Best Neighborhoods to Live in Inner Loop Houston
Planning to buy a home? Here's a curated list of the best places to live in Inner Loop Houston based on their 5-year appreciation.
Coronavirus, Hurricane Harvey, oil price crash, and soaring inflation rate are some of the events in the past five years that significantly affected Houston real estate. Winners emerge amidst the ups and downs of the Houston housing market.
Inner Loop neighborhoods remain to be popular among homebuyers. They offer easy access to Houston's main districts such as Downtown, Galleria, Museum District, and Memorial Park.
It is important to remain conscious of key home buying themes to avoid mistakes. (Read 9 Kisses of Death: Mistakes to Avoid When Buying a House).
"The Houston Properties Team was absolutely amazing. I had initially listed with a different realtor that was recommended by a neighbor with very poor results. It was even more difficult because I was no longer in Houston and the trust I had put in the other agent was definitely taken advantage of. However, when I found Kim with the Houston Properties Team, all that changed. I was informed throughout the process and when she promised something would be done, it was. Before the experience with her, I swore off ever even considering purchasing a home again. She restored my faith in the real estate world." – Jeanette (Google Review)
Table of Contents
- 5-Year Appreciation: Best Inner Loop Houston Areas
- List of Best Inner Loop Houston Neighborhoods
- Methodology
- The Best Houston Realtor to Sell Your Home
5-Year Appreciation: Best Inner Loop Houston Areas
Curious to know which Inner Loop neighborhoods are best for you? We've got you. Contact us at [email protected].
| Area | Median Home Price | Median Sales Price 5 Yr % |
|---|---|---|
| Royden Oaks/Afton Oaks | $2,250,000 | 106.4% |
| Bellaire Area | $1,375,000 | 46.3% |
| *Briar Hollow | $862,500 | 43.4% |
| Rice / Museum District | $1,225,000 | 40.0% |
| Braeswood Place | $1,557,500 | 39.7% |
| West University/Southside Area | $1,920,000 | 37.6% |
| Memorial Park | $1,791,000 | 31.0% |
| River Oaks Shopping Area | $1,007,450 | 30.8% |
| Upper Kirby | $1,083,500 | 29.4% |
| River Oaks Area | $3,050,000 | 29.0% |
| Knollwood/Woodside | $565,000 | 27.7% |
| Cottage Grove | $544,000 | 27.4% |
| *Greenway Plaza | $667,000 | 26.8% |
| Timbergrove/Lazybrook | $687,580 | 26.2% |
| Heights/Greater Heights | $699,950 | 25.2% |
| Washington East/Sabine | $567,000 | 24.0% |
| Montrose | $815,000 | 19.9% |
| University Area | $324,900 | 15.2% |
| *Medical Center Area | $280,000 | 12.0% |
| Rice Military/Washington Corridor | $545,000 | 11.8% |
| *Midtown Houston | $370,000 | 10.4% |
| Denver Harbor | $295,000 | 4.6% |
| *East End Revitalized | $350,000 | 4.5% |
| *Downtown Houston | $259,000 | 2.2% |
| Northside | $229,600 | -0.2% |
| Highland Village / Midlane | $1,075,000 | -2.2% |
| Riverside | $394,500 | -4.5% |
| *The Hawthorne | $1,974,946 | N/A |
| *The Westmore | $965,000 | N/A |
List of Best Inner Loop Houston Neighborhoods
"The Houston Properties Team under the leadership of Paige Martin is one of the most successful real estate teams in Texas. Paige and her team take the pain out of the real estate experience through hard work, proprietary systems and processes, and a deep understanding of the hyper-local Houston real estate market. She's ranked #5 in Keller Williams worldwide and #1 in Houston with good reason." – Sandy (Google Review)
Royden Oaks/Afton Oaks
| Area | Median Home Price | Median Sales Price 5 Yr % |
|---|---|---|
| Royden Oaks/Afton Oaks | $2,250,000 | 106.4% |
Royden / Afton Oaks is an upscale and premier community located inside the loop.
The Royden / Afton Oaks neighborhood is known for its:
FANTASTIC RETAIL AND ENTERTAINMENT: The Galleria, an upscale shopping district with over 400 stores and restaurants, is just a few blocks away from the community. Residents also enjoy proximity to Uptown Park, Highland Village, and the River Oaks District.
PROXIMITY TO BUSINESS CENTERS: Royden / Afton Oaks homes are conveniently located between Uptown and Greenway Plaza. Uptown Houston has over 23 million sq. ft. of office space, while the Greenway Plaza houses over 4 million sq. ft. of retail and office space.
ACTIVE CIVIC CLUB: The Afton Oaks Civic Club, founded in 1955, enforces deed restrictions and maintains common areas. In addition, the club provides security patrols.
The Royden / Afton Oaks area has over 500 homes. These neighborhoods are largely residential, featuring single-family homes with generous lot sizes between 7,000 to over 12,000 sq. ft.
Bellaire Area
| Area | Median Home Price | Median Sales Price 5 Yr % |
|---|---|---|
| Bellaire Area | $1,375,000 | 46.3% |
Bellaire, one of Houston's most popular neighborhoods, has a small-town vibe that blends nicely with its proximity to big-city comforts.
Bellaire is very popular for its:
GREAT ACCESSIBILITY: Bellaire homes are near main roads and freeways including Loop 610, Southwest Freeway, Bissonnet Street, and Bellaire Boulevard. (See Houston's Best Inner Loop Neighborhoods).
SUPERIOR LOCATION: A city within a city, Bellaire is mostly bordered by Houston. Residents enjoy a central location and an easy commute to the Texas Medical Center, Galleria, Downtown, and Energy Corridor.
EXPANSIVE LOTS: In Bellaire, lot sizes can vary. However, the neighborhood's standard 75 feet by 130 feet lot parcels are more spacious than West University's 50 by 120 feet lots.
TOP-RANKED SCHOOLS: According to our list of Houston's Best Public Schools, many of Bellaire's schools are among the top in the state of Texas.
Bellaire real estate can be tricky to navigate given the area's different school zoning maps, some homes' proximity to railroad tracks and major thoroughfares, and diversity of builders.
Briar Hollow
| Area | Median Home Price | Median Sales Price 5 Yr % |
|---|---|---|
| Briar Hollow | $862,500 | 43.4% |
Located south of Buffalo Bayou and Memorial Park, Briar Hollow is home to numerous upscale gated communities, luxury high-rise condominiums, and world-class retail centers. The neighborhood is nestled between the Galleria and River Oaks, one of Houston’s most expensive neighborhoods.
The community is known for its:
PROXIMITY TO GALLERIA: Briar Hollow provides quick access to the Galleria, one of the city’s most vibrant retail and business districts. The area is home to over 23 million square feet of office space and around 5 million square feet of retail spots.
HIGHLAND VILLAGE & RIVER OAKS DISTRICT: The neighborhood is located near the River Oaks District and Highland Village, which offer a mix of premier boutiques and high-end dining. Other exciting retail centers nearby are Uptown Park and Post Oak Plaza.
MEMORIAL PARK: Residents can enjoy miles of hike and bike trails, the Memorial Park Golf Course, and the Seymour Lieberman Exer-trail. The 1500-acre Memorial park has croquet, volleyball, skating, swimming, and tennis facilities, along with playgrounds and picnic spots.
The Wilshire and the Arabella are two new upscale high-rise developments with lavish amenities located within Briar Hollow. Audubon Hollow, Eaton Square, and River Hollow are among the best-gated communities in Houston.
Methodology
"The Houston Properties Team is the #1 boutique real estate team in Houston for good reason. Paige, Lisa & Shannon are incredibly candid and professional and they go the extra mile. Their analytics system is 2nd to none, their Success Team is exceptional and on the ball, and they have vendors for everything you'll need." - Infinite Ridge (Google review)
The Houston Association of Realtor (HAR) Multiple Listing Service (MLS) has categorized the Houston general metropolitan service area. It has created about 200 distinct "Geo Market Areas".
All Houston area properties in the MLS are classified into one Geo Market Area based on their location.
Since Houston sprawls over 600 square miles, we took the Geo Market Areas within a 40-mile radius of Houston. We did not include areas like Angelina County, Tyler County, and Freeport. They are generally considered outside of the Houston-Woodlands-Baytown MSA.
We categorized these geo markets into six regions:
1) Inner Loop. (All or the majority of the Geo Market Area resides in Houston's 610 Loop.)
2) Close In, But Not In the Inner Loop. (All or the majority of the Geo Market Area resides in Houston's Beltway 8, but not within 610 Loop.)
3) West / Southwest areas.
4) North / Northwest areas.
5) East / Northeast areas.
6) South / Southeast areas.
*Default median housing price values are from single-family homes except in these neighborhoods. Condos, townhomes, and single-family homes are considered in these neighborhoods. This is due to the above-average number of condos/townhomes in these market areas. All regions where anything other than single-family homes are used have a * designation.
Annual home prices are based on HAR MLS reported sales for the prior year between January 1 and May 31. Starting on June 1, the current year HAR MLS sales data is used.
Reporters or news outlets, please contact [email protected] for details. We may provide an Excel export of every neighborhood’s associated data and calculations.
Data is deemed accurate but not guaranteed. Information is provided for informational purposes only.
The Best Houston Realtor to Sell Your Home
The Houston Properties Team has a well-defined structure based on the individual strengths of each member. Each member is a specialist in their role – which is why our homes sell faster and for more money than average.
Paige Martin, Broker Associate with Keller Williams Realty, and the Houston Properties Team are ranked among the top residential Realtors in the world.
They have been featured on TV and in dozens of publications including The Wall Street Journal, Fortune Magazine, Reuters, Fox News in the Morning, Money Magazine, Houston Business Journal, Houstonia, and Houston Chronicle.
Paige Martin was just ranked as the #5 agent in the world with Keller Williams, completing over $1 Billion in Houston residential real estate sales.
Recent awards include:
– 2022: #1 Residential Real Estate Team by Sales Volume, Houston Business Journal
– 2021: Best Real Estate Teams in America, RealTrends.com
– 2021: Top 100 Women Leaders in Real Estate of 2021
– 2021: America’s Top 100 Real Estate Agents
– 2021: Top Real Estate Team (Houston Properties Team), Houston Business Journal
– 2021: Best Houston Real Estate Team, Best of Reader’s Choice
– 2021: Top Real Estate Team (Houston Properties Team), Houston Business Journal
– 2021: #1 Real Estate Team, Keller Williams Memorial
– 2020: America’s Best Real Estate Teams, Best of America Trends
– 2020: Best Houston Real Estate Team, Best of Reader’s Choice
– 2020: Top Real Estate Team (Houston Properties Team), Houston Business Journal
– 2020: #6 Individual Agent, Keller Williams, Worldwide
– 2020: #1 Individual Agent, Keller Williams, Texas (Top Keller Williams Realtor)
– 2020: #1 Real Estate Team, Keller Williams Memorial
- 2019: Top Residential Realtors in Houston, Houston Business Journal
- 2019: America’s Best Real Estate Agents, RealTrends.com
- 2019: #5 Individual Agent, KW Worldwide
- 2019: #1 Individual Agent, KW Texas
- 2018: #5 Individual Agent, Keller Williams, Worldwide
- 2018: #1 Individual Agent, Keller Williams, Texas
- 2018: #1 Individual Agent, Keller Williams, Houston
- 2018: America’s Best Real Estate Agents, RealTrends.com
- 2018: Top 25 Residential Realtors in Houston, Houston Business Journal
- 2018: Texas’ Most Influential Realtors
- 2017: #1 Individual Agent, Keller Williams, Texas
- 2017: #1 Individual Agent, Keller Williams, Houston
- 2017: #10 Individual Agent, Keller Williams, Worldwide
- 2017: America’s Best Real Estate Agents, RealTrends.com
- 2017: Top 25 Residential Realtors in Houston, Houston Business Journal
- 2017: Texas’ Most Influential Realtors
- 2016: #1 Individual Agent, Keller Williams, Texas
- 2016: #1 Individual Agent, Keller Williams, Houston
- 2016: #20 Individual Agent, Keller Williams, Worldwide
- 2016: Texas’ Most Influential Realtors
- 2016: Top 25 Residential Realtors in Houston, HBJ
- 2016: Five Star Realtor, Featured in Texas Monthly
- 2016: America’s Best Real Estate Agents, RealTrends.com
- 2015: #9 Individual Agent, Keller Williams, United States
- 2015: #1 Individual Agent, Keller Williams, Texas
- 2015: #1 Individual Agent, Keller Williams, Houston
- 2015: America’s Best Real Estate Agents, RealTrends.com
- 2015: Top 25 Residential Realtors in Houston, HBJ
- 2015: Five Star Realtor, Texas Monthly Magazine
- 2014: America’s Best Real Estate Agents, RealTrends.com
- 2014: #1 Individual Agent, Keller Williams Memorial
...in addition to over 318 additional awards.
Paige also serves a variety of non-profits, and civic and community boards. She was appointed by the mayor of Houston to be on the downtown TIRZ board.
Benefits Of Working With The Houston Properties Team
Our team, composed of distinguished and competent Houston luxury realtors, has a well-defined structure based on the individual strengths of each member.
We find the team approach as the most effective way to sell homes. We have dedicated people doing staging, marketing, social media, open houses, and showings. Each Houston Properties Team member is a specialist in their role—which is why our homes sell faster and for more money than average.
The benefits of working with a team include:
- the ability to be in two or three places at one time; a member can handle showings, while another answer calls
- collective time and experience of members
- targeted advice and marketing of agent expert in your area
- competitive advantage by simply having more resources, more ideas, and more perspectives
- a “checks and balances” system; selling and buying a home in Houston is an intensely complex process
- more people addressing field calls and questions from buyers and agents to facilitate a faster, successful sale
- efficient multi-tasking; one agent takes care of inspections and repair work, while another agent focuses on administrative details
- multiple marketing channels using members’ networks
- constant attention: guaranteed focus on your home and your transaction
- lower risk for mistakes. Multiple moving parts increase oversights. A team approach handles these “parts” separately
- flexibility in negotiation and marketing
- better management of document flow
- increased foot traffic through more timely and effective showing schedule coordination; and
- increased sphere of influence and exposure to more potential buyers.
To meet all the award-winning members of the Houston Properties Team, please go here.
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