The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 77617 sells for about $425,000, or $315 per square foot.
Prices are down 2.4% from a year ago, which gives buyers more room to negotiate. Homes take about 88 days to sell, which is slow. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $2,200 a month.
ZIP 77617 — Bolivar Peninsula
The housing market in 77617 is characterized by low transaction volume and high vacancy rates, typical of a seasonal coastal community. Prices have softened slightly year-over-year, reflecting broader market cooling and the high cost of coastal property insurance. The market remains heavily skewed toward vacation-home ownership rather than primary residential growth.
This ZIP is best suited for vacation-home buyers, investors in the short-term rental market, and those seeking a remote, coastal lifestyle.
Median prices moved down 2.4% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 88 days on market with 14.5 months of supply — a slower-moving market.
18% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 96.2% of asking — demand is running ahead of supply.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 0.0% · poverty 0.0% — a stable, low-distress profile.
Researched annual trajectory for this ZIP, from published historical series
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 7.9%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
Median annual property tax paid on this ZIP's residential parcels
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 8.0%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
versus the prior ACS vintage
in-migration and out-migration balanced
ZCTA 77617, Galveston County TX
Not determinable due to the extremely small, unincorporated nature of the Gilchrist community.
Not determinable; the area is served by regional districts with limited local school infrastructure.
The area is highly exposed to hurricane, storm surge, and coastal flooding risks, which significantly impacts property insurance availability and premiums.
Economic momentum is driven primarily by seasonal tourism and coastal recreation rather than industrial or corporate development.
Composed from the ARED governance burden registry — tier-native tax structure (state + county + city + special districts), never averaged. State (Texas) — Senior (65+) and Disabled Homestead Exemption and School Tax Ceiling: Grants an additional mandatory $10,000 exemption from ISD appraised value (Taxable Value_ISD = Appraised Value - $100,000 - $10,000) and establishes an absolute statutory tax freeze (school tax ceiling): total ISD property taxes cannot exceed the dollar ceiling established in the… State (Texas) — General Residence Homestead Exemption and 10% Valuation Growth Cap: Imposes mandatory state-level valuation deductions and growth limitations on the qualifying homestead: (1) Mandates a $100,000 deduction from appraised value for independent school district (ISD) maintenance and operations/debt taxation: Taxable Value_ISD = Appraised Value - $100… State (Texas) — Ad Valorem Real Property Taxation and Assessment Ratio: Mandates ad valorem appraisal of all real property at 100% of fair market value as of January 1 each tax year (Assessment Ratio = 1.00).
Commuting is primarily via Highway 87, which serves as the main artery connecting the Bolivar Peninsula to the mainland.
The area is defined by its immediate access to Gulf of Mexico beaches, fishing, and birding opportunities along the Bolivar Peninsula.
The rental market is heavily dominated by short-term vacation rentals due to the area's status as a coastal tourist destination.
The local economy is almost entirely dependent on tourism, seasonal hospitality, and coastal recreation.
Parcels are subject to Galveston County tax assessments and regional school district levies.
Property insurance is a critical factor due to high wind and flood risk, often requiring specialized coastal coverage.
Data retrieved from US Census Bureau ZCTA 77617 profiles.
Extensive public beach access along the Gulf of Mexico.
Key-figure check: no independent anchor retained yet — first-researched cycles establish the anchor baseline this pass.