Everything’s bigger in Texas, including home size

Achieving the American dream is no longer about owning a home, it’s about owning the biggest home.

Based on findings in Trulia’s recent study, this dream can become a reality for homebuyers in nearly every Texas market.

From entry-level to luxury homes, the Texas real estate market offers plenty of room to roam. But how many homebuyers are actually looking for a bigger home? As it turns out, more living space is highly desired by prospective buyers today — and not only for Texans, but for many others Americans.

When Trulia polled the country last year, it found that 43 percent of Americans prefer a bigger home. Of those Americans polled, a whopping 63 percent of millennials shared their desire for a larger home. Knowing that more space is a high priority for home shoppers, Trulia sought out the U.S. metros with the largest entry-level, trade-up and premium homes.

The findings confirm that everything is, in fact, bigger in Texas. Metros like Austin, Dallas and Houston boast some of the highest marks in median square feet. Trulia breaks up real estate market into three segments: starter homes, trade-up homes and premium homes, and the Lone Star State metros are top contenders in each category.

While buyers will easily find spacious homes in any Texas market, Houston offers the best opportunity for all price ranges. Not only does Houston offer ample space for starter home buyers, but a high median square footage in every housing segment, also.

Entry-level buyers

Entry-level buyers, many of whom will be millennials looking to purchase their first home, won’t have a problem finding spacious starter homes in Austin. While Austin ranks first in the entry-level homes category with a 1,428 square foot median, Houston ranks fifth with a median of 1,320 square feet — only 108 square feet less than Austin.

Trade-up buyers

Of the top five trade-up metros with highest median square feet, three are in the Lone Star State. With Houston real estate topping the national list of trade-up square footage value, starter home-buyers will have an easy time upgrading their space in the Space City.

Entry-level buyers looking to trade up in Houston will see a 51.3 percent space gain, with Houston’s trade-up median square footage at 1,997. Close behind is Dallas, in third with a median of 1,900 square feet, while Austin boasts 1,893 square feet.

Premium buyers

Living large in Texas guarantees that homes with a larger price tag will come with large amounts of space. Although a non-Texas metro, Colorado Springs, CO, comes in first in this category, Dallas premium homes hold second place, with a median of 2,945 square feet. Houston premium homes average 2,869 square feet, making it the metro with the fourth largest sized homes.

With the new generation of homebuyers especially interested in larger homes, Austin gives these entry-level buyers the best opportunity, whereas Dallas offers premium buyers an opportunity to easily upgrade. However, Houston’s diverse market makes the dream of a larger home achievable for every buyer.

Sam Brennan is a writer for Trulia.