According to the latest Houston Association of Realtors (HAR) report, Houston home sales jumped 13.4% year-over-year, with contracts closing on 7,220 single-family homes and 604 townhomes and condos last month. This marked the 25th straight month of increasing Houston homes sales.

One of the biggest driving forces behind the real estate surge are the continued development of luxury homes in upscale Houston neighborhoods. New constructions homes coupled with renovations guided by deed restrictions in neighborhoods like Rice Military, Houston Heights, and River Oaks entice majority of Houston relocators and long-time Houstonians to buy homes versus leasing.

One great example is Houston Heights. The Heights is one of Houston's first "master-planned" communities. In 1891 Oscar Martin Carter and his Omaha and South Texas Land Company spent $500,000 to buy 1,756 acres of land that is now Houston Heights.

Houston Heights Homes For Sale: A Healthy Mix Between New And Old

Houston Heights real estate started to pick up in the 90s due to gentrification (average income increases and average family size decreases). Urban professionals, most of whom worked in Downtown Houston, began purchasing historic homes and renovated/replaced it with newer upscale homes.

Today, Houston Heights is a diverse mix of renovated Victorian-themed houses and newly built single-family homes and townhomes. Commercial establishments have also emerged, creating a vibrant community with rich architectural history.

Real estate in The Heights have appreciated significantly over the last 10 years (this community has been one of the fastest appreciating neighborhoods in the Bayou City), with developers building more single-family and townhomes to meet growing demand.

(See All Houston Heights Homes For Sale)

Houston Heights Homes For Sale: Historic Districts

Architectural diversity best describes Houston Heights homes for sale. On one hand, the local economic growth boosts contruction of new houses with more modern design aesthetics. Many new construction homes in The Heights are townhomes.

On the other hand are well-preserved patio homes, bungalows, and Victorian-themed houses. These properties have undergone renovation focused on preserving the neighborhood's history and culture. Some areas in The Heights have an enforced deed restriction to keep the neighborhood's character and charm

Here are three such areas called "historic districts", located within the Houston Heights, appropriately named:

• Houston Heights Historic District West
• Houston Heights Historic District East
• Houston Heights Historic District South

The historic influence and residential construction limits give Houston Heights Historic Districts a common and "warmer look and feel”. The Heights Historic Districts are well-known for the neighborhood's charm and character, further enhanced by the preservation of the homes' architectural old-school merits.

As you can see on the map, they are clustered around Heights Blvd, north of I-10 and below 20th. These historic districts are in addition to neighboring Norhill Historic District, Woodland Heights Historic District and Germantown Historic District.

About Paige Martin: Top-ranked Houston realtor

Paige Martin is currently ranked as one of the top Realtors in Houston (see link below to review her actual ratings). Already featured on TV and in dozens of publications (such as Fox News in the Morning, Houston Business Journal, the Houston Chronicle, Downtown, Houston Magazine, and Texas Monthly Magazine), Paige has also been given over 40 awards for her production levels.

Some of the awards include:

• The #1 individual agent in the Keller Williams Memorial office (over 200 agents) for three consecutive years
• Inclusion as a Houston Five Star Professional Real Estate Agent (top few Realtors in the country)
• Houston Realtor of Excellence Award, Houston Realtor Par Excellence Award
• Top Google Houston Real Estate Award
• Talk of the Town Award for Excellence in Customer Satisfaction

In addition, over 75 of her prior clients have publicly endorsed and recommended her via LinkedIn, YouTube Videos and Houston's Association of Realtors. See one of the feedbacks below:

Paige Martin is the best Houston realtor I have worked with. In recent years I worked with other realtors, as I looked for a new home either under-construction, a resale or new build. Others don't compare to Paige. She is knowledgeable about the market, listened and responded to my needs, and provided solid advice. She represented us when we chose to build and helped us get great value. And, she advised us in preparing our old hold for sale. It sold quickly, closed efficiently, at a great price.