Dallas-Fort Worth is again expected to be the nation’s hottest real estate market for investment and development.
D-FW led the field in a scorecard of metro areas that property executives expect to prosper in 2026. It’s the second straight year that North Texas has topped the PriceWaterhouse Coopers and the Urban Land Institute’s Emerging Trends in Real Estate report.
The group drew on insights from more than 1,700 real estate investors, developers, lenders and advisers across the U.S. and Canada. The forecast scores markets as the best places to buy, build and finance property in the year ahead.
D-FW clinched the top spot on both the commercial and homebuilding prospects list for next year with investors offering strong net buy recommendations for retail and industrial in the region.
D-FW Real Estate News
North Texas has ranked in the top 10 for the last seven years, taking home the 3rd spot in 2024. D-FW also took the top spot in 2019.
“Dallas mirrors the national economy in its sector diversification, making it resilient and attractive for investment,” the report reads.
The region earned its spot as the top market to watch due to its “accessibility, low cost of living and ease of doing business” compared to its rivals, according to the report.
D-FW has attracted 100 corporate headquarters from 2018 to 2024, and the region also led Texas’ 111% increase in investment banking and securities employment over the past 20 years, the report states.
North Texas has become the second-largest financial market in the country, and the Y’all Street boom continues to fuel its growth.
“The pending launch of the Texas Stock Exchange in downtown Dallas, along with local expansions of NYSE and Nasdaq, underscore the metro area’s status as a leading financial center,” the report reads.
Demographics also bode well for the region. Texas was the number one destination for Generation Z, which is projected to account for one-third of the U.S. workforce by 2023.
The report also cites mixed-use districts like Uptown, Legacy and the Knox District, as well as widespread office-to-residential conversion projects as evidence of D-FW’s standing as a top metro for economic growth.
“To be ranked the No. 1 market to watch for two consecutive years speaks to the strength of our partnerships and shared commitment to making North Texas a place where people and businesses thrive,” Terrence Maiden, chair of ULI Dallas-Fort Worth and CEO of Russell Glen Co., said in a statement.
Beyond geography, the report examines other market trends and conditions nationwide.
Demand for data centers pushes ahead, driven by growth in artificial intelligence and cloud computing — despite power shortages and supply bottlenecks that limit expansion.
Demand for senior housing is also skyrocketing as the first baby boomers turn 80 in 2026, and the office market is stabilizing as top-tier buildings in major markets capture record rents, according to the report.
The report’s top 10 markets to watch are:
Dallas-Fort WorthJersey CityMiamiBrooklynHoustonNashvilleNorthern New JerseyTampa-St. PetersburgManhattan Phoenix
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