Looking for a four-bedroom new-construction smart home in the $200,000 price range? It’s probably not going to happen in Dallas proper, but there’s a good chance you’ll find what you’re looking for in Josephine.
The once-small community in Collin and Hunt counties is in the midst of a housing boom—two words that haven’t often sat next to each other since before the COVID-19 pandemic.
The reason people are looking for their forever homes in little ol’ Josephine is simple, says Fathom Realty agent Farlene Powell. It’s affordable. It also brings the small-town energy that first-time homebuyers and empty nesters adore, Powell said.
“Josephine is where small-town charm meets big-city convenience,” she said. “People have discovered the hidden gem where affordability meets opportunity. With lower home prices and taxes, buyers can stretch funds in their budget.”
The most expensive listing in Josephine on Realtor.com is a five-bedroom abode at 1829 Rolling Meadow Lane. It’s listed for $575,000.
Buying And Selling in Josephine
Powell has sold about six homes in Josephine over the past 10 years.
Angie Hallford and her sister bought homes from Powell late last year. The sisters live down the street from each other now and say they love being out in the country.
“I love the new technology, the smart home options, and just the fact that it’s brand new,” said Hallford, who moved from Wylie. “I never even considered moving out to Josephine, but everyone in our community has been amazing.”
The master-planned Magnolia neighborhood where Hallford lives features D.R. Horton homes that are selling like hotcakes.
“The home prices are very reasonable,” Powell said. “The new builds are low-maintenance, and the smart homes are attractive to younger buyers. They have things like a garage door opener that connects to an app on your phone. It can detect that you’re getting close. They have smart thermostats and smart sprinklers.”
The D.R. Horton homes are “express homes,” Powell explained.
“Basically, you get what you get,” she said. “They all look the same. They all use the same finish-out. But because they’re buying products in bulk, they can build the houses so much cheaper.”
They’re also buying interest rates in bulk and can offer a lower rate.
“They’re closing, like, 10 homes in a day,” Powell said. “Literally, they’ll close a whole street in a day.”
Josephine is close to Greenville, Rockwall, and Wylie, but it still has a country living vibe, the Realtor added. The area is zoned for Community ISD, a small district with a B rating from TxSchools.gov.
The fastest-growing city in Texas is a tiny place no one’s ever heard of.
A February report in Business Insider noted that between 2021 and 2022, Texas welcomed 670,000 new residents, ranking second only to Florida.
“Historically, large cities in Texas, such as Dallas and San Antonio, have been popular destinations for movers from both outside and inside the state, attracting them with plentiful homes and employment opportunities,” the report states. “But city and town population totals from 2020 to mid-2022 suggest that smaller cities—such as Josephine and New Braunfels, between Austin and San Antonio—are stealing the spotlight. They have experienced robust population growth, while their larger counterparts have seen minimal population growth or, in some cases, outright declines.”
According to the Business Insider report, which cited U.S. Census Bureau data, Josephine is the fastest-growing city in Texas.
Between 2020 and 2022, the city’s population grew from 2,131 to 6,944, a leap of 225.86 percent, the report states.
Don’t tell that to homeowners like Hallford, who moved to get away from the big-city hustle and bustle.
Though D.R. Horton’s homes are in a cookie-cutter neighborhood, there’s also plenty of land for those who move to Josephine for country life. Bonus points: it’s close to Lake Lavon.
“You can have either/or,” Powell said. “If you wanted acreage with a house, you can still find that in Josephine that’s more affordable than what you would find in Wylie.”
Check out homes for sale in Josephine at Realtor.com.
