Realtor.com
In Texas, Dallas is embracing tradition—in both style and price movement. Colonial and American Traditional homes are the most dominant architecture in the city, according to a new Realtor.com® architectural styles report.
And in a market seeing significant growth in inventory and rising home prices, these classic styles are defining the housing scene.
While some metros are showing signs of cooling, Dallas is trending up across nearly every metric.
Colonial and Traditional Styles anchor Dallas Listings
Colonial and American Traditional homes represent 4.5% of Dallas’ active listings—one of the highest shares in the U.S. for this style category. These homes are known for their symmetry, brick exteriors, gabled roofs, and stately porches. They evoke an established, formal elegance with layouts that emphasize defined rooms and classic charm.
As of this spring, the median list price for all homes in Dallas was $437,000. That’s well below the national median for Colonial and American Traditional homes, which comes in at $449,000, signaling that Dallas still offers some relative value despite steady price growth.
“When it comes to Colonial or American Traditional homes, buyers who love a classic, timeless look are always interested,” said Phillip Gazca, Regional Manager at Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Gary Greene. “These are the homes with symmetry, brick exteriors, and more formal layouts. There’s something solid and familiar about them”.
Newer Builds, Rising Values
Nationally, Colonial and American Traditional homes have a median year built of 1996, and the average home size aligns closely with national norms at around 2,000 square feet.
These homes are appreciating steadily. Over the past year, they’ve risen 5.6% in price—the highest year-over-year gain among major architectural styles. Over the past six years, they’ve appreciated 28.3% nationally.
Their formal layouts and enduring curb appeal make them especially attractive to move-up buyers and families. In Dallas, this appeal is matched by a construction boom that includes both traditional aesthetics and modern efficiencies.
Dallas market is accelerating, while prices are dropping
The Dallas market is heating up. In April, home prices jumped to a median of $437,000—up significantly from the previous month. Price per square foot also increased 1.4%, outpacing the national growth of 1.0%.
Inventory rose sharply, with 4,000 homes on the market in April—an 11.6% increase from March and a 48.2% jump year-over-year. More options mean more competition, but prices are still holding firm.
New listings are also up: 1,784 homes hit the market in April, a 4.4% increase from the previous month. Homes are taking an average of 44 days to sell—faster than the national average of 50 days. That’s a signal of strong demand and efficient turnover.
Yet, not all is stable. Dallas saw one of the steepest price declines in the U.S., with median home prices dropping 46.4% year-over-year to $2.25M.
Dallas stays competitive in the South
Dallas isn’t just growing—it’s climbing the charts. The city ranked 46th in Realtor.com’s 2025 forecast for housing markets based on a combined projection of home sales and price growth. Sales are expected to grow 7.6% year-over-year, while prices are forecasted to climb 9.2%.
Much of that momentum comes from new construction and a surge in build-to-rent developments. Dallas is the No. 2 market in the U.S. for build-to-rent homes, with nearly 14,700 units completed or under development. These homes often echo traditional design elements but are built for modern renters looking for flexibility.
As Gazca puts it, “Architectural style isn’t just about how a house looks. It’s about how it feels to a buyer”. In Dallas, that feeling is rooted in stability, tradition, and—at least for now—a little room to grow.