The latest news, articles, and resources, sent to your inbox weekly.
The idea is more common than you'd think — but before you tap your retirement savings, it's worth knowing what it actually costs.
A fully renovated Arlington home with an open house this Saturday. Plus a Fort Worth three-bedroom and Canyon Ranch’s biggest Texas move.
Where you live shapes what you can afford just as much as your salary, and remote workers have more flexibility to act on that.
Plus: DFW Airport brings back gate access for non-ticketed travelers and what fall 2026 home design trends tell us.
About 1 in 3 home sales happen in the last four months of the year — and that share has grown every year since 2023.
Air taxis over Fort Worth by 2029 and the Winter Cathedral returning to the Botanic Garden this November.
Not every listing is for every buyer — and 2702 Stratford Court is upfront about that. This three-bedroom, two-bath attached townhome in Euless is being sold as-is and needs cosmetic updates and some patching to prior damage. But for the right buyer, there's a real opportunity here.
The major mechanical items have already been addressed. The roof, HVAC, and water heater have all been updated, which takes the most expensive unknowns off the table for whoever comes in next. The open kitchen has generous counter space, the primary bedroom is conveniently located on the main floor, and the cul-de-sac setting adds a bit of privacy. The seller is also offering $10,000 in concessions with an acceptable offer, which gives a buyer some flexibility to put toward the updates the home needs.
The location works well for commuters and anyone who spends time across the Metroplex — convenient access to major highways, DFW Airport, and quick drives to Fort Worth, Arlington, and surrounding communities.
For a first-time buyer willing to put in some work, an investor looking for a project with built-in value, or anyone searching for a good deal in a well-located spot, this is worth a showing. Reach out to the team at Mills Real Estate Group to learn more.
Every once in a while a listing comes along that genuinely stands out, and 7905 Ella Young Drive in Lakeside is that kind of home.
Pull up and you're greeted by a circle driveway with easy access and plenty of parking. Step inside and the tray ceiling at the entry sets the tone — this isn't a cookie-cutter floor plan. The kitchen has granite countertops, abundant cabinetry, generous counter space, and a dedicated dining area that keeps mealtimes comfortable and connected.
Keep moving through the home and the personality really starts to show. Rich wood walls and ceilings wrap the living area around a floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace, creating the kind of warm, distinctive space that's hard to find and harder to replicate. Built-in shelving adds both charm and functionality throughout.
The most memorable feature might be the private indoor hot tub room — surrounded by warm wood finishes, skylights, and windows that bring in natural light year-round. It's an unexpected space that makes everyday life feel a bit more like a retreat.
Practical highlights include an RV hookup and no HOA, giving you the freedom to use the property on your own terms. Three bedrooms, two baths, and a setting in Lakeside that offers a genuine sense of escape without being far from anything.
Reach out to the team at Mills Real Estate Group to schedule a showing and see this one for yourself.
It's the flavor you've been seeing everywhere lately, and it turns out there's data behind it. Banana has quietly become the hottest food trend in the country in 2026, with banana-flavored menu items surging 70 percent this year according to menu research company Technomic. It has officially surpassed pumpkin spice in online searches — and if that doesn't signal a cultural moment, nothing does.
The tipping point came when Starbucks made banana bread its fall flavor, launching an Iced Banana Bread Latte and Iced Banana Bread Chai. From there, the ripple effect was immediate. Coffee chains across the country followed, and every coffee shop in Texas seems to have a banana latte on the menu right now — from Cafe Duro in Dallas to Bruvana Coffee House in Flower Mound to matcha shops in Grand Prairie adding banana to their lattes.
What's driving it isn't just novelty — it's execution. Chefs and coffee shops have moved away from the artificial banana flavor that turned people off for years and shifted toward real banana, roasted banana, and more thoughtfully balanced combinations. As Casey La Rue, co-founder of La Rue Doughnuts in Dallas and Frisco, puts it: "People didn't suddenly start liking banana — they started getting better versions of it." La Rue has had banana on the menu for three months running, and their banana items are currently their top sellers.
Locally, Habaneros Fresh Mex Cantina in Fort Worth just added banana pudding soft serve, and owner Lawrence Caldwell says it's already a hit. Banana pudding itself has been on the rise for years in Texas barbecue — a trend championed in part by Texas Monthly barbecue editor Daniel Vaughn, who has helped get it onto the menu of barbecue restaurants across the state.
If you haven't tried the banana latte at your local coffee shop yet, apparently you're behind the curve.
For families weighing the decision of whether one parent should stay home, a new analysis from SmartAsset offers some useful context — and some good news for Texas households.
According to the study, a Texas family with one working parent, one stay-at-home parent, and one child needs a household income of approximately $72,925 to cover the basics: food, housing, healthcare, transportation, childcare, and other necessities. That figure puts Texas at No. 9 on the list of most affordable states for single-income families — and it's actually down $1,809 from what was needed in 2025.
For comparison, a Texas household where both parents work full-time with one child needs a combined income of $85,030, according to the same data.
The statewide numbers tell one part of the story. The local picture adds nuance. In the Dallas-Fort Worth area, childcare alone runs about $10,736 per year, and overall costs of raising a child can surpass $23,000 annually. A separate SmartAsset study from earlier this year found that a Fort Worth family with two working parents and two children needs a combined income of $217,235 to achieve financial stability — a number that puts the real cost of living in DFW in clearer perspective.
For buyers and families thinking about where to put down roots, Texas continues to compare favorably to most of the country on affordability. And within Texas, where you land matters quite a bit. If you're navigating that decision alongside a home search, reach out to the team at Mills Real Estate Group — understanding what your housing costs will look like is a meaningful piece of that puzzle.