Real estate and infrastructure occupiers in Houston typically cluster in Downtown, plan ~215 sqft per seat at high-end fit-out ($155–225/sqft), and pay around 35 USD/sqft ($35 USD) on Class A.

• Preferred submarket: Downtown.
• Typical fit-out spec: High-end ($155–225/sqft).
• Plan ~215 sqft per seat for headcount sizing.
• Class A rent context: 35 USD/sqft ($35 USD).
• Typical lease: 10 years with 18 months rent-free.
• Talent depth in Houston: 78/100.

TL;DR

• Preferred submarket: Downtown.
• Typical fit-out spec: High-end ($155–225/sqft).
• Plan ~215 sqft per seat for headcount sizing.
• Class A rent context: 35 USD/sqft ($35 USD).
• Typical lease: 10 years with 18 months rent-free.
• Talent depth in Houston: 78/100.

Where they cluster

Real estate and infrastructure occupiers in Houston typically anchor in Downtown. Energy majors, banking, law, professional services, government.

What they pay

Class A rent in Houston runs 35 USD/sqft ($35 USD) on a 10-year lease with 18 months free. Trophy submarkets command a 20–40% premium above the city index.

Spec and fit-out

Typical real estate and infrastructure fit-out targets high-end specification at $155–225/sqft. Branded reception, full client-facing programming, premium furniture, and specialist AV are standard.

Headcount sizing

Plan around 215 sqft per seat blended (workstation + circulation + amenity). A 100-headcount real estate office in Houston typically targets 21,500 sqft of leasable area.

Talent angle

Sponsor and asset-management teams favor trophy CBD addresses with proximity to investment-banking and law-firm tenancy. Deepest energy talent pool in the Americas. Strong engineering, healthcare (Texas Medical Center), and aerospace bases. Tech and finance talent depth is limited compared to Dallas / Austin.

Tax and lease context

Headline corporate tax: 22.5%. Modified-gross structures with operating-expense pass-throughs. 10-15 year terms common for trophy energy tenants. Free rent of 16-24 months and TI of $80-$140/sqft typical. Heavy concession packages.

Key facts

Frequently asked questions

Where do real estate and infrastructure occupiers lease office space in Houston?

Most cluster in Downtown. Rent runs ~35 USD/sqft ($35 USD) for trophy and prime stock.

What fit-out spec do real estate and infrastructure occupiers run in Houston?

Typically high-end at $155–225/sqft.

How much office space per seat should a real estate and infrastructure occupier plan in Houston?

Plan ~215 sqft per seat blended. A 100-person team typically takes 21,500 sqft.

What NAICS codes describe the real estate and infrastructure vertical?

Representative NAICS 2022 codes: 531, 237.

What is the talent index in Houston?

78/100. Use the city profile for full detail.

Related

• Real estate and infrastructure — global overview
• Houston — full city profile
• Financial services in Houston
• Asset management in Houston
• Investment banking in Houston
• Legal services in Houston

Editorial provenance

Reviewed by Miriam Hollander — Lead market analyst. Last updated 2026-04-15. See our methodology and editorial standards.

Primary sources for this page

• CBRE Marketview reports — CBRE
• JLL Office Insight — JLL
• Cushman & Wakefield Marketbeat — Cushman & Wakefield
• Savills World Research — Savills
• Colliers Global Office Outlook — Colliers

Full sources index · Submit a correction

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• Hybrid Workplace Strategy — How to size, structure, and lease a Class A office for a hybrid workforce.
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• Cross-border Expansion — How to run a coordinated Class A office search across multiple geographies.
• Fit-out Capex — How to budget, sequence, and govern Class A office fit-out capex.
• Lease vs Flex — When premium flex (coworking, managed office) beats a conventional Class A lease — and vice versa.