Big Homes in Big D

Dallas homeowners live large in some of America's biggest houses

Yes, you can live large in Dallas.

Photo courtesy of Dave Perry-Miller & Associates, Trulia

Entering the real estate market as a first-time homebuyer is nothing short of exciting. At times, however, the process can prove disappointing when you see that a modest budget can’t afford massive living rooms, walk-in closets, and master bedroom suites. If you’re in the second-time house hunt for an upgrade, even generous budgets might limit room to roam in pricier markets. A study from Trulia shows that 43 percent of Americans desire a larger home, with 60 percent of millennials yearning for expanded square footage.

Starter homes in Texas and the South, however, provide the largest living spaces in the nation. Not only does the Lone Star State boast some of the largest entry-level homes, but Texas metros offer some of the largest trade-up and premium homes too. Regardless of whether this is your first, second, or third try at finding your dream home, Texas cities provide growing room.

If you really want to live large, house hunting in Dallas is your best bet. Premium homes in Big D span over 2,940 square feet, making it the No. 2 city with largest premium homes, behind Colorado Springs. Houston’s premium homes are the fourth largest in the country, at 2,869 square feet.

Second-time homebuyers searching in Dallas will be happy to know that trade-up homes here offer a median 1,900 square feet, making it the third best trade-up home city. Houston trade-up homes have a median 1,997 square feet, making it the top metro for the category. Austin is No. 4 in the nation, at 1,893 square feet.

Austin, meanwhile, has the largest starter home size in the country, at 1,428 square feet. For first-time homebuyers in Houston, starter homes also provide ample room, with a median 1,320 square feet, the fifth largest in the U.S.

Another consideration is how much home you can gain after your first purchase. In San Antonio, the percentage change in square feet between a starter and trade-up home is 51.7 percent, or roughly 579 square feet. While San Antonio homebuyers might not have the space they want in their first home, they can expect substantially more square footage the second time around. In Dallas, the jump between starter to trade-up homes provides 49.7 percent more space, or approximately 631 square feet.

Texas is in an arena of its own with sizeable homes for entry-level, second-time, and premium homebuyers. The extra space across categories renders the old saying true: Everything is bigger in Texas.

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Anna Land Buy

Cox Family sells 116 acres in Anna for mixed-use development

Courtesy photo

Anna, Texas

A major land sale in Anna is paving the way for new mixed-use development. According to a release, Frisco-based Rockhill Capital & Investments struck a deal with the Cox Family to acquire 116 acres at County Road 371 and SH-5, approximately two miles east of US-75.

Younger Partners Executive Managing Director John St. Clair, Vice President Tyler Hemenway, and Associate Davis Willoughby represented the seller in the transaction. The sales price was not disclosed.

Rockhill will sell fully entitled tracts of land to homebuilders, multifamily, and commercial developers.

The single-family portion will be built in phases with development of 325 single-family lots, says Rockhill Chief Development Officer Brent Libby in a statement.

“Construction will likely begin early in Q2 2025,” Libby said. “We’ve already sold 82 of the 116 acres to homebuilder Taylor Morrison and they should break ground first.”

The remaining acres are already being snapped up including 9.5 acres on SH 5 that is under contract to a commercial developer, and interest from a user/developer on the remaining 24 acres, which is zoned for multifamily.

The Cox Family owned the land for decades and had received multiple offers on the property over the years, but were never ready to sell.

“Ultimately, the family wanted to capitalize on the land market before unforeseen market factors took place,” said St. Clair of Younger Partners. “This deal took place at the right time with the right buyer.”

The acquisition nvolved a lengthy zoning process to acquire the land. Rockhill created a Public Improvement District (PID) on the single-family portion of the land, which helped the deal move forward.

Rockhill already has land holdings in nearby high-growth cities of Howe, Van Alstyne, and Sherman, and it ain't stopping here.

“We’ll continue to source and acquire land in the area where we can add value through entitlements, and either develop the property or hold it for some time and exit to another developer or end user,” Libby says.

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