Like all things Texas, Houston is big. Pull back the layers a bit though, and you’ll see this city has much more to offer than its size.

If you’re planning to move to the Houston area, here is a look at some important things you should know about living in Houston.

Houston is Growing & Getting Younger

Thanks in part to a recent employment boom, the population of Houston is growing rapidly. The fastest-growing city in 2015, it was predicted that Houston would add 63,000 jobs last year. These increased employment opportunities are bringing the population age down too with 33 being the new median age in Houston.

Still Some Small Town Charm

Even with the growing population, you’ll still feel the small town Texas charm from the locals. Need directions? You’ll get them with a smile. Even if you’re just dropping into the local convenience store for gas and a snack, you’ll likely be met with a friendly smile and casual small talk about the weather or latest news.

Southern Drawl Out. Y’all Still In

Houston is more urban and less “Texas” than other Texas cities, so you won’t hear Southern drawls on every street corner. But even though not everyone speaks with the friendly Texas drawl, “y’all” will never die. Even if you’re not from the south, “y’all” will eventually become part of your everyday vocabulary if you live in Houston long enough.

It’s a Museum Lover’s Dream Come True

Not only is Houston home to plenty of art galleries and artsy neighborhoods, it’s also bursting at the seams with museums. In fact, you’ll find an actual Museum District, which houses 20 museums in a 12-block radius.

It’s a Foodie’s Paradise

With 11,000 restaurants in Houston, you’ll never make it through all the culinary fare the city has to offer, but we wouldn’t blame you if you tried since Houston is home to some of the best restaurants in the United States.

Hot Summers, Nice Weather the Rest of the Year

With temperatures in the summer often hovering around 100 degrees combined with high humidity, Houston isn’t exactly pleasant during the summer months unless you’re in a pool. Some say you get used to it. Some just suffer. Make it through summer, however, and you’ll get to enjoy the flip side - mild winters and lots of sunshine throughout the rest of the year. In fact, you’ll often enjoy 70-degree weather even in December and January in Houston.

Pools Everywhere

Remember the heat? Yep, you’re going to want to have access to a pool if you live in Houston. Many houses have private pools, but if not, there are plenty of neighborhood and city pools around to relax in. In addition to pools, there are also several great beaches such as Galveston Island to enjoy in the Houston area.

Nature Lovers Won’t Be Disappointed

Yes, it’s a large city, but plenty of green space breaks up the concrete jungle. With nearly 40,000 acres in the City of Houston park system, including the 12-acre Discovery Green in downtown Texas, you’re bound to find some nature wherever you are.

Affordable Housing

The housing market is rather competitive in Houston right now with some houses selling before they even hit the market. But still, the city is one of the most affordable housing markets in the country, with the average price of a single-family home at just $300,178 (as reported in June of 2016).

Houstonians Are Proud

Houston has a lot to offer, and the people know it. They won’t let you forget it either. If you’re going to live in Houston, prepare to feel a newfound pride of place.

Buying a home for your family is more than just finding something nice in a good school district. You need a home that fits the way you live, that will offer space for your growing needs, and that doesn’t eat up all your time and money. While an older home shouldn’t necessarily be out of the question, a new home will often fit the bill better.

Flexibility

Want a third bathroom just for your kids? Three bedrooms upstairs instead of two? How about an island in the kitchen big enough for your whole family to crowd around and help prepare meals?

When you build a new home, you can customize it to your family’s needs. You aren’t stuck with a certain floor plan. You actually have options to create the best floor plan flow for your family. In addition, you can customize the style of your home, upgrading your backsplash, flooring, and more to match your own personal tastes.

Better Energy Efficiency

New homes are subject to stricter building codes, including energy efficiency codes. A new home maintains its temperature better than an older home because it has higher-efficiency insulation, doors, and windows. Your family will remain more comfortable all year long, and you’ll enjoy a lower energy bill.

Less Time Spent on Repairs

You have soccer games to attend, proms to shop for, and family dinners you’d like to make happen on a regular basis. Spending time on home repairs can seriously cut into time spent with your family.

There’s no telling what you’ll need to replace or repair in an older home, but chances are you’ll be working on something fairly soon after moving in. Appliances, roofs, windows, carpet, and more just wear out and die. When you buy an older home, you’re buying years of problems just waiting to fall apart./p>

Repairs Are Easier When You Have to Do Them

Every home will need repairs at some point, even a new home. However, new homes are constructed in a way that makes repairs easier. You won’t be find wiring or plumbing in strange places, and when you need a new part, you’ll find it easy to find standard replacement parts.

Safety

New homes often have important safety features, like garage doors that stop if a child is getting too close and furnaces and air conditioners that use the safest, environmentally-friendly coolants. Not only that, but the air you breathe will likely be cleaner in a new home as materials used in new home construction use fewer volatile organic compounds. You don’t have to worry about asbestos or lead paint.

Community Amenities

You’ll find many new homes in master-planned communities with amenities that make staying in your neighborhood the cool thing to do. Swimming pools, biking trails, open space, shopping, and more could be right outside your door, giving your kids more options for staying close to home and your family more options for spending time together.

The Security of a Warranty

When you buy a new home, you get the peace of mind that a warranty provides. Warranties vary from builder to builder, but most will cover any repairs that need to take place within the first year. The appliances installed in a new home will also carry their own warranty. Knowing you’ll have time to save for repairs, rather than dipping into your child’s college savings to replace the water heater a month after moving in is a good feeling.

When you’re ready to purchase a home, make sure you check out the new home builders in the area you want to live. It shouldn’t be hard to find a community and builder you love. If you’re in the Houston, Texas area, be sure to check out all the great new home options available from Princeton Classic Homes and Legend Homes.

Houston housing data for May 2016 showed significant improvement in overall home sales, increasing by 10 percent as compared to May 2015. Growing inventory, including that from new home builders, has played a part in this boost in the Houston housing market.

Home Sale Stats

In May 2016, home buying was concentrated in mid-range homes priced between $150,000 and $500,000. Homes outside of this price range actually decreased in sales. The average and median price of single-family homes, however, remained about the same as May 2015.

The Houston Association of Realtors reports 7,343 homes were sold in May of 2016 which is a significant increase from the 6,678 homes sold in May of 2015. Inventory levels were also strengthened by new listings - lengthening the supply of homes on the market from 3 months to 3.6 months. While Houston lags behind the housing inventory in the United States which currently stands at 4.7 months, this increase is still positive news for Houston.

The total property sales for all property types increased by 7.1 percent, from 8,123 in May of 2015 to 8,703 in May of 2016.

Month-end pending sales for single-family homes increased by 14.6 percent, from 7,167 to 8,286, which makes it likely that once June sales are tallied, the numbers will continue to look very positive.

All signs point to market conditions that are normalizing in Houston as a result of the new inventory of homes.

Townhome Stats

Interesting enough, townhome sales remained exactly the same with 621 sold in both May of 2015 and 2016. The average price declined by 2.6 percent, but the median price increased by 7.6 percent. Inventory expanded significantly, however, from a 2.6 month supply to 3.4 months.

Rental Stats

Single-family home rentals increased 4.1 percent and townhomes jumped by 10.7 percent.

The average rental rates remained the same - $1,866 for single family homes and $1,666 for townhomes and condominiums.

A Stabilizing Market

The increase in supply has made it possible for prices to stabilize, for inventory to expand, and for sales to increase. This is all good news for the Houston real estate market, and experts expect this trend to continue through the summer months.