Texas cities with the healthiest real estate markets

🙌 Actually Thursday, spiritually Friday.

Today’s newsletter is 756 words, a 2.5-minute read.

1. Trump signs bill ending government shutdown

President Trump has signed a spending bill to reopen the government, ending the longest shutdown in U.S. history.

He signed the short-term bill into law just hours after the House of Representatives voted 222–209 to approve it on Wednesday night, and two days after the Senate narrowly passed the same measure.

Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump said the government would now “resume normal operations” after “people were hurt so badly” during the 43-day shutdown.

📰 Related News: 45% of Americans said the shutdown made them less likely to make a major purchase, up from 21% in early October.

2. Zillow hit with new class-action suit over alleged broker kickbacks

Zillow is facing a new consumer lawsuit in federal court in Seattle, accusing the company of pressuring homebuyers to use its mortgage lending division.

The proposed class action, filed Friday, alleges that Zillow runs programs in which its affiliated real estate agents receive high-value sales leads only if they meet internal quotas for securing pre-approved mortgages through Zillow Home Loans.

Agents who failed to meet those targets received fewer leads or were cut off entirely, according to the lawsuit.

A MESSAGE FROM MONEY

Home insurance rates up by 76% in some states

Over the last 6 years, home insurance rates have increased by up to 76% in some states. Between inflation, costlier repairs, and extreme weather, premiums are climbing fast – but that doesn’t mean you have to overpay. Many homeowners are saving hundreds a year by switching providers. Check out Money’s home insurance tool to compare companies and see if you can save.

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3. Catch up quick

❤️ Best places to live in Texas. (Travel+Leisure)

🏙️ Real estate events and conferences to attend in 2026. (HousingWire)

👔 RealPage taps former exec, Dirk Wakeham, as CEO. (DallasNews)

📰 Trump floats 50-year mortgage plan. (CNN)

🫡 Austin is the No. 1 city in the U.S. for veterans. (WalletHub)

A MESSAGE FROM DAVE YOUR MORTGAGE GUY

Most agents know the basics of VA loans: no down payment and no monthly mortgage insurance. But did you know VA loans can allow up to a 70%+ debt-to-income ratio or that multiple VA loans at once are possible?

I just dropped a video that breaks down 10 powerful VA loan secrets most lenders don’t talk about, but they could help your veteran buyers qualify easier, buy more home and get their offer accepted!

I filmed this to help you win more deals with your VA buyers and stand out with creative options most agents and lenders miss.

4. First-time homebuyer is now 40 years old

The typical first-time homebuyer in the U.S. is now 40, the oldest on record, according to a new report from the NAR.

First-time buyers made up just 21% of all home purchases between July 2024 and June 2025, a record low since tracking began in 1981.

Meanwhile, repeat buyers (now with a median age of 62, also the highest ever) are taking advantage of their home equity to make larger down payments or all-cash offers.

Overall, a record 26% of all buyers paid cash for their homes, up from 20% the year before, NAR found.

5. Investors pay up to 35% above the median sales price

According to Realtor.com, investors remain net buyers in today’s housing market, continuing to purchase more homes than they sell each year. In the first half of 2025, investors bought about 41,000 more homes than they sold, a 10.8% wider gap than during the same period in 2024.

Overall, investors have accumulated a net gain of roughly 726,000 homes since the start of the pandemic.

Among the 50 largest U.S. metros, two Texas markets ranked in the top 10 for investor buyer share:

• #4: San Antonio–New Braunfels – 18% investor buyer share, up 3.7% YoY.

• #8: Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington – 16.1% investor buyer share, up 2.4% YoY.

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6. Texas cities with the healthiest real estate markets

WalletHub ranked 300 U.S. cities based on two key factors: the strength of their real estate markets and their affordability and economic environment.

The Lone Star State performed well, claiming five of the top 10 spots. Surprisingly, Austin and Dallas didn’t make the top 10.

Each market received a score on a 100-point scale, with 100 representing the healthiest market overall. Median home listing prices were sourced from Realtor.com.

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