Blog

Top 10 Reasons Why Houston's Inner Loop Is THE Place To Live

 

Houston Museum of Fine Art Houston, TXWhat makes Houston's Inner Loop area so special?

 

Friendly people. A generous helping of beautiful green space. Uniquely-spectacular skylines. World-class shopping, dining and entertainment. Awe-inspiring cultural diversity. Superb education and learning institutions.

From high culture to haute cuisine, from a plentitude of business and employment opportunities to more recreational opps and venues than you can count, Houston Inner Loop residents have it all, living in the very heart of a thriving global metropolis where ideas, vision and imagination are welcomed and embraced.

Alluring as they are, those things are only the tip of the Inner Loop "iceberg" of enticements. Peruse our [unranked] list of the Top 10 Reasons Why Houston's Inner Loop Is THE Place To Live and you'll be scrambling to join us.



1. Housing Options / Costs

Houston's Inner Loop neighborhoods provide a broad range of very cost-competitive rental and for-purchase housing options; in fact, housing costs are the lowest among the 27 participating metro areas according to ACCRA's Third Quarter 2010 Cost of Living Index at 21% below the national average and 38% lower than the average of the metro areas with more than 2 million residents.


 
2. Cost of Living

Your dollar has a much higher buying power here than in virtually any other major metropolitan area in the country due to a very favorable cost of living, not only in housing, but in groceries and health care as well.

The Third Quarter 2010 ACCRA Cost of Living Survey revealed that overall after-tax living costs are 9% below the nationwide average, and 19% below the average of metropolitan areas with more than 2 million residents.



3. Education

Houston Inner Loop educational offerings are first-rate with dozens of quality public, private and parochial primary schools, local community colleges, four-year colleges and universities, and other specialized training options, including dozens of business schools.



4. Employment Opportunities

The Inner Loop boasts a huge, diverse mix of public and private employment within companies of all sizes and its dynamic not-for-profit community.

Whether you're relocating and looking for spousal employment opportunities, looking to re-enter the work force, or looking to advance your career, you'll find a large, vibrant employment market with opportunities ranging from executive positions to  temporary staffing and virtually everything in between.



5. Health Care

Houston's Inner Loop is home to the internationally-renowned Texas Medical Center which encompasses the largest concentration of medical treatment and care, medical research and medical technology expertise in the entire world.



6. Cultural Amenities

Known for its cultural breadth and depth, Houston's Inner Loop affords a kaleidoscope of world-class offerings, from museums and libraries, to visual and performing arts.

Houston is one of only a handful of U.S. cities with permanent professional resident companies in opera (Houston Grand Opera), ballet (Houston Ballet), music (Houston Symphony) and theater (Alley Theatre), all of their state-of-the-art performance venues being located 'in the loop'.



7. Sports & Recreation

Inner Loop residents are just minutes from many phenomenal recreation and sports centers and facilities, including multiple state-of-the-art venues playing host to Astros (baseball), Texans (football), Rockets (basketball), Dynamo (soccer) and Aeros (hockey) events, among others.



8. Transit

Houston is a commuter-friendly metropolitan area, its urban dwellers enjoying quick, easy access to major highways and city thoroughfares, a well-established (and budget-friendly) Metro bus system and convenient light rail transportation in some neighborhoods.

And when you want or need to travel elsewhere, you'll be in good hands. In 2010, Travel + Leisure ranked Houston for having America's Best Airports.

You'll be just a quick jaunt away from George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), the 7th busiest in the nation and currently ranked 3rd in the United States among U.S. airports with scheduled non-stop domestic and international service, and from William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), the 41st busiest in the U.S. for total passengers, providing nonstop or direct service to more than 34 destinations throughout the U.S.



9. Urban Suburbia

If you see yourself more as a suburban-ite that an urban-ite, Houston's Inner Loop can wonderfully accommodate your needs and desires. Multiple neighborhoods afford "better-than-suburbia" options providing the look, feel and benefits of suburban living sans the expensive, time-consuming commute.

You can enjoy a friendly neighborhood-/community-oriented attitude and atmosphere complete with lush green space including tree-lined streets, parks and other outdoor recreational facilities, along with fine public and private schools for your children, all conveniently-located within Houston's Inner Loop.



10. Public Safety

Houston's overall crime rate has declined significantly since the early 2000s and is still declining with public safety a priority of both the mayor and Harris County judge. A whopping one-third of the city's and one-fourth of the county's operating budgets are dedicated to law enforcement.

There are dozens of registered first-responder organizations throughout Inner Loop neighborhoods - usually city and volunteer fire departments - dispatched as soon as ambulances are dispatched in response to a call for help. First responders can start life-saving procedures such as CPR and oxygen administration before an ambulance arrives.


It's a Beautiful Day in the Inner Loop Neighborhood!

Whether you're relocating to Houston from out of town, from a non-Inner Loop Houston neighborhood, or from one Inner Loop neighborhood to another, our team of licensed REALTORS® can handle all of your housing needs and are experts at creating a pleasant, worry-free experience for you... all at NO COST to you!

Call 713-521-7368 today and one of our friendly, knowledgeable specialists will take exceptional care of you and be thrilled to be the first to welcome you to our extraordinary neighborhood!

Related Articles