enviable estates

Houston's 10 most expensive homes sold in July: Elegant estates, midcentury masterpieces, and more

Houston has long been home to some of the luxurious and expensive homes in the country, drawing in power players like billionaires to former professional football megastars.

From high-profile to under-the-radar, many wealthy residents favor upscale neighborhoods like Tanglewood, River Oaks, and Memorial Villages, while others seek residence in suburbs like The Woodlands, Sugar Land, Katy, and Conroe.

With that in mind, HAR recently shared its rundown of the 10 big-budget, grandiose Houston homes that were the most expensive inventory sold in the month of July. Brand-new builds and well-kept renovated estates are among the list of astonishing abodes, ranging from a Mediterranean mansion to a mid-1960s palazzo.

1. 1923 Olympia Drive, River Oaks
List price: $5.6 million; sell price range: $5.08 million to $5.86 million

1923 Olympia Drive, River Oaks, Houston The private backyard at 1923 Olympia Dr. in River Oaks is a perfect little retreat.Photo courtesy of HAR.com

Much like past reports, the most expensive home sold in Houston last month is nestled in one of the city's most prestigious and old-guard neighborhoods. This opulent two-story manor at 1923 Olympia Dr. underwent an extensive facelift in 2021 to bring it to its current modern style. The builders adding a new roof, a new kitchen, and more.

The manor spans just under 7,400 square feet across four bedrooms, five full bathrooms, and two half baths. Other wonderful features of the home include backlit floor-to-ceiling bookcases, a private study,, a second-floor balcony that lines the back of the house, and a pool.

2. 5328 Cherokee Street, Rice/Museum District
List price: $5.4 million; sell price range: $4.42 million to $5.08 million

Photo courtesy of HAR.com

No. 1: 1923 Olympia Dr. in River Oaks.

5328 Cherokee Street, Rice/Museum District, Houston 5328 Cherokee St. in the Rice/Museum District is a minimalistic haven.Photo courtesy of HAR.com

Though this new-construction home may look unassumingly modern from the outside, the inside is a minimalist's paradise. The builders drew their inspiration from Belgian interior design, complete with wall-to-wall 60-foot sliding steel doors that eliminate the need for artificial lighting during the day. The 6,949 square foot, two-story haven is complete with five bedrooms, five full bathrooms, and two half baths.

5328 Cherokee Street is located on a 10,605 square foot lot just a single block from Rice University, making the tree-lined area one of the most sought-after streets in the area.

3. 10914 Bridgewood Street, Memorial Villages
List price: $5.23 million; sell price range: $4.42 million to $5.08 million

10914 Bridgewood Street, Memorial Villages, Houston No. 3: 10914 Bridgewood St. in Memorial Villages.Photo courtesy of HAR.com

Sitting on a half-acre wooded lot in Hunter's Creek is 10914 Bridgewood Street, a newly built French-traditional home with six bedrooms, three full baths, and three half baths. This family-focused home features a large breakfast room for morning gatherings, and a study suitable for any office work or schoolwork. The chef's kitchen is equipped with high-end appliances, an oversized island, and multiple pantries.

4. 18740 Palm Beach Boulevard, Lake Conroe
List price: $5.2 million; sell price range: $4.42 million to $5.08 million

18740 Palm Beach Boulevard, Lake Conroe An exterior view of 18740 Palm Beach Blvd. in Lake Conroe.Photo courtesy of HAR.com

This Conroe home will have guests feeling like they're on a vacation. The design is a mix of European and modern styles, with plenty of room to personalize. Some incredible interior features of the home include eight bedrooms, six full bathrooms, a modern kitchen with a Thermador gas range, a spiral staircase, leading to the outdoor kitchen, and more.

Sitting on the largest lot out of all homes on the list, 18740 Palm Beach Boulevard about 4.64 acres. It backs up to Lake Conroe, providing constant views of the beautiful oasis. Guests can explore the lake by using one of the three lifts on the private boat dock, or park their vessel at the guest boat dock. If outdoor waterfront exploration isn't the order of the day, guests can choose to relax by the pool or hot tub just steps away from the back patio.

5. 773 Pifer Road, Memorial Villages
List price: $4.99 million; sell price range: $4.42 million to $5.08 million

773 Pifer Road, Memorial Villages, Houston The owners of 773 Pifer Road will be the talk of Memorial Villages with this custom wine wall.

A resplendent, new construction home at 773 Pifer Road in prestigious Hunter's Creek is the height of luxury without being overly dramatic. It sits on a little less than half an acre of land, while the home spans 7,500 square feet. Construction was set for completion at the end of June, making this home the newest on the list.

The inside of the home gives a peek at the deluxe finishes, such as a gourmet chef's kitchen with Subzero and Wolf appliances, an accompanying wet bar, and a custom-designed wine wall intended to be the center of attention in the formal dining room. But photos keep the remaining secrets of the home a secret – the design of the six bathrooms, five full baths, and two half baths.

6. 2530 Stanmore Drive, River Oaks
List price: $4.5 million; sell price range: $4.42 million to $5.08 million

2530 Stanmore Drive, River Oaks, Houston No. 6: 2530 Stanmore Dr. in River Oaks.Photo courtesy of HAR.com

2530 Stanmore Drive is an ode to Long Island homes from the 1920s, but with modern updates from the current century. Described as a "Cape Cod" contemporary, this stately home boasts a striking white interior with black, gold, and mahogany wood accents.

Every bedroom comes with its own en-suite bathroom, and there are two additional half-baths elsewhere in the house. Guests can take advantage of the game room, or lounge on the patio with an outdoor kitchen and fire pit, and there's even room for a pool if the owners choose to install one.

7. 6062 Riverview Way, Tanglewood
List price: $4.43 million; sell price range: $3.83 million to $4.41 million

6062 Riverview Way, Tanglewood, Houston No. 7: 6062 Riverview Way in Tanglewood.Photo courtesy of HAR.com

This English traditional mansion in at 6062 Riverview Way in Tanglewood is the definition of elegance. Spreading across 7,197 square feet on a .4 acre lot, this home features several stylish amenities like a gourmet kitchen with a butler bar, four to five bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, a game room, an outdoor kitchen overlooking the back yard and pool, and more.

For any extra guests that arrive in Houston for a getaway, they can stay in the 593-square-foot guest quarters above the three-story garage. And with the home's close proximity to the Houston Country Club and other upscale businesses around Tanglewood, there's no shortage of activities in the area.

8. 55 Hollymead Drive, The Woodlands
List price: $4.4 million; sell price range: $3.83 million to $4.41 million

55 Hollymead Drive, The Woodlands Natural light floods the inside of 55 Hollymead Dr. in The Woodlands.Photo courtesy of HAR.com

Demand in and outside the Greater Houston area has been on the rise throughout the years as more residents look for a more suburban lifestyle, and The Woodlands is no exception. This home at 55 Hollymead Drive is a newly built home residing in the Village of Cochran's Crossing.

Featuring five to six bedrooms (as the listing says), six full baths, three half baths, this lavish home is a dream for any owner who prefers a laid-back, relaxed modern style that isn't ostentatious. Guests will surely be enamored by all of the natural light provided by this home, along with the calming neutral tones and high-end finishes throughout the interior.

9. 5835 Indian Trail, Tanglewood
List price: $4.2 million; sell price range: $3.83 million to $4.41 million

5835 Indian Trail, Tanglewood, Houston No. 9: 5835 Indian Trail in Tanglewood.Photo courtesy of HAR.com

This two-story Tanglewood home boasts a magnificent Mediterranean architecture style on a 30,302 square foot lot. With a full-house generator already installed, this six bedroom, seven bath, and three half bath home is perfect for those who like to be prepared for any adverse weather conditions.

But in the bright summer months where that's less of a concern, the owners can imagine they're living at a resort while enjoying a dip in the luxurious pool and catching the beautiful backyard views.

Adding to its prestigious appeal, 5835 Indian Trail also backs up to the Houston Country Club for the ultimate recreational convenience.

10. 700 Pine Shadows Drive, Tanglewood
List price: $3.99 million; sell price range: $3.83 million to $4.41 million

700 Pine Shadows Drive, Tanglewood, Houston Rounding out the top 10 is 700 Pine Shadows Dr. in Tanglewood.Photo courtesy of HAR.com

Our final dwelling might be the oldest one on the list, but it still retains a significant history. This home at 700 Pine Shadows Drive was built in 1965 on a 1.06 acre lot, spanning about 7,000 square feet among five bedrooms, four full bathrooms, and two half baths.

Traditional architecture anchors the home to the sophisticated Tanglewood neighborhood, with an abundance of timeless charm to wow guests and neighbors.

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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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