Your Expert Guide

Southside Place: A beautiful place for families to find community

Agent Kristine Martinez.

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.
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With a friendly, laidback vibe, Southside Place is literally the place to be if you love a small-town feel with a strong sense of community — plus easy access to downtown, the Galleria area, the Medical Center, and major highways.

“My family and I have lived in Southside Place since 2014, as we were drawn to the larger lot sizes, smaller community feel, friendliness, and the gorgeous tree-lined streets,” says real estate professional Kristine Martinez, who has been working in the neighborhood for the last 10 years, as well. “I simply fell in love with Southside Place during my morning walks around the neighborhood, and we were just thrilled when we found our forever home here.”

Born and raised in Canada, Martinez moved to the United States with her husband in 2007 — and then relocated five times. Her personal experience with relocation inspired her to pursue real estate, with an extreme passion to provide white glove service and attention to detail for her clients, whether they're buying or selling or moving one mile or across the world.

She really adores sharing Southside Place with clients, especially young families. “As a family, we truly love living in Southside Place,” she says. “My daughter was thrilled to take part in the swim team and all the summer activities offered when she was younger. I still love watching the kids walk, bike, and scooter their way to swim practices and the all-day summer camp. Their smiles are definitely contagious.”

Martinez mentions that it’s also very easy to get involved and meet your neighbors through the Garden Club, the Southside Place Civic Club, annual block parties, the Southside Place Winter Carnival, the Splash Dash, and many other community events.

She has chaired the annual Garden Club party and auction, and has chaired the Splash Dash for the past two years. Currently, she serves as the chair of the Fire Truck Park Fund, Inc. Board. “I welcome every opportunity to work alongside neighbors to continuously improve our fabulous Southside Place,” she says

Martinez offered up a few more of her personal favorites about life in Southside Place. Here's her guide:

Where to eat & drink
"Molina's Cantina is a great place for a delicious family dinner or a fun happy hour in the bar,” says Martinez. “Get the chicken enchiladas!”

She also recommends the farm-to-table restaurant Dish Society for a solid lunch spot, and says that Palace Social offers a “great happy hour, good food, and tons of fun for the family with its bowling, arcade games, and more.”

Recent and delicious additions to the neighborhood include Lick Honest Ice Cream, Dirty Dough Cookies, and Leven Bakery & Cafe. "All are an absolute must try for everyone!" she says.

Where to play
“When my daughter was younger, we loved being steps from the amazing Fire Truck Park and the private community pool,” says Martinez. “I still enjoy walking past the park and seeing and hearing all the children play.”

“The Southside Place Community Garden offers open and beautiful green space and a covered pergola to meet up with neighbors and enjoy some beautiful evenings,” she adds. “It holds a special place in our hearts, as my daughter loved attending the Saturday ‘work days’ in the garden and looked forward to learning how to plant and harvest delicious vegetables.”

Tennis and pickleball courts and basketball hoops are available at the Southside Place clubhouse. Plus there are lots of indoor fitness options in the neighborhood with Orangetheory Fitness, RIDE Indoor Cycling, and Pure Body Studio.

Where to live
Included in the charm of Southside Place is its array of architectural styles. According to Martinez, every tree-lined street might include any combination of French country, Colonial, Tudor, Mediterranean, soft contemporary, saltbox, and cottage. There are also two townhome developments located on the south side of Holcombe.

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Kristine Martinez works and plays in Southside Place. For more information on buying and selling a home in the area, click here, email kristine.martinez@sothebys.realty, or call 832-736-8095.

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THE AMERICAN DREAM

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

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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.”

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