More Houstonians are embracing the trendy lifestyle of living downtown, according to statistics released recently by the Houston Association of Realtors Multiple Listing Service. 

Residential sales, including single-family properties, townhomes/condos and highrises, in downtown Houston* have more than quadrupled within the past seven years, increasing by more than 300 percent.  In addition, the median price of these properties has increased by 136.7 percent.

“The popularity of urban living is increasing as young professionals and empty-nesters are realizing the convenience and ease of access to jobs and entertainment located in and around downtown,” said HAR Chairman Dovie Morgan.  “Overall, Houstonians are becoming more accustomed to the hassle-free type of lifestyle downtown living provides.”

“The increase in the number of sales, as well as the increase in median price, illustrates the trend of living downtown,” Morgan said. “As the demand for housing continues to rise in this area, we can expect the median price to rise also.”

U.S. Census Bureau statistics show that Houston, Seattle, Denver, Portland, Atlanta, Memphis and San Diego all experienced greater percentage increases in their downtown populations than in their entire urban areas over the past decade.

“Buildings that once housed companies are being converted into residential housing such as lofts, apartments and condos,” said Minnette Boesel, HAR board member and owner of downtown-based Minnette Boesel Properties.  “Once the current road construction and other renovations are completed, I expect the downtown area will really boom.”

All listing categories combined, Houston’s market as a whole showed an increase across the board including sales, available inventory, pending sales and the overall total dollar volume.