Red-Hot Neighborhoods

Real estate experts dub Dallas-Fort Worth one of the hottest markets for 2018

Dallas remains hot in 2018.

Photo by Sean Pavone/iStock

It's getting close to the most popular time for homeowners to move, and Zillow has determined that Dallas-Fort Worth residents are about to have a lot of new neighbors.

The real estate website has named DFW one of the top 10 hottest housing markets for 2018, and provided a sneak peek at which neighborhoods are likely to see a surge in popularity this coming year.

Zillow scaled six variables for the 50 largest U.S. metros and combined them to form a "hotness" score. The data included:

Zillow’s home value and rent forecasts, which predict the change in median home values and median estimated rents over the next 12 months
Income and population growth using ACS 2015 and 2016 one-year estimates
Current unemployment rates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
Glassdoor's estimated number of job openings per person

All that combines to place DFW at No. 10 in terms of "hotness." The Zillow home value forecast is 4.7 percent (the third-highest among the finalists), while the typical household income is around $63,812 (somewhat low compared to other cities, but remember our low cost of living). But what really wows is our anticipated job growth: a whopping 142,084 jobs, which is by far the most in the top 10.

And what are the hottest 'hoods within DFW? Jenkins Heights-Crest Ridge, in northwest Fort Worth, takes the top spot, with an anticipated 9.6 percent increase in home value appreciation. South Dallas (7.6 percent) is next, followed by Fort Worth's Willow Creek (6.1 percent), Reservation in Richardson (5.9 percent), and Arlington's Central neighborhood (5.6 percent).

Texas neighbor Austin also makes a good showing, landing at No. 6 overall. Zillow points out that Austin has one of the lowest unemployment rates among large cities, even as its population is growing faster than other major metros (it was at 2.8 percent between 2015 and 2016).

San Jose, California, tops the list of hottest markets for 2018, mainly because home values in the Silicon Valley hub gained 17.4 percent over the past year — the fastest growth among the 50 largest metro areas — and Glassdoor estimates that San Jose has 0.036 job openings per person, which is the highest rate among large U.S. metros. It’s also the only market with a median household income above $100,000.

Seattle (No. 3); San Francisco (No. 5); and Portland, Oregon (No. 9) help the West Coast dominate, while two cities in North Carolina — Raleigh (No. 2) and Charlotte (No. 4) — join Denver and Nashville to complete the top 10.

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Extraordinary modern ranch in Grapevine trots onto market for $7.2 million

Photo courtesy of Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty

The Willow Wood Horse Farm in Grapevine is on the market for $7.2 million.

A stunning, 10-acre North Texas property that's fit for a modern cowboy has just hit the market for $7.2 million: Called the Willow Wood Horse Farm, the equestrian paradise is located on West Kimball Avenue in Grapevine, about 30 miles northwest of downtown Dallas.

The ranch is a combination of elegant and thoughtful modern design paired with all of the practicality required of a fully functioning farm.

According to the listing, which is held by Burgher-Ray Ranch Group and managed by David Burgher and Harlan Ray, the ranch includes several fenced pastures, an enclosed and insulated shop storage building with concrete flooring, and a seven-stall horse barn.

A covered and irrigated riding arena is attached to the barn, every stall has its own turnout, and six of the stalls are 12 feet by 12 feet wide, and the seventh is designated as a foaling stall. An additional turnout for grazing is located adjacent to the barn, as well as a training pen.

Willow Wood Horse Farm in Grapevine, ranch for sale The horse barn has seven stalls with individual turnouts.Photo courtesy of Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty

But the focal point of the entire estate is the 4,353-square-foot, three-story primary residence that sits at the highest point of the gently sloped property. The home was custom-designed and completed in 2022, featuring an exterior made of metal cladding, concrete, durable ipe hardwood, and glass.

From the front door, guests will see views that lead through the home's living areas and into the 3,000-square-foot back deck, past the 80-foot-long saltwater swimming pool, and out toward the pastures.

The chef's kitchen is outfitted with luxurious Gaggenau appliances, such as a steam convection oven, a conventional convection oven, a coffee machine, stove, dishwasher, a separate paneled refrigerator and freezer, and a warming drawer. A half bathroom and full butler's pantry is located to the side of the kitchen, which is equipped with a prep space and a dishwasher.

Additional features of the home include:

Koi ponds located on either side of the main door that welcome guests to the home
An open concept living space that contains the living room, kitchen, and dining rooms
A primary suite with a spacious walk-in closet and en-suite bathroom
Two additional bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms
Soft opening/closing doors in all main bedrooms
Dynaudio speakers installed throughout the home
Geo-thermal heating/cooling system

A custom-built metal spiraling staircase connects all three levels of the home. The second floor includes a viewing area with floor-to-ceiling windows and access to the covered porch and rooftop deck. The lower level leads to an "acoustically balanced" underground home theater featuring eight-foot concert walls, Dynaudio speakers, an Ember Audio sound system, a 250-bottle wine cooler, and a powder bathroom. The listing notes that this area could be converted into a storm cellar.

Willow Wood Horse Farm in Grapevine, ranch for sale The underground home theater has an impressive Ember Audio sound system with Dynaudio speakers.Photo courtesy of Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty

A detached three-car garage is located next to the home, and has one EV charging station and two additional outlets for charging. Discreetly designed solar panels are hidden on top of the garage, which are capable of powering the entire residence.

The horse barn, irrigation system, and stock pond all run off of a water well located on the property, while the primary residence uses city water with a filtration system.

"Situated in the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, just minutes from Lake Grapevine, Southlake, and an easy commute to DFW International Airport, this property affords someone the ability to have all the comforts of the city, while living just slightly removed from it all," the listing says.

Photo courtesy of Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty

The Willow Wood Horse Farm in Grapevine is on the market for $7.2 million.

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