How Much Income You Need To Buy A Home In West / Southwest Houston
Where can I afford to live in Houston's top western/ Cost of living in Houston ranks second lowest among the nation’s top 20 most populous US metropolitan areas(1). Suburbs in West / Southwest Houston rank highly in affordability. Fort Bend County ranked 13th in Forbes’ America’s Fastest-Growing Counties list, also features the most master-planned communities than any county in Texas. These neighborhoods often feature amenities like swimming pools, waterparks and splash pads, pocket parks, hike-and-bike trails, tennis courts, sports fields, and recreation centers. Some offer unique or themed amenities, from golf courses to village farms. To help you answer the question "where can I afford to live in West / Southwest Houston?", we analyzed median home prices for its best communities. COVID-19 and subsequent government actions had an impact on the average American household's finances and purchasing power. See more details on the COVID impact on Houston. See why the 2020-2021 housing market saw a boom during a year of human misery. Appreciation was generally offset by the record-low interest rates. The areas where it is now cheaper to buy a house are neighborhoods that have flooding history. We're also seeing tremendous growth on well-established suburban areas zoned to top ranked schools. West / Southwest Houston is zoned to exemplary Independent School Districts (ISD) namely Katy ISD, Lamar CISD, Fort Bend ISD, and Houston ISD. As always, real estate is hyper-local. See how your neighborhood is doing. Our estimates of Houston home salary requirements used a 20% down payment. However, some lenders have special 0% or 5% down loans. Contact me for a list of recommended mortgage providers and what (who) to avoid. Houston median home prices below include only single-family homes unless otherwise stated. Specific methodology and calculations are listed at the bottom of this article(2). We have great lenders. Contact Paige Martin at [email protected] for great mortgage banking recommendations. Paige Martin is ranked as the #1 Keller Williams Realtor in Houston and #5 Keller Williams Realtor in the United States. "The Houston Properties Team went above and beyond during the home buying and selling process. We first worked with Paige and her team in 2012 and chose to work with them again in 2021. Their knowledge of the market and trends by neighborhood made them trusted advisors and helped us negotiate the best prices. Additionally, they were with us every step of the way to ensure things were as simple and efficient as possible for us. They also have a fabulous list of contractors. We were especially happy with their recommendations for painting walls and refinishing floors before we moved in." - Jessica Graham Note: We're only displaying the first ten neighborhoods per section here. For the full list, please refer to the tables under each respective salary range below. These suburbs represent the "best of the best" that Houston has to offer, ranked by agents from the Houston Properties Team who know the best communities in Houston like the back of their hands. If you're interested in buying a home in any of the suburbs on this list and want to be absolutely sure that you're buying in a good area, contact us for recommendations. Alief is a neighborhood located in southwest Houston. It’s known for its proximity to major highways, top-notch schools, and recreational parks. Several factors make this neighborhood appealing, including: CONVENIENT LOCATION: Alief's location provides easy access to major highways, including the Sam Houston Tollway and Westpark Tollway. The neighborhood is also close to several major shopping centers, including the Galleria and Sugar Park Plaza. TOP-RATED SCHOOLS: Alief boasts top-notch schools like Mahanay Elementary School, within the Alief Independent School District. PLENTY OF OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES: The neighborhood has several parks, including Alief Community Park and Hackberry Park, which offer playgrounds, trails, and sports fields. The Alief Family YMCA provides fitness programs and recreational activities for residents of all ages. Alief is close to Sugar Land Business Park, home to several businesses. These include Tramontina, Shell, Chevron, and BMC Software. “Paige Martin is Houston's best Realtor. She is highly experienced and very knowledgeable. She made our buying experience an enjoyable one, not only for us, but for our daughter, son-in-law and several of our friends. We have bought and sold many houses, and Paige has been the best realtor we have ever worked with. We highly recommend her and The Houston Properties Team.” Jeremy & Lynn Greene Sienna Area is a 10,000-acre community located on major highways and freeways. It is near State Highway 288 and the Sam Houston Tollway Beltway 8. The Sienna Area is popular for a variety of reasons, such as: VAST RECREATION OPTIONS: Residents can enjoy the 18-hole championship golf course of Sienna Golf Club. There is also the Brushy Lake Recreation Area, known for its fitness center and lake views. Other notable recreational areas are Sienna Stables and the Sienna Branch Library. EXCELLENT SPORTS AMENITIES: The Sienna Area has well-thought-out amenities. This includes water parks, pools, tennis courts, playgrounds, and a lakeside amphitheater. There is also the 160-acre sports complex known as Camp Sienna. HOME TO TOP-RANKED SCHOOLS: Sienna Area is zoned to the Fort Bend Independent School District (FBISD). It is known for its top-ranked schools. Some of its best schools are Sienna Crossing Elementary, Billy Baines Middle, and Ridge Point High School. Sienna Area is a lively community with a variety of home options in its master-planned setting. Residents have access to amenities that foster an active lifestyle. Sugar Land East is located in one of Houston’s top suburban neighborhoods. It features easy access to business centers and several recreational spots. Sugar Land East is popular due to its: BUSINESS CENTERS: It is one of Texas’ best cities for business expansion. The neighborhood is in proximity to Sugar Land Business Park. Sugar Land East offers access to major employment districts including Energy Corridor and Galleria. TOP-RATED SCHOOLS: Sugar Land East features some of Houston’s most excellent schools. It is zoned to Fort Bend Independent School district, one of Houston’s top districts in the area. RECREATIONAL DESTINATIONS: The community is near commercial establishments and shopping centers. Golf courses, lakes, and parks are within a few minutes from the neighborhood. Sugar Land East offers stable real estate values on top of the community’s urban amenities. The continuous growth among business centers in the area contributes to the area’s positive condition. Energy Corridor is a flourishing community of residential and commercial areas. Conveniently located along Interstate 10, between Beltway 8 and the Grand Parkway. The 2,000-acre business district is becoming more popular among prospective property buyers. Energy Corridor homes are popular thanks to: HOME OPTIONS: The Energy Corridor houses some Best Gated Communities in Houston. With a variety of residential options, from single-family houses, townhomes to condos and apartments. DINING AND SHOPPING: The business center offers various dining options, including a Michelin-starred restaurant (Le Mistral). There are over 150 yelp-rated retail outlets, shopping centers, and a selection of different cuisines. ACCESSIBILITY: Houston's expressways are nearby, including the I-10/Katy Freeway, 610 Loop, Highway 290, and Beltway 8. Residents enjoy proximity to Downtown and Memorial City Medical Center. Galleria and Greens point is near, besides surrounding business and corporate institutes. The district is launching a commuter bus service, which will increase convenience and foot traffic. GREEN URBAN AREAS: The government and corporations have re-invested in the Energy Corridor Community. It will enhance civic foundation, urban planning, and environmental efforts. The district is close to a 26,000-acre park with hiking and biking routes, sports grounds, and picnic areas. Properties in Energy Corridor are in high demand. Recent initiatives include a commuter bus service project. A master plan is turning the district into a world-class residential and business community. Houston has a number of suburbs that offer incredible amenities, top-ranked public schools, and great access to key Houston employment and business hubs, which is why many choose to move here. To help you out, we've done the research and ranked only the best suburbs in this easy-to-follow guide so you can easily see which is the best suburb for you and your family. Part of the bigger Sugar Land area, Sugar Land West is made up of several neighborhoods and master-planned communities. The area is in demand due to its: MASTER-PLANNED COMMUNITIES: Sugar Land West is home to Telfair, New Territory, and Aliana. These communities typically feature great amenities like resort-style pools, parks, and multi-use trails. TOP-RATED SCHOOLS: Sugar Land West homes are zoned to some of the best schools in Houston. Walker Station Elementary, Brazos Bend Elementary, Cornerstone Elementary, and Oyster Creek Elementary serve parts of the area. GREAT REAL ESTATE APPRECIATION: Homes in the area have posted great appreciation rates in the past 10 years with a median sales price of about $470,000. Sugar Land West is made up of older 1950s homes to newer construction in the area’s newer developments. Prices of homes can start at around $150,000 up to $1,000,000. Katy Southwest is nestled in one of Houston's Best Suburbs. Several master-planned communities like Cross Creek Ranch and Falcon Point make up the area. It is a location of choice due to its: EASY COMMUTE TO WORK: Plenty of headquarters sit in/around the area such as Shell Exploration, Wood Group, and BP North America. Energy Corridor is just a short drive from Katy Southwest. SOUGHT AFTER AMENITIES: The area offers varied options in pursuit of an active lifestyle. Water parks, golf courses, and resort-style pools are just a few of its several top-notch amenities. EXEMPLARY SCHOOLS: Award-winning Katy ISD served the neighborhood. Stanley Elementary, Beckendorff Jr High, and Seven Lakes High are just three of its several top schools. GREEN SPACE: Parks and green spaces dotted the area where one can run, hike, or bike. Scenic lakes and creeks are accessible for hosting outdoor activities. Residents of Katy Southwest enjoy convenient access to dozens of retail shops and restaurants. Fort Bend Southeast is within the well-known Fort Bend County. It features nearby several luxurious neighborhoods and master-planned communities. This includes the cities of Sugar Land, Missouri, and Richmond. Fort Bend Southeast community is famous for its: EXCLUSIVE PRIME LOCATION: Fort Bend is nearby Sugar Land and Pearland master-planned communities. It is close to several retail hubs and business districts. Its proximity to the Southwest Freeway and FM 762 makes the commute easier. OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES: The neighborhood enjoys several parks and trails. There are courts, sports fields and swimming pools for the community's use. EXEMPLARY SCHOOLS: Fort Bend is zoned to some of Houston's Best Schools. Reading Jr High and George Ranch High School are National Blue Ribbon awardees. These schools serve the area. Fort Bend Southeast has several retail and entertainment hubs. Residents can enjoy excellent dining and shopping options at Greatwood and Sienna. With all the available information out there about all the suburbs in Houston, it can be confusing when finally making a decision on which suburb to choose. Get the advice of the best realtor in Houston and remove the guesswork when shopping for the best suburb to live in. "The Houston Properties Team was absolutely amazing. I had initially listed with a different realtor that was recommended by a neighbor with very poor results. It was even more difficult because I was no longer in Houston and the trust I had put in the other agent was definitely taken advantage of. However, when I found Kim with the Houston Properties Team, all that changed. I was informed throughout the process and when she promised something would be done, it was. Before the experience with her, I swore off ever even considering purchasing a home again. She restored my faith in the real estate world." – Jeanette (Google Review) Paige Martin, Broker Associate with Keller Williams Realty, and the Houston Properties Team are ranked amongst the top residential Realtors in the world. They have been featured on TV and in dozens of publications including: The Wall Street Journal, Fortune Magazine, Reuters, Fox News in the Morning, Money Magazine, Houston Business Journal, Houstonia, and Houston Chronicle. Paige Martin was just ranked as the #5 agent in the world with Keller Williams, and has completed over $1,000,000,000 in Houston residential real estate sales. Recent awards include: . . . in addition to over 318 additional awards. Paige also serves a variety of non-profits, civic and community boards and was appointed by Houston’s Mayor to be on the downtown TIRZ board. Our Team, composed of distinguished and competent Houston luxury realtors, has a well-defined structure based on the individual strengths of each member. We find team approach as the most effective way to sell homes. We have dedicated people doing staging, marketing, social media, open houses and showings. Each Houston Properties Team member is a specialist in their role – which is why our homes sell faster and for more money than average. The benefits of working with a team include: To meet all the award-winning members of The Houston Properties Team, please go here.
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Summary: Annual Salary & W/SW Suburbs Matrix
Salary Range Suburbs Under $80k Alief $80k-$150k Fort Bend County North / Richmond, Fort Bend South / Richmond, Fulshear/South Brookshire, Katy North, Katy Old Towne, Katy Southeast, Missouri City Area, Sienna Area, Sugar Land East, Sugar Land North $150k-$250k Fort Bend Southeast, Katy Southwest, Memorial West, Sugar Land South, Sugar Land West $250k+ Under $80K: Best Western / Southwestern Neighborhoods
Area Median Home Price Salary Required* 10 Year % Alief $254,000 $78,000 38% Alief
Area Median Home Price Salary Required* 10 Year % Alief $254,000 $78,000 38% 
$80K - $150K: Top Western / Southwestern Neighborhoods
Area Median Home Price Salary Required* 10 Year % Sienna Area $425,000 $141,000 19% Sugar Land East $465,000 $139,000 52% Energy Corridor $447,500 $137,000 33% Fort Bend County North / Richmond $409,000 $133,000 57% Katy Southeast $436,000 $133,000 52% Fulshear/South Brookshire $379,000 $126,000 -3% Katy Old Towne $338,870 $117,000 27% Fort Bend South / Richmond $355,495 $116,000 67% Brookshire $298,950 $100,000 49% Sugar Land North $329,000 $97,000 34% Katy North $300,000 $93,000 58% Missouri City Area $295,000 $91,000 42% Mission Bend Area $290,000 $88,000 60% Stafford Area $278,250 $84,000 55% Bear Creek South $270,000 $84,000 54% Sienna Area
Area Median Home Price Salary Required* 10 Year % Sienna Area $425,000 $141,000 19% 
Sugar Land East
Area Median Home Price Salary Required* 10 Year % Sugar Land East $465,000 $139,000 52% 
Energy Corridor
Area Median Home Price Salary Required* 10 Year % Energy Corridor $447,500 $137,000 33% 
$150K - $250K: Luxury Western / Southwestern Neighborhoods
Area Median Home Price Salary Required* 10 Year % Sugar Land West $480,000 $151,000 50% Katy Southwest $506,000 $160,000 50% Fort Bend Southeast $555,000 $166,000 74% Sugar Land South $650,000 $194,000 47% Memorial West $705,000 $220,000 35% Sugar Land West
Area Median Home Price Salary Required* 10 Year % Sugar Land West $480,000 $151,000 50% 
Katy Southwest
Area Median Home Price Salary Required* 10 Year % Katy Southwest $506,000 $160,000 50% 
Fort Bend Southeast
Area Median Home Price Salary Required* 10 Year % Fort Bend Southeast $555,000 $166,000 74% 
Sources, Methodology & Disclosures
Best Realtors In The Suburbs
Benefits Of Working With The Houston Properties Team
Best Houston Real Estate Resources
