Work Hard for the Money

Here's how many hours you must work to afford rent in Dallas

Rent is high in Dallas, but wages could be higher.

Photo courtesy of Simpson Property Group

The recent news that it's cheaper to buy than to rent in Dallas has brought about another question: If I have to rent, how do I afford it? So finance website SmartAsset did a study to find out how many hours a person in each of the nation's 15 largest cities would have to work in order to pay their rent.

By looking at average hours worked per week, average weeks worked per year, median annual individual income, and median monthly gross rent (all pulled from the U.S. Census Bureau), the site determined that Dallasites are toiling for 61.7 hours each month in order to write a $863 rent check.

SmartAsset calculated that the estimated hourly wage in Dallas is $14 and that we tend to work around 171 hours in total each month. That not only makes Dallas one of the hardest-working cities in the study, it also results in one of the lowest ratios between average total work hours and number of hours of work needed to pay rent.

Houston's hourly wage is about $13.91 per hour, which is fairly similar to the pay in Los Angeles. But the kicker is that Houstonians only have to work 62.8 hours in order to fund their monthly $873 rent, whereas LA residents are stuck with the most hours needed overall: 87.7.

Austin has the highest rent in Texas at $1,047, but a much higher hourly wage of $17.52 means that residents there need to only work 59.8 hours to cover the monthly cost.

And though San Antonio has the cheapest Texas rent ($856), it also has the lowest hourly wage ($13.53). That translates to workers there having to put in the most time (63.3 hours) in order to cover their rent.

The study reinforces the expensiveness of big-city living, as even Indianapolis and Columbus — where you need to work the fewest hours to pay rent — have folks dedicating an average of 53.8 hours of work per month to it. But when compared with Los Angeles, our 60-ish hours don't seem so bad.

reports rent

HAUTE PROPERTIES

Majestic $6 million estate in Texas Hill Country goes up for auction

Photo courtesy of JPM Real Estate Photography\u200b

The house sits on top of a drop-off.

A sprawling, 13-acre waterfront estate about two hours south of Dallas is hitting the auction block. Bidding on the Oxbow Overlook estate, just outside the Central Texas town of Belton, is scheduled to start February 13 on the Sotheby’s Concierge Auctions website.

The sale process will conclude February 28 when the estate is featured at ModaMiami, a luxury event hosted by South Florida’s Biltmore Miami-Coral Gables.

The property, at 8536 Armstrong Rd., is co-listed at $5.95 million by Debbie Stevenson of Kuper Sotheby’s International Realty. Bidding will start at $2 million to $2.5 million.

“This incomparable offering perfectly captures the essence of refined Hill Country living,” Stevenson says. “From its serene creekside setting and acres of privacy to its remarkable architectural details, Oxbow Overlook delivers a level of craftsmanship and lifestyle that is rarely available.”

Built in 2001 of native limestone and stone, the French Provincial-inspired main house boasts a 24-foot entry wall made of iron and glass, and a grand foyer crowned by a 31-foot copper dome ceiling. The ceiling hovers above an oak staircase with copper accents.

Oxbow Overlook estate Everyone who enters from the front door will be looking up.Photo courtesy of JPM Real Estate Photography

Other highlights of Oxbow Overlook’s nearly 7,000-square-foot main house include:

Six bedrooms
Five full bathrooms and two half-bathrooms
Seven fireplaces
Three laundry rooms
Wet bar
Eat-in kitchen
Elevator access to second story
Home office
Game room
Exercise pool with swim jets and spa
Outdoor kitchen
Covered and open patios
Coffered and beamed ceilings
Crown molding
Indoor and outdoor fireplaces
Generac backup generator

Oxbow Overlook estate Natural elements break up all the white.Photo courtesy of JPM Real Estate Photography

The property includes a separate 3,118-square-foot carriage house.

Oxbow Overlook is close to Belton Lake, Stillhouse Hollow Lake, Salado, and Temple.

“Designed to embrace its natural surroundings, creekside walls, and outdoor living spaces conform to the bluff’s natural curve, offering spectacular views across the property and showcasing thoughtful conveniences at every turn,” Sotheby’s Concierge Auctions says.

Photo courtesy of JPM Real Estate Photography\u200b

The house sits on top of a drop-off.

home for sale auction mansion belton hill country estates luxury