The Relocation Decision
For millionaire business owner Frederic Lepoutre, moving his family from the South Florida coast to Texas Hill Country represented a shift toward efficiency rather than mere scenery change.
In Broward County, Florida, custom home construction involves years of red tape and high insurance premiums, while his 11-acre Texas estate progressed from groundbreaking to move-in ready in just over 12 months.
I think it already has [surpassed Florida as the center of gravity]. 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.
Financial and Regulatory Advantages
Lepoutre received an initial property tax bill of just $8 on his land and insurance costs one-fifth of decades-long Florida payments.
This positions Texas as a leader not only in taxes but also in construction speed for high-net-worth individuals by 2026.
The family purchased at least 10 acres per county minimum three years ago at $26,000 per acre near Bandera and Kerrville, west of San Antonio.
I think it will if it hasn't already.
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. It's the opposite [of Florida]. It's a total 180.
Migration Trends and Data
Texas REALTORS data indicates one-third of new residents come from California, Florida, New York, and Colorado, with 30% of interstate movers selecting Dallas.
Texas median home price stands at $335,000, below the national average of about $415,000.
Texas REALTORS Chair Jennifer Wauhob describes this as a long-term shift toward livable, workable, sustainable, and affordable places.
Americans are voting with their feet. They want places that are livable. They want places that are workable. They want places that are sustainable and affordable, and so I think this migration, as we call it, is really turning into a long-term shift.
Property Features and Lifestyle
The semi-retired Lepoutres, who oversee National Textile and Apparel and invest in oil and gas, built an off-grid home requiring a private 600-foot water well and switchback mountain-style driveway.
They sought peace, quiet, tranquility, privacy, and a slower pace, with views extending 40 miles and minimal light pollution for stargazing.
Infrastructure moves quickly in Texas, with highways completed efficiently, as noted by Lynn Lepoutre.
The highways, the infrastructure, they're quick. They move fast. There's no resting on their laurels. If they're building a highway, it's finished. They get it from start to finish quickly.
Market Impacts and Future Outlook
Migration creates steady housing demand across all levels, fostering a balanced, healthy market.
REALTORS collaborate with economic development teams to proactively build infrastructure and communities ahead of arrivals.
Wauhob views this as sustained growth over several years, with steady inflows and no major outflows.
I would say this does not feel episodic to me. If you look at the data, this has been going on for several years in a row now. We have a steady flow of people coming here. We're not seeing big surges, which is a great thing because we wanna have slow, steady growth.
