A Texan Gold Mine
By: David Wallace
Tags: Real Estate, Migration, Texas, Economy, Economic Development

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A Texan Gold Mine

Are you looking for gold, friend? Well, come to Texas and look around. A new gold rush is occurring deep in the heart of Texas. Whether it is the “new gold” in oil shale reserves, new technologies, Bitcoin, or many other industrial advancements, or simply the search for a lower cost of living, no state income tax, less regulations, tort reform and reasonable property values, there is gold in them there hills. And this modern-day Gold Rush is causing most real estate investors to smile from ear to ear and generate very attractive investment returns.

With a population of 29.9 million, the population density in Texas is 108 people for every square mile, which puts the state at the mid-range for density rankings. Median household income for Texans is $57,000, which is also a mid-range value according to national data from the U.S. Census Bureau. So, if Texas is in the mid-range on these benchmarks, then why does everyone want to come to the Lone Star State?

The Texas economy is valued at $1.6 trillion, which places it at a close second to California. Annual job growth was measured at 2.2 percent as of 2017, spurred, in part, by lower business costs and less regulations. The state has earned the following accolades from Forbes Magazine:

Ranks first in the nation for favorable economic climate due to solid growth in employment and gross state product over the last five years

Considered among the top states for business startups

Ranks second in the list of Best States for Business

Ranks second in the list of Best Growth Prospects

Ranks third in the list of Best States for Business Costs

Ranks ninth for availability of qualified labor

Ranks 21st for Best Regulatory Environments for Business

A great migration

Texas, as we all know, is big. After all … “everything is bigger in Texas.” But in terms of population, Texas is only getting bigger. The state has the second highest population at 29.9 million people, as of 2020, and has a high growth rate to match. Texas is growing at a rate of 1,000 people per day and has many of the fastest growing cities in the nation. In fact, five of the top 10 fastest growing large cities in the United States are in Texas: San Antonio, Dallas, Fort Worth, Frisco, and Austin. When you expand the survey, this Texas growth trend continues, as out of the 15 fastest growing American cities, by percentage, Texas houses 7, including New Braunfels, Frisco, McKinney, Georgetown, Rowlett, Midland and Round Rock.

What does this mean? As George Strait put it … it means that “Texas is the place I’d really love to be.” It is the land of opportunities. It is “wide open for business.” And many people are flocking to Texas in search of new careers, greater value in real estate and lower cost of living. And it bears repeating …. No state income tax! When you follow the money, the prudent people … and their money … are all flocking to Texas.

Relatively speaking, the job market in Texas is strong, and its only getting better. Since many corporate headquarters are relocating to the Lone Star State, it means that there is a tremendous demand for qualified workers in many fields. On top of that, residential housing costs are relatively low. Whether you are in the C-suite, or hold a middle market job, when you look at the house that you get for the relative dollar in terms of salary, many areas in Texas offer a great value for growing families.

Along with the low housing cost, Texas has a reputation for low taxes. The state has no state income tax, and according to the fiscally conservative policy makers in Austin, they never will. In fact, a state income tax is against the Texas state constitution. Some say that the state’s revenues must therefore be generated by larger than average property taxes. But, in reality, these property taxes are about half of what you would pay in a city like Chicago. As the state is known for its libertarianism, taxes are a sort of “state sin.”

Alternatively, a state like California has no problem taxing people, especially small business owners, to death. For those businesses that are still alive, they are looking for greener pastures. Greener pastures that all exist in the great state of Texas, This, along with other factors, encouraged 86,164 California residents to move to Texas in 2018 alone, which is the largest crowd, by far, from one state to another. This trend continues in 2019 and throughout 2020. People from states like California, Illinois and New York are moving to Texas by the tens of thousands each year, in search of a better life, and better economic prosperity, than anywhere else in the country.

A booming economy

Contrary to popular belief, Texas is more than just cowboys, ranching, rodeos and oil. Texas is the energy capital of the world, has the largest medical center in the world, and is home to Space City Houston, which is the space exploration capital of the world. Texas makes up 9% of the United States economy. But if you look at Texas as its own country, it would have the tenth largest economy in the world, beating out countries such as Canada and South Korea.

As we all know, everything is bigger … and more economically diverse … in Texas. One of those “bigger things” is the Texan manufacturing industry. Back in 2017, total manufacturing output from the Lone Star State was $226.16 billion, or about 10 percent of total U.S. manufacturing goods, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. The industry supports more than 1,241,379 jobs in Texas, or about 10.2 percent of its workforce. The average annual compensation for manufacturing was $82,544, which is one of the highest in the nation, and helps boost the state’s gross domestic product. Finally, at a time when global manufacturing expansion is slowing, this sector in Texas continues to grow at a healthy pace.

Texas is also the king of American exports. In 2018, Texas exported a record $315.9 billion of “Made-in-America” goods to the world. Texas is the largest state exporter of goods. While their exports are led by crude oil, Texas has a diverse number of exports ranging from technology to rocket parts.

Texas citizens also see the fastest income growth of any state in the union. Due to the fact that it is one of only four states without a corporate income tax, Texas residents enjoy the fastest personal income growth of any state. People in Texas not only get to keep more out of their income, but they get more money faster too. The data shows that Texas has the largest increase in personal income of any state, at 7.5 percent. In comparison, a state like California has an income growth of 4.8 percent.

Furthermore, the Texas real estate market is strong. The housing economy remains rock-solid despite the shock and awe of the pandemic. A long period of record-low mortgage rates has opened the floodgates for a refinancing boom that is likely to last for several years. In addition, after a momentary COVID-19-induced blip, home buying demand has picked up, driven by low rates and enthusiastic millennial and investor buyers. Spurred by strong demand and record-low mortgage rates, expect to see more home building in 2021 and beyond, which should help support a healthy housing market for years to come.

Texas real estate investment

Texas is also gold mine for Real Estate investment. The housing market has performed exceptionally well since the post-recession years. Home sales in the state have grown, and will continue to do so, at a good rate for years to come. While the market did see a small decline at the beginning of the pandemic, like almost every industry, it was hit much less severely than other states, and for the most part has already rebounded.

Population growth drives interest and profitability of real estate investing ventures. The housing sector and multifamily development will continue to be under pressure due to high demand for residential units as this population grows.

Let’s take a look at some of the best markets in Texas.

Dallas- Dallas has seen substantial population growth in recent years. It has become one of the wealthiest cities in the country and its real estate markets has become a strip mine for earnings. Dallas will continue to be one of the bright spots for real estate activity in the state and nationwide. The National Association of Realtors predicts strong residential sales, especially in the mid-price to luxury-price range. The North Dallas cities of Frisco, Allen, Richardson, Carrollton and McKinney are among the nation’s hottest small-to-midsize housing markets and are constantly mined for tracts of land for multifamily development opportunities. These markets have generated, and continue to promise, a higher yield on real estate investments. Many of the jobs in this area are in the high-compensation sectors of technology, consultancy and finance.

Houston- The Houston real estate market is becoming one of the favorite destinations for those looking for a beautiful and spacious home, or to generally invest in residential assets. This city is one of the golden examples of a booming housing market. Houston has everything: the people, cultural diversity, business climate, world renowned energy, medicine, health care, space exploration and manufacturing. So, if you are an investor looking to invest, Houston is a great place to shop. The Houston market offers plenty of investment choices, amazing value for properties, and it is simply a good time to invest in Houston.

Austin- The capital of Texas is another strong choice for investment. The Austin economy continues to be based on technology, health care and higher education. Austin has made its way to the top of many “best of the best” lists, including the best city for job growth. In 2019, Austin experienced an unemployment rate of 2.7% which is lower than the state average of 4.0%. Millennials, born 1981–1996, have the highest percentage of relocating to Austin. With a large segment of the millennial population preferring to rent, this represents a favorable condition for investor capital. A growing population means housing and multifamily demand. Austin is among the fastest-growing metro areas in the U.S., and the population is expected to continue its exponential growth throughout 2035. During the last decade, the Austin MSA has grown by an average of 55,500 people per year and is just another one of the strong pillars that supports the powerful Texas market.

San Antonio- Also on our list is, of course, San Antonio. The San Antonio real estate market continues to remain strong, healthy and vibrant. An important measure of a healthy real estate market is “underwater mortgages.” If you are unfamiliar with this term, it refers to a situation where a homeowner’s mortgage balance exceeds the property value of the home itself. This, sadly, happens all too often in the United States, but San Antonio has one of the lowest rates in the country, at 9.08%. Surprisingly, San Antonio also has the lowest down payment percentage out of any city in the nation. With an average down payment of 13%, buyers do not need to have a huge savings account to buy a home. In fact, most buyers are spending less than 10% on a down payment in the famous Riverwalk City. San Antonio not only has a job growth rate and median income trending upwards, but it is also located to nearby Austin, Texas and has the benefit of offering more affordable housing for commuters to the Capitol city. Additionally, San Antonio is home to Lackland Airforce Base which employs over 25,000 people and continues to be a steady driver of the local economy.

This, along with a fast selling market, makes San Antonio another one of the great choices in Texas.

By no means is this a comprehensive list. Yet it should be viewed as more of a glimpse into the Texas submarkets. The markets listed are some of the best in the country, if not the world, but there is a plethora of other Texas markets to be discovered.

Covid’s impact

Like everything else in the world, Texas was hit by the corona virus. Texas may not be immune to a pandemic, but they are not far from it. First, to be clear, Covid-19 hit Texas hard, and in some ways, caused damage that will take substantial time to heal. But, in other ways, the Texan resilience, whether it be from Hurricane Harvey, which was the worst storm in the history of Houston, or the pandemic, Texans work together, rebuild and bounce back on their feet faster than anywhere else in the world.

The overall Texas real estate market experienced a noticeable dip at the beginning of the pandemic. As anyone would expect, a national shut down paired with an unknown pandemic, are not the best ingredients to promote a thriving economy. People were scared and locked inside. Throughout the country, recovery has been slow, and in some places, has not yet even begun as lock-downs continue. Texas, on the other hand, was one of the first states to begin to open. At first, many “nay-sayers” saw it as a bad move, as a spike in positive cases ensued. But soon, the spike flattened, positivity rates declined, and the state began to recover. Almost immediately, jobs returned, houses began to sell, and people began to rally together to help struggling businesses. The residential housing market is doing better than ever and has a trajectory to move in a positive direction for years to come.

The land of gold

Texas is a new land of opportunity. Life is good in Texas … and its only getting better. Thriving business, massive migration of capital and human resources, and a booming real estate market are strengthening the state’s foundation. Texas is the place to live, work, play …. and invest. The “city of gold” has been a dream and a quest of explorers throughout history. From the early European explorers, to Indiana Jones, people have searched the new world and beyond, for this golden city. It just so happens that we have finally found it, and when you get there, you will be greeted with a friendly “Howdy!”

David Gordon Wallace is an American businessman, politician, former officer and director for the Texas One Economic Development Corporation and author from the state of Texas. You can learn more and follow him on social media: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and Wikipedia.