WalletHub's latest ranking, reported by the Austin American-Statesman, puts Austin's rent at about 22% of household income — middle of the pack for Texas cities.

A $470M CMBS loan on two Allen Center towers was flagged for special servicing, underscoring pressure on downtown Houston office fundamentals.

An Austin investor has put the 21‑story Galleria tower at 1900 West Loop South on the market after a Bank of America loan matured, opening the door to a sale or recapitalization.

Trader Joe's confirmed a Spring‑area store and crews have begun site work at the Bellaire location, advancing the chain's expansion across Greater Houston. Permits show a roughly 12,500‑sq‑ft Spring build with construction penciled in for mid‑2026.

A $75.8M nonperforming loan tied to CityNorth in Greenspoint is being sold as a deed‑in‑escrow with bids due May 12, testing investor appetite for suburban Houston office debt.

XSpace closed a $29M construction loan for its Houston Design Center project at 7022 Old Katy Road and will break ground this week. The development will deliver 86 commercial condo units sized roughly 700–7,000 sq ft.

Sullivan & Cromwell is preparing its first Houston office at Texas Tower, taking temporary space and moving at least one partner to the city’s legal market.

Two Texas title firms quietly dropped suits accusing a rival of poaching 71 employees after a San Antonio business court dismissed the cases with prejudice. The move removes a major legal threat but leaves lingering questions about hiring and non‑compete practices in the industry.

LyondellBasell brought down two 350‑foot coker towers at its Houston refinery on April 12 as part of site transition work. The company says impacts outside a safety zone were minimal.

Galveston planners advanced Discovery Sands, a Blackard Companies proposal for a lagoon‑centered "coastal village" on the island’s West End. Neighbors and conservation groups warn it could threaten wetlands and strain infrastructure.

Rural Texans are organizing to oppose giant data‑center projects they say will drain water, drown nights in noise and eat up farmland. From Leon to Grimes counties, neighbors have formed groups and pushed county officials for answers.

Insurify and local data show Houston among the priciest metros for homeowners insurance and signals more premium increases in 2026.

Interra Capital Group bought Greenway Plaza and says it will focus on leasing and repositioning the 53‑acre Houston campus after years of financial strain.