Coldwell Banker has been producing its annual home price comparison index since the 1980s. It specifically tracks the comparative price of a 2200 square-foot, single family home with 4 beds, 2 ½ baths, a family room and a 2-car garage in a neighborhood suitable for corporate middle management. At $332,375, such homes in Dallas are the highest in Texas, and are up $6000 on last year’s figures.

Coldwell Banker found the nationwide average price for this type of home would be $363,401, considerably higher than the Dallas average price. In the same survey, by comparison this same type of house would cost $248,960 in San Antonio, $226,500 in Austin, $159,847 in Houston and just $153,450 in Fort Worth.

Other surveys fail to show this huge disparity between Dallas and other Texas cities because Coldwell Banker only uses a narrow range of home listings in specific neighborhoods which would appeal to corporate executives. No-one disputes the fact that you can get a very nice home in the present market for less than $300,000.