Bellaire

Want a larger, newer home on a bigger lot and (usually) at a better price than what you could get in, say, neighboring West University? You’ve come to the right place.

Situated just south of the Galleria area in the southwestern part of Houston, Bellaire is an independent city that offers residents a small-town, suburban vibe near the heart of the action. Founded in the early 20th century as a collection of small farms and literally named “good air” for the pleasant breezes that blew across the former prairie, today the area is primarily residential—though you can find office towers along Loop 610 and plenty of shops and restaurants, including Bellaire Town Center.

Here, vintage homes are available for less than $500,000. However, larger, recent-construction, and even brand-new homes in a variety of architectural styles running all the way well above the $1 million mark are in abundance. Median home values are in the upper-six-figure range. Bonus: Unlike West University, many of the homes here can fit swimming pools in the spacious backyards. Some homes even back up to the beautiful BraeBurn Country Club. And Bellaire is recognized for being zoned to some of the best schools in the Houston area—from elementary school all the way through to high school.

Residents are extremely close to the world-famous Galleria/Uptown district, NRG Stadium, West University, Rice University, and Medical Center.