Three of the Texas population growth cities are in North Texas’ Collin County. Celina (which also sprawls into Denton County) was #1 with a 26.6% population growth year-over-year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Princeton and Anna were third and fourth place on the list. Fulshear, on the western edge of the Houston metro area, was second on the list with a 25.6% population increase.
In SmartAsset’s nationwide study “Where the Most New Construction Homes Are Being Added,” Houston was first. Dallas was 2nd on the list and San Antonio was 5th.
The Texas Population Growth Makes the Promise of Tomorrow’s Homebuyers Look Good; But Will the Market Look Good For Them?
Zillow compared the rent affordability, job market, and demographics across the 100 largest U.S. metros to determine the best housing markets for recent graduates. It ranked Dallas #6. San Antonio was #4, and Austin was #10.
Offering these young buyers the opportunity to own a home in the future is on the minds of city planners. The Forward Dallas Comprehensive Land Use Plan does not change any existing zoning by itself. But the plan helps the city make decisions on future zoning and land use decisions. The Fort Worth City Council passed a Neighborhood Conservation Plan and Affordable Housing Strategy last October.
The answer for both urban redevelopment and new suburban community designs is a more diverse mix of housing types and sizes. NAHB’s “What Home Buyers Really Want-2024 Edition” says nearly 4 out of 10 buyers would be willing to give up land in exchange for owning a home. And more than a third (35%) will accept a smaller house if that’s what it takes to buy it. The nation’s median single-family square floor area came in at 2,140 square feet.
Cities Strive to Attract and Retain Newcomers
Homes located in the urban areas are in a constant state of remodel when they turn over to new owners. Accordingly, Texas is the No. 2 state in the country for remodeling expenditures, with residents spending $56 billion in the past two years. Dallas and Houston rank in the nation’s top 10 cities for home renovation spending, according to a report from Pro Tool Reviews. Furthermore, Dallas and Houston rank Nos. 3 and 7, respectively, when it comes to renovation spending.
DFW Second Only to Houston in Most New Construction Homes

But some of the outlying long-established suburbs hope to entice newcomers with rejuvenation incentives. For example, Coppell is awarding grants to homeowners as part of is residential rehabilitation program plan to update the city’s housing stock.
Redeveloping older or underused areas is another strategy.
Richardson recently approved plans for townhomes to be built on the site of the former Sting Soccer Club facility on Buckingham Road. There, Dallas-based developer Skorburg Company is building Park Hollow, a neighborhood of 89 townhomes. The units will start at 1,600 square feet and are priced starting at $500,000.
Fort Worth officials are working with Interface Studio, a Philadelphia-based urban planning company, to plan Woodhaven’s redevelopment. Fort Worth real estate firm Crescendo Development purchased 160 acres in the east Fort Worth community— including the former golf course — for $8.5 million during a May 7 foreclosure auction.
Suburban Land Developers Offer the Best of Both Worlds
In the context of rising urban housing costs, many buyers are willing to suffer longer commutes for a better quality of life. But Builder magazine says buyers no longer must choose between an urban lifestyle and the conveniences of new suburban communities. Instead, they’re looking for and finding the best of both in new master-planned neighborhoods. Developers in North Texas take heed of recent study indicators, offering a variety of lot sizes and home sizes.
Last May, Centurion American Development announced 2,055 single-family home sites ranging from 40- to 50-feet at Waldon Pond in Forney. And Centurion also announced Bryson Ranch in Denton County along FM 1385 between Celina, Pilot Point and Aubrey. At least 3,000 homesites across the 1,050 acres there range from 40-to 60-feet. And the neighborhood will also offer another 120 townhome lots.
Ashton Woods is busy in the new neighborhood of Coyote Meadows in Anna. The site is located near the intersection of U.S. Highway 75 and State Highway 121 in Collin Country. 225 single-family homes are offered on 50-foot lots and another 100 homes on 60-foot lots in Coyote Meadows. And its sister brand, Starlight Homes, is constructing another 225 single family homes and 150 townhomes. Home prices in Coyote Meadows range from $343,000 to $471,000.
Kaufman County Draws Residents East, Growing Faster Than Any Other County in the Country from 2022 to 2023
Lennar already has a big presence in Kaufman County with Heartland, a 2,100-acre planned master community, and eight other developments in the Crandall-Forney area. It recently finished developing Highbridge, a community of 745 homes close to Crandall’s Eastland communities and subsequently announced plans to construct another 3,700 homes over the next seven or eight years in Eastland. Homes in the new Eastland development will range from 1,200 square feet to more than 2,300, priced from the low $200,000s to the mid $300,000s.
Another Kaufman County development will bring 1,500 single-family homes to Terrell. In May, global real estate investment manager Hines and Trez Capital broke ground on Northspur, a 700-acre master-planned community located beside US-80. It promises a variety of home sizes and lot sizes in the community.
The Bright Light in Austin & San Antonio’s Price Declines is that More Homebuyers Are Empowered To Enter The Market
RGC Multifamily Ventures says, “its target is to build for the missing middle.” The Austin real estate developer is investing $18.5 million to construct 1,800 square foot townhomes over the next year in Round Rock. The 72 units are expected to sell for just under $400,000.
Sadly, existing residents and city council members in Buda fail to see the big picture.
In June, the Buda City Council approved a development agreement with Austin-based MileStone Community Builders LLC to annex 762 acres from the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction into Buda. The developer plans a 775-acre project called Persimmon that will bring as many as 2,300 homes to the city. But now, MileStone threatens to have the ETJ property released from Buda if they can’t reach a final development agreement soon. Texas SB 2048 allows an ETJ property to be released upon request and regulated either by county guidelines or those of another city.
Redevelopment plan for the Victoria Commons project near San Antonio’s Southtown moves forward
Opportunity Home San Antonio (OHSA), formerly the San Antonio Housing Authority, and Catellus Development Corporation have selected CVF Homes and Wes People Homes to build 63 single-family homes and townhouses as part of the plan. The Victoria Commons project will also feature around 300 mixed-income apartments and around 130 income-qualifying apartments as well as a child care facility.
Houston topped the list of “Where the Most New Construction Homes Are Being Added.”
Fulshear, on the western edge of the Houston metro area, was second on the list of the Census Bureau’s top four cities with the highest population gains, with a 25.6% population increase.
While sales prices exceed local buying power in many Texas metros, the Houston area seems to be avoiding this trend—for now. That makes it the 17th-most undervalued housing market among more than 50 metros tracked by First American Financial. Its data shows a 19% shortfall between the median existing home price of $330,996 and Houstonians’ median home buying power of $408,398.
Johnson Development plans a 1,000-home, master-planned community in the burgeoning Northwest Harris County town of Hockley. It acquired the 318 acres along Grand Parkway south of FM 2920 last October and recently secured a $41.8 million loan to begin construction. The first lots are expected to be delivered to builders by third quarter 2025.

More Housing Inventory, Diversity in Housing Options, and Funding for Infrastructure are Critical