Houston lawyer Tony Buzbee buys $15.5 million 1708 River Oaks mansion next to his home, but what he plans to do with the luxury property is turning heads

Prominent Houston trial lawyer Tony Buzbee and his wife, Frances Moody Buzbee, have purchased a luxury mansion in Houston’s exclusive River Oaks neighbourhood for $15.5 million. But the couple does not plan to move into the 15,000-square-foot home or renovate it, according to a report in The Biz Journals.

Instead, the property at 1708 River Oaks Boulevard is set to be demolished and transformed into a private garden connecting to the couple’s existing estate next door.

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Tony Buzbee plans to tear down $15.5 million mansion

The purchase will allow Buzbee and his wife to expand the grounds of their long-time home at 1722 River Oaks Boulevard. The mansion being removed features six bedrooms, an indoor swimming pool, a domed stained-glass ceiling, a lacquered library, a wine vault and a wellness area with a beauty salon.

The plan is not simply to clear the property. Before demolition, the couple has partnered with Habitat for Humanity to salvage valuable materials from the mansion.

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$4 million worth of luxury materials to be salvaged

Habitat for Humanity will oversee the salvage operation, with crews expected to recover high-end fixtures and building materials from the property. The materials include custom woodwork, marble fittings, kitchen equipment, large air-conditioning units and other items. The total value of the salvaged materials is estimated at around $4 million.

Buzbee confirmed the arrangement in an email statement.

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“They will be tearing it down and salvaging approximately $4 million worth of high-end materials, appliances, air units and the like for their mission,” Buzbee said. “They are excited to have it, and we are proud to support them.”

Some of the recovered materials will be used in affordable housing projects, while other specialised items could be sold through Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore shops to raise funds for its programmes.

Mansion purchase below assessed value

The $15.5 million purchase price is notable given the property’s assessed value. Harris Central Appraisal District records showed an assessed value of $18.06 million in 2026, while its annual tax bill was about $383,861 before the sale.

The purchase has also been described as an example of “landmaxxing” — a trend in which wealthy homeowners acquire neighbouring properties and remove existing structures to create larger private estates.

Buzbee's River Oaks property history

Buzbee has owned the neighboring property at 1722 River Oaks Boulevard since purchasing it for $14 million in 2013. His River Oaks home has previously attracted attention.

In 2017, he bought a demilitarised World War II-era Sherman tank and parked it outside his property, prompting a dispute with the neighbourhood’s property owners association. He later donated the tank to Texas A&M University.

In 2022, Buzbee and Frances listed their 12,209-square-foot Tudor-style mansion for $27.5 million, but the property did not sell at the asking price. The couple has now chosen a different approach: keeping their main home and expanding the surrounding grounds.

Property to become a private garden

Once Habitat for Humanity completes its salvage work, the remaining structure will be demolished. The site will then be landscaped and connected with the Buzbees’ existing property.

The result will be a significantly larger private garden estate along River Oaks Boulevard, while usable materials from the demolished mansion are redirected toward charitable housing efforts.