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Welcome back, y’all! 🌟

Texas is buzzing this week with stories of heart, homes, and big growth.

A Packers rookie keeps a promise with a new house for his grandmother in Houston, Grand Prairie’s 5,000-acre Goodland takes shape, and North Texas sweeps national housing rankings.

We’ll also peek inside a $299K “Notebook”-style charmer in San Antonio and dig into why the Texas land rush is just getting started.

📰 Upcoming in this issue

• A Texas-Sized Promise Kept: Packers Rookie Buys Grandma a Houston Home 🤠

• Goodland: A New “City Within a City” Rises in North Texas 🌾

• North Texas Dominates America’s Housing Market Rankings 🌟

• A Real-Life Notebook Home for Under $300K? Yep, in San Antonio 🏡

• Why the Texas Land Rush Is Just Getting Started

📈 Trending news

• Texas Adds 1,700 Acres: New State Park in Uvalde

• ERS of Texas Targets Housing, Transport, and Energy

• End of an Era: Iconic Texas BBQ Bids Farewell

• Austin’s Best Neighborhoods Ranked (With Surprises Inside)

• Amazon’s $10K Tiny House Sparks Big Questions

A Texas-Sized Promise Kept: Packers Rookie Buys Grandma a Houston Home 🤠 read the full 781-word article here

Article published: August 27, 2025

I just read “Packers Rookie Matthew Golden Surprises His Grandma With a Home in Houston After Losing His Childhood Abode” from Realtor.com, and it felt like a love letter to Texas roots.

Golden, drafted in the first round this year, didn’t just buy any house — he chose a three-bedroom in Houston, just two miles from where he grew up.

The property sits on the same street as his high school memories, with a backyard for family gatherings and a kitchen island built for big Southern meals.

He calls the purchase “part of the plan,” a way to give back to the grandmother who raised him, and to anchor family history firmly in Texas soil.

For Golden, this wasn’t just about real estate. It was about keeping home, and heart, in Houston.

Key Takeaways:

• 🏠 Houston forever: Golden bought a house just two miles from his childhood neighborhood, reconnecting with his Texas roots.

• 🍽️ Southern style: The home’s kitchen island was chosen for family cooking, echoing Texas traditions of food and gathering.

• 🌳 Backyard pride: A spacious yard was a must-have, offering a Houston-sized retreat for his grandmother.

• 🐴 Lone Star dreams: Beyond this gift, Golden wants a Texas ranch with horses and wide-open land for his future.

Goodland: A New “City Within a City” Rises in North Texas 🌾 read the full 673-word article here

Article published: August 21, 2025

I just read “5,000-acre planned Texas community takes leap forward in development” from Chron, and it feels like Texas is rewriting the playbook on suburban living.

Grand Prairie just annexed 900 acres for Goodland, a sprawling 5,000-acre master-planned community designed to blend small-town charm with big-city convenience.

Developers envision 10,000 homes, 25 miles of trails, a school, a church, and even a wedding venue — all stitched together with creek corridors and wide-open spaces.

The crown jewel? Goodland Parkway, set to open by the end of 2025, linking US 287 and US 67, effectively knitting this new community into the heartbeat of the Metroplex.

In a state where land is identity, this isn’t just suburban growth. It’s Texas-scale city-building.

Key Takeaways:

• 🏘️ 10,000 new homes: Goodland will house a population bigger than many Texas towns, redefining suburban scale near Dallas–Fort Worth.

• 🌳 Nature preserved: 1,600 acres of creek corridors and floodplains will be woven into the design, creating a “nature-first” community.

• 🚗 Roadway boost: The Goodland Parkway, opening late 2025, connects highways 287 and 67, unlocking regional access for thousands of residents.

• 🏫 Built-in living: Plans include a school, church, wedding venue, and trails — shaping a true “city within a city.”

North Texas Dominates America’s Housing Market Rankings 🌟 read the full 458-word article here

Article published: August 26, 2025

I just read “5 of the 10 top real estate markets in the U.S. are in North Texas, study says” from WFAA, and the results left me floored.

According to WalletHub’s analysis of 300 U.S. cities, North Texas didn’t just place well — it swept half of the top 10 spots.

McKinney took the crown as the best real estate market in the entire country, fueled by explosive growth, a surge of new housing, and a flood of building permits.

Richardson, Frisco, Denton, and Allen rounded out the region’s dominance, proving that Dallas–Fort Worth isn’t just booming — it’s redefining the national housing map.

The big takeaway? Texas doesn’t just build big. It builds the future of American housing.

Key Takeaways:

• 🏆 McKinney tops U.S.: Nearly 38% of homes built since 2010, plus booming permits, make it the nation’s healthiest housing market.

• 📈 5 cities, 1 region: McKinney, Richardson, Frisco, Denton, and Allen all cracked the top 10 — no other metro came close.

• 💰 Price vs. income: McKinney’s home prices are 365% of local median income, ranking it 74th-cheapest of 300 cities studied.

• 🌎 National benchmark: DFW’s surge cements Texas as a model for growth, balancing affordability, inventory, and job market strength.

A Real-Life Notebook Home for Under $300K? Yep, in San Antonio 🏡 read the full 658-word article here

Article published: August 28, 2025

Tucked inside San Antonio’s historic Woodlawn Hills neighborhood, a home that looks like it leapt straight out of The Notebook is up for grabs — for just $299,000.

With its tall porch columns, wood siding, and 12-foot ceilings, the 1932 home is giving off all the vintage romance vibes without needing a Southern accent or a Ryan Gosling.

It’s a rare four-bedroom, 3.5-bathroom charmer that sits on over an acre, minutes from downtown, complete with a sunroom and even a mother-in-law suite.

Real estate agents are already swamped, with over 50 showings booked on day one.

And while there’s no river like in the film, there’s room for a pond — if you’re committed to the aesthetic.

Key Takeaways:

• 🏠 Built in 1932, the home predates The Notebook’s timeline, adding real historical charm to its cinematic look-alike appeal.

• 📞 50+ showings in one day — the listing is blowing up, with offers expected to roll in the same week it was listed.

• 🪟 Vintage details galore like 12-foot ceilings, built-in bookshelves, and a glowing sunroom add to its timeless, romantic character.

• 🛒 Location perks include being just 10 minutes from H-E-B, Cinemark, and public parks — realism meets movie magic.

Why the Texas Land Rush Is Just Getting Started

You’ve probably heard that people are buying land like crazy in Texas—and it’s true. But here’s the part most people miss: we’re still early.

Sure, big companies have moved in. Cities are expanding. Prices are rising. But there’s still room to grow, and the next wave is coming.

Major infrastructure projects, new highways, business hubs, and housing developments are all in the works across the state. What looks rural now could be suburban in a few years. That’s why savvy investors are scooping up land now—not after the next boom.

If you wait until the land has been discovered, it’s too late. The price has already gone up. But buying now—before the next big shift—puts you ahead of the curve.

So, whether you're looking for a place to build, camp, or invest, don't wait for someone else to prove it's a smart move. The land rush is on. The smart money's already in. Where will you be?

Take This Edition’s Poll 📊

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Why It Matters

Behind each story—a grandson’s gift, a 5,000-acre “city within a city,” top-ranked markets, and a $299K vintage charmer—the same thread runs through: in Texas, land is more than dirt; it’s memory, opportunity, and the future taking shape. If you’re weighing a move or an investment, consider this your cue to look now, not later.

Hannah Collinsworth
Editor-in-Chief
Houston, Texas
Texas Property Round Up

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