Booming Texas suburb sees influx of residents seeking ultimate American Dream living and offers huge discounts
A booming Texas suburb built on American Dream ideals is luring out-of-state buyers who are snapping up homes with huge discounts of up to $150,000.
Grand Prairie, home to more than 200,000 residents, is experiencing steady population growth of about 1.6 percent a year and nearly 5.7 percent over the past five years, according to World Population Review.
Selena Gomez called the neighborhood home long before she hit Hollywood, living there until she was 13 and appearing on Barney and Friends, which was filmed in the Dallas area.
Just half an hour from the city's Love Field airport, the area consists of family-friendly neighborhoods, plentiful career opportunities and boasts laidback, close-knit communities.
World-class horse racing, cultural attractions, outdoor activities and a thriving dining scene, from barbecue to Mexican cuisine, mean there is something for everyone, no matter their age.
Brooks Sommer, a realtor with The Chad Smith Real Estate Solutions Team in Texas, told the Daily Mail: 'They [realtors] are making some pretty great deals across North Texas - Grand Prairie included.
'They’ve been knocking $50,000, $100,000, even $150,000 off a house, depending on how long it’s been on the market.
'We are still seeing a lot of people move in from out of state. Washington and California are the two states we’ve received a lot of transplants from recently. Grand Prairie is definitely a booming market for new and existing construction.'
Up to $150,000 is being slashed off the asking price of homes in Grand Prairie, Texas, according to one realtor
Home to more than 200,000 residents, Grand Prairie offers beautiful areas for exploring the outdoors, including Lynn Creek Park
Before she hit Hollywood, Selena Gomez (sitting on the yellow ball) called Grand Prairie home, living there until she was 13 and appearing on Barney and Friends, filmed in the Dallas area
An influx of wealthy new residents has significantly pushed up home prices in the suburb
Its median age of residents from age 32 to 34 reflects a vibrant, growing community. Yet it also appeals to retirees: in 2022, 19 percent of residents were 55 or older, landing the city among the top ten places to retire, according to Morada Senior Living.
'That's their goal - to draw in families,' Sommer told the Daily Mail. 'There's been a ton of development.'
Recently, the suburb has welcomed a Bass Pro Shops, a bowling alley and an indoor water park just across the street.
At Lone Star Park, which was the host of the 2004 Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred Championship, residents can enjoy horse racing and have a flutter on the next big winner while enjoying some delicious dining options.
Traders Village, dubbed 'the famous Texas Flea Market,' comes alive every weekend with 3,500 vendors selling goods of all kinds - year-round.
The market alone brings more than 3.5 million people to Grand Prairie annually, according to Tour Texas.
A premier live music and performing arts venue, the Texas Trust CU Theatre at Grand Prairie, accommodates up to 6,350 people with flexible seating and top-notch acoustics.
For sports fans, they can enjoy a baseball game at QuikTrip Park, where the Texas AirHogs take the field and just a short drive away, football fans can enjoy watching the Dallas Cowboys and their star-studded cheerleading squad.
There is fun for all the family in Grand Prairie with a variety of fairground rides
Sports courts in the area offer classes and groups for all ages to keep fit and healthy
At Lone Star Park residents can wager their bets at the regular horse-racing meets
But the dreamy American neighborhood does come with a catch: some of the highest property taxes in Texas - and the nation.
Sommer, with more than ten years of experience in Arlington and Mansfield and more than 300 home transactions, said clients usually worry less once he breaks it down for them.
Out of 343 US cities with populations above 100,000, Grand Prairie landed 18th for the highest property tax burden in the country, according to a recent SmartAsset survey.
The report found that property taxes account for 5.08 percent of residents’ income, with the median household paying $5,894 annually.
Property taxes in Grand Prairie can be tricky to navigate. The city spans three counties - Dallas, Tarrant and Ellis - and, depending on a home’s location, the mix of county rates, school districts and local fees can affect what homeowners actually pay.
The driver behind Texas’s seemingly high property taxes is the state’s lack of an income tax, which makes homeowners the primary source of funding for education and community services, with Dallas County ranking among the highest.
Sommer explained that, in his experience, neighborhoods with the lowest-performing schools often have the highest Independent School District (ISD) taxes.
Grand Prairie is no different, with property tax bills depending on the specific county and school district.
A premier live music and performing arts venue, The Texas Trust CU Theatre at Grand Prairie, accommodates up to 6,350 people
Texas’s no-income-tax policy has lured buyers from states such as California and New York, where residents face hefty income taxes
The Dallas Cowboys and their star-studded cheerleading squad - now the focus of a Netflix show - are just a short drive away from Grand Prairie
Recently, the suburb has welcomed a Bass Pro Shops, a bowling alley and an indoor water park
The suburb is home to high-performing choice schools like Grand Prairie Collegiate Institute and the Fine Arts Academy, with Grand Prairie ISD earning recognition for closing achievement gaps and fostering student growth across diverse backgrounds.
Nevertheless, Texas’s no-income-tax policy has lured buyers from states such as California and New York, where residents face hefty income taxes.
Sommer shared that one client was moving to Texas, happy to pay property taxes to offset the lack of an income tax, and ultimately saved about $180,000 a year.
'That's a huge savings for most individuals,' he said. 'About once a quarter, we're seeing a Fortune 500 company move to North Texas.'
Yet the influx of out-of-state buyers has left many realtors, including Sommer - a native Texan - concerned about how it may affect housing affordability for locals who have grown up in areas like Grand Prairie.
'The downside, the thing that concerns me as a Texan, is just the affordability for those who've grown up here,' he told the Daily Mail.
He gave an example: some buyers have sold homes in San Jose, where real estate is extremely costly, and walked away with $400,000 in cash, which they then used to buy a much larger home in Texas outright.
'That's the big disparity,' Sommer added. 'They're leaving areas where they have far more cash on hand than a lot of the people that have grown up in Grand Prairie, so it becomes a little bit harder.'
Traders Village, dubbed 'the famous Texas Flea Market,' comes alive every weekend with 3,500 vendors selling goods of all kinds
Among Grand Prairie’s popular attractions for all ages is Ripley’s Believe It or Not! museum
Its median age of 32 to 34 reflects a vibrant, growing community. Yet it also appeals to retirees
Fans can enjoy a baseball game at QuikTrip Park, where the Texas AirHogs take the field
Holidays bring the community together with parades, festive light trails and contests
Buyers from higher-cost states often have bigger budgets - typically $600,000 to $800,000 - while local first-time purchasers typically shop in the $250,000 to $350,000 range.
That influx of wealthier residents has significantly pushed up home prices, making it harder for longtime locals to compete.
'What we saw during COVID was about 20 percent price appreciation year over year in 2020, 2021, and 2023, compared with about 4.5 percent per year before the pandemic,' Sommer said.
Now, many locals are moving slightly further out to new construction, where builders have provided financial incentives to reduce upfront costs and monthly payments.
