a wealth of luxury offerings

Houston's ultra-luxury real estate market explodes with top sales growth in U.S. of homes valued $10M or more

2109 River Oaks Boulevard, Houston luxury home for sale

This luxurious Houston home at 2109 River Oaks Boulevard is pending sale for $14.5 million.

Photo via Compass

Luxury home sales in Houston have grown by a monumental 200 percent for the first half of 2023, according to the new mid-year report by Compass Luxury. This staggering growth indicates a new trend for the city's impressive and explosive real estate market despite recent economic troubles and limited housing inventory.

Houston ranked at the top with Dallas-Fort Worth on Compass' list of ultra-luxury real estate markets — meaning homes selling for $10 million or more — during the first six months of the year. There were 13 total markets that had more transactions surpassing the $10 million mark in this time period than this same time last year.

For some perspective, Compass' data says there were three homes in Houston that together sold for a total of $31.5 million during Q1 and Q2 of this year. That's compared to just one sale in 2022 at $15.98 million.

Dallas-Fort Worth barely edged Houston out of the No. 1 spot in the report with a higher sales volume of $43.79 for the same number of sales in Q1 and Q2.

The report says high-earning buyers are seeking homes in Houston thanks to low taxes and the city's vacation destination status. But it's the city's dynamic culture, education and medical institutions that are major draws for the ultra-luxurious crowd, according to Compass real estate agent Dee Dee Guggenheim Howes.

"Our city offers economic prosperity, cultural richness, and diverse architecture, irresistible to those seeking the epitome of fine living," she said. "As the population increases, so does the demand for amenity-rich luxury listings. From spa-like retreats, lush outdoor living spaces, and private sports facilities, to tasting rooms, gourmet kitchens, and exquisitely designed wet bars, ultra-luxury buyers expect the best."

Laura Sweeney, another Compass real estate agent and native Houstonian, predicts a continuation of the strong growth in Houston's real estate market for the duration of 2023.

"The overall market has leveled off some with rising interest rates and fluctuations in consumer confidence; however, inventory has remained low and people who need a house are still buying," Sweeney said. "Demand has even created multiple offer situations and pushed prices upward for special properties."

The top 10 real estate markets with transactions over $10 million for the first half of 2023 are:

No. 1 – Dallas-Fort Worth (200 percent)
No. 2 – Houston (200 percent)
No. 3 – Boulder, Colorado (100 percent)
No. 4 – Jackson Hole, Wyoming (60 percent)
No. 5 – Greater Seattle (55.5 percent)
No. 6 – Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts (50 percent)
No. 7 – Westchester County, New York (50 percent)
No. 8 – Greater Boston (42.8 percent)
No. 9 – City of Boston (40 percent)
No. 10 – Wine Country, California (25 percent)

The full mid-year ultra-luxury real estate report can be found on Compass Luxury's website.

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small but mighty

4 Houston neighbors ranked among best small cities the U.S.

Friendswood Library/Facebook

Friendswood ranks in the 76th percentile of the best small cities.

Four Houston neighbors — with Friendswood at the top of the pack — have been rated among the best small cities in America for 2026.

WalletHub's annual survey compared over 1,300 U.S. cities with populations between 25,000 and 100,000 residents based on 45 livability metrics categorized into five key dimensions: affordability, economic health, education and health, quality of life, and safety. Cities were then grouped by percentile, where the 99th percentile represents the very best.

Nineteen small U.S. cities were rated in the 99th percentile, with the top three spots occupied by Lexington, Massachusetts; Brookfield, Wisconsin; and Carmel, Indiana. No Texas city earned this rating.

Friendswood has been on top of the local list of best small cities in the Houston metro for the last three years, and it was rated in the 76th percentile of all small cities in the country in 2026.

North of Houston, Conroe's rating has remained consistent for the second year in a row and currently ranks in the 58th percentile nationally. Two more Houston suburbs, Deer Park and Missouri City, ranked in the 53rd and 52nd percentile, respectively.

A longstanding reputation as a family-friendly city and recent buzzy restaurant openings in Friendswood are helping this suburb's popularity soar in Houston. Meanwhile, Conroe is no stranger to earning praise for its livability. Conroe was named one of America's top-10 boomtowns earlier this year, and it has become a hotspot for millennial movers.

Affordable housing is a big draw for residents that want to move out from a busy city like Houston, and Friendswood and Deer Park are both among the 50 most affordable small U.S. cities to live in, the report's findings revealed.

"Moving from a bustling metropolis to a small city could drastically cut down your cost of living," said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. "While small cities may lack some advantages of big cities, like robust public transportation systems, they make up for these shortcomings in other areas."

Cost-saving benefits aside, Lupo also said the best small cities have "strong job markets, high-quality education, good health care, safe living conditions, and plenty of local flair to help [residents] achieve a high quality of life."

The top 10 best small cities to live in Texas are:

Cedar Park and Allen – 96th percentile (tied)
Leander – 93rd percentile
Flower Mound – 91st percentile
Little Elm – 87th percentile
The Colony and Rockwall – 86th percentile (tied)
Colleyville – 85th percentile
Georgetown – 84th percentile
Southlake – 82nd percentile

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