BBVA Compass presents Leaders & Legends 2019 sponsored by Deutsch Fine Jewelry is out now! See the full portfolio of Houston greats, by Steven Visneau, online or in the April issue.
WITH ITS INAUGURAL set of residents newly moved in, Pelican Builders’ mid-rise condominium Westmore at 2323 W Main Street in Upper Kirby is already seeing the blossoming of a tight-knit community. Designed by Houston-based Mirador Group the Westmore is the first new condominium product to be introduced to the in-demand, inner loop neighborhood in more than three years. And with remaining two-bedroom homes starting at $895,000, it’s a remarkable value for this increasingly pricey area, where condos can easily climb to several million dollars and more.
The Westmore’s intimate, mid-rise scale was intended to complement, rather than overpower, its charming surroundings, which range from renovated bungalows and multiplexes to high-end patio homes and townhomes plus multi-million-dollar single-family residences. And while just seven stories, residents are afforded beautiful treetops and skyline views that belie its modest size.
Perfectly nestled just off bustling Kirby Drive, just outside River Oaks, and moments from West University, the 33-residence property boasts an enviable 92 Walk Score. The proximity to things both useful and enjoyable has been one of its biggest sale drivers given the plethora of things that a pedestrian can so easily access just blocks away, from Whole Foods Market and Levy Park to Pinstripes bowling and bocce and Color Factory, plus a slew of antique and design stores, art galleries, service offerings, and fitness studios. And that doesn’t touch the surface of a literal bounty of restaurants for every taste, ranging from The Original Carrabba’s, Kiran's, and Thai newcomer MaKiin to recently opened bistro PS-21, Armando’s, Local Foods and Relish.
According to Pelican Builders founder Robert Bland, “The appeal for this building spans upwardly mobile young professionals to downsizing couples in their 50s and 60s, and they’re all drawn to a no maintenance lifestyle with the best of the city at their fingertips. At the Westmore, they have all that with the bonus of a 24-hour doorman for security purposes.”
The property is exclusively sold and marketed by Douglas Elliman Development Marketing. Its model residence is open Monday – Tuesday and Thursday – Sunday from 12 pm to 5 pm or by appointment. For more information or to book an appointment to tour, please call or text 713-600-5096 or visit www.westmorehouston.com.
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MORTGAGE RATES ARE high. So is the cost of living. Life milestones are coming later. The reasons that millennials are, according to society, "behind" previous generations when it comes to home ownership are finally crystal clear (and they have nothing to do with avocado toast, thankyouverymuch). But what do the statistics say about home-buying in Houston?
The millennial generation, defined as individuals born between 1981 and 1996, has reached a point in life in which buying a home is cited as a top priority. Thanks to the brutal combination of high interest rates and low inventory, though, it's become a daunting task. But a recently released report details this generation's level of participation in real estate markets across the country.
Construction Coverage, which covers building, insurance and real estate news, says that millennials accounted for the majority of home purchase loans in Houston last year — 61.5 percent, compared to 56.9 percent nationally. States with the highest percentage of millennial homebuyers were California, Texas, and a majority of the midwest and northeast. States at the bottom of the list included, in a post-Covid plot twist, Arizona and Florida.
The median loan amount for mortgages taken out by applicants ages 25-34 in the Houston-Woodlands-Sugar Land metro was $315K, and shot up to $365K for those ages 35-44 — higher than any other age group. The median interest rate for the nearly 30,000 combined transactions was 6.5 percent.
The loan-to-value ratio, defined as the amount of the mortgage compared to the sale price of the home, was a whopping 87 percent for the 25-to-34-year-olds, and 80 percent for 35-to-44-year-olds. A contributing factor may be that many are first-time homebuyers, and have less equity to apply to new mortgages; in addition, many already have young and growing families, and need more space than previous generations' "starter homes" would have.
So what does this mean? In order to cope with rising home prices, millennials are taking out larger home loans than ever before, nationwide and here in Houston.
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NOSTALGIA RUNS HIGH at new Buttermilk Baby in M-K-T Heights, where classic Carvel ice cream treats — a rarity in restaurants — are paired with a menu of buttermilk biscuits, chicken sandwiches and burgers.
Known for its portfolio of upscale and elegant restaurants, the concept represents a new path for Berg Hospitality Group: an all-day family-friendly hangout invested with equal parts Americana and modern-dining know-how. Think of it as a homage to vintage soda-shop ambiance with retro southern fare fit for Instagram fame!
"Buttermilk Baby is a fusion of our traditional fine dining with fast casual to create a new concept of dining I like to call ‘cool casual.’ It’s a place where kids of all ages can get home-cooked comfort food made from top-notch ingredients and just enjoy being a kid again,” says Benjamin Berg, founder and CEO of Berg Hospitality Group.
Buttermilk Baby is the Texas debut of Carvel, the cult classic ice cream brand founded in 1934. As the country’s first retail ice cream company, Carvel is best known for creating The Original Soft Serve, as well as for its iconic ice cream cakes and signature novelties. Carvel’s ice cream cakes, including the Fudgie the Whale character cake, along with 10 flavors of soft-serve and the brand’s fan-favorite Flying Saucer ice cream sandwiches are also on offer.
Chicken fingers at Buttermilk Baby (photo by Brian Kennedy)
Bailey's-and-Oreo boozy shake
Photo by Kirsten Gilliam
Carvel soft serve
Smashburger at Buttermilk Baby (photo by Brian Kennedy)
Start the day with a breakfast of champions: cinnamon rolls, buttermilk biscuits with sausage gravy, buttermilk pancakes and biscuit sandwiches filled with eggs, honey ham and buttermilk-brined fried chicken. The menu also features Ben Berg’s favorite breakfast: an everything bagel with cream cheese and bacon, coined “Ben’s Biscuit.”
Roll up your sleeves for lunch and dinner signatures like diner-style smashburgers, patty melt, chicken finger basket, and a variety of chicken sandwiches (buttermilk, southern-fried, grilled, mushroom-swiss). Smashburgers, hot dogs and corn dogs are made with Texas wagyu beef.
New York-based design firm ICRAVE and longtime Berg collaborator Gail McCleese of sensitori teamed up to produce a dining wonderland where guests are greeted by pink cloud-shaped swings floating from a rainbow-colored arch entrance. You can’t miss the life-size carousel horse, the giant ice-cream-sundae statue (complete with rotating cherry on top), neon signage, and a pastel color palette running through the 50-seat dining room. The kid-friendly ice cream bar has seating for 10.
To drink, adults can sip on frozen frappes, coffee and a limited selection of beer and wine. Carvel’s soft serve ice cream is also incorporated into the menu through the concept’s “boozy shakes” in a variety of adults-only flavors including Espresso Shaketini, Bailey’s Oreo Cookie, and Piña Colada.
Cheers to that!
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