For millionaire business owner Frederic Lepoutre, the decision to move his family from the South Florida coast to Texas Hill Country wasn’t just about a change of scenery — it was a lesson in efficiency.

While building a custom home in a place like Broward County can be a yearslong odyssey of red tape and soaring insurance premiums, Lepoutre saw his 11-acre Texas estate go from breaking ground to move-in ready in just over 12 months. 

With an initial property tax bill of just $8 on his land and insurance costs one-fifth of what he’s paid for decades in the Sunshine State, Lepoutre is part of a growing wave of high-net-worth individuals proving that, in 2026, the Lone Star State isn’t just winning on taxes — it’s winning on speed.

“I think it already has [surpassed Florida as the center of gravity],” Lepoutre told Fox News Digital. “First of all, you have the land for manufacturing. You don’t have it here in Florida… it’s a huge state… and part of West Texas now, you hear about AI factories that are building up.”

“I think it will if it hasn’t already,” Lepoutre’s wife, Lynn Lepoutre, also said.

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“Americans are voting with their feet. They want places that are livable. They want places that are workable. They want places that are sustainable and affordable,” Texas REALTORS Chair Jennifer Wauhob told Fox News Digital. “And so I think this migration, as we call it, is really turning into a long-term shift.”

A growing wealth and population migration to Texas “does not feel episodic,” according to Texas REALTORS Chair Jennifer Wauhob. (Getty Images)

Recent data from Texas REALTORS shows that one-third of new residents are coming from California, Florida, New York and Colorado, with 30% of interstate movers choosing to relocate to Dallas. Texas’ median home price currently sits at $335,000, below the national average of about $415,000.

While younger workers and families may flock to bigger cities and their suburbs, the semi-retired Lepoutres – who oversee National Textile and Apparel and invest in oil and gas – purchased their land in a remote area near Bandera and Kerrville, a few hours’ drive west of San Antonio. They had to purchase at least 10 acres per a county minimum mandate, and bought the land three years ago for $26,000 per acre.

Plans for a second home were long in the works, and Texas not only provided enough land for their project, but Lepoutre claimed the initial tax bill with agricultural exemptions was $8 per year (while the home itself awaits formal assessment) and the regulatory environment allowed for quick construction turnaround.

“It takes three years to build a house here. It took us one year from literally getting the ground ready to moving in. In Texas, it took us one year, and the only permit we needed was for the water well and the sewer system,” Lepoutre said. “It’s the opposite [of Florida]. It’s a total 180.”

“The highways, the infrastructure, they’re quick. They move fast. There’s no resting on their laurels,” Lynn said. “If they’re building a highway, it’s finished. They get it from start to finish quickly.”

“We were looking for peace, quiet, tranquility, privacy and a slower pace,” Lynn added. “When we were looking online [at homes], it’s either an older home, and we wanted to build a house together. We already pretty much knew exactly what our design would be. You couldn’t find that [anywhere].”

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Their new home is off-grid enough that they had to build a private 600-foot water well and switchback mountain-style driveway, which makes package delivery a “nightmare” as items are often left at the bottom and must be retrieved by four-wheel drive. Additionally, there’s a remote-specific helicopter ambulance service membership that’s offered due to their rural location.

“We wanted to be somewhere where you can look at the stars at night and not see one light. You can’t see your neighbors. The trees are still low enough where you can see out, the view from our house now is 40 miles,” Lepoutre said. “It’s very rare to see properties like this in America anymore.”

“I’ve been [in Florida] since ‘88, so I’m ready for the change, and I just like the way of life in Texas and the people in Texas, and it’s just a nice, refreshing place to be,” Lynn said. “Everything’s bigger in Texas.”

“What we’re seeing with this migration of all these people moving to our state is, it’s creating a really steady demand for housing, and that spans to all levels. We’re seeing a demand for entry-level housing, and we’re still seeing a strong demand for luxury-level housing. So it’s, right now, a really balanced, healthy market,” Wauhob noted, “and all these people coming in here, it’s just creating good things for Texas.”

“If you don’t like sitting at a saloon or a bar or a restaurant… and you don’t like to be talked to, don’t move to Texas.”

– Frederic Lepoutre

“I am a native Texan, but I did spend some time moving around the country for my husband’s job. And I can say, having to live in other states, people who move here, they are very happy with how far their housing dollar goes,” she continued.

As more and more companies dual-list on the NYSE Texas, Texas is also seeing executive relocations happen in waves. Wauhob briefly discussed how REALTORS work with state economic development teams to ensure there is enough housing to meet the rising residential and corporate demands.

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“We’re really trying to be proactive. We don’t wanna be trying to catch up after all these people get here. We wanna think ahead, plan ahead, and make sure that when people get there, we have infrastructure in place and we have healthy communities for them to move into,” the chair said.

“I would say this does not feel episodic to me. If you look at the data, this has been going on for several years in a row now,” Wauhob expanded. “We have a steady flow of people coming here. We’re not seeing big surges, which is a great thing because we wanna have slow, steady growth. So to me, this is something to keep an eye on. I don’t think it’s gonna go away anytime soon… people are coming, and they’re not leaving.”

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Smartphones as Essential Infrastructure 

Smartphone access is no longer convenient. It has become an essential infrastructure for work, healthcare, education, and everyday communication. 

For many people, a smartphone is the primary way to access online services and stay connected. According to Pew Research Center, about 85% of U.S. adults own a smartphone, showing how widespread mobile technology has become.  

However, the center also reveals that the ownership and device quality still lag among lower-income households. Among adults earning under $30,000 per year, smartphone ownership drops around 76%, and many rely on older or less capable devices. 

This gap highlights an important reality: 

The digital divide is shaped not only by monthly service costs, but also by access to affordable, capable smartphones that can support modern digital needs. 

Affordability Gaps and the Lifeline Solution 

Lower-income households are significantly more likely to rely on smartphones as their primary or only internet connection, often without access to home broadband. In these households, a single device may be responsible for multiple aspect ò their life, from earning livings to access to support programs. 

Without affordable service and usable devices, these gateways have become limited. Dropped calls, incompatible apps, or slow performance can quickly turn into real-life barriers. 

That is why the federal Lifeline program exists. To help reduce this gap by lowering monthly phone or internet costs for eligible households that meet program requirements. Specifically, 

• Under the program, qualifying households may receive up to $9.25 per month toward phone or internet service, which can help offset ongoing connectivity expenses.  
• For eligible households on Tribal lands, enhanced Lifeline support may be available, reflecting the additional connectivity challenges these communities often face.
  

From Lifeline Support to Real Smartphone Access 

The government program itself does not distribute phones directly. Instead, licensed service providers use Lifeline-supported service to offer mobile access to applicants who are approved under program rules. 

Depending on eligibility, location, and available inventory, some applicants may encounter smartphone offers described as a free iPhone government phone, reflecting provider-led programs that pair Lifeline-supported service with devices offered at low or no upfront cost.  

In limited cases, providers may also offer iPhone models within the Lifeline framework, including free iPhone 11, subject to availability at the time of enrollment. 

In this context, “free” refers to low or zero upfront device cost when combined with Lifeline-supported service, not a direct government giveaway.  

Participating providers such as AirTalk Wireless assist with applications, service activation, and access to available devices, though models and terms vary and are never guaranteed. 

Why Affordable Smartphones Matter Beyond Connectivity and How to Apply 

For many lower-income users, smartphones are essential tools rather than optional devices. In fact, more than half of lower-income smartphone users say their phone is essential for accessing services and information. 

Affordable smartphones support everyday needs such as: 

• Job searching and employer communication 

• Telehealth visits and prescription access 

• School updates and family coordination 

• Emergency alerts and civic information 

Qualifying for Lifeline is typically based on income level or participation in certain government assistance programs. Households may qualify if:  

• Their income falls within program limits or  

• They participate in programs such as SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, or similar assistance initiatives. 

Applying usually involves selecting a participating provider, submitting basic personal information, and verifying eligibility.  

Once approved, applicants can choose from available service plans and device options offered by that provider, subject to location and inventory. 

Moving Forward

Lifelines continue to play an important role in reducing affordability barriers to essential connectivity.  

By lowering service costs and supporting access to affordable smartphones through participating providers, the program helps address persistent gaps in digital access. 

When service support is paired with capable devices, it enables more people to participate fully in work, education, healthcare, and modern digital life. 

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