New Construction Homes in Houston Heights

New homes in the Houston Heights are built under two sets of rules: the City of Houston's design guidelines inside the Houston Heights East, West and South historic districts, and deed restrictions and city lot rules outside them. The map below shows current new-construction listings.

What to know about new construction in the Heights

Inside the districts, a new home needs a Certificate of Appropriateness and must meet the 2018 design guidelines on size, height and setbacks; recent city staff reports apply a 40 percent lot-coverage limit, about 2,640 square feet of footprint on a typical 6,600-square-foot lot. Outside the districts, some lots have been split for townhomes.

Since 2018, new homes in Houston's mapped floodplains must sit at least 2 feet above the 500-year flood level. Ask the builder for the finished-floor height and drainage plan, and look up the lot on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center and the Harris County Flood Control District's MAAPnext map. Heights homes pay no MUD tax, but a first tax bill can reflect only the land or a partly built house, so budget for taxes on the finished value.

Prices and how we help

Across all home types, 1,095 closed MLS sales in the Greater Heights from October 2025 through September 2026 had a typical price near $681,000, and restored and new detached homes often top $1 million. Register us with the builder at your first visit: we represent you, and the builder's on-site sales agent represents the builder.

FAQ: new construction in the Houston Heights

Do new homes in the Houston Heights have to follow the historic-district guidelines?

Inside the Houston Heights East, West and South historic districts, yes. New construction needs a Certificate of Appropriateness from the City of Houston and must meet the 2018 design guidelines on size, height and setbacks. Outside the districts the guidelines do not apply, but recorded deed restrictions and the city's minimum lot size and building line rules can still limit what a builder can put on a lot, so ask for the deed restrictions early.

How high must a new Heights home sit above the flood level?

In Houston's mapped floodplains, the City requires new structures to sit at least 2 feet above the 500-year flood elevation under Chapter 19 of the city code (Ordinance 2018-258). Streets near White Oak Bayou and Little White Oak Bayou have flooded in major storms, so for any lot ask the builder for the finished-floor height and the drainage plan, look up the lot on the FEMA flood map and the draft MAAPnext maps, which are for awareness only, and get a flood insurance quote.

Will my first tax bill on a new Heights home reflect the finished house?

Often not. Appraisal districts value property as of January 1, so a home still under construction on that date can be taxed on the land or a partly built house, and the full value arrives with the next year's bill. Budget for taxes at the finished value: Heights homes pay City of Houston, Houston ISD and Harris County taxes, about $2.14 per $100 of value for 2026 before exemptions, with no MUD. File your homestead exemption with the Harris Central Appraisal District once you own and live in the home.

Sources

  1. Compean Group analysis of closed MLS sales, October 2025 to September 2026, Greater Heights market area, all property types; typical price is the median of the 12 monthly medians. Checked October 30, 2026.
  2. Compean Group, Houston Heights neighborhood guide, October 2026: home types, historic districts, lots, taxes and flood notes. Checked October 30, 2026.
  3. City of Houston Planning and Development, Historic Preservation: review of new construction, demolition and alterations in historic districts, and the Heights design guidelines. Checked October 30, 2026.
  4. City of Houston Floodplain Management Office: new structures at least 2 feet above the 500-year flood elevation (Chapter 19, Ordinance 2018-258). Checked October 30, 2026.
  5. Compean Group, Buying New Construction in Texas (October 29, 2026): builder contracts, deposits, inspections at pre-drywall, final and 11 months, warranties, first-year taxes and builder registration. Checked October 30, 2026.
  6. Texas Comptroller, Property Tax Exemptions ($140,000 school-tax homestead exemption) and Tax Code Section 23.23 (10 percent annual cap on a homestead's appraised value). Checked October 30, 2026.
  7. FEMA Flood Map Service Center: official flood maps by address. Checked October 30, 2026.
  8. Harris County Flood Control District, MAAPnext: draft flood maps for Harris County, for awareness only and not open for appeal. Checked October 30, 2026.

Related

Call or text (832) 777-3904, email evan@thecompeangroup.com, or use the contact page. We speak English and Spanish. Our office is at 802 W. Patton St, Houston, TX 77009.

Updated October 30, 2026.