Your Expert Guide

Southlake: Friday night lights complete the area's small-town feel

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.

---

Known for its exemplary public schools, Southlake is the type of place where the whole town comes together on Friday nights to cheer on the Carroll Senior High School Dragons football team, which has won the state championship multiple times.

"Once a Dragon, always a Dragon," quips real estate agent Kim Bedwell, who has lived in Southlake for 13 years.

She moved to the area not only for its schools and inclusive programs — Southlake has a Miracle League field for kids with disabilities — but also for the small-town vibe.

"We love the Town Square — it's the hub of our community," she says. "There is always something going on, from art festivals to live music, or families just out dining and shopping."

Bedwell offered up a few of her personal favorites about life in Southlake. Here's her guide to the area:

Where to eat & drink
"TruFire has the best craft cocktails," she says. The locally owned Armend's Pizza & Pasta also makes her list, as do Moxie's and Perry's Steakhouse & Grille.

And you can't forget to take the kids to Milwaukee Joe's in the Southlake Town Square for an ice cream cone.

Where to play
A state-of-the-art fitness and aquatics facility, Champions Club at The Marq is a popular workout spot for Southlake residents.

For a breath of fresh air, Bedwell recommends walking the trails at Bob Jones Park or visiting the Bob Jones Nature Center & Preserve.

Where to live
"There is a home here for everyone," Bedwell says, "especially if you like new-construction homes and custom-built traditional homes."

With its year-round golf and sophisticated shopping, Southlake is also a popular executive-relocation town. Just minutes from DFW International Airport, Southlake is close to both Dallas and Fort Worth and their respective attractions.

One of Bedwell's most significant sales is 771 S. Peytonville Ave., which was listed for $2,399,999. The estate offers two treed acres, a charming two-story barn, and a gorgeous home reminiscent of the great country houses of England.

Architectural adornments include 11-foot ceilings on both floors, hardwoods in all bedrooms and living areas, imported tiles, five fireplaces, interior brick walls, a shelf-lined library, and a balcony.

The backyard sports a Claffey-built pool, gardens, a fireplace with pizza oven, and spacious, level grounds that are ideal for lawn sports.

---

Kim Bedwell lives, works, and plays in Southlake. For more information on buying and selling a home in the area, click here, email kbedwell@briggsfreeman.com, or call 817-229-9445.

Agent Kim Bedwell

Photo courtesy of Briggs Freeman Sotheby's International Realty

Agent Kim Bedwell

qa interview promoted home-for-sale hidedate

Welcome Home

Dallas neighbor declared No. 1 Texas city for first-time homebuyers

Photo courtesy of Arista McKinney

undefined

The Dallas housing market may not be for everyone, but one shining suburb is a cut above the rest. McKinney has been named the best market for first-time homebuyers in Texas, and it's among the 100 best in America, according to a new study.

WalletHub's new study — which analyzes the affordability, quality of life, and real estate market in 300 U.S. cities — ranks McKinney No. 70 overall in the U.S. to buy your first home. And, when broken down by city size, WalletHub ranks McKinney No. 31 out of 102 mid-sized cities in America.

McKinney's outstanding real estate market and quality of life are the biggest appeal for first-time buyers, with affordability its main detractor, according to the report's findings.

The Dallas suburb ranks 9th out of all 300 U.S. cities studied for its housing market, and its quality of life is 61st nationally. The report found McKinney also boasts the second-lowest property crime rates in the U.S. The city's affordability ranking, however, is among the 50 worst, at No. 258, but that wasn't enough to outweigh its stellar performance in the other main categories.

Overall, the Lone Star State has taken a tumble among the best places for first-time buyers. McKinney is the only city in Texas to appear among the top 100, with a total of 20 Texas cities ranking below that section of the report.

For 2026, Dallas plummeted as the second-worst housing market for first-time homebuyers in Texas, ranking No. 233 nationally. Dallas' real estate market is the 60th best in the U.S., but its poor quality of life and affordability scores — No. 248 and No. 252, respectively — significantly brought down the city's overall performance.

This is how WalletHub ranked first-time homebuyer appeal across other cities in North Texas:

No. 106 – Plano
No. 110 – Grand Prairie
No. 111 – Denton
No. 130 – Fort Worth
No. 134 – Frisco
No. 148 – Allen
No. 170 – Richardson
No. 177 – Garland
No. 184 – Arlington
No. 189 – Irving
No. 194 – Carrollton
No. 202 — Mesquite

Laredo (No. 200), San Antonio (No. 208), and Houston (No. 271) join Mesquite and Dallas as the five worst housing markets for first-time buyers in Texas.

First-time buyers across the country are entering the housing market at a difficult time, the report says. The National Association of Realtors reported the share of first-time homebuyers sank to an all-time low in 2025, to 21 percent, whereas the historic national average is 40 percent.

"Buying a home for the first time is an exciting and important milestone for many Americans, but achieving that milestone is getting more difficult as prices and interest rates continue to rise," the report's author wrote. "People willing and able to invest in a house this year must balance what they want and need with what they can afford. Often, people begin searching for their dream home without a realistic idea of market prices, interest rates or even their eligibility for a mortgage."

wallethub real estate housing market first time homebuyers reports