When Governor Greg Abbot designated Opportunity Zones across Texas, he hoped to encourage further economic development and growth in specific neighborhoods around the state. Of the 628 Opportunity Zones designated throughout Texas, 150 were located in the Houston metropolitan area.

The designation of Opportunity Zone can be a boon for neighborhoods, since they make the surrounding area more attractive to investors. Investors in these neighborhoods can defer or reduce capital gains taxes, making the Opportunity Zones potentially lucrative areas to do business. Such tax breaks encourage financial investments that can spur job growth in an area. 

What parts of Houston are anticipating the benefits of becoming Opportunity Zones? Here are some neighborhoods that may soon become the beneficiaries of extensive new investments. 

Sunnyside

Photo courtesy of WhisperToMe

View homes in Sunnyside Courts, Sunnyside Place, and Sunnyside Gardens

Sunnyside is a large area ecompassing Sunnyside Courts, Sunnyside Place, and Sunnyside Gardens, among several smaller neighborhoods. Located in southern Houston, homebuyers will find houses priced as low as $50,000 and as high as $400,000. Lower priced homes tend to have been built much earlier in Houston’s history, while newer developments are typically priced higher.

The range of prices make it attractive to homebuyers with different budgets, and the neighborhood’s connection to Highway 288 make it possible to hit popular Houston destinations, like the Museum District and Downtown Houston, within minutes.

Denver Harbor and the Port of Houston

View homes in Denver Harbor and the Port of Houston

Denver Harbor and the Port of Houston are adjacent affordable neighborhoods that developed around the city’s port. Port Houston is among the busiest ports in the nation and provides employment for many of the surrounding residents. 

Both neighborhoods house cozy, single-family homes that are typically quite affordably priced. Prices rarely exceed $200,000, making these neighborhoods quite appealing for budget conscious buyers. Plus, through their connection to Interstate 10, residents enjoy quick commutes to Downtown Houston.

Jacinto City

Milton Lusk Activity Center photo courtesy of Jacinto City

View homes in Jacinto City

Traveling east from Port Houston along Interstate 10, homebuyers will find Jacinto City. Yet another affordable area of town with homes rarely priced above $150,000, Jacinto City is also located close to the popular Herman Brown Park. With its 750 acres of forested area, many walking trails, and a community garden, it’s a favorite among local residents looking to spend the day outdoors. Plus, Jacinto City’s location along the highway makes it possible to travel west into the heart of Houston or east for a coastal trip.

Near Northside

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Among Houston’s most historically rich neighborhoods is the Near Northside, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Through its early history, it served as an immigration destination, first for Europeans and then for Mexicans coming to Texas. Today, it’s a popular place to live for anyone wanting to be close to Houston’s busiest urban centers. 

Located north of Downtown Houston, it’s also quite close to the Houston Heights and Midtown. With homes on the market for as low as $200,000 and as high as a million, the Near Northside is truly an area with homes that are suited for almost any budget.

The Third Ward

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The historic Third Ward is among Houston’s most famous neighborhoods. Home of Beyonce and SugarHill Recording Studios — one of the oldest recording studios in the country — and once the heart of the city’s civil rights movement, the Third Ward carries quite a legacy. Positioned just across the highway from the Museum District, Midtown, and Downtown Houston, there’s no shortage of amenities for anyone living here. Plus, with some homes priced as low as $100,000 and others priced for over a million, the Third Ward offers a place to live for just about any homebuyer.

Acres Homes

View homes in Acres Homes

Located farther north of Houston, Acres Homes is among the most affordable neighborhoods in the city, with homes starting as low as $100,000. This is a suburban retreat from the busier urban heart of Houston. Located along Interstate 10 and outside of the 610 Loop, Acres Homes is far enough from the city’s center to provide some relief from the traffic more common to central Houston. It’s also a diversely developed neighborhood, with plenty of single family homes in the area in a broad range of styles, from attached townhomes to freestanding, ranch style homes.