HTX-PLF: Impact 10/16/2025

An area in Pearland near Smith Ranch Road could soon have sanitary and sewer service, clearing the way for future commercial and light-industrial development south of Broadway Street.

What happened: Pearland City Council approved the first reading of an ordinance at its Oct. 13 meeting to establish a service and assessment plan for 80 acres near the southeast corner of Smith Ranch and Hughes Ranch roads.

The cost: Of the project’s $6.1 million cost, the PEDC will advance roughly $4.6 million, to be reimbursed by assessments paid by property owners within the serviced area.

Pearland ISD scored 95 out of 100 points in its annual Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas, or FIRST, report.

The overview: The ratings are based on financial data from fiscal year 2023-24, and were presented to the board of trustees at its Oct. 14 meeting.

By the numbers: The FIRST rating uses 21 indicators, according to district documents. Out of all indicators, PISD did not receive full credit for the following:

• Indicator 4, which measured if the district made timely payments to the Teachers Retirement System, Texas Workforce Commission, IRS and other government agencies. Superintendent Larry Berger noted the indicator was passed, but due to processing issues with IRS payments, full credit was not received. 
  
• Indicator 8 measures whether the ratio of current assets to current liabilities can cover short-term debt. PISD scored an 8/10.

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."