Houston

"I have not seen us write more than two offers before getting an acceptance, whereas before it was writing offer after offer after offer," said Houston real estate broker LaTisha Grant.

While you may be hard pressed to find the Houston Ship Channel on anybody’s bucket list, this 110-year-old dredging work is critical to U.S. oil and gas exports and has a free guided boat tour that’s been around since 1958.

More severe weather events means higher rates and more Texans forced into state insurance plans.

The project would cut the Dallas-to-Houston trip to 90 minutes. It’s one of a few high-speed rail projects that’s been getting attention lately.

Immigrants from El Salvador clustered in major cities often work demanding, low-paying jobs that are hard to fill — like janitors.

Builder incentives like interest-rate buy-downs and the relative affordability of the area are big draws for prospective buyers.

"This market is just really wacky right now," says Houston-based broker LaTisha Grant.

The city has been lauded for getting people into homes. But higher housing costs and expiring funding may put programs in jeopardy.

"This particular job, one of the reasons I took it is because I knew that you'd never stop learning, and I find that really exciting," said Violet O'Brien, a notary in Houston.

The centers are home to small businesses selling niche products, foods and services that represent the city’s increasingly diverse population.