All Forum Posts by: Kent Ford

Hey Kent, I think strategy matters a great deal as well. Cash Flow vs Buy and Hold, etc...
That can help determine areas to invest, as some areas are better for cash flow and don't appreciate that much. Would be something to consider!

Texas has been in a buyers/renters market for a while now. There are always deals out there and Texas is experiencing a return to normal with pricing coming down and supply staying up. Long term Texas should remain strong for multiple strategies. 

I also love @Alecia Loveless idea with taxes, very good stuff!

@Kent Ford Be aware of the property taxes in Texas. Ask to look at 3-4 years worth of taxes before deciding on your property. This will show trends and help you see the bigger picture.

My family has 2 portfolios in the area north of DFW. Their taxes have increased dramatically over the past 4 years, 150-200% increase across the board.

They are lawyers so can appeal through the whole process essentially for free. They have received extremely nominal amounts of relief on over 20 houses they’ve researched and comped to get an abatement.

This has significantly reduced the cash flow across both portfolios.

Hi Kent - Do you have an article meant to be attached with this post? I'd love to read more! 

@Kent Ford Yes, Texas is very good for first time home buyers. There are lenders, mostly local in the Austin metro that are doing 100% financing for first time home buyers. That tells me that the lenders have a very positive outlook for first time home buyers. The jobs are plentiful. I don't see anything slowing down anytime soon. In fact, I see the housing market in the metro picking up substantially. 

@Kent Ford there's a few layers to your post.  I mean, Texas is still a great state because of the amount of jobs, the pay that comes with those jobs, and the cost of housing here as opposed to other places around the country.

However, that key word "affordable" actually has a definition to it - and that's 30% of the income shouldn't go towards housing.  And that's not happening so much here.  And then there's the layers of 30% of income to home ownership vs. 30% of income to rent.  

Again, a few layers.  However, if you analyze what we have vs. what other states have there are numerous reasons why we are a great state to invest in.

I hope all of that makes sense but feel free to ask anything additional.  Thanks!

@Kent Ford Yes, Texas is very good for first time home buyers. There are lenders, mostly local in the Austin metro that are doing 100% financing for first time home buyers. That tells me that the lenders have a very positive outlook for first time home buyers. The jobs are plentiful. I don't see anything slowing down anytime soon. In fact, I see the housing market in the metro picking up substantially. 

Great question! Each city’s approach can play a unique role, but zoning for higher density developments stands out as a powerful strategy, albeit a tough one to get passed. By expanding density, a city like Dallas would multiply the housing supply, which naturally helps balance demand and affordability. Subsidized housing and incentives for developers to create affordable units are also critical, especially for supporting lower-income families. A combination of these approaches could create lasting, scalable solutions across Texas. I spend a lot of my time making sure my company is a part of that housing impact, so feel free to reach out if you want to know more.