The most commonly selected areas energy professionals call home 

Houston, being one of the main cities populated by energy professionals, has a broad range of areas to select when it comes to finding a home. Having to accommodate lifestyle types coming from around the globe, Houston is able to offer choices in neighborhoods and communities, which meet the needs of different tastes and familiarities.

The Galleria

One of the most dynamic and robust areas to live is the Galleria.

The Galleria is home to Post Oak Blvd; the long awaited “Rodeo Drive” of Houston. Over the course of 10 years, the boulevard – once a regular street – has been transformed into one of the most highlighted areas of Houston. With it’s glitzy shops, restaurants – and now an upscale version of “Whole Foods” – which sits on the northwest corner of San Felipe and Post Oak, individuals who choose to live in this area are lucky enough to be able to walk to work. The Galleria is a mini energy corridor, with a number of energy companies headquartered within blocks of one another. Companies like Apache Corp, Marathon Oil, Schlumberger and SUEZ North America are all neatly centered in the Galleria and for this reason alone, the Galleria area attracts individuals geared toward convenience and luxury. With an array of housing options, there is everything from luxury high-rise living – which you can either own or lease – to living in one of the most prestigious neighborhoods in Houston, Tanglewood. In addition, there are patio and townhome choices ranging in price. The further away you go from Post Oak Blvd., the more your commute to the Galleria increases. 

Memorial Villages

Memorial Villages consists of 6 small cities or “villages” which operate independently from Houston; Piney Point, Bunker Hill, Spring Valley, Hedwig, Hilshire, and Hunters Creek. Memorial is especially attractive to those who move here from different parts of the country because of the established community nestled sequentially, one village after another, amongst the beauty of sprawling yards, long driveways, tree-lined streets and the bayou running throughout. The comfort of living in Memorial comes with a price tag ranging in the low millions to tens of millions (and over) for a single-family residence, which will sit on acreage or an oversized lot.

West University

“West U” for short, is another independent city located within the Houston metropolitan area. The West University area is a quaint, upscale – yet modestly styled, traditional neighborhood. Coffee shops and boutiques surround the area, which is characterized by streets named after universities and colleges. You will most likely find single-family homes with small lots. Homes have already been reconstructed for the most part and because of the demand to own here, prices have steadily risen. As with each neighborhood, a price tag is symbolic to the area. In West University, if you are willing to pay a million plus for a single-family home, on a small lot, you will find yourself within a short drive to downtown and the medical center, minutes to the Galleria and in an established area that is one of the most attractive residential communities inside the loop.

River Oaks

The glamour of Houston’s highest end zip code – 77019 – sits inside the loop. Off River Oaks Blvd, within reach of Kirby drive and downtown Houston are large homes – mansions with private entrances, gates and long driveways – that stretch far from the street. A hop and skip to anywhere inside the loop, this neighborhood attracts those who are willing to spend millions to tens of millions and above.

The Woodlands

One of the continued attractions to The Woodlands is due part to the number of energy corporations whose campuses are within or proximate to surrounding communities. Considered a master planned community, The Woodlands sits approximately 30-miles outside of Houston and serves as corporate headquarters to Chevron Phillips Chemical Company, Anadarko, Newfield Exploration, Repsol North America and Baker Hughes, among others. In addition, the new ExxonMobil campus contributes to the growing population of The Woodlands and helps make the area an attractive home for energy professionals. You can find newly constructed communities stretching along both sides of Interstate 45 from as far south as the city of Spring to the far southern border of Conroe. New construction prices start around $400k and stretch into the millions.

The Energy Corridor

Designated as its own district within the city of Houston, the Energy Corridor is home to the large campuses of BP and ConocoPhillips, Mustang Engineering and Technip USA, as well as a number of other oil, gas and service-related companies located along Interstate 1-10 and both sides of Beltway 8 North. The Energy Corridor offers endless shopping, restaurants, entertainment, parks and recreation opportunities, with City Centre a few blocks from its eastern border. With plenty of housing options – from apartments to new construction to elaborate high-rise living, patio homes or single-family homes with lots or zero-lot lines suitable to both short- and long-term buyers – there is a destination to visit and a place almost anyone can call home in the Energy Corridor.

The Heights

The Heights defines the saying, “Houston has something for everyone,” being a historical community, blended with a mix of eclectic and nouveau, topped with an old sense of charm. One of the biggest attractions to the Heights is its convenient location to downtown, the Galleria, and the Energy Corridor, having easy access to Interstate 1-10. With a flare for style, arts, trendy restaurants and entertainment, the Heights offers an array of interests and tastes for the individual looking for a nontraditional residential neighborhood.

Rice Military/Washington Corridor

Bordering the Heights area is Washington Corridor, which sits adjacent to Rice Military. Positioned along the north side of Memorial Drive, makes Rice Military/Washington Corridor an appealing area with a quick commute to downtown. Washington Ave. is yet another trending area in Houston with lots of restaurants and shops situated in a walk-friendly community. Rice Military, although congested, is a skip from Washington Ave, and a few blocks from Memorial Park. If you opt for a downtown view from your townhome rooftop, you will find it in this area.

Downtown

For those who want to thrive around work, downtown Houston could easily be considered its own energy hub. Facilitating some of the largest oil, gas, trading and banking companies, you are at the center of Houston’s business district. Houston’s downtown is comprised of condos, lofts, townhomes, and apartments, and within reach you can find patio homes in gated communities. Living downtown typically serves as a secondary means of housing or as an alternative to a distant commute. Prices can vary from upper $200k to just under a million for loft-style living.

Michele Marano is a licensed Realtor with Champions Real Estate Group, Real Estate for the Energy Professional.