We're Recession-Proof

Hot Dallas housing market leads nation in recovery from recession

Dallas places in the No. 5 spot for most-recovered housing markets in the nation.

Photo courtesy of New Friends New Life

They say Dallas is recession-proof, and a new real estate report backs up that sentiment. Online mortgage and loan resource center HSH.com reveals which metros have bounced back the most from the Great Recession — and Dallas is definitely up there.

Using data from the federal home price index from 1991 through the fourth quarter of 2015, HSH.com created a "home price recovery index." The data shows each market's pre-housing-crisis peak value, bottom value, and current housing value.

It should come as no surprise that Dallas-Plano-Irving places in the No. 5 spot among the metro areas that have recovered the most since the recession. Our housing market has continued to increase dramatically over the past couple of years, and because of this, home prices in Dallas are a whopping 35 percent above their pre-housing-crisis peak value. The current value is $235,080, compared to $172,900 before the recession. The Denver metro area has recovered the most, at 45.29 percent.

Most of the metro areas in our great state have experienced major recovery. Austin-Round Rock takes the No. 2 spot, with home prices that are a staggering 44 percent higher than the pre-recession peak. Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land is at No. 3, and Fort Worth-Arlington follows at No. 6. San Antonio was bumped from the top 10 by Honolulu and Oklahoma City.

To understand what these numbers mean for home prices, HSH.com offers a “home value estimator,” which allows homeowners to see how the price change in Dallas has affected the value of their home. And, as you may have already guessed, if you own property in Dallas, you can expect to see big numbers that indicate a great return on your investment.

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hottest zips

Surprising Dallas neighbor ranks among hottest ZIP codes in U.S.

City of Lavon/Facebook

Movers are loving Lavon for its small-town feel and proximity to the big city.

A recent analysis of American relocation trends has revealed the small city of Lavon outside Dallas was one of the top five hottest ZIP code for movers nationwide in October 2025.

Lavon's 75166 ZIP code ranked No. 5 on MovingPlace's new list ranking the U.S. cities with the highest number of new movers per 1,000 current residents during the month of October.

According to the study's data, 961,650 moves took place across the nation last month. Lavon (population: 13,800) saw 10.8 moves per 1,000 residents in October, the fifth highest moving rate out of all U.S. cities.

Lavon is located 32 miles northeast of Dallas in Collin County. It was praised as a highly sought-after locale for movers who want to live somewhere affordable outside Dallas while still reaping the benefits from a community with a small-town feel.

The report also added that Lavon's 75166 ZIP was the No. 1 hottest ZIP code in September, but relocations dipped 7.7 percent from September to October.

"When looking at the top ZIP codes in each state, it’s clear that less populated ZIP codes often show dramatic month-over-month increases, sometimes exceeding 100 percent," the report said. "Larger cities, by contrast, maintain consistently high move volumes without extreme spikes, because their larger populations dampen the impact of individual moves."

These are the top 10 hottest U.S. ZIP codes based on moves per capita in October:

No. 1 – 78616 in Dale, Texas
No. 2 – 34987 in Port Saint Lucie, Florida
No. 3 – 37228 in Nashville, Tennessee
No. 4 – 80019 in Aurora, Colorado
No. 5 – 75166 in Lavon, Texas
No. 6 – 32461 in Inlet Beach, Florida
No. 7 – 10004 in New York, New York
No. 8 – 43137 in Lockbourne, Ohio
No. 9 – 30346 in Atlanta, Georgia
No. 10 – 78656 in Maxwell, Texas

The hottest U.S. ZIP codes by total move volume
Five Texas ZIPs ranked among MovingPlace's separate analysis of the top 10 hottest U.S. ZIP codes based on total move volume.

McKinney's ever-popular 75071 ZIP code ranked No. 5 on the list after gaining 298 new residents last month, only 72 residents shy from No. 1-ranking Washington, D.C.'s new resident count.

This North Dallas suburb also previously ranked as the No. 8 most popular ZIP for movers during the first five months of 2025.

The report said McKinney's most attractive qualities are its safety, its high-performing schools, and its proximity to outdoor recreational activities. it also helps that the suburb consistently ranks as the No. 1 hottest housing market in America, and it frequently tops lists comparing the best cities for renters or the most affordable cities in the U.S.

The top 10 hottest American ZIP codes in October based on total move volume were:

No. 1 – 20002 in Washington, D.C.
No. 2 – 78130 in New Braunfels, Texas
No. 3 – 78641 in Leander, Texas
No. 4 – 77433 in Cypress, Texas
No. 5 – 75071 in McKinney, Texas
No. 6 –32256 in Jacksonville, Florida
No. 7 –77493 in Katy, Texas
No. 8 – 85142 in Queen Creek, Arizona
No. 9 – 98052 in Redmond, Washington
No. 10 – 28269 in Charlotte, North Carolina

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