Episode 73: Why Texas Keeps Growing | AI, Population Growth & The Future of Texas Real Estate

In this episode of the Texas Land Guys Podcast, brothers Tom Dosch and Tim Dosch step back from interviews to explore one big question: what is driving Texas’ rapid growth? The conversation is sparked by Tom’s recent trip through Central Texas, where seeing the hill country around Kerrville and nonstop development firsthand made the scale of expansion impossible to ignore. With Texas adding 500,000 people in the last 12 months alone (1,300 per day), they break down what's driving the growth, where it's happening, and what it means for land investors, developers, and anyone paying attention to the state's future.Tim and Tom explore the latest job numbers across Houston, Dallas, and Austin, comparing post COVID trends to the boom years after the Great Recession. They dive into multifamily oversupply, the surprising resilience of single family lot development, and why suburban submarkets like Waller (Houston) and Anna (Dallas) are poised for a 10 to 20 year run while infill markets remain soft.The conversation also touches on the AI revolution, data center demand, and Texas's bet on becoming the national leader in power-intensive infrastructure. They discuss why states like Maine are banning data centers while Texas leans in and what that means for long-term job growth.Tune in for a data-rich, boots-on-the-ground look at the forces shaping Texas real estate and why both hosts are thankful to be working in the fastest-growing state in the country.Key TakeawaysPopulation growth and job growth are tightly linked, and Texas is outperforming the national average in both.Corporate relocations continue to fuel major metro areas, especially Dallas-Fort Worth.Overbuilding in multifamily has created short-term softness, but long-term demand remains strong.Massive infrastructure investments in highways, ports, semiconductors, and energy are accelerating growth statewide.Texas is emerging as a major hub for data centers and AI-related infrastructure.AI will likely disrupt lower-level white-collar jobs while creating new opportunities in other sectors.Long-term real estate value is increasingly tied to proximity to growth corridors, not just city centers.Markets like Waller in Houston and outer DFW suburbs represent early-stage growth opportunities.Texas’ business friendly environment continues to attract both companies and population at scale. In This Episode:[00:00] Introduction  [00:33] Tom shares highlights from his recent Central Texas trip  [01:43] Camp life experiences and what stood out during the visit  [03:24] Why Texas continues to experience rapid statewide growth  [05:10] Breaking down the population boom and migration trends  [07:39] A reality check on job growth and how it compares nationally  [10:42] Job growth trends across major Texas metro areas  [19:26] How the single-family boom is reshaping housing demand  [23:05] The Houston counties are seeing the fastest population growth  [25:28] Major infrastructure and mega projects fueling Texas growth  [27:58] The race for AI data centers and rising power demand  [36:14] Continued northward expansion across the Dallas-Fort Worth area  [38:39] Which Texas cities are best positioned to capture future growth  [45:24] The best long-term suburban investment opportunities in Houston  [48:38] Final thoughts on Texas growth, opportunity, and long-term outlook Resources and LinksPodcastTexas Land Guys Podcasthttps://dmre.com/Tom Doschhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-dosch-37263b3b/https://dmre.com/https://ascentinv.com/https://100xharvest.org/Tim Doschhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-dosch-67a07899https://dmre.com/https://ascentinv.com/https://100xharvest.org/