For the first time in over a decade, Austin has slipped out of the top 10 in the Urban Land Institute’s (ULI) forthcoming annual Emerging Trends in Real Estate® 2025 report. The report, which examines nationwide real estate prospects, ranked Austin fifth in 2024, fourth in both 2022 and 2023, and first in 2020. This year, Dallas-Fort Worth claimed the top spot, with Houston third and San Antonio 13th. Austin remains in the elite “Super Sun Belt” category, though ULI noted a moderation in the city’s once-strong migration patterns, rising housing prices and office vacancies. Despite these challenges, Austin’s economic diversity and employment strength keep it firmly positioned as a Sun Belt staple.
Chad Swiatecki is a 20-year journalist who relocated to Austin from his home state of Michigan in 2008. He most enjoys covering the intersection of arts, business and local/state politics. He has written... More by Chad Swiatecki