soaring suburbs

2 Houston-area ZIP codes top 2023 list of hottest housing markets in U.S.

16815 Seminole Ridge Drive, Cypress home for sale, Houston home for sale

This modern farmhouse-style home in Cypress' 77433 neighborhood is on the market for $475,000.

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Despite higher mortgage rates, Houston's housing market continued to attract more people to the suburbs in 2023, according to a new report by Opendoor. And two Houston-area ZIP codes in particular – in Cypress and Katy – were the top two hottest locales in U.S.

The study examined the U.S. ZIP codes where people bought homes the fastest in 2023, using local Multiple Listing Services (MLS) data in markets where Opendoor operates. The ZIP codes were ranked by the total number of homes that went into contract within 90 days of listing.

Overall, the report showed that people are increasingly interested in living outside of a major city, with preferences leaning toward the suburbs and exurbs. Houses in Cypress' 77433 ZIP code sold the fastest out of every area in the U.S. last year, a six-place jump from No. 7 in 2022.

ZIP code 77493 in Katy moved up one spot into No. 2 this year, further displacing ZIP code 37042 in Clarksville, Tennessee (No. 3) which earned the No. 1 spot last year.

Just outside Katy, 77449 in Park Row made its debut on Opendoor's list, ranking No. 20.

The study said turnkey homes and housing prices were among the top priorities for homebuyers in 2023, in addition to convenient locations.

"Homes purchased in our top neighborhoods reflect the desire of homeowners to head to towns with convenient amenities instead of the congestion of bigger cities," the report's author wrote. "Price also continues to be a major factor: Opendoor’s data shows buyers and sellers still believe the housing market is competitive, they’re concerned about interest rates, and they think homes are overpriced."

Texas ZIP codes dominated the top 10, with nine total cities earning spots in the report, including 75126 in Forney (No. 6); 76227 in Aubrey (No. 7); 78130 in New Braunfels (No. 8); 78253 in San Antonio (No. 9); 76179 in Fort Worth (No. 10); and 78641 in Leander (No. 13).

The report also uncovered several under-the-radar neighborhoods where new listings increased throughout 2023. ZIP code 77471 in Rosenberg, a Houston suburb 17 miles south of Katy, was listed among Opendoor's "hidden gems" with homes listed between $400,000-$600,000.

"Newly built homes, like many in these [hidden gem] neighborhoods, are becoming a more accessible option, and developers continue to invest in these areas," the report said. "If [homebuyers are] looking for something move-in ready, take the time to explore these up-and-coming places."

Other "hidden gem" neighborhoods in Opendoor's report include Central Texas cities like Marble Falls (78654) and Bulverde (78163), and North Texas exurbs like Princeton (75407) and Royse City (75189).

Opendoor's hottest ZIP codes of 2023 are:

No. 1 – Cypress, Texas (77433)
No. 2 – Katy, Texas (77493)
No. 3 – Clarksville, Tennessee (37042)
No. 4 – Yukon, Oklahoma (73099)
No. 5 – Summerville, South Carolina (29486)
No. 6 – Forney, Texas (75126)
No. 7 – Aubrey, Texas (76227)
No. 8 – New Braunfels, Texas (78130)
No. 9 – San Antonio, Texas (78253)
No. 10 – Fort Worth, Texas (76179)

The report can be found on opendoor.com.

opendoor reports houston cypress katy real estate housing market

rent affordability news

Houstonians need to make nearly $68,000 to afford rent in 2025

Photo courtesy of Dolce Midtown Apartments

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A new rental report from Zillow has revealed Houston renters need to make about 23 percent more money than they did five years ago in order to afford rent in 2025.

Zillow analysts examined the income needed to afford rent in 50 major U.S. metros, and determined rent prices in each city as of April 2025.

The average Houston renter needs to make $67,731 a year to afford living in the city, the report found. To afford rent for a single-family home, the income needed increases even further to $85,017.

Despite Houston's rising rent cost of living, it's still more affordable than many other cities. Nationally, the average income needed for someone to comfortably afford rent comes out to nearly $81,000. The study says that figure has increased nearly 35 percent since 2020.

"Housing costs have surged since pre-pandemic, with rents growing quite a bit faster than wages," said senior Zillow economist Orphe Divounguy. "This often leaves little room for other expenses, making it particularly difficult for those hoping to save for a down payment on a future home. High upfront costs are often overlooked, which can keep renters in their current homes."

Rent prices in Houston averaged $1,693 last month, which is less costly than the national average rent price of $2,024. Additionally, Houstonians are spending about 24 percent of their income on rent, while the typical American spends almost 30 percent of their income on rent.

Renters are also saving hundreds of dollars in comparison to those that own their homes, as a recent SmartAsset study discovered the median monthly housing costs for a Houston homeowner came out to $2,219.

At least we're not living on the East or West Coast, where eight U.S. metros require six-figure incomes to afford rent. Residents in San Jose, California need to make $136,532 a year to afford rent, the highest out of all 50 U.S. cities. Rent prices in San Jose came out to $3,413 in April.

Here's how much money renters need to afford living in other Texas metros, according to Zillow:

Dallas – $71,413
Austin – $68,840
San Antonio – $58,590

zillow housing report rent prices affordability houston

soaring suburbs

2 Houston-area ZIP codes top 2023 list of hottest housing markets in U.S.

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rent affordability news

Houstonians need to make nearly $68,000 to afford rent in 2025