Houston’s Rental Market on the Upswing in 2015: 54 Large Developments Added 14,871 New Units
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Space City has enrolled in a serious competition to become the third city in the U.S. Its strong energy industry, the abundance of Fortune 500 companies, the low taxes, and more than 650,000 jobs created since 2003 all ooze the promise of the American dream. It’s no wonder that Houston’s metro area has added more than 100,000 residents between 2013 and 2014, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
With the housing demand clearly on the rise, developers are putting all efforts into completing impressive rental projects, that are changing The Bayou City’s skyline at a fast pace. But just how many new Houston apartments were completed last year and which were the largest projects?
We turned to Yardi Matrix for the answer: 54 rental developments of 50+ units were finalized during 2015 in the metro area, bringing as many as 14,871 rentals to the area’s housing inventory. 28 of these, totaling 7,739 units, are located within the city’s boundaries. The numbers are right on par with the 7,687 apartments delivered in 2014, signaling a rising trend likely to continue throughout 2016.
To get a better grasp of what 2015 brought in terms of mega-communities, we focused on the top 10 largest projects of 2015. High-rise or mid-rise, they all count more than 300 units and offer outstanding amenities, hundreds of parking spaces, and upscale community perks in some of the most convenient locations across town.
Join us as we count down the 10 largest Houston rental developments completed last year:
#10. SOLA Uptown River Oaks: 317 rental units – Check availability
Completed: 2/27/2015
Address: 70 East Briar Hollow Lane, Houston, TX 77027
Rental types: 35 studios, 57 one-bed/alcove apartments, 162 one-bed apartments, 63 two-bed apartments
Property size: 262,184 sq.ft., five-story building
Short description: 385 parking spaces, reserved parking garage spaces available for $35/month. Gourmet kitchens with granite countertops and tiled back splashes. Stained concrete or wood-style flooring. Stylish interiors with nine-foot ceilings and eight-foot doors. Carpeted bedrooms. Stunning city views. 2 BBQ gas grills with outdoor kitchen. Billiards room with gaming consoles. Landscaped courtyards. Business center. Hotel-inspired pool. Pet park. Fitness studio with spinning room.
Photo credits: RentCafe
#9. Aria at Willowick Park: 325 rental units
Completed: 7/13/2015
Address: 3255 Las Palmas Street, Houston, TX 77072
Rental types: 30 one-bed/alcove apartments, 200 one-bed apartments, 80 two-bed apartments, 12 three-bed apartments
Property size: 282,384 sq.ft., five-story building (over two levels of parking)
Short description: Partial – corporate housing: fully furnished short term leases available. 325 parking spaces, additional garage parking available for $105/month. 10′-14′ ceilings. Private balconies / patios. Quartz countertops. Kitchen islands with pendant lighting. Pre-wired intrusion alarm. Energy efficient windows. Social lounge with gaming area. Courtyard with reflection pond and seating areas. 6th floor skybar with indoor and outdoor seating and views of Galleria area skyline. Resort-style pool with sundeck and heated spa.
Photo credits: Aria at Willowick Park Website
#8. SkyHouse Houston: 336 rental units – Check availability
Completed: 4/28/2015
Address: 1625 Main Street, Houston, TX 77002
Rental types: 80 studios, 166 one-bed apartments, 72 two-bed apartments, 18 three-bed apartments
Property size: 263,419 sq.ft., 24-story building (first floor includes 7,300 sq.ft. of retail)
Short description: 458 parking spaces. Kohler® fixtures in kitchens and baths. Spa-styled baths with ceramic tile floors and fixtures surround. Built-in shelving and desks. Granite countertops with subway tile backsplash and Espresso finish cabinets. Indoor clubroom with pool table and flat screen TVs. Rooftop tennis courts. Saltwater rooftop pool and sundeck. Lobby with concierge services. Dog park.
Photo credits: RentCafe
#7. SkyHouse River Oaks: 352 rental units – Check availability
Completed: 8/25/2015
Address: 2031 Westcreek Lane, Houston, TX 77027
Rental types: 84 studios, 172 one-bed apartments, 96 two-bed apartments
Property size: 275,664 sq.ft., 25-story building (first floor includes 7,200 sq.ft. of retail)
Short description: 500 parking spaces, additional covered parking available for $50/month. Granite countertops with tile backsplash and undermount sink. Hardwood-style flooring in kitchen, living, and dining rooms. Floor-to-ceiling windows with solar shades. Two rooftop resort style pools with sun shelves and cabanas. Fully equipped fitness center. Executive conference room, business center, and library. Electric car charging station.Rooftop outdoor fireplace. Clubroom.
Photo credits: RentCafe, Yardi Matrix
#6. Alexan Enclave: 354 rental units
Completed: 1/23/2015
Address: 13411 Briar Forest Drive, Houston, TX 77077
Rental types: 36 one-bed/alcove apartments, 250 one-bed apartments, 68 two-bed apartments
Property size: 321,619 sq.ft., 2 four-story buildings
Short description: 520 parking spaces, reserved parking garage spaces available for $50/month. Non-smoking community. Two-story fitness center with yoga and spinning room. Onsite dog wash station. Business center with conference room. Electric car charging stations. Chefs kitchens. Spa inspired baths with large oval soaking tubs. Plank flooring in living and dining areas.
Photo credits: Alexan Enclave Website
#5. Hanover Post Oak: 355 rental units
Completed: 5/12/2015
Address: 1750 Sky Lark Lane, Houston, TX 77056
Rental types: 20 one-bed/alcove apartments, 207 one-bed apartments, 123 two-bed apartments, 5 three-bed apartments
Property size: 358,901 sq.ft., 22-story building (over seven floors of office and retail, totaling 70,000 sq.ft.)
Short description: 495 parking spaces, reserved parking garage spaces available for $100/month. 15,000 sq.ft. of resident amenities with skyline views. 24-hour Technogym fitness club. 24-hour concierge. Pet washing station. Resort-style pool with private cabanas. Private screening room. 10′ ceilings. Open-concept gourmet kitchens. Floor-to-ceiling windows. Unparalleled views.
Photo credits: Hanover Post Oak Facebook Page
#4. Virage: 383 rental units
Completed: 1/19/2015
Address: 100 Detering Street, Houston, TX 77007
Rental types: 264 one-bed apartments, 107 two-bed apartments, 12 three-bed apartments
Property size: 402,044 sq.ft., six-story building
Short description: Green building – LEED – Proposed. 538 parking spaces, detached garages available for an additional $150/month. Fully-equipped wellness center with highly-specialized Technogym® cardio machines. Resort-style swimming pool with expansive tanning areas. Community pet park. Grilling areas. Business center. Entertainment lounge with Wi-Fi café, serving bar, and TV gallery. Custom maple cabinetry in kitchens. Stainless steel Energy Star appliances. Incredible skyline views in select units. Custom color accent walls.
Photo credits: Virage Houston Facebook Page
#3. The Susanne: 396 rental units
Completed: 11/24/2015
Address: 3833 Dunlavy Street, Houston, TX 77006
Rental types: 282 one-bed apartments, 114 two-bed apartments
Property size: 389,357 sq.ft., eight-story building
Short description: 594 parking spaces. High-tech 24/7 fitness center. Landscaped courtyard with sparkling pool. Elegant clubroom and lounge. Conference room. Stainless steel energy efficient appliance package. Glass enclosed frameless showers. Solid oak hardwood flooring. Custom wood cabinetry. Natural stone backsplashes.
Photo credits: The Susanne Apartments Website and Facebook Page
#2. Vue Kingsland: 424 rental units
Completed: 9/15/2015
Address: 18021 Kingsland Blvd, Houston, TX 77094
Rental types: 214 one-bed apartments, 126 two-bed apartments, 84 three-bed apartments
Property size: 453,290 sq.ft., 21 three-story buildings
Short description: 635 parking spaces, detached garages available for an additional $150/Month. Billiards room. Business center. Clubhouse. Gated community, controlled access. Pool. Pet-friendly community. Fitness center. Washer/dryer and microwave in all units.
Photo credits: Vue Kingsland Website and Facebook Page
#1. Hanover West University: 425 rental units
Completed: 1/06/2015
Address: 2630 Bissonnet Street, Houston, TX 77005
Rental types: 45 one-bed/alcove apartments, 263 one-bed apartments, 117 two-bed apartments
Property size: 371,133 sq.ft., five-story building
Short description: 647 parking spaces. Car charging stations. Expansive fitness center with TechnoGym cardio and strength equipment. Tree-lined dog walk with dog washing stations. Private resident courtyard with fireplace, banquettes, outdoor dining, and grilling areas. Resort-style pool. Private conference and dining room. Wood-style flooring in entry, kitchen, living and dining areas. Open-concept gourmet kitchens with stainless steel appliances, granite slab countertops. Luxury bathrooms.
Photo credits: Windsor at West University website, Yardi Matrix
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Nicky is a Senior Communications Specialist for RENTCafé.com, where she researches and writes about real estate, interior design, and all things that spark renters’ interests. She is also your go-to person for content collaborations. Nicky double majored in Marketing and Applied Economics and holds a master's degree in Marketing Strategies and Policies. You can reach her via email at nicky.rentcafe@yardi.com.
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