On this episode of Dallas Dirt, host Candy Evans engages with Phillip Huffines, President and CEO co-owner of Huffines Communities, to discuss his journey from selling fireworks to becoming a notable figure in North Texas real estate development. Huffines provides a candid look into building communities, addressing challenges, and understanding the nuances of the real estate industry.

One candid take — Huffines said that city regulations and impact fees — are one-time charges levied by local governments on new development projects to help fund capital improvements and facility expansions necessitated by the growth like roads, schools, police and fire, and parks — can add as much as $30,000 to the price of a home. 

This episode of Dallas Dirt offers a closer look at the complexities of real estate development through the lens of Phillip Huffines. The discussion underscores the interplay of regulations, market forces, and community planning in shaping North Texas's housing landscape.

On this episode of Dallas Dirt, host Candy Evans takes listeners on a journey to the Texas Gulf Coast to discover Cinnamon Shore, a premier vacation home community in Port Aransas, Texas, with mother-and-daughter team Lee Ann Peters and Jodi Peters. At this luxury vacation rental and homeowner community on Mustang Island, palm trees line the sidewalks and bright flora dot the community, 

Learn about Cinnamon Shore's unique charm, its inspiration from Florida's 30A, and how it has grown into a sought-after destination for Texans. The Peters share their journey from Atlanta to Texas, and the coastal lifestyle at Cinnamon Shore, including walkable neighborhoods, top-notch amenities, and sustainable building practices. 

The episode highlights the community's development phases, the impact of events like Hurricane Harvey and COVID-19, and future growth plans, all while maintaining the quaint, seaside village feel of Port Aransas.

On this episode of Dallas Dirt, host April Towery sat down with members of a grassroots coalition to bring affordable housing solutions to the spotlight — Bryan Tony, organizing board chair of the Dallas Housing Coalition, and Ashley Brundage, board chair and CEO of Dallas-Area Habitat for Humanity. 

The Dallas Housing Coalition was formed back in June 2023, when more than 75 grassroots organizations joined forces to convince the Dallas City Council to allot $200 million for housing in the 2024 bond election. Ultimately, voters approved $82M across three propositions and the Coalition has grown to more than 245 organizations and individuals.

Tony presented a stark picture of the housing deficit, citing data from the Child Poverty Action Lab and other research institutions. The studies reveal a shortfall of nearly 40,000 housing units for families earning less than 50% of the area median income — a gap that continues to drive housing costs upwards. Brundage echoed the need for diverse housing options to cater to all income levels and individuals at various life stages. "We have to create more housing," she said.

In this episode of Dallas Dirt, host April Towery sat down with Jamee Jolly, President and CEO of The Real Estate Council (TREC), to discuss the unique dynamics of Dallas's commercial real estate market, the importance of community involvement, and TREC's role in shaping the city's future.

Jolly, who took the reigns at TREC just two and a half months ago, returns to the organization after a stint at Uptown Dallas Inc. TREC stands as a trade association for commercial real estate in North Texas, representing developers, banks, title companies, and more. She explains the role of TREC, its symbiotic relationship with the City of Dallas, and why digital kiosks on sidewalks are just a bad idea.

On this episode of Dallas Dirt, host Candy Evans sat down with Dallas City Councilmember Omar Narvaez to dive into some of the biggest developments shaping the city. From game-changing transportation projects to innovative urban planning, Narvaez shared his perspective on what’s driving Dallas forward and the challenges that come with growth.

High-Speed Rail: Bridging Dallas and Houston

One of the standout topics was the high-speed rail project, a transformative initiative Narvaez says could reshape the region. “Dallas has accomplished something no other city in Texas has,” he said, pointing to how the city is learning from Japan’s successful transportation-oriented developments.

The rail line aims to connect Dallas and Houston with a fast, efficient, and environmentally friendly option, slashing commute times and easing traffic. “We’re talking about taking 12,000 vehicles off I-45 daily,” Narvaez said, noting that the electric trains will deliver zero emissions. “It’s going to be a game-changer.”

Urban Growth and Green Space

Narvaez also highlighted urban development projects and efforts to expand green spaces. Dallas now boasts the top park system in Texas, a designation bolstered by projects like Klyde Warren Park’s expansion. “We secured federal funding for it, and now other cities are looking at us as the blueprint,” he said.

On housing, Narvaez called for changes to state laws to support more diverse and sustainable options like condominiums. “We need to build denser and smarter,” he explained, emphasizing the importance of infrastructure upgrades to meet the demands of a growing population.

Narvaez envisions Dallas as not just a city keeping pace with innovation but one setting the standard for urban living. “We’re at the top of our game,” he said. “And we’re just getting started.”

In this episode of Dallas Dirt, host Candy Evans sits down with Leo Amaya, Vice President of Crescent Estates Custom Homes, to explore the allure and evolution of luxury homes in Dallas. They discuss standout projects like the Crespi Estates and the Julian, as well as the market trends driving demand, including multi-generational living and the meticulous details that set these custom homes apart.

If you're not familiar with Crescent Estates, you no doubt know its parent company, Centurion American, known for transformative projects like the Cabana Hotel, the Statler, and the Collin Creek Mall redevelopment. However, Crescent Estates focuses on crafting custom-built homes—many of which have been spotlighted on CandysDirt.com.
Highlights

03:47 Starting a Career in Real Estate
06:23 Crescent Estates Custom Homes: Current Projects
07:45 The Crespi Estates: A Historical Gem
11:06 Designing Luxury Homes: The Details Matter
16:36 Who's Eyeing This House?
17:19 Generational Homes: The New Trend
20:16 Real Estate Market Predictions
22:11 Turtle Creek and Uptown Developments
23:29 The Julian: A Luxury Highrise

 This episode of Dallas Dirt is seemingly a little different. Lately, we've been interviewing real estate leaders, city council members, and real estate developers, but our guest this week is John Botefuhr — an East Dallas resident who's been on several citizen advisory boards for projects spanning from Vision Garland Road to a Deep Ellum TIF. On this episode, John discusses some of the housing density issues that face Dallas and shares why he thinks all this contention led to a better-educated citizenship in Dallas. 

On this episode of Dallas Dirt, Candy Evans sat down with Carolyn Rosson, President and CEO of the Ebby Halliday Companies, the largest brokerage in Texas. This episode dives into Carolyn's inspiring rise from agent to CEO, her experiences under the mentorship of Ebby Halliday, and how she continues to elevate her agents in today's market. Learn the importance of community engagement, mentorship, and local knowledge in real estate. Discover how tailored training programs, mastermind groups, and educational events like the EHC Summit foster agent success. 

In a recent episode of Dallas Dirt, host April Towery sat down with Paul Ridley, the District 14 Dallas City Councilman, to unpack the newly approved ForwardDallas comprehensive land use plan, why Dallas needs more housing — of all kinds, and his plans for re-election. 

In this episode of Dallas Dirt, Candy Evans sits down with Abteen Vaziri, founder and CEO of Uptown Companies Incorporated, and a recent New York transplant on a mission to transform Dallas's real estate landscape. 

Vaziri's explains the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, designed to stimulate the U.S. economy through job creation and capital investment by foreign investors. 

Vaziri also discusses the dynamic between public and private sectors in fostering real estate growth. He highlights successful models of public-private partnerships like the resurgence of the Statler Hotel project that benefitted from multiple funding sources, including EB-5 financing and historical tax credits.