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By Kristen Crawford - Real Estate Specialist - PrimeStreet.io

Moving to Dallas

PrimeStreet's ultimate guide to making a move to Texas' hottest location

When you start thinking about moving to Dallas, know that you are hardly alone. The Dallas Fort Worth area is one of the USA's fastest-growing locations, and it is expected to gain nearly 1.5 million new residents between 2020 and 2029. 

With the rise of the population, new opportunities, as well as new challenges, come to light for those willing to make a move. For starters, in the hot real estate market, finding the right housing option will be tricky. That's where having the right real estate professional by your side will make all the difference. 

So, why are people moving to Dallas and other major cities in Texas? According to data from the 2021 Texas Relocation Report, the reasons are:

  • Stellar economy - there are plenty of national and multinational companies in the region offering countless job opportunities. 

     
  • Higher wages - the average yearly salary in Dallas is $67,500, which is on par with the US average of $67,521. 

     
  • Lower taxes - Texas is one of the states in the US that has no personal income taxes.

     
  • Manageable traffic - the commute time in Dallas is almost the same as the country's average, which is great considering it is a major Texas city. 


Navigating the Dallas real estate landscape can be made easier with the assistance of experienced local real estate agents and preparation

Dallas is a big city with plenty of opportunities for those looking to make a fresh start. Not only does it have a stable economy, but it also offers plenty of employment opportunities and diverse and affordable housing. 

With all this in mind, PrimeStreet has pulled together this guide to help you find the right home in Dallas. So if you're ready to take the plunge into big-city life, read on!

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What's Special About Dallas?

Dallas is well-known for its Cowboys and Texas Rangers and its wonderful smoked barbecue and authentic Mexican cuisine.

For starters, the US's largest arts district is located here, and it stretches to 19 blocks of galleries, museums, and other venues. 

Dallas is also the birthplace of laser tag, 7-Eleven, German chocolate cake, and the frozen margarita machine. 

The Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport is huge. It covers 27 square miles, which makes it overall larger than Manhattan. 

This is the city where you can experience all four seasons. With very hot summers with an average high of 96° and mild winters with an average nighttime low of 37°. 

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Financial Center With Booming Economy

The Dallas - Fort Worth metroplex has one of the highest concentrations of publicly-traded company headquarters in the US.

According to Fortune Magazine's annual list of the Fortune 500 for 2021, Dallas has nine Fortune 500 enterprises, and the DFW region had 22. 

This number makes the metroplex the place with the second-largest concentration of Fortune 500 headquarters in Texas and the fourth-largest in the US.

Fortune 500 companies in Dallas are: 

  • Southwest Airlines is one of the major US airlines and the largest low-cost carrier in the world.
     
  • Texas Instruments is a tech company that designs and manufactures various integrated circuits as well as semiconductors.
     
  • AT&T is the world's largest multinational telecommunications company and largest mobile phone provider in the US. It was ranked 9th on the Fortune 500 list.
     
  • Energy Transfer Equity is an enterprise engaged in propane pipeline transport and natural gas. It has been on the Fortune 500 list for 13 years. 
     
  • Tenet Healthcare is a multinational healthcare provider that operates 65 hospitals and more than 450 facilities.
       
  • Jacobs Engineering is an international tech service company that has over 55,000 employees. The company acquired StreetLight Data, a mobility analytics firm, in early 2022.

There are many different employment opportunities in Dallas. The city has a diversified economy that is based on agriculture, energy, telecommunications, technology, and financial services. 

Some of the city's largest employers (besides Fortune 500 companies) include Lockheed Martin, American Airlines, and JC Penney. There are also many small businesses in the city that offer a variety of employment opportunities.

In addition to international enterprises and small local businesses in the city, Dallas boasts more shopping centers per capita than any other place in the US. It is home to Highland Park Village, the country's second retail mall, which opened in 1931. The Galleria and NorthPark Center, the second-largest mall in Texas, are also located here. Both malls have upscale boutiques and are popular tourist destinations in the area.

Finally, according to the website Glassdoor, there are approximately 94,000 job openings in Dallas right now, with the top ones being in the field of engineering and marketing. There is a solid diversity in opportunities.

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Housing Market is Competitive

Housing in Dallas is a hot commodity, and it's not hard to see why.

From the freeway, the city looks like one big, sprawling metropolis. But if you drive through some of the neighborhoods, you'll see subdivisions that look more like small towns. The houses in these areas are big and beautiful.

The market for housing in Dallas is extremely competitive. People are always on the lookout for new properties so you’ll need help to find and quickly make the right offer.

The good news is that there are plenty of houses to choose from. You can find a house in almost any neighborhood as long as you have a little bit of patience and a good realtor by your side.

According to the most recent 2020 American Community Survey, the city has a total of 574,097 housing units. Of those housing units, 510,947 are occupied, and 63,150 are vacant. That means that only 11% of Dallas's housing units are vacant. 

The data also shows that the average number of rooms in the house is 4.4 while the median year the property is built is 1977. Also, when it comes to the prices of properties, settling in Dallas will be great for your budget. The median home value here is below the national median and rents are typically lower than major metro areas.

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City Attractions

There are plenty of things to do in Dallas.

Whether you're looking for a cultural experience, want to get active, or just want to relax and take it easy, Dallas has it. Some of the most popular attractions include:

  • The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza contains over 45,000 exhibit items about the assassination and legacy of President John F. Kennedy. Here you'll be able to see home movies, artifacts, and video footage, all documenting the final days of the JFK presidency. 

     
  • Arboretum & Botanical Gardens is constantly listed as one of the best arboretums in the world. It spreads on 66 acres, and besides gardens here, you can see interactive indoor and outdoor galleries, picnic areas, and an outdoor concert stage.
     
  • Reunion Tower is one of the most recognizable landmarks of the city. 561 ft tall, this building is a part of the Hyatt Regency Hotel complex, and it is the 15th tallest building in Dallas. The dome on top of the Tower offers 360 views of the city. 

     
  • Perot Museum of Nature and Science has 11 permanent exhibits. Here you can learn about dinosaurs, experience simulated earthquakes, and have a journey through the universe.

     
  • The World Aquarium offers an amazing collection of marine life. Here you can see stingrays, manatees as well as sharks. South Africa and seasonal Madagascar areas include penguins, geckos, frogs, and chameleons. But there are also crocodiles, jaguars, and bats. 
     
  • Museum of Art is one of the ten largest museums in the US, showcasing the items and works spanning 5,000 years of history. The collection here is made up of more than 24,000 items.

There are too many to list. The city boasts a thriving arts community in the Bishop Arts District is home to more than 60 independent boutiques, coffee shops, art galleries, bars, and restaurants. Here you can find also find theater and music venues such as Bishop Arts Theater Center. 

Outdoors enthusiasts can escape the concrete at White Rock Lake Park: almost 2,000 acres of land that can be used for hiking and biking. But it also has picnic areas and event spaces a dog park, pavilions, piers, and boat ramps.

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Major League Sports

Sports culture is embedded into the city's soul.

Big D has teams in all Big 4 leagues (though two of them play in nearby Arlington), and three out of four have won championships at least once. Soccer fans aren't forgotten either - FC Dallas is there to provide them with a weekly dose of entertainment. But let's delve a bit deeper into local Big4 franchises.

Dallas Cowboys (America's Team) - the city is a very good choice for football fans, albeit the games aren't played in the city itself. Since 2009, the Cowboys have played their games at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. They are among the wealthiest and most valuable sports teams in the US and in the world and are universally liked across the States (except, of course, in division rival cities of Washington and Philadelphia, and San Francisco). This nearly global fanbase has earned the Cowboys the nickname "America's Team."

Playing in the NFL since 1960, Cowboys won five championship rings, sharing second place in that number (along with San Francisco 49ers and behind Patriots and Steelers). Their (so far) last Super Bowl was won quite a way back, in 1995. Yet, they still hold the record with the fewest allowed points in Super Bowl - In SB VI, Miami Dolphins scored only three points. Another fun fact is that Cowboys' then-linebacker Chuck Howley is the only player who was named MVP of the Super Bowl while losing the big game.

Dallas Stars -  this NHL team moved to the city from Minneapolis in 1993 and changed its name from North Stars to Stars. Since their arrival, they have been in three Stanley Cup finals and won the championship in the 1998-99 season. Since 2001, they have played home games in the American Airlines Center in the Victory Park neighborhood in Dallas.

Dallas Mavericks - the Stars share the American Airlines arena with the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavs entered the NBA in 1980. Since then, they have had their ups and downs, with the highest "up" being winning the championship in 2011, beating the Miami Heat over six games. The driving force behind that success was the great German Dirk Nowitzki, and his 21 seasons with the franchise were record-breaking for the number of years any player has played for a single team (Kobe Bryant spent 20 seasons with Lakers). After Dirk's retirement, Mavs' fortunes slumped for a while, but Luka Dončić makes the future look bright for the team and Dallas. The greatest rivals are fellow Texans - San Antonio Spurs.

Texas Rangers - Rounding out the Big4 franchises is this Major League Baseball club that moved to Texas in the early 1970s. The Rangers have made it to the World Series twice but have yet to win one. Like the Cowboys, they host their games in nearby Arlington, at Globe Life Field.

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Where In Dallas?

Our guide to The Dallas - Fort Worth - Arlington metropolitan area

Dallas, located in North Texas, is the core of the largest inland metropolitan area in the southern US. With more than 7.5 million people, it is also the most populous city in the Dallas - Fort Worth metroplex.

The city is split into numerous unofficial smaller areas, communities, and neighborhoods. However, if you need a more precise classification, Dallas has several distinct geographical areas.

Each can offer a wide range of colorful neighborhoods you can settle in. Whether you are looking for a hip and urban area or a semi-rural one, there is something for everyone. So let's check out all of them. 

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Central Dallas

The city's central neighborhoods are undergoing a period of growth and renewal. Looking out the windows of Downtown's skyscrapers, construction cranes are a common sight. Soon even those rare sketchy corners will disappear, and in their places will grow trendy buildings, ensuring that this, the most walkable area in town, is the first choice for those that love the urban lifestyle.

This part of Dallas is anchored by Downtown, Oak Lawn, and Uptown, spots known for retail, fine dining, and colorful nightlife. There are other famous neighborhoods in Central Dallas, such as Victory Park, Trinity Groves, Greenville, and Harwood.

The population of Central Dallas is around 150,000 people, and it is expected to grow over the next five years by 6%. So if you want to find a home here, it is crucial that you start house-hunting early and hire a great real estate agent. 

According to Nielsen SiteReports, here's what the overall housing market in Central Dallas looks like:

  • The median home value is $247,890.
  • There are around 70,000 households.
  • The median year properties are built is 1988.
  • Approximately 18% of all homes in Central Dallas are detached single-family houses.

 Central Dallas is a great place to live and home to some of the region’s biggest employers. This part of the city hosts the headquarters of AT&T, Comerica, TM Advertising, Tenet Healthcare, Belo, 7-Eleven, and many others. 

The heart of the city also has plenty of different educational institutions with satisfactory passing rates. From Esperanza Medrano Elementary to Alex W. Spence Talented and Gifted Academy, there is a place for kids of all ages. This makes Central Dallas also a family-friendly spot. 

If you are looking for a walkable, prosperous, and buzzing area filled with different employment, education, and housing opportunities, Central Dallas is a perfect choice. Now all you need is a professional real estate agent to help you pick the best housing option, and you are golden. 

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East Dallas

Located between Northwest Highway, Interstate 30, and US Highway 75, East Dallas offers a laid-back lifestyle while still being close to big-city attractions. In this area are located the famous arts district Deep Ellum, Lakewood, historic Vickery Palace as well as Swiss Avenue and Munger Place. 

The population of East Dallas currently counts around 144,000 residents. However, that number is predicted to grow by 5.5% in the next few years. With this prediction in mind, you should quickly start looking for a home if you are planning on settling in this area.  

Check out how the housing market here looks according to Nielsen SiteReports:

  • The median home value is $231,335.
  • There are approximately 60,300 residences in the area.
  • The median year residences are built is 1966.
  • Around 55% of all homes here are single-family houses.

 The different neighborhoods in the area are unlike anything you can see in the rest of the city. Besides a tight-knit community vibe, you'll get to experience different architectural styles such as Colonial Revival, Neoclassic, Craftsman, and brick Tudor. 

In addition to lovely mature-tree-lined streets and colorful neighborhoods, this part of the city can offer plenty of different employment opportunities to its residents. Some of the companies located in East Dallas are ParkHub, Unique Software Development, Pixel and Texel, Seed Biotech, and many others. So, if you wish to work close to the place you live in, finding work here won't be hard. 

On top of amazon housing and employment options, the area can offer you plenty of entertainment opportunities. For starters, there are plenty of hiking, walking, and biking trails just waiting to be explored. You can use the Mockingbird pedestrian bridge to go from White Rock Lake to Victory Plaza in no time. 

If you wish to shop around, there is also a Mockingbird Stadion, a place with many different local boutiques and dining spots. Here you can also enjoy a movie in Angelika Film Center or have a laugh at Hyena's Comedy Club. 

Mockingbird Station is also a major Dallas Area Rapid Transit station, with access to a number of city buses as well as the Red, Orange, and Blue Lines, giving riders access to any spot served by DART. No matter if you want to go to Plano or to Downtown or all the way to Downtown Rowlett, you can.

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Northeast Dallas

The area is dominated by the family-friendly and cozy Lake Highlands neighborhood, which is located east of US Highway 75 and north of Northwest Highway. However, on the west side of White Rock Creek, you'll find both the Village (a massive apartment complex originally conceived as a hotspot for singles) and Vickery Meadow, a diverse location famous for being a home of many immigrants.

The population in Northeast Dallas is around 140,000, but by the predictions, that number will grow by 5% in the next few years. If you are planning to settle in the area, consider hiring a good real estate agent to help you find a great home as soon as possible. 

If you are wondering what to expect when it comes to housing in the area, check out what Nielsen SiteReports shows:

  • The median home value is $259,700.
  • There are around 59,600 residential properties in the area.
  • The median year residences are built is 1977.
  • Around 23% are single-family units.

Northeast Dallas should be your choice if you dream of living in an area that is close to major stores, is quiet, walkable, and very family-oriented. Here you might need a car to get around, but finding parking for your four-wheeler will be easy. 

And if you want to avoid a long commute to work, you can find employment just around the corner. From The Newsletter Company and Call Box to Barns Development Group and Pocketstop, there are plenty of small businesses and large enterprises you can find work in. 

When considering Northeast Dallas as your next destination, add amazing outdoor activities as an additional benefit of the move. When the weather is nice, you can spend a lazy afternoon outdoors at White Rock or Creek Greenbelt. These are great places to go for a walk, have a picnic, or even go kite-flying.

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Northwest Dallas

This area of town has its own collection of tightly knit residential neighborhoods in addition to the industrial and warehouse buildings that take up much of the space along the highways. Love Field and much of the city's Medical District can also be found in this direction, both of which are important to the city's economic vibrancy.

Northwest Dallas is a community that counts around 92,730 residents, and the prediction is that the number will grow by 5.3% in the next few years. With that in mind, you should hurry if you want to snatch the best real estate available. However, before hiring real estate agents to help you, check out some of the basic data about the housing in the area:

  • The median home value is $223,840.
  • Northwest has around 31,540 residential properties.
  • There are around 48% of single, detached family homes.

 The area is made up of close-knit residential neighborhoods such as Love Field and Northaven Park. Northaven Park's streets have the amusing distinction of being named after Walt Disney characters. Also, many newer homes coexist with those built in the 1950s. 

Northwest Dallas is a fantastic spot to live in because there are so many places to eat, drink, and socialize on a night out. From El Rincon Del DF to Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen and Celebration, there will be a restaurant for even the pickiest eaters. And if you are more into bar hopping Mother Truckers, The Cockpit Bar and Time Out are among the best bars in the area.

If you are more into outdoor activities, there are many available for the residents of Northwest looking to escape from all the hustle and bustle and enjoy lovely Texas weather. MoneyGram Soccer Park, Spring Trail, Grauwyler Park, and Vista Golf Course are just some of the places where you can bask in the sun. 

Overall, Northwest Dallas is a great spot to call home if you are craving a sense of community while being close to different transportation options. 

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North Dallas

This location is home to many of Dallas' toniest neghborhoods and features a mix of luxurious estates and rows of ranch-style homes. The most renowned private schools in the city, long-established and cherished local shopping complexes along Preston Road, and the crown jewel of Dallas retail may all be found somewhere between Northwest Highway, Central Expressway, LBJ Freeway, and Midway Road.

This area counts around 53,100 residents. But the predictions say that that number will grow by 5.5% in the next few years. So, if you want to have a top pick from real estate offered in the North, you should start house hunting as soon as possible. However, before that, check out some of the data about housing options in the area:

  • The median home value here is $589,200.
  • There are around 24,260 residential units.
  • Around 51% are single-family units. 

North is home to NorthPark Center, Galleria, and Valley View Center, shopping malls where you can find not only shops but galleries and museums. North Dallas also has the College Park neighborhoods surrounding Southern Methodist University.

On top of that, it is well connected with the rest of the city via Interstate 35E, North Tollway, and US Highway 75. On top of that, the North has separate beltways connecting it to the Downtown - Loop 12, I-635, Belt Line Road, and a PGBT.

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Forth Worth

Fort Worth tends to get forgotten as its own entity, but it is actually the 12th largest city and one of the fastest growing in the country.

Nestled to the West of Dallas, the city of 800,000 began as an Army outpost overlooking the Trinity River.

Historically, it was the center for trade of the famous Texas longhorn cattle and lay at the end of the Chisholm Trail, made famous in John Wayne Westerns. The historic downtown boasts what was once the largest stockyard in the nation, now a National Historic District teaming with things to do.

  • The median house price is just over $300,000.
  • House prices rose steeply in 2021- almost 30% - as demand grew.
  • The most prevalent house style is the ranch - one floor, single family homes.

Fort Worth has a thriving economy on its own. The headquarters of American Airlines Group and Pier 1 Imports are here. The city consistently ranks in the top 20 "Best Places for Business and Careers" (Forbes), best places to live (US News) and a top spot for Hispanic entreprenuership (Fortune).

Fort Worth is also home to one of the top-ranked zoos in America. The Fort Worth Zoo is home to over 5,000 animals. The area also features highly ranked Botanical Gardens. 

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What's Next?

When you are ready to move, we can lend you a helping hand.

When you went through our ultimate moving to Dallas guide, you probably saw more than one area that appeals to you. 

The first step in moving to Dallas is narrowing that search down to the right place and then finding the right home in a challenging market.

That's where PrimeStreet comes in. Our team of PrimeStreet Trusted real estate agents in the Dallas metro area come from several of the area's top brokerages. When you fill out the form (linked below) or give us a call at 855-531-5347, our team will ask you a few questions about where you want to move, what's the anticipated budget, and the preferred timeline. Then the algorithm will connect you to an experienced professional who is informed and knowledgeable in the local housing market.

PrimeStreet will also assist you in finding a lender. All you have to do is call our team or visit our website https://primestreet.io/buyers/find-an-agent 

With the whole process set into motion, it is time to assess how well this move will go. Remember, the key to a seamless move is finding the right professional help!  

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