Movin' on up

Nerd alert: Zeus Comics moves to the edge of the super-hot Dallas DesignDistrict

The Variants is an online web series shot at Zeus Comics.
The new location of Zeus Comics will make it one of the largest of its kind inTexas.
Zeus' loyal customers have been chipping in to paint the walls at the comic bookstore's new location on Inwood Road.
Zeus Comics and Collectibles owner Richard Neal at the store's former locationon Lemmon Avenue.

In a world where bookstores are shuttering and libraries are cutting hours, it's nice to know at least one print-and-ink business still stands for truth, justice and the American way. Zeus Comics and Collectibles has been in Dallas for 12 years and is looking to have an even greater impact by moving to a bigger store.

The new location at 1334 Inwood Rd. is at the edge of the Dallas Design District. At roughly 3,000 square feet, it's also twice as large as Zeus' current digs.

"Zeus will definitely bring a more eclectic crowd to the neighborhood," says Monica Diodati of Jim Lake Companies.

"With all of the development and growth of the area, it seemed like the next new place to be," says owner Richard Neal.

The move, which is already underway, will make it one of the largest comic book stores in Texas. It will also add a bit of variety to the Design District tenant list, which currently includes art, apartment and dining options — but no book stores.

"As the Design District becomes more funky, different kinds of businesses are noticing and moving here," says Monica Diodati, marketing coordinator for Jim Lake Companies, one of the main developers in the area. "The area's outskirts are starting to grow, and Zeus is a part of that. The store will definitely bring a more eclectic crowd to the neighborhood."

Neal spent last week priming and painting the walls at the new location, which was vacated by Benno's Buttons and Trimmings about two years ago. Zeus joins Crate & Barrel at the Inwood Outlet Center.

Although the store is technically open in its new locale, Neal says it still needs "a little polish." He hopes to have an official grand opening with special comic guests in the near future.

The former Zeus space at 4411 Lemmon Ave. has reportedly been leased to a tanning salon.

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Going Down

This Dallas suburb saw 5th biggest drop in home prices in U.S. in 2026

Photo courtesy of City of Plano

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Good news for potential Dallas-area homebuyers: Housing prices in Plano have come down nearly $30,000 since last year.

Typical home values in Plano have fallen 5.1 percent since February 2025, now standing at $501,564, down from $528,510.

The new housing study from SmartAsset analyzed home values across the 100 biggest metro areas using Zillow’s Home Value Index tool for single-family homes, condos, and co-ops. Home value data was sourced for the month of February in 2021, 2025, and 2026.

Plano is joined by Oakland, California (No. 1); Saint Petersburg (No. 2); Naples, Florida (No. 3); and Austin (No. 4) as the top five U.S. cities with the biggest one-year home price reductions in the U.S.

Housing prices in Dallas-Fort Worth have been on the decline since 2024, a separate study found, but SmartAsset said they're still a whopping 32.4 percent higher than they were in 2021. And compared to Plano's pre-pandemic housing market in 2019, prices have ballooned by 44.1 percent.

Here's how much cheaper housing prices are in other North Texas cities:

Dallas:

One year change: -3.79 percent
Typical home value in 2025: $317,550
Typical home value in 2026: $305,523

Arlington:

One year change: -3.41 percent
Typical home value in 2025: $318,649
Typical home value in 2026: $307,792

Fort Worth:

One year change: -3.08 percent
Typical home value in 2025: $305,236
Typical home value in 2026: $295,822

DFW homeowners are also entering the best time of the year to sell their houses, which could add a sudden sense of competitiveness for buyers.

Home prices elsewhere around the U.S. have seen varying changes, according to the report.

"Between 2025 and 2026, the typical home value in large U.S. cities actually declined by 1.04 percent, with values dropping in 70 percent of cities," the report's author wrote. "But the full range of changes from market to market ran the gamut from -9.1 percent to +5.01 percent, putting both hopeful buyers and homeowners in starkly different environments across the nation."

The top three U.S. cities where home prices increased the most since 2025 are Toledo, Ohio (No. 2); Lincoln, Nebraska (No. 2); and San Francisco (No. 3).

The 10 cities with the biggest one-year decreases in home values are:

No. 1 – Oakland, California
No. 2 – Saint Petersburg, Florida
No. 3 – Naples, Florida
No. 4 – Austin
No. 5 – Plano
No. 6 – Aurora, Colorado
No. 7 – Denver
No. 8 – Atlanta
No. 9 – Stockton, California
No. 10 – Tampa

housing prices housing market real estate smartasset reports plano dallas arlington fort worth

Movin' on up

Nerd alert: Zeus Comics moves to the edge of the super-hot Dallas DesignDistrict

Going Down

This Dallas suburb saw 5th biggest drop in home prices in U.S. in 2026

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