What’s New in October?
Fall has arrived in Houston, and with it comes my favorite stretch of the year. Cooler evenings, full calendars, and a housing market finding its footing. Here's what's happening around town, and what it all means for you and your home.
For Buyers: Don't Trip Up Your Preapproval
If you're thinking about buying this fall or early next year, getting preapproved is step one. What you do during the process matters just as much. NerdWallet recently laid out the moves that can quietly derail a preapproval, and they're worth knowing before you start house hunting.
First: don't take on new debt. Financing a car or furniture on credit can push your debt-to-income ratio past what lenders are comfortable with, and shrink the amount you qualify for, or cost you a better rate. Second: don't shake up your employment. Lenders reward stability, so changing jobs or going through income swings mid-process can alarm them, even if you're earning more. Third: don't make large deposits you can't document. An unexplained chunk of money in your account raises questions about where it came from. If family is helping with the down payment, you'll need a signed letter confirming it's a gift, not a loan. And finally, don't rush it. Double-check your paperwork, compare quotes from a few lenders, and give yourself room to get it right; the lowest rate could save you thousands over the life of the loan.
You can't control the market, but your financial profile is the part you do control. If you're getting ready to buy, let's talk through it before you start touring.
Source: NerdWallet, "What Not to Do During Mortgage Preapproval," updated April 28, 2025.
Around Town
House of Louie, chef Justin Yu's new Montrose spot
James Beard winner Justin Yu (Theodore Rex) and Bobby Heugel opened House of Louie this summer at 1931 Fairview Ave in Montrose, in the former Vibrant space. The menu has what Yu calls a French-Italian soul with a modern American touch, fried lasagna with ragù bianco and Comté fondue, yellowtail alla scapece, roast duck finished with green chartreuse. Plus a martini-leaning bar program and a roughly 60-bottle wine list. Open nightly for dinner. I cannot wait to check this one out! thehouseoflouie.com
The Original Greek Festival, 60th anniversary year, October 1-3
This weekend, one of Houston's longest-running fall traditions takes over the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 3511 Yoakum Blvd in Montrose: three days of authentic Greek food and pastries, live music, traditional dancing, a marketplace, cathedral tours, and family activities.
Hours are: Thursday 5-10:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Adult entry $10; children 12 and under free; free admission Friday 11 a.m.-3 p.m. greekfestival.org
Bayou City Art Festival, fall edition, October 9-11
The fall edition of Houston's iconic juried art festival takes over Memorial Park (South Picnic Ln) with 300 artists across 19 categories, live entertainment, food trucks, a craft beer garden, and the Active Imagination Zone for kids. This is one of my favorite Houston happenings and I'm so excited to go this year!
Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. Adult single-day tickets $18; kids 6-12 $5; VIP options available. bayoucityartfestival.com
Zoo Boo, September 25 - October 31st
Zoo Boo, presented by King & Spalding, turns the Houston Zoo into a pumpkin-packed fall tradition: the Pumpkin Lantern Tunnel, Peek-a-Boo Pumpkins, a Tangled Web Trail, and themed extended-hours nights (Wizard Night, H-Town Sports Night, Safari Night, Pop Icons Night, and more) running select evenings until 9:30 p.m. Included with general admission and free for members. Such a fun activity for kids! houstonzoo.org
Stage it Like You're Selling (or Staying)
You don't need a "for sale" sign to benefit from a little staging. The same tricks that earn competitive offers on luxury listings can make the home you live in feel brand new. House Outlook recently rounded up staging strategies from luxury stagers, and they're the same principles I use when I'm getting a house ready to list.
The short version: layer your lighting instead of relying on overheads alone. A sculptural pendant or an oversized lamp (or ANY lamp... I love lamps!) can make a room feel custom. Hang an oversized mirror to bounce natural light around (especially in dining rooms) and make the space feel larger. Arrange furniture for conversation rather than around the television. Anchor each room with one standout piece instead of a matching set, and add texture, linen, wool, wood, stone, leather, in similar tones for depth. Give an underused corner a chair, side table, and a floor lamp so it earns its keep, and group your decor in odd numbers (threes and fives) instead of spreading it evenly across the shelf.
Whether you're selling or staying, your home should feel like exactly where you want to spend your time. I often tell my design clients who tell me they had a "Realtor friend" say they should paint all the walls white... "for resale". If you are planning on spending more than a year or two in your home, CUSTOMIZE it! Do not be afraid to make your home special and uniquely YOU. Fun wallpaper, antique fixtures, daring colors, repurposed materials all help make a space personal. The Realtor in me does see value in special touches in a home such as light fixtures, elevated finishes and the thoughtfulness behind it all. To me, this shows that you care for the property and all its elements.
Source: House Outlook. Full article
Final Note
Halloween brings a lot of little feet to our streets, so keep the porch lights on, walkways clear, and an eye out if you're driving that evening. A well-lit entry keeps trick-or-treaters safe... and it's good for curb appeal the other 364 days of the year! Gone til' November...