T
he Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex has taken the top spot as the Urban Land Institute's number one real estate market watch heading into next year. This marks a significant rise from last year's third-place ranking, and DFW has consistently ranked in the top 10 over the past six years. The rankings are based on industry experts' assessments of cities' investment opportunities.

    The Sun Belt is heavily represented on ULI's list, with 13 out of the top 20 markets located there. Eight of those are in Texas or Florida. DFW's "enviable post-pandemic recovery" has been driven by strong employment growth, with an increase of over 11 percent since February 2020.

    Dallas' economic success is being fueled by major banks setting up shop in North Texas, including Goldman Sachs and Bank of America. The city's Uptown neighborhood is becoming a hub for financial institutions, earning it the nickname "Y'all Street." Despite this growth, home-buying in the region remains relatively affordable, with median home prices increasing 38 percent since early 2020 to $382,000.

    In ULI's 2025 forecast, DFW ranked fourth on lists of cities' homebuilding prospects and local market perspective.