Here at Property Watch, we don’t hide the fact that we love looking inside other people's homes—and this Saturday’s Houston Modern Homes Tour is the perfect opportunity to do just that as we visit five homes designed and built by top local architects and builders.

For $45 per ticket ($15 for ages 10-17), you can too. Tickets get you entry to each home to see the reality behind the lovely photos, and chat with architects and builders who will be on-site to answer any questions. The homes are open between 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 25, with the last stop on the tour open a little later, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

That stop is at the Boxprefab factory, where tour goers will enjoy light refreshments while viewing a fully-finished, 1-bedroom/1-bathroom modular ADU designed by Intexure Architects. Could it be your backyard guest house? Your country retreat? The possibilities are endless. They will also have the latest in modular backyard living spaces on hand, including a swimming pool that can be installed in a day, which sounds worth the cost of admission alone.

Here’s a sneak peek at the rest of the homes:

This 4-bedroom, almost 3500 square foot home by 2Scale Architects in the Montrose/Hyde Park neighborhood draws on bungalow traditions to create a comfortable, human-scaled home. The garage has been pushed to the rear of the property so as not to dominate the front, with the upper level fashioned into a porte cochere to protect the driveway. Also, comfortable front and back porches and the distinctive gable are blended with contemporary open plan living.

Ever wonder what an architect would build for themselves? This 5,100-square-foot home in Spring Valley Village is your answer, as it’s the home and workspace of architect Luisa Aurrecoechea, owner of LEAM Design Build. If you visit this one on your tour, watch how the indoor and outdoor living spaces were merged, with some trees passing through the roof. There’s also hidden doors, mirrored built-in elevated beds, moving walls, and concealed staircases to look out for.

This 5-bedroom, 4.5-bathroom, 4,965 house in Hillshire Village, was designed by studioMET Architects to be a bright and airy home for a family of four. Black wide-plank siding and tumbled mid-century brick on the exterior frame large windows and glass doors to the beckoning backyard pool.

Lake views and the quiet surroundings were both considerations in the design of this waterfront 4,110-square-foot Sugar Land house, also by studioMET Architects. Outside, there’s terraced wood decks and a covered patio. Inside, pay particular attention to how the ledgestone walls flow inside and out, paired with custom steel details, and large expanses of glass.

This modern farmhouse in Bellaire is flanked by deep covered porches on the front and back, while inside, the 4,500-square-foot layout is all about a flowing open concept with no wasted space. Large windows on both levels, not to mention the soaring ceiling heights in the great room, means natural light is plentiful, just as the firm refuGe Design Studio intended. They say: “Other than closets and secondary bathrooms, there are no dark spaces in this home.”

Learn more about the 2023 Houston Modern Home Tour here.