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Family-friendly hidden gem w/ pool oasis! Perfect location, close to everything!

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Your backyard oasis awaits!
The view from your covered patio!
Entrance to your home away from home!
Front porch nook - for when you need to get away!
Entrance to the home

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms2+ bathroomsSleeps 8255.5 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Hot tub
  • Pet-friendly
  • Dryer
  • Pool
  • Parking available
  • Washer

Explore the area

Map
Houston, TX
  • Downtown Aquarium
    ‪8 min drive‬
  • Toyota Center
    ‪10 min drive‬
  • George R. Brown Convention Center
    ‪11 min drive‬
  • Houston, TX (JGP-Greenway Plaza Heliport)
    ‪17 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Bedroom with Office

1 Queen Bed

Guest Bedroom (3rd bedroom)

1 Queen Bed

Master En-Suite

1 King Bed and 1 Double Bed

2 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Downstairs Powder Room

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet

Master Suite Bathroom

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Bathtub · Toilet · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Upstairs Guest Bathroom

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Bathtub · Toilet · Shampoo

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Balcony
Separate dining area
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Family-friendly hidden gem w/ pool oasis! Perfect location, close to everything!

I have loved this house since I moved into it on February 2014. Back then, the neighborhood wasn’t what it is today, but it had a lot of potential! I’ve seen Shady Acres grow from a quirky up-and-coming section of the Heights to THE entertainment hub inside the loop. The house is located within walking distance from breweries, bars, cafes, restaurants and even a Bingo Hall. The fantastic location of the property also gives you access to bike and walking trails, both on TC Jester and on Nicholson Street, both less than half-a-mile away. We even have what is considered one of the best Hot Chicken restaurants in Houston on our street, Mico’s Hot Chicken! I hope you have an opportunity to enjoy the neighborhood along with the house – it really has become a special place for me which I look forward to sharing with you!

I’ve tried to think of my experience as an avid traveler and user of home-sharing sites, to create a comfortable and welcoming environment for you and your guests. This is my only property, and my objective is to make sure that you, as my guest, have such a fantastic experience, you plan your next Houston visit with me!

About the Space

- Walk to Heights Restaurants and Bars
- Less-than 10-minute drive to Downtown, Washington and Galleria
- Pool, Hot Tub and Outdoor toilet
- Firepit and Grill
- Outdoor TV and Projector
- Air-Conditioned Garage with Ping Pong and Air Hockey Tables
- 6-Car Parking on Private Driveway
- YoutubeTV, Prime Video, Netflix & Hulu on every screen
- Bathroom Supplies, Cleaning Supplies and Pantry Basics
- Keurig Coffee Machine + Drip Coffee Maker
- Waffle Maker, Toaster, Rice-Cooker, Air Fryer + more!

The home is a two-story Craftsman style free-standing home nestled 3 blocks from the busy entertainment scene on 19th and 20th streets. The home boasts 2750 sq ft of interior space, including the garage, with an additional 300 sq ft of covered patios (entrance and backyard), and high ceilings throughout. You and your guests will have access to the entire house and all of its amenities, except for 2 owner’s closets. The house has a 50ft long driveway that can fit 6 sedan-style cars, or 4 half-ton pick-up trucks, as well as free street parking.

From the front of the house, you will gain entry to the house via a key in an electronic lockbox attached to the front-gate. The front-entrance is shortly past the gate, as is the direct path to the secluded back-yard oasis. From the inside of the house, you will have access to the garage, which will be set up for entertainment. If, alternatively, you’d like to drive your car inside, please let me know ahead of time, so I can appropriately rearrange the space. You will be able to exit the house through the garage, and can close the garage via the keypad, but will need to enter the home through the front-door upon your return.

Once inside the house, you’ll notice the first floor is 1050 sq ft of open-concept space which includes a very roomy Living Room, with an oversized sectional couch that seats 8 comfortably, stand-up desks and seating behind the couch for 4 guests, plus a dedicated corner work-station. The downstairs also has a central Dining Room with a large barnyard style dining table and seating for 8, easily accessible from the fully-stocked kitchen. In the kitchen, you’ll find everything you need to prepare a meal, including an air-fryer, to make quick yummy snacks. Downstairs, you’ll also find a half-bath, just below the staircase to the second floor, where the bedrooms and the children’s playroom are. If you’re traveling with little ones, you’ll find child-friendly dining ware, board games, a crib, a high-chair and a dedicated children's playroom (upstairs).

Walking up stairs takes you to the children's playroom, located in the center of the 1300 sq ft 2nd floor. Down a hall, you’ll walk past the laundry room, where we keep extra towels and linens for you and your guests, to get to the HUGE Master Suite. In the Master, you’ll find an adjustable Tempurpedic bed and blackout curtains on all the windows, to ensure a restful night’s sleep. The room is equipped with a 70” TV, a 2-chair reading nook, and access to a grand bathroom with both a soaking tub and a freestanding shower. The master bedroom is set up with a travel crib, for when you’re traveling with a little one, and can be set up with an additional double-sized mattress, to accommodate more than 6 guests.

The upstairs has 2 additional Queen-bed guest rooms, one of which has a dedicated work-space. Both room s have huge walk-in closets. The two additional guest rooms share the upstairs guest bathroom, which, like the Master, will have bath supplies and towels for you and your guests. Also upstairs is the laundry-room, where you’ll find a stacked washer and dryer, laundry detergent, dryer sheets, additional towels, linens and pillows.

There are 4 outdoor areas – the garage, the two covered patios and the backyard, where the pool and hot-tub are located. The garage has an Air Conditioning unit that will cool the 400 sq ft space off in less than 20 minutes, so you can enjoy playing ping-pong or any other indoor activity, comfortably, in the heat of summer. The small front-door covered patio has seating for 2 people to enjoy their morning coffee away from a crowd. The back-yard covered patio is set up with a comfortable outdoor couch, a 6-person breakfast-bar eating area for you and your guests, and a large cooler for you to keep your beverages in while in the back yard (ice-packs are provided and found in the kitchen’s freezer). Finally, the backyard houses an 22,000 gallon pool (5.5ft deep) and 8-person hot-tub (that goes up-to 104F), in front of a 55” TV for when you cannot miss the game, but want to enjoy the Texas heat. The pool has a sun-tanning ledge with water-loungers, with additional lounge chairs to be found in the pool-shed. The backyard also has a regulation dart-board set up, with professional steel-tipped darts for you to enjoy the game. Please be careful, as the darts are sharp! Once it gets dark, the back-yard becomes your own personal outdoor movie theater, with a hidden 100” projector screen that can be viewed from the pool, or enjoyed in front of the firepit. The backyard also houses a full-sized grill (please clean it after use), and an outdoor toilet.

Pool and Hot-Tub Operation

I want you to enjoy this property to the fullest, and as such, I will be providing access for you to control the heating function for the pool and hot-tub. I just ask that you be judicious in turning it on and off. The hot-tub takes anywhere between 30 and 60 minutes to get to temperature, with the pool taking anywhere between 4 and 12 hours during non-winter months. During winter months, when the temps are below 50F, it takes several days for the pool to get to temperature, so please heat just the hot-tub during your stay.

* From the app you will be able to operate the pool, the hot-tub, overall temperature of water, two water features and the pool and hot-tub lights. When the pool was built, an air bubble system was installed, but due to the constant debris falling from the tree two properties down, and clogging the in-floor air-ports, the feature is permanently disengaged. Don't worry, you won't miss it - the pool has 12 powerful jets throughout!

House Maintenance and Cleaning

The house has scheduled pest-control visits once-a-month, and unfortunately, we do not determine when that may be – the pest company lets us know 2 days ahead. If they will be visiting during your stay, I will let you know. They won’t bother you, but will spray the outside and be on their way.

The pool and hot-tub are maintained every Monday by our pool company. James is our pool guy – if you bump into him, say hi! He usually cleans and treats the pool within 45 minutes, and is on his way.

Once every 2 weeks, either myself or a yard maintenance crew comes to do light yard-work and clean-up. However, we live next to a giant tree 2 properties down, that molts year-round. As such, you may find leaves and other organic debris around the property. If it is too much of a bother, please let me know and I will address the issue personally.

Our professional cleaning staff are dedicated vacation rental property cleaners, and will show up at the house no later than 15 minutes after our agreed-upon check-out time. At the start and end of every service, they take a 5-minute video of the house, to show the state before and after their work. If upon arrival, you find anything not to your liking, I will work with you to personally address the issue.

Pet Policy and Considerations

I LOVE pets, and have a Bernese Mountain Dog that has loved every inch of this house. I invite you to bring your pet along (dogs and cats only) on your visit. I charge $100 per stay for your pet, that includes, upon request, dog-bowls, a dog-bed, and a kennel, in case you need it. The house has a small (20-lbs or less) pet-door to the patio. For stays longer than 1 week, on a per-request basis and for a $50 fee, I can set-up an inside/outside kennel, that will allow a sub-20lb pet access to the outdoors, but still keep them safe within an outdoor enclosure.

Safety

This part of town is very safe – I have never had any safety issues, other than an occasional package being stolen, if left outside the gate. Nevertheless, I have 4-security cameras throughout the property – a doorbell camera, a driveway camera, one overlooking the backyard, and one in the garage, looking at the garage door. By the time you arrive, you will find the garage and backyard cameras turned-off and covered.

The house has smoke detectors throughout, two carbon monoxide detectors (one on each floor), 2 fire extinguishers (one in the kitchen, under the sink and one in the master bathroom, under the sink), and a fire-escape ladder under the sink in the Master bathroom.

Property manager

Julian Gutierrez
Premier Host

Languages

English, Italian, Spanish

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Pool
Hot tub
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs and cats (limit 2 total)
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Lost or damaged remotes will incur a $40 replacement fee, per remote.
A lost house key will incur a $75 replacement fee, per key.
Leaving after our agreed-upon check-out time will incur a $75 per hour fee, as our cleaners need all 5 hours between guests to do their job properly.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Long-term renters welcome
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

We should mention

This property does not have any lifts

About the area

Houston

Northside, a neighbourhood in Houston, is home to this holiday home. Memorial City Mall and CityCentre are worth checking out if shopping is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's popular attractions can visit Downtown Aquarium and Houston Zoo. Looking to enjoy an event or a game? See what's going on at Daikin Park or Toyota Center.
Map
Houston, TX

What's nearby

  • The Heights Theater - 17 min walk - 1.4 km
  • Downtown Aquarium - 8 min drive - 8.6 km
  • Daikin Park - 10 min drive - 9.9 km
  • Toyota Center - 10 min drive - 10.6 km
  • George R. Brown Convention Center - 11 min drive - 11.0 km

Getting around

  • Cavalcade Station - 5 min drive
  • Houston Station - 17 min drive
  • George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) - 29 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Heights Bier Garten - ‬10 min walk
  • ‪The Burger Joint - ‬11 min walk
  • ‪McIntyre's - ‬12 min walk
  • ‪Heights Social - ‬11 min walk
  • ‪Katz's - ‬13 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Does Family-friendly hidden gem w/ pool oasis! Perfect location, close to everything! have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool. Pool types include heated pools.

Is Family-friendly hidden gem w/ pool oasis! Perfect location, close to everything! pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows cats and dogs (limit 2 total).

What time is check-in at Family-friendly hidden gem w/ pool oasis! Perfect location, close to everything!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Family-friendly hidden gem w/ pool oasis! Perfect location, close to everything!?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Family-friendly hidden gem w/ pool oasis! Perfect location, close to everything! located?

This family-friendly Houston holiday home is located in Northside, within 2 mi (3 km) of The Heights Theater and Memorial Hermann Greater Heights Hospital. Memorial Park is 2.7 mi (4.4 km) away.

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 6 out of 7 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 7 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 7 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 7 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 7 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.2/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

8/10 Good

Candie E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy

Candie Review

I love the property overall.Julian has a Beautiful place Julian is a great communicator. Overall my experience was a 4.5. I will book again
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Rhonda W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Spring break trip

The pictures don’t do this place justice. It’s a great home and host is very easy to deal with and very responsive.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Julienne U.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

ABSOLUTE PERFECTION!!

The listing does NOT do justice to how amazing this house is! I can't wait to visit Houston again, just to stay here! Even better than the house is the host, Julian. He was so accommodating for early check in. He knew we were celebrating a birthday and generously left a bottle of champagne in the fridge. As we had questions throughout the weekend, he was consistently available, kind, and wonderful to work with. I give ALL the stars and highly recommend!!
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Matt G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Houston Weekend

We stayed in Houston to visit family. It was just two nights but the property, host and neighborhood were all exceptional! Julian was super attentive and thought of everything! The property was immaculate and exactly as advertised. The neighborhood was very cool with tons of restaurants and various shops. Highly recommend this property.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Dorothy R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Houston trip

We stayed in this beautiful home while we visited Houston last weekend. The pictures don’t do justice because it was even better in person. Julian was a great host and very accommodating especially with our grandbaby. The house is very spacious and immaculately clean. You will find everything you need for your stay. The house was near a grocery store and centrally located to where I needed to be during my stay.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Qyteisha O.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Birthday vacation!

Loved our stay! Host was very responsive and helpful throughout. Micos Hot Chicken right around the corner, 10/10! Definitely recommend, did not disappoint.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Mary F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Gorgeous, Family-Friendly Property with Amazing Hosts

I have stayed at several vacation homes and have never experienced anything like my stay at this particular home. The property was BEAUTIFUL (I actually think the pictures did not do the property justice) From pre-check-in to checkout, our host, Julian, was welcoming and accommodating. The neighborhood was quiet and was easy to get to. The amenities provided everything needed to make the adults and kids happy. The host was kind, considerate, and accommodating. His attention to detail made the stay more relaxing and inviting than I could have expected. If we are ever traveling back to Houston, no doubt, this is where we will be staying.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2024

About the host

Hosted by Julian Gutierrez

Host profile image
I was born in Spain, but raised internationally, as our family lived as expatriates in the US, Venezuela, Italy, Mexico and Switzerland. After college, I settled down in Barcelona and started a career in management consulting that would eventually bring me to Houston for good. Now in my 40s, I've been focusing more on enjoying a simpler life, focused on my health and being more in-touch with nature and outdoor activities. I left my previous career for something a bit slower, and now focus as much time as possible on camping, hiking, cycling, skiing, DIYing and now, hosting! In many ways, I feel like I was made for hosting, and especially leveraging this house, which is my only property. I realized not too long ago that the house was too much space for me and my dog, but that I'd get a lot of joy from sharing it with travelers. In doing so, I can share the love I have for traveling, for the neighborhood, for Houston and for the house itself with you all. I still live nearby, and keep my finger on the pulse of the neighborhood, so if you have any questions, before, during or after your stay, do not hesitate to ask!

Why they chose this property

When I bought the home in 2014, Shady Acres, the area of the Heights the house is in was very much up-and-coming. However, I had never had a dog before and knew I wanted one, and that, from everything I had heard, dogs needed yards. Shortly after purchasing the home, I adopted a Bernese Mountain Dog, whom ultimately hated to be outside, other than on the patio under the fan. Nevertheless, this house and the neighborhood have matured beyond my wildest imagination. We've gone from having 2 bars and 2 restaurants within walking distance, to being 1 block removed from the highest concentration of restaurants, bars, cafes and breweries in the Heights. Not only that, but the neighborhood is now made up largely of new homes, and many nearby streets are being turned into pedestrian and bicycle-friendly social spaces. You will love staying in the house, whether you venture out or not, however, if you do decide to enjoy the neighborhood, you'll find world-class dining and entertainment within walking distance. And when you want to get some sleep, you can recede to the peace and quiet of 17th Street!

What makes this property unique

Whereas I believe many short-term-rentals are purchased as investments, I bought this house to live in it. As such, the home is one-of-a-kind, in the sense that it has 10-years worth of details and projects throughout. The back-yard has a 22,000 gallon pool, a hot tub, a fire pit, an outdoor toilet, a full sized grill, a dart-board, and two ways of watching TV, either via the 50" screen mounted by the hot-tub, for daytime viewing, or via the 100" retractable screen, for when the sun goes down. The backyard also houses a patio, with a comfy outdoor couch and breakfast-bar seating for 6. For when the weather is not cooperating, you'll find the garage has been transformed into an entertainment space, where you and your guests can enjoy a game of ping-pong in air-conditioned bliss. Not to mention the driveway can fit up to 6 cars! Once inside the house, you'll find a well-appointed kitchen, a dining room for 8 and a living room designed for movie-watching and game-night, with an oversized couch in front of an 80" TV, and stand-up desks behind the couch, for comfortable eating, or additional game-players. Upstairs, you'll find all 3 well-appointed bedrooms, 2 bathrooms (master and guest) and a children's playroom, for those of you traveling with little ones. I've really enjoyed living in this home and making it "special" and look forward to sharing it with you and your guests!

Languages:

English, Italian, Spanish

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests