Texas Real Estate Race: Where Homes Are Selling in a Flash

If you’ve blinked lately, there’s a good chance you missed a home sale in Texas.

Back in 2013, Redfin flagged Texas as a hotspot for what they called “real estate flash sales.” It means homes hitting the market and selling in 24 hours or less. Yes, that fast. But why did people’s attention suddenly shift to Texas and not other big players like New York or LA? Today, we unravel that secret with a detailed analysis of the city’s home sale price, cost of living, etc.

If you are in, let’s get going.

Texas Real Estate Flash Sale- What’s Going On?

The Redfin report is basically made by combining data spanning 2012 to 2013. And what they discovered was shocking. Even though the Texas way of life doesn’t stand out much in comparison to New York’s city life, houses were selling like hot cakes.

In fact, some houses got sold within 24 hours of being listed.

And topping the charts were none other than DFW (Dallas-Fort Worth), Houston, and Austin.

Let’s get to know these hottest housing markets in Texas right now and what caused such a spark.

Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas

The DFW metroplex is the fourth largest in the USA and has a very diverse economy supporting it. You will find here jobs related to Finance, Telecommunication, healthcare, car manufacturing, and so on. Plus, compared to coastal cities, the entry point (in the housing market) as well as the mortgage rate is super low. That’s a big reason new investors are so drawn to this mega metroplex.

And, even though the DFW housing market is on the rise, you can always take extra measures to ensure you get the maximum profit after reselling. Here’s a guide for you to prepare your properties in Fort Worth for the best resale value.

Houston, Texas

After DFW, we have Houston. The main reason why Houston topped the “flash-sale” chart is its no-state personal and corporate tax regulations. Such a business-friendly environment has naturally attracted top healthcare (Chevron), NASA, and various energy companies to settle here.

Apart from these big players, Houston is renowned for a booming data-center industry, which has caused more immigration here.

Austin, Texas

According to the RedFin report, Austin came fifth with 163 flash sales. We will associate the massive demand for housing in Austin with its dominant tech industries. Four out of the five tech giants (Apple, Amazon, Facebook, and Google) have settled in Austin, attracting a huge number of young tech professionals into the city.

Thanks to an already established tech community and the presence of skilled professionals, more and more companies are opening their facilities here. All of this has lead to Austin’s evergreen housing demand.

Texas VS Big Cities- Let’s Compare Affordability

Here’s how the median home sale price in Texas stacks up against other big cities like New York and Los Angeles.

Area	Median Home Sale Price (2025)	Comparison With National Average
Dallas	$375,000-$400,000	10.7% below
Fort Worth	$335,000	20% below
Houston	$340,000	19% below
Austin	$550,000	30% higher
National Average	$420,000	Baseline (0%)
New York	$768,000 ($1.5M in cities like Manhattan)	82% higher
LA	$900,000	114%

Even though the citywide average for New York is $768,000. It can reach millions in some popular areas like Manhattan, Brooklyn, etc. That’s why these markets are difficult to penetrate for new investors with modest capital. As for DFW or Houston, the prices are well below the baseline

No doubt, Texas is more welcoming to amateur investors with no zoning policies, lax tax rules, etc

Texas VS Big Cities- Let’s Compare Cost Of Living

One argument people often make is that big cities offer high-paying jobs. So, In a sense, even though the home sale price as well as rent is quite high, people can afford it.

But standing in 2025, is the argument still valid? Let’s check it out.

Area	Median Home Price (2025)	Median Household Income (2025)	Price to Income Ratio
Dallas	$375,000-$400,000	$67,760	5.53
Fort Worth	$335,000	$67,760	4.94
Houston	$340,000	$62,637	5.43
Austin	$550,000	$103,717	5.30
National Average	$420,000	$75,149	5.59
New York	$768,000 ($1.5M in cities like Manhattan)	$76,607	10.03 (19.58 for Manhattan)
LA	$900,000	$98,200	9.16

The closer the ratio stays to national average, the less costly it is to have a life in that particular area. Keeping that in mind, we can surely say the income disparity between New York and Texas are not that significant. If anything, Austin shows a better average household income with a moderate rise in home prices.

With all the career opportunities backed by a reasonable housing price, the flash sales are justified.

Some Other Hidden Gems In Texas

If you are after saving money on investment, Texas has way more options than the three or four cities we mentioned earlier.

For example, Pittsburg is only two hours from Dallas and is renowned for its picture perfect lakes, tight community, and, a low crime rate. And, being a small town, the housing here is extremely affordable, starting as low as $150,000. Crazy, right?

Here are some hidden gems in Texas that hold solid value for investors and buyers. Take a look.

Area	Median Home Price	Comparing With the National Average
Pittsburgh (2 hours from Dallas)	Below $150,000	64% below
Gatesville (Central Texas)	$150,000 – $175,000	58% to 64% below
Coleman (2 hours from Fort Worth)	Below $100,000	76% below
Cuero ( 2 hours from Houston)	Below $100,000	76% below
Stamford (only 3 hours west of the DFW metroplex)	$80,000	81% below

Now, we know what you are thinking. The pricing is great! But are these places in demand?

Well, post covid there has been a massive shift in people’s real estate choices. Thanks to the ongoing rise of work-from-home culture, more people are choosing to live in crowded cities and move to a quiet, serene neighbourhood. That’s why even these small towns are in demand.

So, Why Is Everyone Racing To Texas?

By the end of 2024, almost 1,34,000 people will have shifted to Texas from other states, and around 320,000 from outside the USA. Today, the total population of Texas stands at 31 million, and it’s continuously growing. It says a lot about People’s interest in Texas. And, we know why. Texas is a tech hotspot with some of the biggest companies listed in the Fortune 500 headquartered here. People who are seeking to climb their career ladder are always looking for a nice place to buy in Texas.

Not to mention, the rich suburban lifestyle in the comparatively smaller towns attracts families with kids and retirees. In short, the Texas real estate race is not going to be over anytime soon. And, as a potential investor, you should consider the shift to make your next investment move.