We’ve Weathered the Worst

May 24, 2017October 20, 2017Cameron Ansari

Earlier this month we attended the spring edition of Dr. Robert Gilmer’s twice-a-year regional forecasting luncheon sponsored by the University of Houston’s Bauer College of Business. The past two years have not been kind to Houston, as the city has slowed to no-growth for two years. Other details gleaned from Dr....

What’s Happening In This Market

April 17, 2017October 20, 2017Cameron Ansari

There has been a clear sense that market activity in River Oaks in the first quarter of 2017 has been the expression of pent-up energy from the second half of 2016. Buyers and sellers had held back since the summer of 2016. There was then a tangible change of mood in...

The Builders are Back

March 16, 2017October 20, 2017Cameron Ansari

After a year-long hiatus speculative builders are back in River Oaks with a good selection of new houses in the pipeline. And, if you’re in the market, you will find it refreshing that you won’t have to settle for a huge white box with a pastiche of neoclassical details affixed to...

New Construction Trends

February 15, 2017October 20, 2017Cameron Ansari

We regularly tour new construction in River Oaks, West University, Memorial, Tanglewood and other upscale Houston neighborhoods, and we have noted several trends. Among them:

Size Really Counts

January 23, 2017October 20, 2017Cameron Ansari

But, as the adage goes, it’s not just about size. The most particular characteristic of the large-lot market in River Oaks is that, in addition to the absolute size of any given lot, other qualities of the property are critically important to a prospective buyer. Buyers willing to pay $4 million...

Countdown to 2017

December 19, 2016October 20, 2017Cameron Ansari

It’s been a contrary 12 months in the River Oaks real estate market. Here’s a quick recap in advance of our twice-yearly print publication, the River Oaks Market Report that will be published in January. January The price of a barrel of oil dips below $30. Only the bold are buying...

River Oaks Market Update: Year-End Sales

November 28, 2016October 20, 2017Cameron Ansari

With Thanksgiving out of the way one might assume it would be appropriate seasonal behavior to wind real estate business down for December and jump ahead to thinking about the new year. Nothing could be further from the truth for those of us working in the River Oaks market. In past...

Tick, Tick, Tick …

October 18, 2016October 20, 2017Cameron Ansari

One could be forgiven for assuming that it’s a time bomb you hear, but, thankfully, it’s the early telegraph quietly signaling that there is life in the River Oaks real estate market as we approach November 2016. And it’s not a moment too soon, for it has been rather gloomy of...

Bad News, Good News at the Top of the Market … Maybe

September 20, 2016October 20, 2017Cameron Ansari

Inventory at the high end of the market in River Oaks, which we define as properties priced at $4 million or higher, has climbed steadily since summer began. As of mid-September, the inventory is at its highest level ever. Most strikingly, much of the inventory is top-heavy – that is, well above...

River Oaks Market Update: 2016 Mid-Year Edition

August 16, 2016October 20, 2017Cameron Ansari

The 2016 mid-year edition of the River Oaks Market Report, published by Cameron Ansari and Teresa Byrne-Dodge, will be released this week. The three main points in the new 2016 mid-year edition of our River Oaks Market Report are • High-end real estate buyers are getting younger. • There are plenty...