From the Netherlands to Fort Worth – What Should I Know About the DFW Market?

Question

Hi everyone,

I’m Mark from the Netherlands. I’ve worked in construction for around 30 years and my family and I are currently preparing for a move to the Fort Worth area.

Coming from Europe, I’m very interested in learning more about the DFW real estate and construction market, especially from investors who are active in renovations, flips and redevelopment.

For those investing in DFW: what have been your biggest challenges when it comes to construction and renovation projects?

Looking forward to learning from everyone here!

Aaron Breckenridge · Answer

Welcome to Texas, @Mark Rademakers!

• Property taxes are somewhat higher than other places to offset no state income tax. Rental properties pay the full tax rate.
• Soil here is heavy clay and moves a lot. Iron plumbing built in the 60s/70s is failing. We can't do basements here, so this makes a lot of homes teardowns or major repairs unless it's older pier-and-beam construction.
• I see a lot of bad flips come on the market and never sell. Flips that used the cheapest materials, have bad design, etc. DFW is a huge market and buyers have a lot of choice.

Property taxes are somewhat higher than other places to offset no state income tax. Rental properties pay the full tax rate.

Soil here is heavy clay and moves a lot. Iron plumbing built in the 60s/70s is failing. We can't do basements here, so this makes a lot of homes teardowns or major repairs unless it's older pier-and-beam construction.

I see a lot of bad flips come on the market and never sell. Flips that used the cheapest materials, have bad design, etc. DFW is a huge market and buyers have a lot of choice.

Come to local meetups!

Mark Rademakers · Answer

Thank you! This is very helpful, especially coming from someone who also moved from Europe to DFW.

The differences in construction methods are something I’m very interested in learning more about. I have around 30 years of construction experience in the Netherlands, but I realize that building methods, regulations and even the climate are very different in Texas.

I would actually love to hear more about your own experience moving from the UK to DFW. How did you find the transition, and was it difficult to build a local network when you first arrived?

Our main interest is new residential construction and connecting with investors and developers who own or acquire land and need a contractor to build their projects.

Thanks again for offering to help. I may definitely reach out with some more questions!

John Leland · Answer

It's a much bigger place than it looks. You'll need to focus on one part of teh metroplex just to get used to it, then you can spread out.

Brad Seid · Answer

@Mark Rademakers Welcome, Mark! With 30 years in construction, you already bring a ton of valuable experience to the DFW market.

As you get familiar with the area, I’d be happy to connect and be a resource on the lending side. If you’re looking at flips, renovations, or redevelopment projects, feel free to reach out and we can explore financing options for your next deal.

Mark Rademakers · Answer

Howdy!

First of all, thank you for such a warm welcome and for taking the time to share your experience and advice. We really appreciate hearing from someone who has been involved in the North Texas real estate market for so many years.

And thank you for the barbecue recommendations! We'll definitely be checking those places out when we get to Texas. It sounds like we have some serious barbecue research ahead of us!

Your comments about foundations and expansive clay are particularly interesting to us. Coming from the Netherlands, we are certainly no strangers to challenging soil conditions. With nearly 30 years of construction experience, we have developed our own ideas about how certain Dutch building techniques could potentially bring additional value to residential construction in Texas.

We're currently exploring those possibilities and believe there may be opportunities to combine Dutch construction experience with local Texas knowledge and expertise. Of course, we fully understand that every market has its own requirements, building traditions and economic realities.

Your point about quality needing to translate into real benefits for homeowners is exactly how we see it. We believe that long-term quality, durability and maintenance deserve just as much attention as the initial construction cost.

We're still working through the immigration process and building our network before making the move, so connecting with experienced people like yourself is extremely valuable to us.

We would love to stay in touch and perhaps exchange some ideas in the future. And who knows, maybe we can discuss Dutch construction and Texas real estate over some proper Texas barbecue one day!

Thanks again for your advice and warm welcome!

Mark & MoniekMRBouw – The Netherlandswww.markrademakersbouw.nl

Kyle Mccaw · Answer

@Mark Rademakers Howdy and welcome to Texas.

First things first: get into the barbecue. My favorite is The Original Roy Hutchins Barbeque in Trophy Club. Goldee's on the south side was Texas Monthly's No. 1 in 2021 and holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand. Go early.

I've managed single-family rentals in North Texas since 2003, so here's what I see hold up after the builder leaves:

Foundations: expansive clay moves with wet and dry seasons. Build on an engineered post-tension slab from a soil report, and get the drainage right.

Permits: Texas has no statewide license for general residential builders, but trades are state-licensed and every city runs its own codes and inspections. Call the city before you scope.

Climate: hail and heat. Impact-resistant roofs lower premiums, and ventilation matters more here than in the Netherlands.

On demand for higher-quality, different architecture: it's a niche. Quality sells when buyers can feel it, in lower utility bills, a better roof, good windows and a slab that doesn't move. Appraisals follow comps, though, so unusual designs can appraise below cost. Build within what the neighborhood supports.

Learn the Texas mechanic's lien notice deadlines early.

Mark Rademakers · Answer

I want to take a moment to sincerely thank everyone who has responded to my post, shared advice, or reached out to me personally.

The amount of knowledge, encouragement, and willingness to help has been truly appreciated.

After nearly 30 years of working in construction in the Netherlands, preparing to take our next step toward Fort Worth, Texas, is both exciting and challenging.

We know how to build homes, manage construction projects, and deliver quality craftsmanship. But we also understand that entering a new market means learning new ways of doing business, understanding local regulations, and building relationships with the right people.

That is exactly why we joined this community.

At this stage, we are focused on listening, learning, and connecting with people who have experience in the DFW real estate and construction market.

We would love to build genuine, long-term relationships with local investors, developers, builders, and other professionals. Not simply to find business opportunities, but also to exchange knowledge, understand the market, and discover how we might be able to support one another in the future.

We strongly believe that successful business relationships begin with trust, mutual respect, and good communication.

To everyone who has offered advice, shared their experiences, or invited us to connect: thank you. It means a great deal to us as we prepare for this new chapter.

We look forward to getting to know more of you, continuing the conversations, and hopefully meeting some of you in person in Texas one day.

Thank you again for making us feel so welcome!

Mark RademakersThe Netherlands

Diana Khan · Answer

@Mark Rademakers, you already have the construction experience, so I think one of the bigger adjustments will be learning how investors and developers in your new market structure their projects and working relationships. From my side of real estate, I’d pay just as much attention to the agreements as the construction itself, especially the scope of work, payment terms, responsibilities, and how changes during a project are handled.

I’ve worked with real estate clients where the actual work was not the problem. The issue came from people having different expectations about what was included, who was responsible for something, or how a change would be handled. Having those details clear from the beginning can make the relationship much easier for everyone involved.

I enjoyed reading your perspective, @Mark Rademakers, especially your focus on bringing quality workmanship from your experience in Europe. I’m a real estate attorney and investor, so I see the other side of many of these projects. Happy to stay connected as you build your network in DFW.

Janice Lemuel · Answer

Welcome to the DFW area Mark! I have witnessed some rapid growth throughout the metroplex. I would encourage you to get connected and get familiar with DFW and your construction,experience will serve you well.

I am new to investing, but I have owned several TX properties over the years and proper maintenancecare is vital in this Texas climate.

I have a great property in Collin County area that may be of interest to an investor. I'm looking to find a local meet up group to connect.

Mark Rademakers · Answer

Thank you for the warm welcome and for sharing your experience!

It’s great to hear from someone who has owned properties in Texas and is also looking to connect more with the local investment community.

We are currently looking for local meetups as well, especially groups where investors, developers, landowners and construction professionals can connect.

Your property in Collin County sounds interesting. What type of property is it, and what kind of opportunity are you looking for with an investor?

If you find a good local meetup group, I would definitely be interested in hearing about it. Likewise, I’m happy to share any useful DFW groups or events I come across.

Thanks again, and it would be great to stay connected!

From the Netherlands to Fort Worth – What Should I Know About the DFW Market?

From the Netherlands to Fort Worth – What Should I Know About the DFW Market?

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