Missouri City, Texas has a very rich history. At points in its history, certain residential area were once inhabited by sugar cane and cotton plantation owners, sugar mill owners, and (for an unusual twist in the pattern) by the Cenacle Sisters who had a retreat house on the grounds. Nowadays, this area is known for its Houston luxury homes instead, which appeal to a variety of prospective buyers who are looking for quality homes to buy.

Among the 50 most expensive subdivisions where Houston luxury homes can be found are the following: River Oaks Tall Timbers, West Oaks, Tanglewood, Sandalwood, Crestwood, and Southampton Place (among others.) In River Oaks Tall Timbers, the median appraisal for even one Houston luxury homes is $2,750,000.

Kinda pricey? Well, that is because the median area of that kind of home is 6,577 square feet - so for the price you pay, think of the amount of space you get in return and you will agree that the price you pay may well be worth it. Despite the high cost of Houston luxury homes, there are actually quite a few buyers willing to invest in this kind of property.

If you are not willing (or unable) to shoulder that kind of price for your Houston luxury homes, you might want to consider moving into your own personal loft and/or condominium unit instead. A loft might cost you $159,000 to $600,000, depending on the size and amenities that come with it, as well as the location of your home. And the saying that you are judged by the friends you keep is actually quite true, so when choosing a loft of your own you might want to take a look around the neighborhood first before plunking down your money. A loft in one of the better communities can run you $220,000 to a high of $1.2 million.

The same principle holds true for condominium developments: location may drive up the price you have to pay. A condominium unit can cost you $150,000 to $350,000 in one community, but may be priced at $300,000 to $1.3 million in a more high-end neighborhood. In real estate, location can be everything for both the developer and the prospective buyer.

Before you choose one of the Houston luxury homes on the market that appeals to you, it is important to canvass prices in the location you are eyeing first. This will help you know whether you are getting a good deal or whether you are being gouged by your agent or the owner. Then you will want to know about the community you are buying into. For example, in Houston as of 2002, 32% of the population was in the 25-to-44-year-old age bracket, and another 29% were just below 18 years of age.

This means the Houston communities are generally made up of young people who are either just starting out to earn their first paycheck, or have saved a bit and are thinking of buying their own home sometime soon. Many are probably married or in a relationship so children will follow soon. In fact, as of 2002, 70% of households in the Houston area were made up of families. If these are the type of people you desire as next-door neighbors, then perhaps the Houston real estate market is where you should look.

So which one of the various types of Houston luxury homes should you buy: a free-standing home, a loft or a condominium unit? Well, again, it would depend on what you are looking for. A couple with children would probably be looking for a free-standing home which offers plenty of space that the family members can grow into. A loft also offers quite a bit of space (for the price) so it may appeal to a young couple who may not be anticipating children just yet - maybe they are just looking for a place they can call their own and whose value may go up eventually, particularly when they want to rent or lease it out.

Same goes for a condominium unit - the limited amount of space could turn off bigger families but may be considered perfect by couples. Even retired couples might want to invest in a condominium because such developments offer some perks like round-the-clock security, housekeeping, and steady water supply. So before you select a Houston luxury home for yourself, be sure you know what you need it for first.