You need to earn more than $127,000 a year to afford a median-priced house in the Dallas area without spending more than 30% of your income, according to Redfin.

Why it matters: That's about $30,000 more than the median income in the region.

The big picture: Housing prices soared during the pandemic when remote workers moved to Sun Belt cities, like Dallas-Fort Worth.

• Prices are starting to drop now that inventory has increased and demand is decreasing.

Flashback: In 2012, a Dallas household needed to make just $38,525 to afford a median-priced home.

• Households didn't need to make more than $100,000 a year to afford a median-priced house until 2021.

Zoom in: Dallas saw one of the biggest improvements in affordability in 2024 among the 50 most populous U.S. metros, the Redfin report found.

• Austin saw the biggest improvement.

By the numbers: Dallas-area households making the $97,908 median income would have needed to spend 38.9% of their pay on monthly housing costs if they bought a $421,613 median-priced home.

• That was down 2 percentage points from 2023.
• Fort Worth households making the $89,116 median income in 2024 would have needed to spend 36.7% of their income on monthly housing costs if they bought a $357,817 median-priced home.
• That was down from 38.3% in 2013.

Zoom out: Nationwide, households must earn roughly $117,000 a year to afford a median-priced U.S. home, according to Redfin.

The bottom line: "Affordability improved ever so slightly this year because wage growth outpaced the growth in monthly housing payments," Redfin senior economist Elijah de la Campa said in the report.

• But for many, "buying a home remains more out of reach than ever and that's unlikely to change anytime soon."

The median income in Texas is $56,900 — about in the middle of U.S. states.

Looking for a fat paycheck? Consider jobs in Washington, D.C., Massachusetts or Alaska.

The big picture: The highest median incomes can be found in Washington, D.C., Massachusetts and Alaska, per payroll firm ADP based on pay in December 2024.

By the numbers: Residents of the nation's capital are taking home a median $100,800 annually. It's $75,700 in Massachusetts and an even $70,000 up in Alaska.

• New Mexico is home to the country's lowest average median pay ($40,300), followed by Mississippi ($46,000) and Arkansas ($49,800).

How it works: ADP's monthly "Pay Insights" data is based on gross wage and salary data for about 17 million U.S. jobs.

• It's based on the location of the job, not necessarily the worker (relevant in cases of remote work done across state lines).

While on her deathbed, artist Frida Kahlo said she awaited her death with joy and hoped to never return.

• Kahlo's work and the love of her fans has, in a sense, given the Mexican artist immortality.

Why it matters: "Frida: Beyond the Myth" at the Dallas Museum of Art details the famous Mexican artist's life, giving an intimate look at who she loved, how her artwork evolved and how she welcomed her end at just 47.

The intrigue: The exhibit was originally scheduled to end in November but was so popular the museum extended the showing through Feb. 23.

State of play: Kahlo began painting in 1925 after she nearly died in a trolley accident, leaving her with injuries that caused her pain for the rest of her life.

• She became known for her self-portraits, often giving an unflinching look at the pain in her life.
• The DMA exhibit pairs Kahlo's paintings and sketches with photographs from her childhood to her final days, including sketches hinting at her feelings after undergoing an abortion.

💭 Our thought bubble: Though relatively small, the exhibit is a concise and moving look at some details even Kahlo's biggest fans might not know.

• The display walks the viewer through each stage of her life, leaving you feeling grieved that it ended so soon.

What's next: Admission to the Kahlo is exhibit free this Sunday. The museum is hosting a community day Feb. 16, when the exhibit will also be free to visitors.

• Tickets are normally $20.

🚨 Dr. Phil, who films his TV show in Fort Worth, joined U.S. immigration officers during a crackdown operation in Chicago. (DMN)

🔎 Fort Worth ISD is investigating a social media post allegedly written by a substitute teacher telling immigration officials to raid a high school. (Star-Telegram)

💰 Gov. Greg Abbott is asking the federal government for more than $11 billion in reimbursements for border security operations and wall construction since 2021. (Texas Tribune)

⚖️ Anti-transgender activists are declaring a win after federal prosecutors dropped charges against a Dallas surgeon accused of leaking medical records of underage patients receiving gender-related care. (KERA)

Today's taco taste test takes us to a casual Mexican restaurant in the Toyota Music Factory area.

The intrigue: Pick between traditional tacos or twists on birria, including birria bombs, birria ramen and a birriamelt.

What to order: Cecina taco — steak, grilled onions and queso fresco on a corn tortilla.

Where: Pacheco Taco Bar, 310 W. Las Colinas Blvd., in Irving.

Cost: $5.50 for each taco.

Six-word review: Cancel the calories, walk the canals.

🤔 Know a great taco we should try? Hit reply and let us know.