Oak Forest Houston TX Real Estate Guide
Home to Oak Forest Elementary (one of the top rated schools in the city), Oak Forest is experiencing fantastic growth.
Home to Oak Forest Elementary (one of the top rated schools in the city), Oak Forest is experiencing fantastic growth.
Oak Forest homes are highly desirable due to:
Oak Forest real estate is tricky to navigate given the neighborhoods different school zoning maps, proximity to railroad tracks, proximity to major thoroughfares and a diversity of builders (some are far superior to others). Contact Paige Martin, one of Houston’s Best Realtors and one of Oak Forest’s most active real estate agents, if you’re looking to buy or sell Oak Forest homes for sale.
Made up of 18 smaller communities called sections, Oak Forest is one of the largest groups of subdivisions in Harris County, behind Sharpstown and Kingwood.
Located in northwest Houston, Oak Forest is just north of Loop 610 and east of Northwest Freeway (US 290).
The neighborhood lies east of Garden Oaks and north of Lazybrook,Timbergrove, and the Heights area.
Oak Forest homes enjoy a relatively central location, with easy access to main roads including US 290, Loop 610, I-45, I-10, N Shepherd Dr, TC Jester Blvd, and Ella Blvd.
Parks, restaurants, cafes, shops, and entertainment centers are within minutes of the neighborhood. Job centers in the Galleria and Downtown Houston are also conveniently accessible from Oak Forest homes.
The neighborhood is made up of 18 sections, all under the Oak Forest Homeowners Association. Each section follows its own set of deed restrictions. The area is mostly residential, though during Oak Forest’s development, some areas were set aside for parks, schools, and commercial establishments.
Oak Forest is under the 77018 and 77092 Harris County zip codes.
Zip codes near Oak Forest TX include 77091, 77076, 77055, and 77008. (View Houston zip code map.)
West of Oak Forest
North of Oak Forest
East of Oak Forest
South of Oak Forest
Oak Forest homes are zoned to Houston Independent School District (HISD) and students in the area can attend the following public schools:
The HISD features several National Blue Ribbon and multi-award winning schools. More campuses are planned to open to relieve its existing schools. Oak Forest in particular, have some of the best schools in district zoned to its subdivisions.
*Note: For a more detailed information on specific schools zoned to different Oak Forest areas, please refer to our Houston Schools Guide OR email me.
Public Elementary Schools zoned to Oak Forest include:
Public Middle Schools zoned to Oak Forest include:
Public High Schools zoned to Oak Forest include:
The following are some of the more notable private schools near Oak Forest.
To find an updated listing of all Oak Forest real estate zoned to any specific public school, please send an email to Paige Martin at [email protected] with the property preference and budget that you’re working with.
*Note: School zoning tends to change from year to year, information provided above are accurate but not guaranteed. Please double check by visiting the school’s website.
Oak Forest real estate have posted impressive and steady appreciation rates. Over the past decade, the median sales price of Oak Forest homes have increased by 131%.
This growth can be attributed to the neighborhood’s resurgence – the increase of bigger new construction homes has pushed prices up.
Average price per square foot also posted similar appreciation rates, increasing from $96 to $192 over the same period. Homes sold in Oak Forest have also grown, posting a 65% 5-year change.
(Data sourced from the Houston Association of Realtors Multiple Listing Service and is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.)
For updated information regarding Oak Forest real estate pricing and trend analysis, please contact Paige Martin at [email protected].
Oak Forest homes are mostly single-family properties on large lots. The neighborhood’s original ranch-style homes are typically smaller compared with new construction 2-story homes in the area. Home sizes vary, ranging from 1,400 to more than 5,000 square feet.
By Houston standards, Oak Forest homes feature generous lots, between 7,000 to more than 10,000 square feet. Some homes (in the 77092 zip code) feature smaller lots.
Oak Forest single-family homes are among the best selling homes in Houston. In 2013, 608 homes were sold in the neighborhood, though this number has decreased by 9% (to 556 homes) in 2014.
Most Oak Forest homes were built in the late 1940s to 1950s. Much like other neighborhoods near or within Houston’s Inner Loop, Oak Forest went through a shift in home architecture during the 1990s. New residents bought old properties and proceeded to either renovate homes or demolish them in favor of more modern housing.
The Oak Forest Homeowners Association however enforces deed restriction to maintain the community’s architectural identity. Aside from the Deed Restriction Committee, they also have an Architectural Committee and Beautification Committee.
These three departments work together with the homeowners to ensure that all homes in Oak Forest stay with the neighborhood’s peaceful, family-friendly and small-town vibe.
Given the Oak Forest neighborhood’s preference for deed restrictions and single-family homes, there are currently no residential mid- to highrise in the area. There are however nearby neighborhoods with condos for sale.
Oak Forest is made up of mostly single-family homes though nearby Garden Oaks has numerous townhomes for sale.
Many developers have purchased lots in Garden Oaks and begun construction on new townhomes. The most common Garden Oaks townhomes are in the $180,000 to $250,000 range, with the prices depending on the townhomes’ lot size, style, and exact location. (View all Garden Oaks homes for sale)
There are no mid- or high-rise Oak Forest condos for sale, but plenty of units are available in surrounding areas including 1111 Studewood Place and The Point at White Oak.
Other condos within 10-20 minutes of Oak Forest include:
To see other condos within the Inner Loop, see Inner Loop Houston Condos. To see condos within the nearby Galleria area, see Galleria Houston Condos.
Land developer Frank Sharp established Oak Forest in 1947, under his company Oak Forest Realty Corporation.
The company built homes in Section 1, in the area east of Oak Forest Drive and west of Golf Drive. The first Oak Forest home, which was used as a sales office, was built on Golf and Fisher Drive.
Sharp, who later established Sharpstown and several post-WWII developments, designed Oak Forest with areas for schools, parks, places of worship, and commercial establishments.
Oak Forest homes during the period sold to war veterans for about $8,000 to $10,000. Homes made during this period were mostly ranch-style homes on large lots.
The neighborhood was annexed in 1949, and is the third largest group of subdivisions in Harris County, behind Sharpstown and Kingwood.
Today, Oak Forest has more than 5,500 homes and 23,000 residents. The Oak Forest Homeowners Association, a volunteer-run HOA, helps enforce the community’s deed restrictions, spearheads beautification projects, and organizes events for residents.
The neighborhood’s continuing popularity has spurred a lot of development. Some of the area’s original homes have been torn down and replaced with bigger new construction homes.
Oak Forest is minutes from major Houston hotspots like the Galleria and Downtown, but the neighborhood does feature parks, restaurants, cafes, and retail and commercial establishments within its borders.
The neighborhood has 4 parks: Candlelight Community Center and Park, Oak Forest Park, T.C. Jester Park, and American Legion Park.
Candlelight Park at 1520 Candlelight features an indoor gym, a lighted sportsfield, a playground, and a hike-and-bike trail. T.C. Jester Park, on the other hand, features a swimming pool, a dog park, a disc golf course, and hike-and-bike trails.
There are a number of burger joints, ice houses, and restaurants in the area, though residents may want to take the drive into town for more options.
Here are some of Oak Forest TX must-visit places:
As featured on Fox News in the Morning, Houston Business Journal and Houston Magazine, Paige Martin, a consistent Top Producing Broker-Associate and head of the Houston Properties Team, is ranked as one of the top residential real estate agents in the world.
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