What a year. In this year-end wrap-up episode of the Texas Land Guys podcast, hosts Tim, Tom, Trey, and David sit down across Dallas, Houston, and Austin to unpack a 2025 that was anything but predictable. From unexpected tariffs to shaky consumer confidence, from rent drops to government shutdown jitters, the team pulls back the curtain on the real forces that shaped Texas land and development this year.
They talk through the psychology of the market, how uncertainty and not just economics froze deals, scared investors, and slowed decision-making. Yet even in the turbulence, bright spots emerged. Industrial development surged across Dallas and Houston, SB 840 stirred new waves of interest, and a few city-level battles, and construction debt became surprisingly accessible even as equity sources tightened.
The conversation digs into how different markets behaved: DFW’s resilience, Houston’s shifting rent landscape, and Central Texas working through one of its toughest seasons. The guys also reveal the behind the scenes grind on major closings, including infill wins in Houston, massive single family takedowns, industrial victories like the canyon deal, and buyers stepping up with serious hard money commitments in a challenging environment.
With more than 100 deals closed statewide and the largest pipeline in company history heading into 2026, the team reflects on grit, teamwork, and why Texas continues to create opportunity even in choppy waters.
This episode is not just a recap. It is the story of survival, strategy, and steady hands during a year that tested everyone in the business.
Key Takeaways
2025 was a year of bumping along more than booming
Tariffs had less financial impact and more psychological impact
The real story of 2025 was a weak consumer, not just policy changes
Uncertainty killed more deals than interest rates
Multifamily rents fell across many submarkets
Industrial was the strongest product type statewide
Many infill markets became no-fly zones because nothing underwrote
Construction debt returned, but equity remained the bottleneck
Land bought in 21 and 22 is causing pressure as debt comes due
Some developers are capitulating, others are holding out unrealistically
SB 840 is promising but slowed by city resistance and legal posturing
Through it all, DMRE still closed over 100 deals across Texas
The 2026 pipeline is the largest in the company's history
Strong developers will find more opportunities than ever in a disciplined market
In This Episode:
[00:00] Introduction to Texas Land Guys Podcast
[00:39] Year-end wrap-up and reflections
[01:49] Impact of tariffs on the market
[03:13] Challenges in the real estate market
[07:25] Landowners and developers in 2025
[10:07] Market trends and predictions
[18:03] Infill land and development struggles
[21:48] SB 840 and municipal cooperation
[25:54] Challenges in the real estate market
[26:05] Positive developments and deal closures
[27:14] Market performance across Texas
[27:43] Houston's industrial and single-family market
[32:16] DFW's industrial and multifamily market
[35:11] Single-family market trends
[38:22] Infill development and market shifts
[41:11] Notable deals and success stories
[52:05] Looking ahead to 2026
[52:33] Wrapping up the year
Resources and Links
Podcast
David Marshall
Trey McGhin
Tom Dosch
Tim Dosch