HTX-BAY: Impact 10/16/2025

Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids is slated to open its doors in late October.

The national franchise offers a variety of haircut packages and features fun amenities to keep kids occupied during their appointment. 

The gist: At Sharkey’s, kids up to age 14 can get their hair cut in chairs modeled after cars such as Barbie Jeeps and race cars while watching their favorite show on Netflix or playing Xbox games.  All haircuts also come with a blow dry, styling, a mini manicure, a balloon and a lollipop, according to the company’s website.

More details: Along with individual cuts, Sharkey’s offers customers different packages, including a dad and son haircut for $50 and a mother and daughter haircut for $70. 

• 515 W. Bay Area Blvd., Ste. 200,  Webster

San Jacinto College’s board of trustees approved a tax rate of $0.154615 per $100 valuation of a home at its Oct. 6 meeting. The tax rate will decrease by $0.0253, or 0.16%, compared to the 2024 tax rate, according to tax documents from the college.

What residents should know: While the tax rate will decrease, taxes on an average home are expected to rise by more than 3%, according to college tax documents. Taxes on an average home with a taxable value of over $188,000 will have over $290 to pay in taxes. This is over a 3% increase compared to 2024, when homes with a taxable value of nearly $182,000 had over $280 to pay in taxes, according to tax documents.  

Houston renters saw more listings in September while lease prices remained steady compared to this time last year, according to the Houston Association of Realtors’ September 2025 Rental Market Update released Oct. 15.

Two-minute impact: There was a 5.3% increase in the number of single-family homes leased this September compared to the same time last year, according to the report. Surpassing last month’s record, 11,255 single-family homes were available for rent in September. 

The average lease price was $2,341 per month, which is statistically unchanged from September 2024, per the report. This marks the third month in a row where the average listing price remained flat, indicating a plateau in prices.

Quote of note: “We continue to see steady demand for single-family rentals as many people find homeownership challenging right now due to affordability issues—not just in Houston, but nationwide,” HAR Chair Shae Cottar said via the report. “With so many properties on the market, renters have more choices than ever, and that’s helping them find places that fit their needs and budget."