The editorial team at The Real Deal took on a challenging task last year: put together a list of the main characters in real estate.
One hundred people whose influence of real estate rises to the top in each of our markets: New York, South Florida, Los Angeles, Chicago and, of course, Texas.
The process was a challenging one, especially for our Texas team, which is tasked with covering a region that includes five metros and a population of 21 million.
Narrowing down the list of Texas’ top real estate players included asking questions like: What have they done recently? What are they known for? How have they shaped the current landscape of Texas real estate?
The Texas list includes legendary faces like Trammell Crow’s son Harlan Crow, who built Old Parkland and recently caught flak for his cozy relationship to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, and Ross Perot Jr., the head of Hillwood and the person behind industrial master-planned community Alliance, Texas.
But, it also includes folks better known in other spheres (like politics and film), but who have a large influence in real estate, like Gov. Greg Abbott, a champion of property tax relief and backer of a new state law banning people from countries deemed “national security threats” from purchasing real estate in Texas, and Taylor Sheridan, the creator of hit TV show Yellowstone who quietly assembled a sprawling real estate portfolio.
The list even features some non-Texans. An assemblage of the most influential players in Texas real estate would be incomplete without Miriam Adelson, the billionaire casino magnate whose latest push is legalizing casino gambling in the Lone Star State.
Our list includes a write-up for each person in classic TRD style: a clear-eyed look that leads with our best answer to the question: why should I care? We don’t shy away from controversy. The list touches on Sasha Bass’ reputation as an austere steward of Downtown Fort Worth, the downfall Gabriel Barbier-Mueller’s Harwood International and the discrimination and sexual assault cases that follow Dallas Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones.
Check out our list. Let us know what you think.
How rising oil prices could affect Houston’s housing market
While most of us suffer when oil prices rise, that’s not the case for Houston. As the epicenter of the oil industry in the U.S., the city’s riches have long been tied to energy: if oil prices are high, Houston’s luxury real estate appreciates along with it. But, for that to happen, prices have to stay high for a while, said longtime Houston broker Paige Martin, co-founder of the Houston Properties Team.
“A short-term geopolitical spike usually does not move Houston luxury housing much on its own,” she said.
Lurin Capital’s distress almost sidesteps Arkansas
Jon Venetos’ Lurin Capital nearly avoided distress in its Arkansas holdings, but couldn’t offload its last remaining property in the state before catching another default lawsuit. Lurin sold off two Northwest Arkansas apartment complexes; the third is at the center of a suit filed by lender Prime Finance Partners. The San Francisco-based lender is asking Benton County Circuit Court to appoint a receiver for Fitzroy Grove, a 250-unit multifamily property at 2950 Fitzroy Place in Rogers, Arkansas, according to a Feb. 18 filing. Prime Finance is accusing Dallas-based Lurin of defaulting on a $47 million loan tied to the property and alleges it is owed $47.8 million.
Crow Holdings eyes Old Parkland expansion
Crow Holdings, the developer behind the coveted Old Parkland office campus, wants to add more space to the rarefied address. The developer is planning a second phase of Old Parkland East, with construction potentially kicking off as early as this fall, the Dallas Morning News reported. The project would add roughly 250,000 square feet across three buildings on a 2.5-acre site just east of the existing campus, with completion targeted for early 2029. The expansion plans signal Crow’s bet on continued demand for high-end workspace in Uptown.
Read more
How rising oil prices could affect Houston’s luxury housing market
Lurin Capital’s distress almost sidestepped Arkansas — until this $48M default lawsuit
Crow Holdings eyes second phase of Old Parkland East