Downtown Houston Real Estate Guide

Downtown Houston homes for sale & insider real estate guide

Downtown Houston is a 1,178-acre Best Inner Loop Neighborhood. Its freeway borders and Metrorail stations have access to business, retail, and cultural centers. With this, it is also one of Houston's Most Accessible Neighborhoods.

Downtown Houston is popular due to its:

• REAL ESTATE APPRECIATION: Downtown Houston's real estate value continues to rise due to its central location and fast-growing economy. It is one of Houston's Best Neighborhoods In Real Estate Appreciation.

• METRORAIL ACCESS: Downtown Houston is one of the Best Houston Neighborhoods Near The Metro Rail. Its nearest lines include Red, Green, and Purple accessible through the Central station. UH-Downtown, Preston, Main Street Square, Bell, and Downtown Transit Center are some of the nearest stations in the area. With this, Downtown Houston provides various and accessible options for modes of transportation. Employment, dining, and retail options from neighboring districts are just a few minutes away.

• FREEWAY BORDERS: Downtown Houston is bordered by I-10 to the north, I-69 to the east, and I-45 to the south and west. It offers an accessible route to nearby districts 10-15 minutes away from the Museum District and Medical Center.

• UNIQUE AMENITIES: Most residential condominiums in Downtown Houston feature a variety of unique amenities. It includes rooftop patios, conference rooms, workout centers, swimming pools, and saunas. Some offer 24-hour security, concierge, and valet services.

• JOB CENTERS: Downtown Houston is a large business district, home to more than 3,500 companies with over 150,000 employees. It contains over 50 medical and research facilities. Living in the neighborhood provides an excellent commute for anyone working nearby.

• DINING AND CULTURE OPTIONS: Houston's historic district features top-rated restaurants, art galleries, and major attractions. Parks, trails, and golf courses surround the neighborhood. It also has one of the oldest movie theaters in the city. Downtown also has museums that highlight fashion and natural history. Lastly, major retail centers available in Downtown Houston include Target and Marshalls & HomeGoods.

• LOCK-AND-LEAVE BENEFITS: Downtown Houston's real estate mostly consists of loft-style buildings and condominiums. Most of its high-rise buildings provide 24/7 security and offer lock-and-leave benefits. Its provided security and amenity maintenance offers convenience to residents.

Downtown Houston homes offer 2-3 bedroom floor plans with different upgrades. Its living areas range from 500 to more than 4,500 square feet, with prices reaching up to $3,500,000. With the number of layout options, navigating Downtown Houston real estate can be challenging.

To get personal advice on buying or selling in the Downtown Houston area, contact Paige Martin, one of Houston’s best condo realtors and one of the top-ranked Realtors in the United States.

“Yolanda Ames with the Houston Properties Team has been nothing but an absolute pleasure working with. Having had less than stellar experiences with realtors before, Yolanda couldn’t be more of the opposite. She provided information that was helpful not only on the buying front but also the selling front down the line. Whenever something came up that she wasn’t positive about she used her resources to find the answer for me. I am thankful to have found an agent that shares the same commitment to excellence and beyond. This was my first home purchase and look forward to working with her continually down the line.” - Shah Islam (Google Review)

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Downtown Houston Homes For Sale

Downtown Houston Homes For Rent

Table of Contents

1. Downtown Houston Home Sale Trends
2. Downtown Houston Best Realtor Insights
3. Downtown Houston Maps, Location & Zip Code
4. Downtown Houston Schools
5. Downtown Houston Real Estate Market

Downtown Houston Home Sale Trends

Downtown Houston is a 1,178-acre area strategically located south of I-10 (Katy Freeway), west of I-45 (Eastex Freeway), and north of I-69 (Gulf Freeway).

The residential market in downtown Houston has grown in recent years as a result of:

• EXCELLENT COMMUTE: While the city employs over 200,000 people, there are roughly 6,000 residences available in the area. Many people who reside Downtown also work there.

• GREAT ACCESSIBILITY: Getting around Downtown is easy, thanks to a network of skywalks and tunnels. The Medical Center, EaDo, and Museum District are also highly accessible via METRORail, bus system, Houston B-Cycle, and Greenlink. In addition, most Downtown Condos are near the METRORail.

• DINING & CULTURAL OPTIONS: In addition to the 400+ Yelp-rated dining and retail establishments, Houston is home to the second-largest theatre community in the US.

• CONDO LIVING: The majority of Downtown’s residential options are Historic Houston Lofts and Downtown Houston Condos which offer great “lock and leave” benefits.

• LUXURY AMENITIES: Building amenities vary, though most Downtown Houston condos offer rooftop terraces, conference rooms, fitness centers, and pools. Some feature 24-hour concierge and valet services.

The Downtown Houston real estate market can be tricky to navigate due to some buildings having very poor resale rates (due to low-quality construction, HOA, parking, or general design problems). In addition, specific units within many buildings have resale issues due to views, noise, or individual parking spot problems.

Downtown Houston Best Realtor Insights

• Located at the heart of Houston’s Inner Loop, Downtown is bordered by I-10 to the north, I-69 to the east, and I-45 to the south and west.

• Residents of Houston’s central business district have everything within easy reach. Business, employment, retail, and entertainment centers are minutes away from Downtown Houston homes.

• Getting around Downtown is easy with the help of the area’s network of skywalks and tunnels. Key Houston neighborhoods like the Museum District and Medical Center are highly accessible via the METRORail, the bus system, Houston B-Cycle, and Greenlink.

• Home options Downtown are mostly urban lofts and upscale condo units in mid-and high-rise buildings. Townhomes and single-family homes are available in nearby neighborhoods.

• Building amenities vary, though most Downtown Houston condos offer rooftop terraces, conference rooms, fitness centers, pools, and saunas. Some feature 24-hour concierge and valet services.

• Downtown is home to about 3,500 businesses with more than 150,000 employees. It has more than 40 million square feet of office space.

• The area is divided into several smaller districts, including the Theater District, Skyline District, and the Historic District, among others.

• There are several residential lofts and condo buildings in the Downtown area with some of the area’s historic buildings having since been converted to house posh lofts and condos.

• Downtown Houston condos can feature 2- to 3-bedroom floor plans, with living spaces ranging between 500 to more than 4,500 square feet.

• Prices for Downtown Houston homes for sale can start at around $150,000. The most expensive real estate in the area can go for more than $3,500,000.

Downtown Houston Maps, Location & Zip Code

Downtown Houston Schools

Downtown is zoned to the Houston Independent School District (HISD).

The HISD features several National Blue Ribbon, top-ranked GreatSchools.org, and multi-award-winning schools.

Elementary Schools

• Blackshear Elementary School at 2900 Holman St. Blackshear is a Montessori magnet school that serves students from EE (early education) to 6th grade. The school offers several after-school activities, including the YMCA, tutorials, and the After School Achievement Program (ASAP).

• Bruce Elementary School at 510 Jensen Dr. B.K. Bruce Elementary is a music magnet school. Its music magnet program is divided into the keyboard, woodwind, violin, brass, choir, and guitar.

• Crockett Elementary School at 2112 Crockett Street. Serving students from grades PK to 5, Crockett is a neighborhood Vanguard school that offers bilingual and fine arts programs. The school’s fine arts program offers classes in ballet, visual art, music, and rhythmic dancing.

• Young Scholars Academy for Excellence at 1809 Louisiana St. YSAFE is one of the HISD’s charter schools and is located in the Downtown area. Established in 1996, the school offers a robust enrichment program with courses in fine arts, culinary arts, entrepreneurship, science, technology, sports, and literacy, among others.

Middle Schools

Public Middle Schools zoned to Downtown Houston include:

• Gregory-Lincoln Education Center at 1101 Taft St. Located in the Fourth Ward, GLEC serves students from Kindergarten to 8th grade. The school features a fine arts magnet program and offers classes in the theatre arts, culinary arts, dance, visual arts, multimedia arts, and vocal music.

• Marshall Middle School at 1115 Noble St. Also known as Marshall Middle Academy of Fine Arts, the school offers a great fine arts magnet program. Like Gregory-Lincoln, Marshall also features a wide array of classes: band, choir, dance, piano, guitar, mariachi, orchestra, visual art, and theatre arts.

High Schools

Public High Schools zoned to Downtown Houston include:

• Davis High School at 1101 Quitman St. Located in Near Northside, Jefferson Davis High School features a Hotel and Restaurant Management magnet program.

• Reagan High School at 413 E 13th St. John H. Reagan High School is located in Houston Heights and is one of the HISD’s IB World Schools. Apart from the Middle Years Programme (MYP), Reagan also has a computer technology magnet program.

• High School for the Performing and Visual Arts at 4oo1 Stanford St. Located in Montrose, the HSPVA (or just PVA) is an arts magnet school. The school covers six areas: vocal music, instrumental music, visual art, dance, theatre, and creative writing.

Downtown Houston Private Schools

The following are some of the more notable private schools near Downtown Houston.

• Incarnate Word Academy at 609 Crawford St.

• Our Lady of Guadalupe School at 2405 Navigation Blvd.

• Trinity Lutheran School at 800 Houston Ave.

• Yellowstone Academy at 3000 Trulley St.

• Young Scholars Academy for Excellence at 1809 Louisiana St.

• Houston Outdoor Learning Academy at 2731 Houston Ave.

To find an updated listing of all Downtown Houston 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: For more detailed information on specific schools zoned to different Downtown Houston areas, please refer to our Houston Schools Guide OR email me.

Note: School zoning tends to change from year to year. The information provided above is accurate but not guaranteed. Please double-check by visiting the school's website.

Downtown Houston Real Estate Market

Downtown Houston Single-Family Home Sale Trends

There are no single-family homes in the Downtown area. However, there are plenty of options nearby, including Midtown, The Heights, Montrose, Northside Village, and EaDo.

The Houston Properties Team are expert in Downtown Houston real estate. Please contact us if you'd like to see Houston single-family homes or learn more about properties that could be a fit for you.

Downtown Townhomes Sale Trends

There are no Downtown Houston townhomes available. Fortunately, there are many townhomes for sale within 10 to 15 minutes of downtown.

The Houston Properties Team are expert in Downtown Houston real estate. Please contact us if you'd like to see Houston townhomes or learn more about properties that could be a fit for you.

Downtown Houston Condo Sale Trends

Downtown Houston lofts and condos are popular due to their central location, high accessibility, relatively lower maintenance costs, and luxury amenities. Several condos and loft buildings in the area are located along or within a few blocks of the METRORail.

Lofts and condos in downtown Houston are popular because they are close to everything and easy to get to. There are condos and lofts located within a few blocks of the METRORail.

Downtown has 25 residential buildings, each with its personality, style, and charm.

Downtown loft structures transformed into residential midrises. San Jacinto, Bayou, Franklin, Byrds, and Hermann are examples.

Commerce Towers, Four Seasons Residences, and the 2016 Main home are nearby.
Each building has its facilities, with some even offering white-glove service. Standard features include rooftop decks, secure parking, pools, and gyms. Some hotels provide 24-hour valet and concierge services, conference rooms, and guest rooms.

Loft and condo sizes range from 500 to more than 4,500 square feet. A typical Downtown Houston condo for sale has 2 to 3 bedrooms. Yet, larger apartments with 4-bedroom floor plans are also available.

Prices typically start at around $150,000 and can go as high as $3,500,000.

• Downtown Houston Lofts

• Bayou Lofts

• Franklin Lofts

• Hermann Lofts

• Byrd’s Lofts

• St Germain Lofts

• Capitol Lofts

• Keystone Lofts

• Kirby Lofts

• Rise Lofts

• Stanford Lofts

• Herrin Lofts

• Beaconsfield Lofts

• San Jacinto Lofts

• Commerce Towers

• Four Seasons Residence

• The Edge

• 2016 Main

• The Rice Lofts

• Hogg Palace

• Dakota Lofts

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. To see condos within Museum District, see Museum District Condos.

The Houston Properties Team are expert in Downtown Houston real estate. Please contact us if you'd like to see Houston condos or learn more about buildings that could be a fit for you.

Downtown Houston TX History

Since the Allen brothers established the city in the early 1800s, the Houston real estate market has not witnessed a shift comparable to the one that occurred downtown during the past decade.

The oil collapse of the 1980s left downtown Houston desolate. Development paused, firms shut down, and stores and buildings were boarded up. The neighborhood's population declined, and many residents described downtown as "dismal, desolate, and neglected."

In the mid to late 1990s, pioneer real estate developers (such as Randall Davis and Frank Garvey) bought historic buildings (such as Post Rice Lofts, Bayou Lofts, and Franklin Lofts). They transformed them into urban lofts with contemporary amenities.

Downtown Houston is a lively zone consisting of residential and commercial buildings, streets lined with restaurants, bars, clubs, parks, and an enormous network of pedestrian tunnels and skywalks, making life in downtown Houston more appealing and impressive than ever.

Downtown Houston is Houston, Texas's primary business district. With more than 3,500 firms and 150,000 workers, it is one of the most active and fascinating locations to live.

Employment proximity is one of the reasons why more and more individuals are moving "back" to downtown Houston.

Fun Things To Do Near Downtown Houston

Houston is a central business district that houses not just workplaces and corporate headquarters. It also features vibrant dining, nightlife, and cultural scene. Downtown has many green parks, historical landmarks, and other points of interest.

The 17-block Theater District features four entertainment venues: Jones Hall for the Performing Arts, Wortham Theater Center, Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, and Alley Theatre. Nine major arts organizations call the district home, along with several other smaller performing arts groups. The Bayou Place Entertainment Complex is also within Houston’s Theater District.

The Minute Maid Park Stadium (home of the Houston Astros), the Toyota Center (home of the Houston Rockets), Discovery Green, and the George R. Brown Convention Center are all located in the Ballpark and Convention Districts.

Originally Houston’s town center, the Historic District features Market Square Park, plus numerous cafes and bars.

Other Downtown Houston must-visit places include the Downtown Aquarium, Sam Houston Park, and Allen’s Landing.

Here are just some of the must-visit places in Downtown Houston:

Dining

• Hearsay Gastro Lounge
• The Springbok
• Bombay Pizza Co.
• Myth Kafe
• Huynh Restaurant
• Brooklyn Meatball Co.
• The Honeymoon Cafe & Bar
• Irma’s Southwest Grill
• Treebeards

Parks

• Discovery Green
• Minute Maid Park
• Root Square
• Sam Houston Park
• Eleanor Tinsley Park
• Hermann Square
• Market Square Park
• James Bute Park
• Buffalo Bayou Park

Nightlife

• Foundation Bar
• MKT Bar
• Moving Sidewalk
• The Nightingale Room
• Little Woodrow’s
• Little Dipper Lounge
• The Pastry War
• Neil’s Bahr
• Reserve 101

Groceries

• Long Sing Supermarket
• Main Food Store
• Express Grocery & Deli
• Phoenicia Specialty Foods
• Krogers
• Super K
• Randalls
• Epicurean Express
• Lankford Grocery

Best Downtown Houston Realtor – Paige Martin

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.

Best Houston Real Estate Resources

• Houston Texas Zip Code Map | HoustonProperties
• An Ultimate Guide to the Best Active 55+ Communities in Houston
• How To Avoid Buying In Houston's Flooded Zones
• Your 2024 Guide To The Best Inner Loop Houston Neighborhoods
• West University Real Estate Market: 5 Key Housing Trends