hottest 'hoods in h-town

2 Houston-area ZIP codes top 2024 list of hottest U.S. housing markets

This home in Katy's 77493 is on the market for $441,000.

Photo courtesy of Opendoor

The Houston metro's strong real estate market has shown it can persevere through another year of high mortgage rates, and two local ZIP codes — in Katy and Cypress — are leading the nation as the hottest housing markets of 2024.

A just-released report by Opendoor has revealed Katy's 77493 is the No. 1 hottest U.S. housing market in 2024, with Cypress' 77433 landing at No. 2. The two ZIPs flip-flopped from last year's placements.

The study examined the U.S. ZIP codes where people bought homes the fastest in 2024, 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.

The affordability of Houston's suburbs remain a big draw attraction for newcomers, as the report says Houston's housing costs are among the lowest nationwide.

"Over the past three years, we’ve seen people choose to move away from city centers in favor of tighter-knit communities, but still live close enough to commute and be close to the action," the report says. "This year’s most popular areas are known for being fast-growing cities with plenty of new development, with healthy job growth in Florida and Texas in particular."

Texas cities dominated the top 10 for a second year in a row, with four additional ZIPs earning spots in the report: 78253 in San Antonio (No. 3); 78130 in New Braunfels (No. 4); 75126 in Forney (No. 6); and 78640 in Kyle (No. 10). McKinney's 75071 ZIP ranked 12th nationally.

Under-the-radar neighborhoods to watch in 2025
Opendoor also revealed its new list of "hidden gem" American neighborhoods where new listings grew from January to November 2024.

ZIP code 77377 in Tomball, a city 35 miles north of downtown Houston, was ranked the No. 4 best hidden gem neighborhood with homes under $300,000.

Plano was the only other Texas city to be included in the report's list of top under-the-radar neighborhoods. The Dallas suburb's 75074 ZIP was ranked the No. 7 best hidden gem for homes between $400,000 and $600,000.

"These [hidden gem] lists offer neighborhoods across different price points with something for everyone," the report says. "Similar to the top 20 list, these are neighborhoods that are fast-developing, with something more turnkey, and in a smaller community."

Opendoor's top 10 hottest ZIP codes of 2024 are:

No. 1 – Katy, Texas (77493)
No. 2 – Cypress, Texas (77433)
No. 3 – San Antonio, Texas (78253)
No. 4 – New Braunfels, Texas (78130)
No. 5 – Summerville, South Carolina (29486)
No. 6 – Forney, Texas (75126)
No. 7 – Yukon, Oklahoma (73099)
No. 8 – Clarksville, Tennessee (37042)
No. 9 – Parrish, Florida (34219)
No. 10 – Kyle, Texas (78640)

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Seaside Living and More

Shuttered Corpus Christi Schlitterbahn will become $800M seaside community

Rendering courtesy of Whitecap

The former site of Schlitterbahn's Corpus Christi location is being transformed into Whitecap, an $800 million master-planned community.

The site that once housed Schlitterbahn's short-lived Corpus Christi location is being transformed into Whitecap, an $800 million master-planned community with waterfront homes, a shopping and entertainment district, and a marina designed to withstand Category 5 hurricanes.

Rendering courtesy of Whitecap

The former site of Schlitterbahn's Corpus Christi location is being transformed into Whitecap, an $800 million master-planned community.

The project by Ashlar Development LLC and partner Diamond Beach Holdings LLC is Corpus Christi’s first master-planned coastal community and is expected to include more than 600 residences.

Located less than four hours from Houston and about 30 minutes from Corpus Christi International Airport, the development is aimed at buyers looking for primary homes, vacation properties, and investment opportunities.

Schlitterbahn opened its Padre Island location in 2016 with hopes of bringing its popular waterpark brand to the coast. But financial troubles and leadership disputes complicated the project early on. After the park closed in 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic, it never reopened, and the site was demolished in 2021.

Now, the former waterpark site is being redeveloped into a waterfront residential community.

"The owners saw extraordinary potential in this uniquely positioned property,” Terence Johnson, executive vice president of Ashlar Development, tells CultureMap. “By transforming a former golf course and water park into Whitecap, they've created a luxury canal community that balances exceptional waterfront living with the preservation of valuable coastal habitat for migratory birds and wildlife.”

The first phase of homesite sales is now underway. Buyers can choose from custom and semi-custom home options featuring a contemporary coastal aesthetic with materials such as concrete and glass.

Located just minutes from Whitecap Beach, the community sits along five miles of navigable canals, with most homesites offering water views, direct canal access, and backyard docks.

A pool and fitness center are already completed, with future plans including a café, event space, sports courts, a dog park, and a marina district with shopping, dining, entertainment, a yacht club, and dry boat storage.

A 30-acre nature preserve will sit at the center of the development, providing habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife.