Your Expert Guide

Tanglewood area: Secluded luxury amid the vibrance of the city

5518 Sauve Lane reflects the sophistication of the Tanglewood area.

Photo courtesy of Martha Turner Sotheby's International Realty

There are so many great places to live in Houston that it helps to have an expert on your side. The Neighborhood Guide presented by Martha Turner Sotheby's International Realty gives you insider access from the agents who live and work there, providing in-the-know info about your possible new community.
---

Upscale and lush — and lined with decades-old live oaks — the Tanglewood area has something of a timeless feel. It was first developed in the late 1940s and named after Tanglewood Tales by Nathaniel Hawthorne, the favorite book of the developer’s daughter.

Just outside the loop and inside Beltway 8 in Uptown, the area boasts close proximity to upscale shopping, dining, and amenities with convenient freeway access to all the major hot spots in the city.

“Even though it’s in the middle of it all, Tanglewood boasts pockets of secluded luxury and comfort with gorgeous, quiet, and winding streets,” says Bobby Yazdani, who has lived there for three years.

He started his real estate career with his first listing in Tanglewood’s gated subdivision of West Oaks, which is best known as the longtime residence of the late President George H.W. and Barbara Bush.

“I fell in love with the charm and timeless character of this well-known subdivision,” says Yazdani, who was recently named one of the "20 Under 40 Rising Stars in Real Estate" by the Houston Association of Realtors. “It is nestled just outside the vibrant Uptown/Galleria area, yet once you pass through the security gates you are transported to an idyllic escape of winding roads with towering oaks.”

Yazdani offered up a few of his personal favorites about life in Tanglewood. Here's his guide:

Where to eat & drink
With Uptown mere minutes away, the dining options are endless. Here’s Yazdani’s shortlist to fit any possible craving or mood:

American: The Annie Cafe & Bar
Thai: Trinity Street Food and Songkran Thai Kitchen
French: Etoile
Tex-Mex: Ninfa's Uptown
Sushi: Uchiko and Uptown Sushi
Italian: il Bracco and North Italia
Local cafe and smoothies: Island Grill
Drinks and live music: The Rustic
Wine: Stella's in The Post Oak Hotel
Indian: Musaafer
Steakhouse: Mastro's and Steak 48
Deli: Kenny & Ziggy’s New York Delicatessen
Desserts: Crave Cupcakes and Amorino Gelato

Where to play
Many residents are members of the storied Houston Country Club and The Houstonian Club & Spa, says Yazdani.

“You’re close to Tanglewood Park and Grady Park as well as the Tanglewood hike and bike trails, where you can also enjoy a leisurely stroll along a mile-long stretch of gravel path with benches scattered throughout — just in case you want to unwind and enjoy the surrounding beauty,” he adds.

Yazdani also recommends a picnic at Memorial Park (and teeing off at the park’s PGA-certified golf course), shopping the designer boutiques (Champagne included!) in the Galleria and River Oaks District, or catching a movie at IPIC or at the Rooftop Cinema Club Uptown when the weather cools.

Oh, and if you’re looking to relax with a cup of coffee, don’t miss Bouchée Patisserie. “It’s a hidden gem," says Yazdani, "a wonderful, Parisian-inspired coffee shop that transports you to France, tucked inside the five-star Post Oak Hotel & Spa.”

Where to live
The Tanglewood area is comprised of numerous subdivisions, including Broad Oaks, West Oaks, Bayou Glen, Briar Manor, Huisache Acres, Pine Shadow, Wynden Court, Wynden Oaks, and Tangle Lane Estates.

The area attracts the leisure and business traveler with its lock-and-leave lifestyle and numerous upscale, gated subdivisions. “Peace of mind abounds with security gates and private patrols,” says Yazdani.

Architecturally, he highlights some of the styles in the area, including Georgian Revivals with symmetrical, classical details; Mediterranean residences with stucco walls and tile, slate, or metal roofs; and French eclectic homes with tall, steeply pitched roofs and brick, stone, or stucco cladding.

A “petit chateau” at 5518 Sauve Lane in Broad Oaks’ unique Ville Franche development reflects the sophistication of the Tanglewood area — and the rustic elegance of rural France, too. Yazdani represented the seller of this 6,095-square-foot home.

"Bobby did a terrific job,” says the seller. “Really appreciate all the thorough, preemptive efforts — white glove all the way! Thank you for your perseverance, professionalism, and kindness throughout the process. Can't put a price on that.”

---

Bobby Yazdani works and plays in Tanglewood. For more information on buying and selling a home in the area, click here, email bobby.yazdani@sir.com, or call 832-577-7764.

Photo courtesy of Martha Turner Sotheby's International Realty

Agent Bobby Yazdani.

home-for-sale interview promoted qa

THE AMERICAN DREAM

How long it takes to save for a home down payment in Houston

iStock

Houstonians don't have to save long to afford a down payment.

Saving for a down payment remains one of the biggest barriers to homeownership nationwide, but a new report from Realtor.com shows San Antonio area buyers face a far shorter wait than most Americans.

According to the real estate site’s 2025 analysis, the typical U.S. household needs seven years to save for a standard down payment, a notable improvement from the 12-year peak in 2022. Still, the timeline remains roughly double the pre-pandemic norm, reflecting higher home prices, larger down payments, and lower household savings rates.

Houston, however, stood out as one of the most accessible major metros in the nation. The Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands metro boasted one of the shortest time sto save for a down payment among the nation’s 50 largest markets, with households needing just 3.5 years to reach a typical down payment, according to the study.

The report found that Houston’s median down payment from January through November was $14,927. A median household income of $83,452 was estimated to produce an annual savings of $4,228. Notably, San Antonio, the only other Texas city included in the report, had the shortest time to save for a down payment at just 1.3 years.

Nationally, the time needed to save has shortened as home price growth cooled and affordability modestly improved. Still, saving for a down payment takes significantly longer than it did before the pandemic.

“Higher home prices and intensified competition have pushed typical down payments higher, at the same time that inflation and rising household expenses have reduced savings rates,” said Danielle Hale, chief economist at Realtor.com, in a release. “Although conditions have improved since 2022, today’s timeline shows that saving for a home takes meaningfully longer than it did before the pandemic, especially in high-cost markets.”

Lower savings rates have played a key role. The U.S. personal savings rate has averaged 5.1 percent of income so far in 2025, down from the pre-pandemic norm of 6.5 percent, limiting how quickly households can build funds for upfront housing costs. Meanwhile, the typical down payment has more than doubled over the past six years — rising from about $13,900 in the third quarter of 2019 to $30,400 in the third quarter of 2025.

In high-cost coastal metros, the impact is far more severe. Saving for a down payment can take 20 to more than 35 years in California cities like San Francisco, San Jose, Los Angeles, and San Diego, effectively sidelining many first-time and moderate-income buyers.

“In high-cost markets, the typical down payment alone exceeds a full year of household income,” said Hannah Jones, Realtor.com senior economic research analyst. “That reality makes homeownership feel unattainable for many buyers, particularly younger households trying to enter the market for the first time.”

Despite those challenges, the report notes that roughly three-quarters of Americans still consider homeownership part of the American dream. Realtor.com says easing rents could help first-time buyers save more, while repeat buyers may use accumulated savings to reduce loan balances and manage higher monthly payments.

“Saving consistently, even in small amounts, is a meaningful first step toward homeownership,” Jones said. “In today’s market, building that financial cushion can make a real difference when buyers are ready to act.”

home market economy down payments home ownership real estate