Texas Migration Surge: Affluent Residents Flock to ‘Y’all Street’
Texas REALTORS Chairman of the Board Jennifer Wauhob speaks to Fox News Digital about the Lone Star State’s recent wealth and population boom that’s ‘creating good things for Texas.’
For millionaire business owner Frederic Lepoutre, relocating his family from the South Florida coast to Texas Hill Country was more than just a change of scenery; it was a lesson in efficiency.
Building a custom home in Broward County can often turn into a years-long journey filled with red tape and escalating insurance costs. In contrast, Lepoutre witnessed his 11-acre Texas estate transition from groundbreaking to move-in ready in just over 12 months.
With an initial property tax bill of only $8 on his land and insurance costs that are one-fifth of what he paid in Florida, Lepoutre is part of a growing wave of high-net-worth individuals demonstrating that, in 2026, the Lone Star State is not only winning on taxes but also on speed.
“I think it already has [surpassed Florida as the center of gravity],” Lepoutre told Fox News Digital. “First of all, you have the land for manufacturing. You don’t have it here in Florida… it’s a huge state… and part of West Texas now, you hear about AI factories that are building up.”
“I think it will if it hasn’t already,” added his wife, Lynn Lepoutre.
THE ‘POISON PILL’ AND DIGITAL SECRETS FLIPPING THE SUNSHINE STATE’S CONDO POWER DYNAMIC
“Americans are voting with their feet. They want places that are livable, workable, sustainable, and affordable,” said Texas REALTORS Chair Jennifer Wauhob. “This migration, as we call it, is really turning into a long-term shift.”
A growing wealth and population migration to Texas “does not feel episodic,” according to Texas REALTORS Chair Jennifer Wauhob. (Getty Images)
Recent data from Texas REALTORS indicates that one-third of new residents are relocating from California, Florida, New York, and Colorado, with 30% of interstate movers choosing Dallas. The state’s median home price currently stands at $335,000, significantly lower than the national average of approximately $415,000.
While younger workers and families may gravitate toward larger cities and their suburbs, the semi-retired Lepoutres, who oversee National Textile and Apparel and invest in oil and gas, opted for a remote area near Bandera and Kerrville, a few hours west of San Antonio. They purchased their land three years ago for $26,000 per acre, adhering to a county minimum mandate of at least 10 acres.
Plans for a second home had been in the works, and Texas not only provided ample land but also allowed for quick construction turnaround. Lepoutre noted that their initial tax bill, thanks to agricultural exemptions, was just $8 per year, while the home itself awaited formal assessment.
FOX Business’ Jeff Flock reports from Austin, Texas, showcasing ICON’s 3D-printed homes on ‘The Big Money Show.’
“It takes three years to build a house here. It took us one year from literally getting the ground ready to moving in. In Texas, it took us one year, and the only permit we needed was for the water well and the sewer system,” Lepoutre remarked. “It’s the opposite [of Florida]. It’s a total 180.”
“The highways and infrastructure are quick. They move fast. There’s no resting on their laurels,” Lynn added. “If they’re building a highway, it’s finished. They get it from start to finish quickly.”
“We were looking for peace, quiet, tranquility, privacy, and a slower pace,” Lynn continued. “When we were looking online [at homes], it was either an older home, and we wanted to build a house together. We already pretty much knew exactly what our design would be. You couldn’t find that [anywhere].”
WALL STREET’S TEXAS MOVE GAINS STEAM AS N.Y.S.E. TEXAS HITS 100-COMPANY MILESTONE
Their new home is remote enough that they had to construct a private 600-foot water well and a switchback mountain-style driveway, which complicates package delivery as items are often left at the bottom and must be retrieved by four-wheel drive. Additionally, they have a remote-specific helicopter ambulance service membership due to their rural location.
The Lepoutres’ Texas home features hilly views with 40 miles of visibility. | FOXBusiness
“We wanted to be somewhere where you can look at the stars at night and not see one light. You can’t see your neighbors. The trees are still low enough where you can see out; the view from our house now is 40 miles,” Lepoutre shared. “It’s very rare to see properties like this in America anymore.”
“I’ve been [in Florida] since ‘88, so I’m ready for the change, and I just like the way of life in Texas and the people in Texas. It’s just a nice, refreshing place to be,” Lynn added. “Everything’s bigger in Texas.”
“What we’re seeing with this migration of all these people moving to our state is creating a steady demand for housing across all levels. We’re seeing a demand for entry-level housing, and there’s still a strong demand for luxury-level housing. Right now, it’s a balanced, healthy market,” Wauhob noted. “All these people coming here are creating good things for Texas.”
“If you don’t like sitting at a saloon or a bar or a restaurant… and you don’t like to be talked to, don’t move to Texas.”
“I am a native Texan, but I did spend some time moving around the country for my husband’s job. I can say, having lived in other states, people who move here are very happy with how far their housing dollar goes,” she continued.
As more companies dual-list on the NYSE Texas, the state is witnessing waves of executive relocations. Wauhob discussed how REALTORS collaborate with state economic development teams to ensure adequate housing meets the rising residential and corporate demands.
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Serhant. founder & CEO Ryan Serhant shares his perspective on the housing market on ‘The Claman Countdown.’
“We’re really trying to be proactive. We don’t want to be trying to catch up after all these people get here. We want to think ahead, plan ahead, and ensure that when people arrive, we have infrastructure in place and healthy communities for them to move into,” the chair emphasized.
“This does not feel episodic to me. If you look at the data, this has been ongoing for several years now,” Wauhob elaborated. “We have a steady flow of people coming here. We’re not seeing big surges, which is great because we want slow, steady growth. This is something to keep an eye on; I don’t think it’s going away anytime soon… people are coming, and they’re not leaving.”
Texas REALTORS Chairman of the Board Jennifer Wauhob speaks to Fox News Digital about the Lone Star State’s recent wealth and population boom that’s ‘creating good things for Texas.’
For millionaire business owner Frederic Lepoutre, relocating his family from the South Florida coast to Texas Hill Country was more than just a change of scenery; it was a lesson in efficiency.
Building a custom home in Broward County can often turn into a years-long journey filled with red tape and escalating insurance costs. In contrast, Lepoutre witnessed his 11-acre Texas estate transition from groundbreaking to move-in ready in just over 12 months.
With an initial property tax bill of only $8 on his land and insurance costs that are one-fifth of what he paid in Florida, Lepoutre is part of a growing wave of high-net-worth individuals demonstrating that, in 2026, the Lone Star State is not only winning on taxes but also on speed.
“I think it already has [surpassed Florida as the center of gravity],” Lepoutre told Fox News Digital. “First of all, you have the land for manufacturing. You don’t have it here in Florida… it’s a huge state… and part of West Texas now, you hear about AI factories that are building up.”
“I think it will if it hasn’t already,” added his wife, Lynn Lepoutre.
THE ‘POISON PILL’ AND DIGITAL SECRETS FLIPPING THE SUNSHINE STATE’S CONDO POWER DYNAMIC
“Americans are voting with their feet. They want places that are livable, workable, sustainable, and affordable,” said Texas REALTORS Chair Jennifer Wauhob. “This migration, as we call it, is really turning into a long-term shift.”
A growing wealth and population migration to Texas “does not feel episodic,” according to Texas REALTORS Chair Jennifer Wauhob. (Getty Images)
Recent data from Texas REALTORS indicates that one-third of new residents are relocating from California, Florida, New York, and Colorado, with 30% of interstate movers choosing Dallas. The state’s median home price currently stands at $335,000, significantly lower than the national average of approximately $415,000.
While younger workers and families may gravitate toward larger cities and their suburbs, the semi-retired Lepoutres, who oversee National Textile and Apparel and invest in oil and gas, opted for a remote area near Bandera and Kerrville, a few hours west of San Antonio. They purchased their land three years ago for $26,000 per acre, adhering to a county minimum mandate of at least 10 acres.
Plans for a second home had been in the works, and Texas not only provided ample land but also allowed for quick construction turnaround. Lepoutre noted that their initial tax bill, thanks to agricultural exemptions, was just $8 per year, while the home itself awaited formal assessment.
FOX Business’ Jeff Flock reports from Austin, Texas, showcasing ICON’s 3D-printed homes on ‘The Big Money Show.’
“It takes three years to build a house here. It took us one year from literally getting the ground ready to moving in. In Texas, it took us one year, and the only permit we needed was for the water well and the sewer system,” Lepoutre remarked. “It’s the opposite [of Florida]. It’s a total 180.”
“The highways and infrastructure are quick. They move fast. There’s no resting on their laurels,” Lynn added. “If they’re building a highway, it’s finished. They get it from start to finish quickly.”
“We were looking for peace, quiet, tranquility, privacy, and a slower pace,” Lynn continued. “When we were looking online [at homes], it was either an older home, and we wanted to build a house together. We already pretty much knew exactly what our design would be. You couldn’t find that [anywhere].”
WALL STREET’S TEXAS MOVE GAINS STEAM AS N.Y.S.E. TEXAS HITS 100-COMPANY MILESTONE
Their new home is remote enough that they had to construct a private 600-foot water well and a switchback mountain-style driveway, which complicates package delivery as items are often left at the bottom and must be retrieved by four-wheel drive. Additionally, they have a remote-specific helicopter ambulance service membership due to their rural location.
The Lepoutres’ Texas home features hilly views with 40 miles of visibility. | FOXBusiness
“We wanted to be somewhere where you can look at the stars at night and not see one light. You can’t see your neighbors. The trees are still low enough where you can see out; the view from our house now is 40 miles,” Lepoutre shared. “It’s very rare to see properties like this in America anymore.”
“I’ve been [in Florida] since ‘88, so I’m ready for the change, and I just like the way of life in Texas and the people in Texas. It’s just a nice, refreshing place to be,” Lynn added. “Everything’s bigger in Texas.”
“What we’re seeing with this migration of all these people moving to our state is creating a steady demand for housing across all levels. We’re seeing a demand for entry-level housing, and there’s still a strong demand for luxury-level housing. Right now, it’s a balanced, healthy market,” Wauhob noted. “All these people coming here are creating good things for Texas.”
“If you don’t like sitting at a saloon or a bar or a restaurant… and you don’t like to be talked to, don’t move to Texas.”
“I am a native Texan, but I did spend some time moving around the country for my husband’s job. I can say, having lived in other states, people who move here are very happy with how far their housing dollar goes,” she continued.
As more companies dual-list on the NYSE Texas, the state is witnessing waves of executive relocations. Wauhob discussed how REALTORS collaborate with state economic development teams to ensure adequate housing meets the rising residential and corporate demands.
GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE
Serhant. founder & CEO Ryan Serhant shares his perspective on the housing market on ‘The Claman Countdown.’
“We’re really trying to be proactive. We don’t want to be trying to catch up after all these people get here. We want to think ahead, plan ahead, and ensure that when people arrive, we have infrastructure in place and healthy communities for them to move into,” the chair emphasized.
“This does not feel episodic to me. If you look at the data, this has been ongoing for several years now,” Wauhob elaborated. “We have a steady flow of people coming here. We’re not seeing big surges, which is great because we want slow, steady growth. This is something to keep an eye on; I don’t think it’s going away anytime soon… people are coming, and they’re not leaving.”
