hopes for homeownership

Dallas is among the 15 most 'house rich' cities in U.S., report says

This adorable Dallas home is on the market for 275,000, less than the median value of a home in the city.

Photo courtesy of Realtor.com

With high interest rates and home prices making daily headlines, houses in Texas' current real estate market may seem out of reach for many potential homebuyers. But that isn't the case in Dallas. A new study has revealed Dallas is the No. 15 most "house rich" major city in the nation.

To define the term "house rich," home services provider All Star Home examined data from the U.S. Census Bureau regarding the median value of owner-occupied homes and the median household income across the 25 most populous American cities. A home-value-to-income ratio was established for each city based on the Census data, and rankings were determined based on whether a city had a low home-value-to-income ratio and high homeownership rate.

The study found 41.40 percent of all housing in Dallas is owner-occupied. The median home value of a home in the city is $275,400, according to the Census data, which also pegs the median household income at an estimated $65,400 per year.

Using those financial factors, All Star Home determined Dallas has a home-value-to-income ratio of 3.95.

Neighboring Fort Worth outpaced Dallas, ranking No. 4 in the nation, with a homeownership rate of 44.80 percent, and the median value of a home in the city is $212,300.

Elsewhere in Texas, El Paso took the No. 1 spot in the report, leading over all other major American cities with the highest homeownership rate (59.80 percent) and a home-value-to-income ratio of 2.68. San Antonio (No. 5) and Houston (No. 12) also earned spots in the report.

The top 10 most house rich major cities in the U.S. are:

No. 1 – El Paso, Texas
No. 2 – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
No. 3 – Indianapolis, Indiana
No. 4 – Fort Worth, Texas
No. 5 – San Antonio, Texas
No. 6 – Jacksonville, Florida
No. 7 – Columbus, Ohio
No. 8 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
No. 9 – Charlotte, North Carolina
No. 10 – Phoenix, Arizona

All Star Home also analyzed the most house rich states in America, but Texas appeared at the bottom of the study's category for the least house rich states, ranking No. 21.

The full report can be found on allstarhome.com.

reports real estate dallas

HAUTE PROPERTIES

New Port Aransas luxury beach cottages come with their own water park

Spoonbill Bay/ Facebook

A splashy waterpark will be the centerpiece of Spoonbill Bay.

If thoughts of spring break have North Texans yearning for a beach vacation, an upcoming Port Aransas development may provide some inspiration — or at least a few daydreams. Spoonbill Bay is currently under construction on Mustang Island, promising ocean views and a slew of fun amenities.

Future residents of the community, located bayside of State Highway 361, are in for some splashy fun. State regulatory records reveal that Spoonbill Bay will soon begin work on a water park that will have multiple pools, a lazy river, a splash pad, an amusement park-style slide tower, sunning decks, and cabanas.

“This is what Phase One will be like when we open in May 2026,” said Alex Harris, owner and CEO of Brite Star Construction, in a Facebook post. “Children’s water slides and water playground, large family pool with a swim-up bar, second-floor pavilion for relaxing and parties, tiki bar with lots of TVs, and a full assortment of food at the entry building.”

Residents can enjoy their own private lap pools.Spoonbill Bay/ Facebook

Surrounding the aquatic park will be several white cottages built in Lowcountry style with raised foundations, porches, and large windows to take in the Coastal sun. The two- to three-bed homes come in a variety of floor plans with their own private lap pools.

Spoonbill Bay closes a gap in Port Aransas’ luxury vacation home market. Although the city is speckled with several ultra-high-end properties, the development provides a less expensive gateway to island living. The 916 to 1,284 square feet cottages start at $500,000, a hair below the area’s almost $600,000 median home price, according to Zillow.

Some of the homes have already been completed, and the full construction is expected to wrap up in 2026. Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation filings say the water park will be finished by late June, although timelines are always subject to change.

Spoonbill Bay/ Facebook

A splashy waterpark will be the centerpiece of Spoonbill Bay.

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