas

Location: 4340 Valerie St.
Details: 4 bedrooms, 4 1/2 baths; 4,048 sq. ft.
Price: $809,000
The Scoop: 2005 “great party house” on corner lot designed “to maximize liveable space.” More is . . . uh, more! Mudroom, Game Room, Sewing Room, wine bar; Pantry has second refrigerator. Master Bath has double doors. Listed since February; price just chopped $6K.
Open House: Sunday, 2-5 pm

On with the tour!

77401, Bellaire, Homes for Sale, Open Houses, Southdale, Tours

04/23/08 10:18pm

The House That Time and Architect Forgot

Houston Architects, Meyerland

4815 Braesvalley Dr., Meyerland, Houston

This 4-bedroom, 2,800-plus-square-foot 1956 Modern home for sale on Braesvalley was designed by Houston architect Lars Bang.

Or was it? A few days after the home was featured as a Houston Mod “Mod of the Month” last October, Realtor Meg Zoller described her attempts to identify the designer in her blog:

A week or so ago we had Lars Bang come by the Braesvalley home in an attempt to authenticate the fact that he built it. Lars Bang must be in his 80â€™s or so. He had a friend of his drive him to see the home. He has a very outgoing personality and it was believed that he was excited about the possibility of it being one of his homes. My husband, Jim, helped him out of the car and invited him into the house, but Mr. Bangâ€™s knees arenâ€™t what they used to be . . .and he just wanted to stand out front and look at the house. After some time he decided that he could not confidently say whether the home was one of his designs or not.

The owner was so disappointed when she heard the news. She really wanted it to be one of his designs.

After the jump: the actual architect of this uh, memorable Meyerland home!

77096, Homes for Sale, Houston Architects, Meyerland, Modern Design, Price Reductions

04/18/08 11:53pm

Weekend Open House Tour: Lazybrook

Lazybrook, Open Houses

Welcome to Lazybrook, a sleepy little northwest corner of the Loop that really only gets riled up when White Oak Bayou decides it wants some action! These four lazy homes will be open this weekend . . . if you feel at all like stopping by. Or not. Whatever.

1811 Tattenhall Dr., Lazybrook, Houston

Location: 1811 Tattenhall Dr.
Details: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths; 1,652 sq. ft.
Price: $288,000
The Scoop: 1957 ranch with selective updates, including Lone Star pattern in leaded-glass front door, ceiling fans, crown molding, and “marbleized look formica” countertops. Back yard has small wooden deck on top of pavers; sprinkler system. On market since mid-January; $7K price cut in March.
Open House: Sunday, 2-5 pm

Want more like this? This way . . .

77008, Homes for Sale, Lazybrook, Open Houses, Tours

04/11/08 11:52pm

Weekend Open House Tour: Spring Creek Forest and Spring Creek Oaks

Open Houses, Spring, Spring Creek Forest, Spring Creek Oaks

2 Comments

This week: Two neighborhoods off Louetta, just east of Stuebner-Airline, north of Cypress Creek. Zoned to the Klein School District. In Spring!

17607 Teal Forest Ln., Spring, Texas

Location: 17607 Teal Forest Ln.
Details: 4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths; 2,922 sq. ft.
Price: $158,900
The Scoop: Quaint 1980 home on cul-de-sac in Spring Creek Forest. Master Bedroom downstairs; other bedrooms off upstairs Game Room. Painted woodwork inside; large yard. Covered walkway connects to garage in back. On the market at the same price for almost 6 months.
Open House: Saturday, 11 am-2 pm

Read on for more!

77379, Homes for Sale, Open Houses, Spring, Spring Creek Forest, Spring Creek Oaks, Tours

04/10/08 6:21pm

Neighborhood Guessing Game Over: Window Unit

Interiors, Lindale Park, Neighborhood Guessing Game

2 Comments

Neighborhood Guessing Game 2: View from Kitchen

Thanks to y’all for playing the Neighborhood Guessing Game! We had 19 guessers and 24 guesses for this week ‘s contest. And they were all over the place . . . but all inside the Loop!

Three of you guessed Montrose and another 3 guessed the Houston Heights. There were 2 votes each for Brookesmith, Washington Terrace, Riverside Terrace, Lindale Park, and Idylwood or Eastwood. Other guesses were: Bellaire, Woodland Heights, the Reliant Park area, Midtown, Sunset Heights, Southgate, Winlow Place and environs, and “over by the Orange Show.”

The winner this week was missjanel, who was the first to mention Lindale Park . . . though she didn’t explain her guess.

Sure, there were plenty of neighborhoods a house like this could have been in. How were you supposed to figure out Lindale Park? No one nailed it precisely, but some commenters were pretty sharp at picking up the clues. jgbiggs noted

a brick house next door with a horribly inappropriate iron fence. Also, the painted over windows on the front door give evidence that it is in a high crime neighborhood.

Jeff was (probably) off about the vintage of the house next door, but pointed out:

Definitely a gentrifying area. New behemoth next to a bungalow with no central AC.

Commenter karen noted some of the contradictions:

The bricks next door are so close and the gold-tipped iron fence so ugly that it really could be West U, but then this would be a tear-down, so why show interior house images on HAR?

Lastly, Mike noted that the brick house next door was probably an older one. And one of his 3 guesses was Lindale Park!

Let’s add it all up: well-kept or recently redone hardwood floors? Check. New, reasonably sophisticated interior paint colors? Check. Security-conscious fencing nearby? Check. Toddler toys in bedroom? Check. Nearby property values probably not high enough to support yuppifying the kitchen or dealing with the window-unit AC? Check.

It wasn’t runaway obvious, but Lindale Park does fit those specs.

After the jump: The house! Where, what, and how much.

77009, Homes for Sale, Interiors, Lindale Park, Neighborhood Guessing Game

Art

04/09/08 3:54pm

Sock Monkey Palace: Spiffed Up for Sale

Braeswood, Home Decor, Homes for Sale, Interiors

7309 Greenbriar St., Houston

A reader reports that artist Gloria Becker is selling her home at 7309 Greenbriar, just south of the Med Center. That’s the big brick house with the the 8-foot-tall topiary bears out front. Plus . . .

She has a wildcat in her dining room, deer on her sofa, fish in her bathroom, squirrels in her entryway, a caribou at the top of her stairwell and a prairie dog in her den.

From the foyer, where a stuffed bear in a sundress and rhinestone-studded sunglasses stands at the foot of the stairs covered in imitation tiger fur, to the farthest corner of the second-floor spare room, which is adorned with a giant cloth cow in a sun hat, a wreath of monkeys and a Virgin Mary hubcap, the house is a cacophony of contented clutter.

“Empty spaces make me nervous,” [Becker] Rasmussen says.

Becker, who makes a living selling her incredibly detailed Santa Claus sculptures and handcrafted sock monkeys, calls herself an “an upscale, sophisticated recycler.”

Her Braeswood home has 3 or 4 bedrooms, 3 full and 2 half baths, and sits on a 12,563-sq.-ft. lot near the corner of S. Main. Asking price: $848,000.

After the jump: Some interior pics from the listing, plus: Where did all the sock monkeys go?

77030, Art, Braeswood, Home Decor, Homes for Sale, Interiors, Staging

Buying and Selling

04/08/08 8:46am

More Vo Real Estate for Sale: Memorial Mansion with Multiples

Home Design, Homes for Sale, Memorial, New Construction: Residential, Rivercrest

24 Comments

31 W. Rivercrest, Houston

As recently as last Friday, the home owned by State Rep. Hubert Vo and his wife in Memorial’s Rivercrest subdivision was listed on HAR as “Option Pending.” Then — by yesterday — it was back on the market. Did something happen to disrupt a potential sale?

The new, 23,000-sq.-ft. “awesome Mediterranean estate” at 31 W. Rivercrest has been listed at the same price for 21 months.

What’s the story? A comment posted to HAIF last November offers some clues:

That house is a disaster. I believe, it was, initially being built for Rep. Vo, but when the budget quickly ran out and then they realized it wasn’t worth what was spent on it, it has been a mess trying to get rid of the thing.

I met with an agent that was showing the house privately about a year and a half ago just before I started a project down the street and she eluded that it was initially being offered, still incomplete, for 7.5mm. So far as I know, it is STILL incomplete and has dropped a lot. Eventually, they will have to liquidate it. I wouldn’t be surprised if it is a tear down with as hideous as the house is.

The actual $4.7 million asking price has in fact held steady. For $200K less than Vo’s other real-estate offering, you get a 2.66-acre lot, an enormous brick home with 5 stairways, 2 attached garages holding a total of 8 cars, plus a separate guest house. And it’s all almost complete!

But this isn’t just your typical Memorial mansion for column-and-arch-crazed empty-nesters! Everything about this home — from its 8 bedrooms, 9 full baths, and 2 half baths, to its dual Master Bedroom suites — is tailor made for occupancy by large numbers of people!

See what we mean below the fold, in a few choice scenes from inside.