From the journal
MUD taxes, commute math, and the real cost of living in Houston’s suburbs.
By Crystal Plummer Spruill | The Houston Relo GuideUpdated September 21, 2026 There are months when the housing market gives us a very complicated story. September isn’t really one of them. Houston has more homes to choose from, fewer buyers competing for them, prices are relatively stable, and mortgage rates have moved back toward 7%….
What a dispute over a proposed $75 monthly internet charge in The Woodlands Hills can teach Houston-area buyers about HOA costs, governing documents and who is making the decisions. There is a number I look for when I’m researching a Houston-area community for a buyer. Actually, there are several. The property tax rate. The MUD…
You don’t need to know where to start. That’s kind of the point. Maybe you’ve accepted a job in Houston. Maybe you’re still considering the offer. Maybe the HR rep told you, “A lot of our employees live in Katy.” A future coworker suggested The Woodlands. Someone else insists you need to look at Sugar…
If you’ve been looking at homes in Sugar Land and came across a city agenda item about a proposed tax rate increase, here’s what it would actually mean — no jargon, no spin. What’s changing Sugar Land City Council is proposing to raise the city’s portion of the property tax rate by about 1 cent…
Houston Homes For Sale Just Hit a Record High — Here’s What To Do With That By Crystal Plummer Spruill | TheHoustonReloGuide.com Last Updated: August 2026 Houston had 40,750 single-family homes on the market in July 2026 — the highest number ever recorded by the Houston Association of Realtors. Redfin estimates sellers now outnumber buyers…
By Crystal Plummer Spruill | TheHoustonReloGuide.com Last Updated: August 2026 The Quick Version Texas has no state income tax. You’ve heard this. What you haven’t heard — or at least haven’t heard explained clearly — is what replaces it. Property taxes that shock almost everyone. Homeowners insurance that ranks among the highest in the country….