Your Expert Guide

Preston Hollow: Where to find some of Dallas' best architectural gems

There are so many great places to live in Dallas that it helps to have an expert on your side. The Neighborhood Guide presented by Briggs Freeman Sotheby's International Realty gives you insider access from the agents who live and work there, providing in-the-know info about your possible new community.

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Drive around Preston Hollow and you’ll see homes by renowned architects like Edward Durell Stone and Frank Lloyd Wright, as well as two of the most architecturally significant homes in Dallas: the Richard Meier-designed Rachofsky House on Preston Road and the Philip Johnson estate on Strait Lane.

"I've been working in Preston Hollow for my entire career," says real estate agent Faisal Halum. "I love representing the diverse architecture styles of homes in the Preston Hollow area. I'm drawn to modern architecture, but I love that every architecture style is found in this neighborhood — there is something for everyone."

Halum, who leads the No. 1 small team in Texas as ranked by RealTrends, can easily put together a dream outing in Preston Hollow.

"NorthPark Center has a world-class art collection that always changes — and surprises!" he says. "Combine this with Eataly and a movie, and you have the perfect date night. Plus, the convenience of having an Equinox gym at Hillcrest Road and Northwest Highway is the ultimate neighborhood perk."

Halum offered up a few more of his personal favorites about life in Preston Hollow. Here's his guide to the area:

Where to eat & drink
"I love Il Bracco in Preston Center," he says. "You can grab a seat at the bar and enjoy a fresh pasta dish and a cocktail. I also love R&D Kitchen for a casual spot to pop in and meet a friend for a drink."

Where to play
"Families love Preston Hollow Park," Halum says. "It's a beautiful spot in the middle of the neighborhood that's perfect for enjoying some fresh air and relaxing with your kids or pets."

Where to live
"Preston Hollow offers architecture styles and estate sizes for everyone, which means I can help families find the perfect home to suit their needs," says Halum. "That may be a French-inspired estate that sits on acreage or a midcentury modern ranch-style home with an expansive backyard. Or there may be a modern lover who is looking for the perfect backdrop for their art collection. The beauty is that all of these homes coexist together on tree-lined streets in the middle of the bustling city, just minutes from major shopping and dining destinations."

10210 Strait Ln., a former listing of Halum's, is the rarest of them all. This Philip Johnson masterpiece has seen galas and gowns, a president and first lady, a rock concert, fashion shows down the double staircase, and a ballet performance on the lawn — and has been celebrated in books, Vogue, and The New York Times.

Built in 1964 and exquisitely updated in 2008, the light-filled house boasts elegant living spaces, a unique dining room with an arched canopy, six bedrooms, seven full baths, and four half baths. The property’s nearly seven acres comprise a media house, modernist cabana, pool, and tennis court.

Halum's other significant sales include 5243 Park Ln., 10240 Gaywood Rd., 4686 Meadowood Rd., 6315 Northwood Rd., and 4307 Beechwood Ln.

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Faisal Halum works and plays in Preston Hollow. For more information on buying and selling a home in the area, click here, email fhalum@briggsfreeman.com, or call 214-240-2575.

Agent Faisal Halum

Photo courtesy of Briggs Freeman Sotheby's International Realty

Agent Faisal Halum.

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renter livability report

Hot Dallas suburb ranked 12th best U.S. city for renters in 2026

City of Plano Facebook

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Renters looking for a place in Dallas-Fort Worth that balances affordability, convenience, and quality of life may want to start in Plano, which was just named the 12th best city to rent in America.

Plano's rental market offers better livability than nearly all other cities in Texas and in the country, according to WalletHub's newly released report, "Best & Worst Places to Rent in America." Experts analyzed 182 U.S. rental markets based on 21 relevant metrics, including the difference between rental rates and mortgage payments, rental affordability, the local cost of living, job availability, and more.

Surprisingly, Amarillo was deemed the No. 1 best Texas city for renters, and it ranked 10th nationally. Plano came in second place statewide and ranks 12th for a second year in a row, leaving Austin in third place and 13th overall (up from No. 31 last year).

Plano has the 7th best quality of life out of all 182 U.S. cities in the report, which should come as no surprise considering the strength of its local job market, its high-quality park system, and its happy-go-lucky residents. The city lagged behind in the "renter market and affordability" category, ranking 78th overall, but that clearly isn't deterring newcomers from moving there.

WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said the best cities for renters offer much more than inexpensive housing, a good job market, and recreational activities. For example, rent prices in the top cities cost tenants as little as 15 percent of their income.

"You’ll also have access to robust laws that protect renters, such as limiting deposits to only a month or two of rent," Lupo added.

Elsewhere in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Dallas proper ranked as the 71st best place to rent in the U.S. and appeared 13th in Texas. A separate RentCafe study found Dallas has become a hotspot for Gen Z renters searching for good job opportunities, recreation, and good schools.

Here's how other North Texas cities' renter markets stacked up in the national ranking:

No. 34 – Grand Prairie
No. 49 – Arlington
No. 50 – Fort Worth
No. 66 – Irving
No. 79 – Garland

Though renting can be more cost effective than owning a property, WalletHub said it's not always a better choice.

"The right road to take depends on a variety of factors, including an individual’s or family’s financial means and how well the local real-estate market is doing," the report said. "Like home prices, rental rates can vary significantly by region, state or city."

Rent prices in DFW have fallen nearly 10 percent since last year, so things might be starting to look up for North Texas renters.

Other Texas cities that ranked among the top 100 best places to rent in America include El Paso (No. 24), Laredo (No. 37), Brownsville (No. 48), Corpus Christi (No. 63), San Antonio (No. 64), and Lubbock (No. 81). Houston ranked as one of the worst cities to rent in America, landing as No. 144 nationally.

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