moving trends

Dallas tops U-Haul list as No. 1 U.S. destination for movers in 2024

Movers have set their sights and GPS on Dallas-Fort Worth.

Photo by Erik Mclean on Unsplash

Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington climbed the charts all the way to the top as the No. 1 metropolitan area for people on the move in 2024, according to U-Haul's Top U.S. Growth Metros and Cities report.

This is a big jump for DFW, which rose eight points from its No. 9 rank in 2023. Yay us.

Sean Fullerton, the U-Haul Company of South Central Dallas president, says the influx of new arrivals is partly due to the cost of living, a major draw for those seeking a more affordable place to live.

"We are seeing unprecedented growth in the Dallas metro area, both within the city and also suburbs like McKinney, Plano and Addison," Fullerton said in a release. "Job growth has led to wages and earnings going up, and tax breaks have led to a lot of people moving to the area."

Dallas bests Austin, which comes in at No. 5 for the second year in a row; and Houston, which ranks No. 9.

College Station, the popular college town, is another Texas perennial: It's No. 6 for the second consecutive year on an accompanying U-Haul list of top growth cities (distinguished as being located outside the top metros).

Alas, Texas was unseated as the top state for movers, according to U-Haul's Top Growth States Report. The Lone Star State landed in the No. 2 spot, pushed aside by South Carolina, which topped the list for the first time.

The annual migration report is based on how many one-way transactions were made by DIY movers using a U-Haul truck, trailer, or U-Box moving container across the U.S. and Canada.

While U-Haul's numbers don't directly correlate to population or economic growth, it is an interesting look at the performance of the top American cities and states that are attracting newcomers.

The full list of top 10 growth metros for 2024 are:

No. 1 – Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas
No. 2 – Charlotte, North Carolina
No. 3 – Phoenix, Arizona
No. 4 – Lakeland, Florida
No. 5 – Austin, Texas
No. 6 – Nashville, Tennessee
No. 7 – Raleigh, North Carolina
No. 8 – Palm Bay, Florida
No. 9 – Houston, Texas
No. 10 – Greenville, South Carolina

reports

Big deal

Houston investor acquires Bishop Arts mixed-use portfolio in $170M deal

Photo courtesy of Hines

Michelin-recognized Written by the Seasons is one of several Bishop Arts businesses acquired by a Houston-based investor.

A Houston investor has snapped up a mixed-use portfolio of nine buildings in the Bishop Arts District, the second Bishop Arts property acquisition since August.

Hines Global Income Trust told CultureMap it paid more than $170 million for a mixed-use complex with 539 apartments and 49,000 square feet of high-end shops. The Bishop Arts Portfolio, as Hines refers to the real estate package on its website, sits on almost seven acres.

“Bishop Arts is a special place, shaped by the care and investment of its prior ownership. We see our role as building on that foundation through thoughtful ownership and Hines’ integrated operating platform,” Corbin Eckel, managing director at Hines, told CultureMap.

Hines identified the seller as Dallas-based Exxir Capital. Exxir developed Oak Cliff's 750,000-square-foot, two-block Bishop Main Street area, which features retail, residences, and offices, and includes the properties acquired by Hines.

Tenants of the newly acquired properties include:

Italian restaurant Lucia, a Michelin recommended restaurant.
Michelin-praised Written by the Seasons, which serves a New American menu.
Paradiso, a Southern European-inspired eatery.
Bar Eden Lounge, a swanky cocktail bar.
Village Baking Co., an artisan bakery.

Hines is taking over all leases at the residential properties:

Bishop North, 200 N. Bishop Ave.
Bishop Canopy, 515 W. 10th St.
Bishop Flats, 305 and 431 Melba St.
Treehaus, 211 W. 10th St.
Retail at 308 and 275 N. Bishop Ave.; 404, 332, 336 and 337 Melba St.; and 403 and 321 W. Ninth St. Altogether, the portfolio’s retail component comprises 22 tenants.

The Hines deal comes two months after Dallas-based investor 90Ten purchased 301-321 N. Bishop Ave.301-321 N. Bishop Ave. in Bishop Arts. Tenants include burger diner Hunky’s, Italian pastry and coffee purveyor Palmieri Café, vintage clothing store Dolly on Bishop, gift shop Kawaii Candle Co., and cosmetics retailer Simply Bella.

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