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Houston Area Suburbs Rapidly Growing, Emerging as Residential Hotspots

Published Jan 09, 2024 by Hailea Schultz

Bridgeland

Bridgeland Master-Planned Community in Cypress

Houston has recently witnessed a remarkable shift in its real estate market with its suburbs emerging as vibrant and highly sought-after residential hubs. 

Despite a slowdown in the market, Houston realtors sold over 100,000 homes in 2023, according to the Partnership’s Home Sales update. While the city saw some of these wins, a majority of home sales occurred in the suburbs, with the Fulshear/South Brookshire/Simonton community earning the greatest percentage increase of home purchases in the third quarter of 2023, with a 56.3 percent year-over-year increase, according to a Houston Association of Realtors (HAR) report.  

In addition, other Houston-area suburbs have taken the spotlight recently, thanks in part to their compelling blend of affordability, new development and variety of master-planned communities.  

Cypress and Katy recently topped the list of “Hottest Zip Codes” in the nation, ranking first and second for being the top neighborhoods where people bought homes the fastest in 2023. According to Opendoor, Cypress jumped six spots from its 2022 ranking, while Katy climbed up one spot, drawing praise for their tight-knit communities and close proximity to the city.

“Many of these areas have more opportunity than meets the eye,” according to the Opendoor report. “They have smaller populations than cities, but are growing rapidly because they are accessible to major metros. Newly built homes, like many in these neighborhoods, are becoming a more accessible option, and developers continue to invest in these areas.” 

Bridgeland, a nearly 12,000-acre master-planned community located in Cypress, has contributed to the city’s unprecedented growth. According to the same HAR report, Cypress ranked second in the third quarter of 2023, with transactions rising 47.8% percent year-over-year.  

Kingwood, known as Houston’s “livable forest,” has recently become a growing hotspot for families, receiving recognition for its small-town charm and welcoming community. In a new report, All Star Home named Kingwood the second friendliest American neighborhood, outranking Memorial and Alief. According to the report, 18.75 percent of reviews of Kingwood businesses were described as “friendly.”  

Earlier last year, Kingwood was also named the most popular neighborhood in the Houston area, according to HouseFresh. The report identified the most desirable neighborhoods in the nation based on the amount Zillow views homes in the area received. The findings revealed that Kingwood received over 12,000 daily views.  

As Houston's suburbs evolve into highly desirable residential hubs, the burgeoning landscape not only offers an inviting lifestyle but also underscores Houston's robust potential for companies and professionals seeking a thriving ecosystem conducive to both personal and professional success. 

Discover more about Houston’s suburbs 

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