Summer Realty Report: 3D-Printed Homes Are Among the Wild Market Trends to Watch

Summer Realty Report: 3D-Printed Homes Are Among the Wild Market Trends to Watch

Apartment occupancy is stable, and prices have cooled oh-so-slightly. Photo: Us Bayou in Montrose (photo by Julie Soefer)

AFTER THE COVID-era hysteria, Houston’s housing market has leveled. The pace of sales has slowed over the past year, and prices are a bit down here and there. But there are pockets of explosive growth and, say experts, good indications that a healthy, balanced market is on the horizon. Read on for the latest trends!


Rent Control

Us Bayou in Montrose

The story of H-Town’s rental market so far this year echoes that of the housing market: Apartment occupancy is stable, and prices have cooled oh-so-slightly. For the month of June, 89.6 percent of Houston apartments were occupied — exactly the same percentage as the national average, and down from a peak of 91.7 percent in April 2022. Monthly rent has eked up by 1.2 percent over the last 12 months, according to MRI ApartmentData, to an average of $1,272 for a one-bedroom. This nominal increase is a far cry from the mega rent hikes deployed throughout 2021-2022, even though submarkets — such as unexpected hot spots Clear Lake and Friendswood — are seeing annualized growth of nearly 15 percent so far this year. ApartmentData also reports that more than 21,000 units are currently under construction, and another 31,000 units are in the proposal stage.

Future Perfect

A progress shot of Hive 3D’s Round Top project.

Construction of 3D-printed homes is on the rise nationwide, and one Houston-based company is at the forefront of the trend. Hive 3D has teamed up with Eco Material Technologies to build a community of homes in Round Top utilizing an eco-friendly, near-zero-carbon cement mixture. Ranging in size from 400- to 900-square-feet, the sustainably built houses began printing in March.

Glam Slam!

The living room of Yuli Gurriel’s Memorial home

A Houston real estate company has launched a new division that caters to some of the city’s highest-profile residents.

Nan & Company’s new Sports and Entertainment group will provide concierge-style services to athletes and entertainers wishing to lease or sell their Houston properties.

One of its first listings is the Memorial home belonging to former Astros fan fave Yuli Gurriel, who now plays for the Miami Marlins. The nearly 4,000-square-foot ranch-style property hit the market in June, listed at $1.7 million. The Gurriels heavily renovated the kitchen, incorporating a nine-foot waterfall-edge island and sleek, hardware-less cabinets. The double-sided fireplace warms the mod space in more ways than one.

And the Galleria-area residence of Garrison Matthews, a.k.a. Garry Bird, the Atlanta Hawks forward who used to play for the Rockets, was another of the Sports and Entertainment division’s first listings. It sold after seven days on the market, for around $1 mil. Between the rooftop plunge pool and the Tiger Woods Golf Simulator in the living room, we can think of a couple reasons why it sold so quickly.

Chapman & Kirby Launches Free Concert Series for Spring

Danny Ray and the Atlantic Street Band performs May 31 (photo from dannyrayatlanticstreetband.com)

CHAPMAN & KIRBY, THE premier event destination in Houston’s East Village, is thrilled to announce the launch of its Spring Music Series, kicking off on Friday, April 12. Chapman & Kirby has become synonymous with top-tier events and unforgettable experiences, many attended by celebrities both local and worldwide. With concert ticket prices soaring to hundreds and even thousands of dollars in the last year, this eight-week music series promises to be a welcomed opportunity to engage with live music for free, showcasing an eclectic lineup of talented acts.

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A rendering of Hotel Saint Augustine (courtesy of Lake Flato Architects and Ten Eyck Landscape Architect)

CELEBRATED CHEF Aaron Bludorn is on a roll. After successfully opening three Houston restaurants including the recent Bar Bludorn, he has set his sights on the boutique Hotel Saint Augustine to open this fall.

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Food

Curried Mussels

JASON GOULD IS best known as the chef behind Common Bond, one of Houston’s go-to spots for easy French-inspired bites and pastries. But now, Gould has created a comfort-food menu for another locally-owned resto — 1891 American Eatery & Bar in the Heights. It’s part of a partnership with Garza Management Group that has recently taken over Common Bond. Boasting an expansive patio, the new resto describes itself as having a “family-friendly pub atmosphere."

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Food