Texas construction booms

Central Texas, greater Dallas and Houston have enjoyed a construction boom during the pandemic.

Between the lines: Maps like this one reflect how Texas political power is shifting toward its big cities and its suburbs.

• Cheaper homes on the outskirts of the metropolises have led middle-class Austinites to head for Hays, Williamson, Burnet and Bastrop counties — even as Austin itself continues to grow.

Yes, but: Inventory still trails demand, leading to record acceleration in home values.

But, but, but: Austin ranks second nationally for home-price slashing, per new data from Realtor.com.

• So that very, very, very expensive Austin home is now only very, very expensive.