Houstonia Magazine 2799 Katy Freeway, Suite 250, Houston, TX 77007 Phone: 713-862-4570 • Fax: 713-862-4606

As temperatures continue to rise , home sales in Houston have experienced a cooldown, and inventory has reached the highest since November 2020. While there are finally more homes on the market, buyers are facing a new challenge. According to HAR , median home prices increased 11% in June to $436,425, and a lack of homes priced below $250,000 has left buyers with no choice but to weigh more expensive property options. If you're on the hunt for a home below the current price trend or just browsing what's on the market, we found five homes in the Houston area with large living spaces and backyards perfect for summer lounging.

Scroll ahead for five homes listed for under $400,000 in Houston. 

Located near Downtown and the Medical Center, this newly built 1,689-square-foot home has four bedrooms, two full and one-half bathrooms. The exterior is tall and bright with stone accents. The entry leads to an open floor plan with a wood-burning fireplace in the living room and a kitchen with granite countertops and stainless-steel appliances. The primary bedroom has a vaulted ceiling, and the bathroom has framed mirrors, a large tub, a separate shower, and a spacious walk-in closet. The backyard is large considering the home’s proximity to the downtown area, where you usually see smaller yards and townhomes. 

This charming home is the perfect landscape for beloved family memories with a tall, made-for-climbing tree in the front yard. The one-story, 1,999 square-foot home has three bedrooms and two bathrooms. A large wooden door opens to the main living areas, which include the kitchen and living room. The room is bright and airy, thanks to the kitchen's white cabinets and stainless-steel appliances. There’s a gray-colored brick fireplace in the living room centered between wall niches with spotlights, which is great for hanging your favorite art pieces. The bedrooms are average in size, and the primary bedroom comes with an en suite bathroom. The backyard is spacious and comes with a shady, covered patio. 

A double door opens to a beautiful wood floor and brick entryway, which leads to a spacious family room with high beamed ceilings. The family room also has a gas log fireplace, crown molding, and picture frame molding. The wood floors from the entry continue throughout several areas of the home, upgrading each space. The 2,418 square foot home has three bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms. The kitchen leads to a breakfast nook/sitting area with built-in shelving to display cherished serving pieces and glassware. A long window-lined hallway along the bedrooms looks out onto a peaceful solarium. The backyard is fully paved and comes with French drains. Across the street from the home are the community tennis courts and swimming pool, which are in perfect proximity during a Houston summer. 

It’s not often that I comment on a home’s garage and front door color choice, but the doors on this home deserve some spotlight. The dark-colored garage door contrasts the home's beige exterior, and the light blue door adds a bright pop of color. Wood accents throughout the 1,958 square-foot home, such as the cabinets in the kitchen, sliding doors in the family room, and double doors in the primary bedroom, bring warmth to the home. Among the three bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms is a primary bedroom and bathroom, which has a frameless glass shower decorated with blue tile. The light shines through the home's main room thanks to a wall of windows looking out to the backyard. The yard includes a pebbled seating area, which only needs a fire pit to be perfect for evening get-togethers. 

Built on a corner lot of the Briargreen Terrace community near Energy Corridor, this 2,756 square foot home has four bedrooms and three bathrooms. Arched walkways lead to several areas around the home’s main living spaces like the dining and living rooms. The kitchen has plenty of cabinet storage, granite countertops, and a tiled backsplash. The primary bedroom has a coved ceiling and an en suite bathroom with his and her vanity sinks and walk-in closets. Upstairs has a game room and an additional private guest suite. The backyard has a covered patio and just enough space for a swing set.