Houston is a city full of diversity, opportunity and one that is never lacking in things to do. Known far and wide for its presence in the energy industry – most notably oil and natural gas but also wind, solar and other renewable energy sources – the city also has significant interests in biomedical research, aeronautics, engineering services, manufacturing and mining. The Port of Houston contributes significantly to Houston's economy, consistently ranking first in the nation in terms of international commerce. An amazing stat that speaks to the size and importance of the Houston-area economy: in 2010, the Gross Domestic Product was $385 billion – larger than that of Austria, Poland or Saudi Arabia. It is thus no surprise that Houston has been designated as a global city by the Globalization and World Cities Study Group and Network.
In 2006, Forbes magazine ranked Houston third in the U.S. among "Best Places for Business and Careers". In 2008, Houston received the top overall ranking on Kiplinger's Personal Finance Best Cities of 2008, based on local economy, employment opportunities, reasonable living costs and quality of life; the same year, Houston ranked first on Forbes’ list of Best Cities for College Graduates and in 2010, the city was rated the best city for shopping by Forbes Magazine.
Houston is a diverse city with a large and growing international community. Over one in five residents was born outside the United States, and many annual events celebrate Houston’s diverse cultural makeup. The annual Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is the largest annual Livestock Show and Rodeo in the world. Other annual events include the Houston Greek Festival, Art Car Parade, the Houston Auto Show, the Houston International Festival, and the Bayou City Art Festival, widely considered one of the top art festivals in the United States.
The City of Houston cares about its residents. The Department of Public Parks, established in 1916, initially consisted of two parks and 465 acres of land. Today, the Houston Parks and Recreation Department manages over 37,832 acres of parkland and greenspace for the City of Houston and its citizens. Another example of how Houston invests in its citizens at the grassroots level is the Assessment, Intervention and Mobilization (AIM) project. Through AIM, city employees go door-to-door performing assessments and linking residents to services. Houston also boasts an outstanding Public Library system, including but not limited to the Central Library, the Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Clayton Center for Genealogical Research and the African-American Library, as well as four Regional Libraries and 31 Neighborhood Libraries. The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) provides buses, light rail, and lift vans. METRO began light rail service on January 1, 2004 and is currently in the design phase of a 10-year expansion plan that will add five more lines.
The Houston Theater District, home to nine major performing arts organizations, is the second-largest concentration of theater seats in a downtown area in the nation. Houston is one of few U.S. cities with permanent, professional, resident companies in all major performing arts disciplines: opera, ballet, music, and theater. The Museum District includes The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston Museum of Natural Science, Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, Station Museum of Contemporary Art, Holocaust Museum Houston, and the Houston Zoo. Bayou Bend is a 14-acre facility of the Museum of Fine Arts that houses one of America's best collections of decorative art, paintings and furniture.
Houston Homes for Sale
Are you looking for homes for sale in Houston? We have a wealth of experience with single family homes, townhouses, lofts and more. Feel free to search our local listings database for access to listings in Houston and surrounding areas – whether you want to buy or sell real estate in Houston, you can browse properties and find a wide variety of real estate resources and options available on our website.
Houston Real Estate Agent
If you are looking for a realtor in Houston, we sincerely hope that you will give Sonit Seth and RE/MAX Fine Properties a chance to impress you and exceed your expectations. As your Houston realtor, the RE/MAX Fine Properties team can assist you with all of your home buying and selling needs. We can provide you with access to our local listings database and offer our experience and knowledge to make the home buying or selling process easier for you and your family. With us you are not just a name or number – you are another member of the wonderful Houston community, which also happens to be our community. We are invested in helping you realize the dream of home ownership. We hope you will contact RE/MAX Fine Properties soon to get started!
