Hot Hot 'Hoods

These 2 exclusive Houston neighborhoods rank among America's best for 2018

Memorial home exterior swing real estate Houston best neighborhood

Memorial is among the 20 best neighborhoods in America.

Photo courtesy of HAR

Where are the best places to live in Houston? Real estate review site Niche has revealed the Best Neighborhoods to Live in America, and two popular Houston 'hoods appear in the top 20.

Niche combined user rankings with data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor and Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the FBI for the list. In order to rank the top neighborhoods, Niche considered areas located within a city and with a population of at least 1,000. The site then ranked the neighborhoods using 15 different categories, each was weighted and given an individual grade.

Some of the categories included:

Higher education (number of citizens with advanced degrees)
Cost of living
Housing costs
Reputation of nearby public schools
Diversity
Overall composite number (Niche survey responses scored on a 1-5 scale)
Crime and safety
Walkability

The site also examined lifestyle factors such as outdoor activities, nightlife, and average commute times.

Coming in at No. 10 in the U.S. is Houston's beloved Memorial neighborhood. It boasts an A-plus rating in three categories: public schools, great for families, and health and fitness. Memorial scores an A grade for housing, nightlife, and diversity, but receives a C (its lowest) for crime and safety. The median home value, according to Niche, is $505,738.

The other Houston 'hood to make the top 50 is University Place, in the 20th spot. The sought-after neighborhood boasts a much higher median home value — $696,231. In addition to being great for families, Niche says it offers great nightlife options and an easy commute.

In general, Texas fared quite well among the best neighborhoods in the U.S., making up 12 of the top 50. Dallas' Preston Highlands joins Memorial in top 10, coming in at No. 8. Other hot Dallas areas were Moss Farm-Forest Meadow (No. 14); Campbell Green (No. 28); and Lakeview Heights (No. 30).

Austin has the most Texas neighborhoods in the top 50: Rosedale (No. 21); Allandale (No. 23); Old West Austin (No. 32); downtown Austin (No. 39); Windsor Road (No. 40); and Old Enfield (No. 42).

spring homebuying season

The best time to sell a house in Houston is coming in April, experts say

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The best window for Houstonians to sell their home is coming up on April 12.

Houstonans that are considering selling their home have the perfect opportunity coming up in April, according to a new housing report from Realtor.com.

The real estate experts said the week of April 12-18 will offer sellers the best combination of strong and stable housing prices, buyer interest, and a competitive market.

Based on historical market data, homes listings in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands metro are expected to receive 17.5 percent more views during the week of April 12 compared to the average week, and homes may spend seven fewer days on the market compared to the average. This surge in demand will also affect housing prices in the area. Homes put on the market during this window are expected to list for $19,000 higher than what they were listed at the start of the year, or 5.4 percent more.

"After years of being squeezed by limited inventory and high rates, the 2026 housing market is starting to feel more approachable for those who have been sidelined," said Realtor.com chief economist Danielle Hale.

In general, experts predict homebuyers will start "re-engaging" with the housing market now that mortgage rates stabilized in late 2025. National commercial banker U.S. Bank said the current 30-year fixed mortgage rate is roughly 6.38 percent.

"For sellers, the mid-April window represents an opportunity to enter a market that feels more within reach for buyers while benefiting from a seasonal advantage in terms of pricing and competition," Hale said.

Residential homes in the Houston area had a median price of $322,078 in February, the Houston Association of Realtors said in its latest report, and prices are down 0.9 percent year-over-year.

Two more Texas metros – Austin and Dallas-Fort Worth – are expected to follow Houston with the same April 12 window as the best time for residents to sell their homes. In San Antonio, the best time for owners to sell their homes will begin on April 19.

Senior economic research analyst Hannah Jones warned some home sellers in Southern metros might "face softer conditions" due to an abundance of inventory.

"In those metros, optimizing timing to this early spring window is even more critical to differentiate a property from the growing competition," she said.

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