march's most expensive homes

Houston's 10 most expensive homes sold in March, from a River Oaks chateau to a 20-acre Magnolia resort

Just last year, homes in Houston — especially in its hot 'hoods like the Heights and Montrose — were flying off the market in a day, with cash offers over list price.

Fast-forward to March 2023, where the white-hot market has noticeably cooled. Single-family home sales in March fell 18.3 percent year-over-year, according to a report issued by HAR. But compared to pre-pandemic 2019, single-family home sales actually rose 13.0 percent.

Currently, the average price for a Houston him sits at $408,647. Notably in March, sales of homes listed at $1 million and more dropped by 20.4 percent.

But that doesn't mean two-comma properties aren't moving. Here are the 10 priciest homes sold in Houston in March, according to HAR, from a French chateau masterpiece in River Oaks to a 20-acre resort-style estate in Magnolia with its own cave pool.

1. 3920 Inverness Drive, River Oaks
List price: $10.9 million; sell price: more than $10 million

3920 Inverness Drive River Oaks An aerial view of 3920 Inverness Dr. in River Oaks.Photo courtesy of HAR.com

Not surprisingly, Houston's most expensive home is nestled in arguably the city's most prestigious neighborhood. Boasting more than 1.6 lush, park-like acres in the heart of River Oaks, 3920 Inverness Dr. sits on one of the neighborhood's most desired streets. The 11,248-square-foot French chateau harks to classic France's classic architecture, with balustrades, sculptures, and more.

Photo courtesy of HAR.com

No. 2: 3452 Ella Lee Ln. in River Oaks.

With six bedrooms and seven full, en-suite bathrooms, the chateau is perfect for a growing family, replete with a pool house and even garage apartments for loner teens or a mother-in-law. While the interior is appropriately striking, the backyard is a true oasis, with a picture-perfect pool calling to mind a lavish French country estate.

2. 3452 Ella Lee Lane, River Oaks
List price: $6.595 million; sell price range: $7.85 million to $9 million

3452 Ella Lee Lane River Oaks No. 2: 3452 Ella Lee Ln. in River Oaks. Photo courtesy of HAR.com

In a rare new build for River Oaks, 3452 Ella Lee Ln. is a lot/new build project offering 12,060 square feet close to Ella Lee Park and sits on the most coveted street in what's known as the St. John's quadrant in RO.

Built by luxury home mastermind Layne Kelly along with JD Bartell, the contemporary, customizable home boasts 8,878 square feet, four to five bedrooms, more than six bathrooms, and an ultra-luxe L'Atelier Paris range with custom hood and coordinating L'Atelier Paris paneled Gaggeneau appliance suite in the expansive kitchen.

Another huge bonus: dual primary bathrooms and closets — a rarity in the area. Yet another masterpiece for a growing, River Oaks-based family, the home features a large outdoor patio space with summer kitchen, pool, and three-car garage.

3. 38262 Windy Ridge Trail, Magnolia
List price: $8.95 million; sell price range: $7.8 million to $ 9 million

38262 Windy Ridge Trail, Magnolia The swim-up cave pool bar at 38262 Windy Ridge Trail.Photo courtesy of HAR.com

Time was, the wooded, secluded, away-from-it-all Magnolia was a IYKYK spot for those wanting to escape the bustle of Greater Houston — or even The Woodlands. But this sprawling, resort-style palace in sought-after and high-dollar High Meadows Ranch reminds that Magnolia is hardly a secret anymore.

Sitting on a massive 20.5 acres, the lavish home boasts 14,377 square feet, balconies everywhere, a grand, two-story foyer, two-story library and game room, five bedrooms, six full baths, and a whopping five garages. This family-focused castle boasts three total pools — one with a swim-up bar tucked into an actual cave. More outdoor activities include a full tennis court, par 3 golf course, and 2-acre pond with bass for private fishing. The king of the castle can even enjoy his own giant man cave.

4. 4 Tokeneke Trail, Piney Point/Memorial Villages
List price: $7.495 million; sale price range: $6.7 million to $7.8 million

Tokeneke Trail Piney Point Memorial Villages No 4: Tokeneke Trail in Piney Point/Memorial Villages. Photo courtesy of HAR.com

No. 4 on the list sits in prestigious Piney Point Village in the Memorial Villages area. Sitting on an impressive 36,000-square-foot space, 4 Tokeneke Trail is a custom new build that brings the outdoors in with with retractable glass walls, meant to create seamless indoor/outdoor enjoyment.

A designated Owners Retreat offers a sitting room, beverage center, luxurious bath, and designated dressing rooms. Two staircases and an elevator help residence traverse the home. Outside, a loggia with summer kitchen and outdoor fireplace overlooks a serene swimming pool/spa and an impressive lawn.

5. 3355 Del Monte Drive, River Oaks
List price: $6.29 million; sell price range: $5.08 million to $5.86 million

3355 Del Monte Drive River Oaks No. 5: 3355 Del Monte Drive in River Oaks.Photo courtesy of HAR.com

Yet another find in prestigious RO, this property sits on a .5-acre lot in the in-demand Country Club Estates on a street familiar to those in the know. The classic brick home built in 1969 has been remodeled and now reveals four or five bedrooms, five full baths, and a total of three stories for spacious living options. Not be missed is the backyard, with pool, fountains, and spacious, stone-tiled sitting area, and the lush garden – also with its own fountain.

6. 3233 Avalon Place, River Oaks
List price: $5.69 million; sell price range: $5.08 million to $5.8 million

3233 Avalon Place River Oaks No. 6: 3233 Avalon Place in River Oaks.Photo courtesy of HAR.com

Yet another home in River Oaks makes the list, this one boasting sleek and stunning French modern design. Encompassing some 11,250 square feet, the masterful property sits just six lots from River Oaks Boulevard. Modern design and amenities are everywhere, including a climate-controlled wine room, Lutron lighting system, smart home technology, and a 3-story elevator.

The pristine, white bathrooms and their light stone tiles and design are not to be missed. Entertaining here is elegant with a third-story theater room, full bathroom, and wet bar, while outside offers a sparkling, geometric pool, outdoor kitchen, and full wet bar.

7. 2114 Rice Boulevard, Southampton Place
List price: $5.49 million; sell price range: $5.08 million to $5.8 million

2114 Rice Boulevard Southampton Place No. 7: 2114 Rice Boulevard in Southampton Place.Photo courtesy of HAR.com

This completely renovated home (built in 1930) in old-school, prestigious Southampton Place boasts eye-catching interiors by the esteemed Laura U Interiors. Design elements include curated marble, wide oak plank floors, vaulted and coffered ceilings, custom mill work, and existing light-sunny spaces throughout.

Another design hallmark: three walls of floor-to-ceiling windows, perfect for sun-soaked days. A wood-paneled living room is a homey retreat, while the wine room houses more than 1,000 bottles. A shimmering pool, covered outdoor kitchen, sport court, and turfed yard take the action outdoors.

8. 275 Pine Hollow Lane, Tanglewood
List price: $4.79 million; sell price range: $4.4 million to $5.08 million

275 Pine Hollow Lane Tanglewood No. 8: 275 Pine Hollow Lane in Tanglewood.Photo courtesy of HAR.com

A truly modern masterwork, this brand-new, futuristic home sits in old guard Tanglewood (once the home of President George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush). Sitting on 0.45 acres, the 7,860 square feet of living space meld modern design with classic floor planning for cozy home living.

Highlights include a main-floor guest suite with kitchen and a massive owner's retreat with a terrace, dual spa baths, dressing room fit for a queen. A game room, study, elevator, two powder rooms, and four-car garage with mudroom make this a modern headquarters for classic family life. The back facade features large windows all facing the yard and sleek pool.

9. 2912 Ella Lee Lane, Avalon Place/River Oaks
List price: $4.4 million; sell price range: $3.8 million to $4.4 million

2912 Ella Lee Lane Avalon Place/River Oaks. No. 9: 2912 Ella Lee Lane in Avalon Place/River Oaks. Photo courtesy of HAR.com

An impressive masterwork boasting sleek Anthracite Grigio marble, sleek white oak, and Italian porcelain floors, 2912 Ella Lee Ln. is perfect for those must-hit Inner Loop parties. The sculpted ceiling in the living room gives way to an open area and striking wall of windows in this five-bedroom, five-bath home.

Clean, light, open design is framed by dark wall and window accents, with marble everywhere setting the tone with stone. The backyard offers a completely screened patio (a must for mosquito months) with a nearby outdoor kitchen.

10. 230 Blalock Road, Dullien/Memorial Villages
List price: $4.47 million; sell price range: $3.8 million to $4.4 million

230 Blalock Road Memorial Villages No. 10: 230 Blalock Road in Memorial Villages. Photo courtesy of HAR.com

Rounding out the top 10 is a reconstructed midcentury home dating back to 1969 in Memorial Villages. Spanning more than acre, the contemporary/modern home offers six bedrooms and 7 full baths. Design is key here, marked by an expansive circular drive, porte-cochere and one of the largest pools in the Villages, replete with water features and a spa for watery escapes.

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.”

home market economy down payments home ownership real estate