Calling All Investors

Where should real estate investors plunk down cash? Dallas-Fort Worth.

Dallas-Fort Worth tops real estate investors' wish lists.

Photo courtesy of Fort Worth CVB

Even Austin can’t beat Dallas-Fort Worth real estate when it comes to investors, and we know how crazy that market is. But it seems as if real estate has lost its luster in larger “gateway” cities such as NYC, Chicago, and D.C., according to a survey from PricewaterhouseCoopers and the Urban Land Institute. They asked 1,500 real estate industry professionals to tell them where there is moolah to be made, and North Texas towns of Dallas and Fort Worth topped the list.

“It’s a job creation story,” Mitchell Roschelle, the PwC real estate advisory leader who spearheaded the report, said, citing Dallas, Austin, and Nashville as examples. “Jobs chase the people. As employment rises, more people come, more jobs come, so it’s really a good cycle.”

Employment growth, particularly from smaller companies, is what’s making secondary and tertiary cities more appealing than higher-cost, larger markets, he explained. But finding cities like Austin (No. 2) and Denver (No.6) on the list is hardly shocking.

Still, there were some surprises. Houston, last year’s top market, came in at No. 30 this year while Nashville, which doesn’t have a reputation as a top tier location for real estate investments, cracked the top 10.

Washington, D.C., Boston, and Chicago failed to make the survey’s top 10 while San Francisco and Los Angeles came in at No. 8 and No. 10, respectively.

"'Gateway' markets that were viewed really largely as defensive plays by investors have sort of fallen by the wayside, and opportunities to enhance yield in more offensive plays really got in the spotlight,” said Roschelle. “That’s why you see this rotation toward secondary and tertiary markets — to try to free up some of that sideline capital.”

That’s good news for investors who are still sitting on inventory as North Texas heads into the slower months of our annual sales cycle. Also interesting is the trend toward millennial renters who are eschewing the homebuying process. That’s fueling the trend toward commercial real estate investment in apartments, a market that is booming in urban DFW.

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A version of this story originally was published on Candy's Dirt.

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farm for sale

Unusual ultra-modern Grapevine ranch is on the market for $7.2 million

Photo courtesy of Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty

The Willow Wood Horse Farm in Grapevine is on the market for $7.2 million.

A stunning 10-acre property in North Texas that looks like it was made for an ultra modern cowboy family has just hit the market for $7.2 million.

Called the Willow Wood Horse Farm, this one-of-a-kind equestrian paradise is located on West Kimball Avenue in Grapevine, about 30 miles northeast from downtown Fort Worth.

The ranch is an extraordinary combination of elegant and thoughtful modern design paired with all of the practicality required of a fully functioning farm.

According to the listing, which is held by Burgher-Ray Ranch Group and managed by David Burgher and Harlan Ray, the farm includes several fenced pastures, an enclosed and insulated shop storage building with concrete flooring, and a seven-stall horse barn.

A covered and irrigated riding arena is attached to the barn, every stall has its own turnout, and six of the stalls are 12 feet by 12 feet wide, and the seventh is designated as a foaling stall. An additional turnout for grazing is located adjacent to the barn, as well as a training pen.

Willow Wood Horse Farm in Grapevine, ranch for sale The horse barn has seven stalls with individual turnouts.Photo courtesy of Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty

But the focal point of the entire estate is the 4,353-square-foot, three-story primary residence that sits at the highest point of the gently sloped property. The home was custom-designed and completed in 2022, featuring an exterior made of metal cladding, concrete, durable ipe hardwood, and glass.

Upon entering the front door, guests will notice unparalleled views that lead through the home's living areas and into the 3,000-square-foot back deck, past the 80-foot-long saltwater swimming pool, and out toward the pastures.

The chef's kitchen is outfitted with luxurious Gaggenau appliances, such as a steam convection oven, a conventional convection oven, a coffee machine, stove, dishwasher, a separate paneled refrigerator and freezer, and a warming drawer. A half bathroom and full butler's pantry is located to the side of the kitchen, which is equipped with a prep space and a dishwasher.

Additional features of the home include:

Koi ponds located on either side of the main door that welcome guests to the home
An open concept living space that contains the living room, kitchen, and dining rooms
A primary suite with a spacious walk-in closet and en-suite bathroom
Two additional bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms
Soft opening/closing doors in all main bedrooms
Dynaudio speakers installed throughout the home
Geo-thermal heating/cooling system

A custom-built metal spiraling staircase connects all three levels of the home. The second floor contains a viewing area with floor-to-ceiling windows and access to the covered porch and rooftop deck. The lower level leads to an "acoustically balanced" underground home theater featuring eight-foot concert walls, Dynaudio speakers, an Ember Audio sound system, a 250-bottle wine cooler, and a powder bathroom. The listing notes that this area could be converted into a storm cellar.

Willow Wood Horse Farm in Grapevine, ranch for sale The underground home theater has an impressive Ember Audio sound system with Dynaudio speakers.Photo courtesy of Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty

A detached three-car garage is located next to the home, which contains one EV charging station and two additional outlets for charging. Discreetly designed solar panels are hidden on top of the garage, which are capable of powering the entire residence.

The horse barn, irrigation system, and stock pond all run off of a water well located on the property, while the primary residence uses city water with a filtration system.

"Situated in the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, just minutes from Lake Grapevine, Southlake, and an easy commute to DFW International Airport, this property affords someone the ability to have all the comforts of the city, while living just slightly removed from it all," the listing says.

Photo courtesy of Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty

The Willow Wood Horse Farm in Grapevine is on the market for $7.2 million.

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