2026 Texas Real Estate Development Report

As Texas real estate development accelerates toward 2026, builders, developers, and property owners face extraordinary market opportunities alongside complex regulatory demands.

With residential sales projected to rise 3-5% to approximately 340,000 units, commercial leasing anticipated to grow 2-5%, and overall development expanding 4-6% year-over-year fueled by $90 billion in infrastructure investment, success requires partnership with the right engineering firm.

JRH Engineering & Environmental Services is the premier provider of civil engineering and structural engineering design solutions in the states of Texas, North Carolina, and Florida. Over 25 years of combined experience, certifications as a Woman Business Enterprise (WBE), Historically Underutilized Business (HUB), and Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB), and deep expertise across major Texas markets position JRH as your trusted partner for 2026 success. Our commitment is straightforward: Done Quickly. Done Right. And for the Best Value.

2026 TX Real Estate Development by DMA

Understanding Texas's 2026 Development Opportunity

Texas's 2026 real estate landscape presents diverse opportunities across seven major Nielsen Designated Market Areas (DMAs) capturing approximately 80% of the state's development activity.

Dallas-Fort Worth leads with 40,500+ residential units in suburbs like Kaufman County and mixed-use developments driven by financial relocations. Houston's energy-anchored economy adds 45,000+ multifamily and suburban units with robust port warehouse expansion near 20.8 million square feet of industrial pipeline. San Antonio's medical and military hub drives affordable growth with 4,000+ suburban units and downtown mixed-use development.

Tech-driven Austin continues substantial expansion with 10,000+ suburban units despite price cooling. El Paso's border dynamics fuel 3,000+ affordable housing units with high price appreciation.

Amarillo and Lubbock round out Texas's diverse market with rural-industrial and education-driven development. Each DMA presents distinct engineering and regulatory challenges—from DFW's suburban infrastructure to Houston's energy corridor requirements to San Antonio's military logistics demands.

Why Choose JRH Engineering for Texas Development

Expertise in Texas Regulatory Framework and TCEQ Compliance

Texas's environmental and development regulations, administered primarily through the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and local municipal authorities, demand specialized expertise.

JRH Engineering brings deep understanding of TCEQ stormwater requirements, floodplain management, wastewater discharge permits, and local zoning across all major Texas markets.

Our licensed professional engineers understand the nuances of permitting in Dallas's rapid suburban growth, Houston's energy-focused development, San Antonio's military installation requirements, and Austin's tech sector infrastructure needs.

This specialized knowledge enables us to reduce permitting delays by 20-30%—translating to faster project initiation, reduced carrying costs, and accelerated revenue generation without compromising design quality or environmental compliance. Done Quickly means projects that meet aggressive timelines without cutting corners.

Comprehensive Services Tailored to Texas Markets

JRH serves residential, commercial, and industrial clients across Texas with specialized design and consulting services. Our land development capabilities maximize site potential across DFW's suburban mixed-use projects, Houston's energy corridor developments, San Antonio's medical district expansion, and Austin's tech-driven mixed-use communities.

We provide structural engineering for residential foundations through commercial and industrial building systems. Our stormwater solutions include retention and detention pond design, infiltration trench systems, and SWPPP compliance plans meeting TCEQ standards.

Windstorm engineering ensures structures withstand Texas severe weather, hail, and high winds. Foundation design addresses Texas's unique soil conditions, clay variation, and subsidence risks. Metal building design supports industrial and agricultural expansion. Done Right means comprehensive engineering delivered by licensed professionals to the highest standards.

Local Knowledge Across Three States

JRH isn't parachuting into Texas projects. We maintain deep local expertise across Texas, North Carolina, and Florida, with established relationships among contractors, developers, permit officials, and site specialists in each region.

In Texas, our team understands DFW's suburban infrastructure demands, Houston's energy sector dynamics and port logistics, San Antonio's medical and military development priorities, Austin's tech sector rapid growth and infrastructure constraints, and the distinct opportunities in El Paso, Amarillo, and Lubbock. This institutional knowledge directly supports our core commitment: faster delivery without sacrificing quality or value.

Client-Centric Communication and Project Management

Clear communication remains essential for project success. JRH prioritizes regular updates, rapid responses, and transparent documentation at every project stage. Our streamlined processes and efficient project management ensure projects stay on schedule and within budget.

Whether you're launching 500 residential units in suburban DFW, establishing commercial office space in Austin, building industrial warehouse space near Houston ports, or developing mixed-use projects in San Antonio, JRH treats every project with equal care and attention.

For the Best Value means engineering that maximizes your development dollar and protects your bottom line.

How JRH Supports Success Across Texas DMAs

JRH's specialized regional expertise addresses distinct market demands throughout Texas. In Dallas-Fort Worth, we navigate suburban growth infrastructure while managing mixed-use complexity for financial sector relocations.

For Houston's energy and port-focused expansion, we deliver specialized industrial site design and maritime-adjacent environmental compliance. San Antonio's medical and military development requires our expertise in healthcare facility infrastructure and secure installation logistics.

Austin's tech sector benefits from our experience managing rapid growth, infrastructure constraints, and sustainable development standards. El Paso's border-focused expansion demands our cross-border permitting knowledge and affordable housing design expertise.

Amarillo and Lubbock benefit from our rural-industrial and agricultural development experience. Across all seven major DMAs, JRH reduces permitting timelines, streamlines approvals, and delivers compliant solutions that protect investments.

The Competitive Advantage

With 25+ years of combined experience, licensed professional engineers specializing in civil, structural, and environmental design, established presence across all major Texas markets, and proven expertise expanding into North Carolina and Florida, JRH delivers technical depth and local knowledge that competitors cannot match.

Our WBE, HUB, and WOSB certifications qualify us for government contracting opportunities while providing private sector clients with exceptional, certified expertise. More importantly, JRH's client-centric philosophy means your success becomes our success.

We communicate clearly, respond promptly, and recommend solutions that optimize your investment—even when they're simpler or less expensive than alternatives. Our proven track record in Houston, Dallas, Beaumont, Galveston Bay, Austin, San Antonio, and Corpus Christi demonstrates our commitment to delivering exceptional results.

Conclusion

JRH Engineering & Environmental Services is the premier provider of civil engineering and structural engineering design solutions in the states of Texas, North Carolina, and Florida.

As Texas's real estate market expands through 2026, developers, contractors, and property owners who partner with JRH gain a competitive edge: deep expertise in TCEQ regulations and Texas permitting, local knowledge across all seven major DMAs, streamlined delivery that reduces timelines by 20-30%, and quality engineering that protects long-term investment value.

Whether you're developing residential communities in suburban DFW, establishing commercial mixed-use projects in Austin or San Antonio, building industrial infrastructure near Houston ports, or capitalizing on El Paso's affordable housing growth, JRH delivers results. Our promise is straightforward: Done Quickly. Done Right. And for the Best Value.

Ready to maximize your 2026 Texas development project? Contact JRH Engineering for a free consultation and discover how our expertise across Texas, North Carolina, and Florida can transform your vision into a successful, compliant, resilient reality.

References:

1. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)

URL: https://www.tceq.texas.gov/agency

Reference: Texas environmental regulations, stormwater requirements, floodplain management, wastewater discharge permits, air and water quality standards

2. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality - Main Portal

URL: https://www.tceq.texas.gov

Reference: TCEQ regulations, permitting processes, compliance standards, 16 regional offices information

3. Nielsen Designated Market Areas (DMAs) - Texas

URL: https://www.nielsen.com/dma-regions/

Reference: Designated Market Area definitions and Texas DMA regions (Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, Austin, El Paso, Amarillo, Lubbock)

4. Nielsen DMA Overview and Purpose

URL: https://www.nielsen.com/insights/2025/what-is-a-designated-market-area-and-why-does-it-matter/

Reference: DMA definitions, market segmentation, regional development patterns

5. Designated Market Areas (DMA) Data Guide

URL: https://www.precisely.com/data-guide/products/designated-market-area-regions-nielsen-dma-maps/

Reference: DMA technical specifications, market area definitions, geographic boundaries

6. U.S. Small Business Administration - Women-Owned Businesses

URL: https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/grow-your-business/women-owned-businesses

Reference: WOSB (Women-Owned Small Business) program, federal contracts, women entrepreneurs

7. Defense Logistics Agency - WOSB and EDWOSB Certification

URL: https://www.dla.mil/Small-Business/Resource-Center/Training-Resources/Details/Article/4166074/women-owned-small-business-wosb/

Reference: Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB), Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB), federal contract eligibility