People in the market for new homes in Houston, Texas, should shed any preconceived notions they may have about Houston being a typical Western city. It is not the Western part that we shy away from. After all, Houston hosts the world's largest rodeo, and you are sure to find the occasional cowboy museum here and there. However, Houston is anything but typical.
In fact, its more than four million residents make up the fourth largest and, arguably, the most diverse city in the country. To comprehend the melting pot of cultures and ethnicities inhabiting this region, you need only to hear the 90 languages - in addition to English - being spoken on any given day. Couple this rich diversity with a smooth blend of urban living and friendly Southern charm, and you are left with a visionary group of people who are casual and energetic, eclectic and optimistic eternally open to global thinking and imagination.
This sense of vision is perhaps most apparent in the presence of NASA's Johnson Space Center. Houston is also a Mecca for international business, as Lockheed Martin and Boeing, who have presence in the area.
The Bayou City's Astros, Rockets, Comets, Texans and Aeros are a fixture on the sports scene, which is fortunate for residents, as they are avid sports fans.
All that perennial sunshine and good weather might go to waste that is, if it weren't for the world-class golf and the outdoor festivals and the 650 city and county parks with walking, hiking and biking trails; playgrounds, pools, dog parks and community centers. Oh, and did we mention the beaches just south of the city limits?
Not to be outdone on any front, Houston is also one of the few cities in the country with internationally acclaimed resident companies representing all four of the major performing arts: ballet, drama, opera and symphony -- all in addition to a bevy of art museums and theaters. In addition, the area is overflowing with a smorgasbord of over 6,000 restaurants, offering a wide range of international fare.
When you take all this into account, it is clear why Houston new homes are a booming industry. Who wouldn't want to live in a place where a little bit of everything -- and we mean everything -- is all within reach?