More Sugar Land homeowners will be eligible for exterior home improvements reimbursement funding with the expansion of the city’s Great Homes incentive program.

The big picture: The program will now allow homes in the bottom 3% of single-family property values to receive a 50% reimbursement for exterior repairs, up from the previous 10% and 25% of project costs, city officials announced in a Dec. 3 news release.

The details: In addition to the reimbursement increase, the program will also see several changes including:

• Minimum project decreased from $4,000 to $500
• Exceptions may be made for homeowner insurance requirements
• Eligibility expanded to include heir owners

Insomnia Cookies is set to bring late night treats to Sugar Land Town Square next year.

The $241,600 project, located in Sugar Land Town Square, is slated to begin in March with an estimated completion mid-May, according to project filings from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

On the menu: The Pennsylvania-based bakery—which is best known for its late-night deliveries—offers warm cookies in a variety of flavors including chocolate chunk, snickerdoodle, peanut butter and oatmeal raisin, according to its website. The shop also offers cookie cakes, pints of ice cream and brownies.

• 2270 Lone Star Drive, Sugar Land

In the Greater Houston area in November, single-family rental leases grew 10.2% year over year, while lease prices remained statistically flat, with a 0.4% increase to $2,244, according to the Houston Association of Realtors’ November 2025 Rental Market Update report released Dec. 17.

More details: This November, there were 3,459 leased homes, compared to 3,139 last November, according to the report. Active listings also increased, with 11,933 single-family homes available.

What they're saying: “As the year moves into its final stretch Houston renters are receiving a welcome gift in the form of more options and stable prices,” HAR Chair Shae Cottar with LPT Realty said via news release. “As interest rates continue to ease, we may see more people feel confident about making the transition from renting to buying in the new year.”

With vendors across Harris County starting consumer fireworks sales Dec. 21 ahead of the holiday and new year, Harris County Fire Marshal officials are reminding residents to follow safety protocols and proper disposal guidelines.

Quote of note: “Fireworks are allowed in unincorporated Harris County, but there are areas that fireworks are not allowed in unincorporated Harris County,” HCFMO Public Information Officer Brandi Dumas said. “Our message is always safety first.”

What residents should know: The fire marshal’s office recommended some of the following tips:

• Follow the law and be sure fireworks are legal in your community and with your homeowners association
• Make sure there is a bucket of water or water source nearby for emergencies
• Soak used fireworks prior to disposing of them in the trash

Catch up on Community Impact’s coverage this week with five trending Greater Houston-area stories from Dec. 19-26:

1. Coastal Texas Project moves forward with two new design contracts

2. $81M Greenhouse Road underpass set for 2026 construction

3. 8 businesses coming soon to Sugar Land-Missouri City

4. Vevor to open at former Big Lots location on Jones Road

5. Singas Famous Pizza coming to Sugar Land