By Bobby Franklin | North Texas Market Insider Listen, I’ve walked families through this decision dozens of times. They’re sitting in their North Dallas rental, kids getting older, and someone says: “Maybe we should look south? I heard Midlothian has good schools and we can actually afford a yard.” Then the rabbit hole begins. GreatSchools ratings. Niche reviews. Facebook groups with 47...

Why smart buyers don’t just buy houses in Midlothian, they buy into a way of life Listen, I’m going to tell you something most agents won’t: the house doesn’t matter nearly as much as what happens outside your front door. You can find four bedrooms and a two-car garage anywhere in DFW. What you can’t replicate is pulling into a community where Friday nights mean something, where your...

Midlothian’s history isn’t just charming, it’s a strategic competitive advantage for buyers who understand what they’re looking at. And trust me, this could be fantastic for your investment if you know how to play it. The Strategic Intelligence Most Agents Won’t Give You Here’s what I love about Midlothian: while other North Texas suburbs are basically concrete and cookie-cutter...

By Bobby Franklin, North Texas Market InsiderDecember 2024 Here’s what most agents miss: They see pretty Victorian houses and think “charm.” I see adaptive reuse potential, historic tax credits, and premium appreciation corridors. While they’re posting sunset photos at the courthouse, I’m tracking which historic districts are seeing infrastructure investment and which markers indicate future...

If you’re considering a move to Waxahachie, you’re probably wondering what actually happens here beyond the pretty courthouse photos and Victorian homes. Smart question, because the difference between a town that looks charming and a town that feels alive comes down to one thing: events that brings people together, month after month, year after year. This isn’t just a festival list, this is your...

Listen, I’m going to give you something most agents won’t: market intelligence, not hope. When families ask me “is Waxahachie ISD a good school district,” they’re really asking whether this decision will protect their investment, give their kids a competitive advantage, and position them strategically for the next 10-15 years. And here’s what I tell them: Waxahachie ISD isn’t just...

Why the inspection report is where deals die, and how strategic buyers turn these discoveries into negotiating power Let me tell you something most North Texas real estate agents won’t: that perfectly staged home you just fell in love with? It’s probably hiding something. Not because sellers are evil, though some are, but because homes, especially in our unique Ellis County market with...

By Bobby Franklin | December 17, 2025 While you were watching Stranger Things for the Demogorgons and the ‘80s nostalgia, I was watching something way more terrifying, the real estate market dynamics playing out in the background. And honestly? The show accidentally nailed some crucial truths about how small towns evolve (or die) based on economic forces that have EVERYTHING to do with your home’s...

Here’s what separates winners from casualties in the current Ellis County market: understanding your own psychology before you start making offers. The 2025 North Texas market isn’t the frenzy of 2021, and it’s not the crash some people keep waiting for. Homes in Ellis County are selling around the low $400s, taking roughly 60-75 days to close, with sale-to-list ratios hovering just under 100%....

Your Strategic Game Plan for 2026 (While We Wait for Answers) If you’ve followed this series from the beginning, you know by now that the Ellis County housing market has been through its own Upside Down journey. Episode 1: We watched the portal open in 2020, ultra-low rates and pandemic disruption fundamentally reshaping reality. Episode 2: We felt Vecna’s curse trap millions of...