Houston’s newest “hot spot” for new construction is called Independence Heights. Located in the new North Houston District, just outside 610 Loop, “The Super Neighborhood,” was created by the City of Houston, which drew its borders as Tidwell to the North, Shepherd Drive to the West, 610 to the South and 45 to the East.

Similar to the Heights, this area is rich with history. It started to develop in 1908 by Wright Land Company and was incorporated Independence Heights. It became the first African American municipality in Texas. Then in 1929, the community was annexed by Houston.

In 2018, the Houston Chronicle said this area “has it all” and cited a study conducted by Redfin, who ranked neighborhoods based on what buyers wanted. Priorities were good schools, transit options, commute times, crime, and affordability. Independence Heights ended up ranking 13 out of 25 in their nation-wide study.

The recent development of a Whole Foods 365 at 610 & Yale has prompted other businesses to take a risk in this “up-and-coming” location. For 2017, the average sales price for a lot was $45,316. In 2019, that jumped to $62,954.

Let’s not forget the area’s popularity with Millennials, as well. As of two years ago, they represent the largest cohort of homebuyers in the country, and Houston is no different. The key to their heart is also affordability. New construction ranges from $300k-$365k in most cases.