🌅 Rockwall County Doesn't Care What the Rest of DFW is Doing

by Cindy Dunnican

Welcome back to At Home with Cindy & Cory.

Spring has a way of moving fast around here — and this year, it didn't wait.

The April housing numbers are in. Two homes we 💙 love just hit the market. A 267-acre development is coming to Fate. And in our house, we're celebrating a few things that have nothing to do with real estate and everything to do with what home is really about.

Whether you're buying, selling, or just keeping an eye on the market — there's a lot worth knowing this week.

Inside this edition:

🗓️ Around the Neighborhood: John Cusack, Wildflower, and the Nasher — all this weekend
📈 What We're Seeing: The April market data — and why Rockwall County stands out
🏡 Homes of the Month: An established Wylie community and a lakefront neighborhood
🚧 What's Being Built: The little town of Fate has a lot of BIG things happening: Lafayette Crossing and Monterra
❤️ What We're Loving: A movie, a countdown, and a family milestone

We’re Glad You’re Here! ❤️

AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD

John Cusack is in Dallas. Wildflower is in Richardson. Your weekend is sorted.

If you don't have plans yet, you do now — all three of these are happening this weekend.

🎸 Wildflower! Arts & Music Festival | Richardson More than 50 bands across multiple stages, spread across Galatyn Park in Richardson. This is one of the biggest music festivals in North Texas, and it's the kind of full-day outing that works whether you go with family, friends, or just yourself and a lawn chair.

📍 Where: Galatyn Park Urban Center at Eisemann Center
📅 When: May 15th through 17th

🎬 John Cusack: High Fidelity | AT&T Performing Arts Center, Dallas A live screening of High Fidelity followed by an on-stage conversation with John Cusack. High Fidelity is one of those films that defined a generation - a certified classic. Catching it on the big screen with Cusack in the room to talk about it? That's worth the drive.

📍 Where: Winspear Opera House, Dallas Arts District
📅 When: May 14th 7:30pm

🎨 Nasher Sculpture Center | Dallas The Nasher is one of those places that rewards a slower afternoon. Their current programming is worth checking out — it's the kind of cultural anchor Dallas doesn't always get enough credit for.

📍 Where: Nasher Sculpture Center, Dallas
📅 When: May 15th 6:00pm ‘til Midnight, Admission is Free - Movie starts at 9:15pm

Also worth noting: Halperin Park is opening in Dallas this month — a new addition to the city's parks system that D Magazine covered ahead of its May opening. Worth a look if you're in the area.

WHAT WE'RE SEEING

The April market data is in — and one number tells the whole story

Across most of the DFW Metroplex, median home prices softened in April compared to a year ago. Dallas County fell 4.7% to $366,800. Collin County came in at $463,900, down 3.4%. Hunt County dropped 3.5%. Kaufman County fell 3.9%. Across the full DFW Metroplex, the median landed at $390,000, down 2.3% from April 2025.

Rockwall County went in the opposite direction.

The median sale price hit $457,000 in April — up 8.8% year-over-year. Active inventory rose 10.7% to 1,217 homes, and closed sales edged up 0.9% to 217. The most active price range in the county: $500,000–$749,999, which accounted for 28% of all closed sales.

Here's what that means in plain terms. For sellers in Rockwall County, the data is working in your favor — but preparation still matters. Homes that are priced at market value and presented well are moving fast. We've had several go under contract in less than a week over the past 60 days. That combination — right price, right presentation — is still the formula that works.

For buyers, the broader Metroplex is giving you more breathing room than it did 12 months ago. More choices, more time, and in most markets, more negotiating room. Rockwall, though, remains competitive and isn't softening the way neighboring counties are.

Source: MetroTex Association of Realtors, April 2026 Housing Reports

FEATURED HOMES OF THE WEEK

Two homes worth a closer look…

331 Sage Meadow Road in Dominion of Pleasant Valley

🏠 331 Sage Meadow | Dominion of Pleasant Valley, Wylie $819,000

Some homes are designed around square footage. This one was designed around the way people actually live. The floor-to-ceiling fireplace, two-story family room, and kitchen built for real entertaining set the tone inside — but it's the outdoor setup that stays with you: a covered patio with a built-in fireplace and grill, plus a cedar cabana with privacy louvers and a dedicated dining space that functions like a second living room. The pie-shaped cul-de-sac lot makes the backyard feel bigger than the numbers suggest, and the layout — game room, media room with tiered seating, main-level owner's suite — gives every phase of life somewhere to land. View this home →

This could be YOUR backyard!

🌊 3422 Mallard Park | Mallard Cove on Lake Ray Hubbard $750,000

Mallard Cove is just two cul-de-sacs — and homes here almost never come up for sale. This Dutch Colonial–inspired custom sits on a lakefront lot backing to Corps of Engineers property, with Lake Ray Hubbard views from the family room, casual dining area, den, and owner's suite. The covered back patio looks out over mature trees and open water, the sunsets are the kind you take photos of, and the backyard has direct water access with a paddle boat, canoes, and kayaks included. Inside, the updates are thoughtful — limewashed brick exterior, renovated kitchen with a Viking gas range, a clawfoot tub in the owner's bath, custom built-ins, and a flexible lake-view den downstairs that works as an office, guest room, or second living space. The location is quiet without being remote: easy I-30 access, minutes from George Bush, and all the conveniences of Rowlett just down the road. This one is as rare as it sounds. View this home →

WHAT'S BEING BUILT

The little town of Fate has a lot of BIG things happening…

The east side of Rockwall County is moving fast — and Fate may be the city most worth paying attention to.

Lafayette Crossing | If you've been watching Rockwall County grow, this one belongs on your radar.

Lafayette Crossing is a 267-acre mixed-use development coming to the City of Fate along Interstate 30. The phased project — designed to build out over 15 to 20 years — includes a commercial and business district, a mixed-use core with retail and restaurants, a full-service grocery store, hotel, office space, and nearly 50 acres of parks, trails, and event greenspace. A residential district on the east side will incorporate a range of housing options, from single-family homes to townhomes and condos.

This isn't a quick-build development. It's a long-term investment in Fate's identity as a real destination — one the city's leadership has been deliberately planning. When Mayor David Billings described it as "a one-of-a-kind project" built for "a prosperous future for generations to come," it didn't sound like boilerplate. It sounded like a city that knows what it wants to become.

Monterra | Fate's newest master-planned community

Fate has been building momentum for a while — Monterra is what that looks like on the ground.

This master-planned community brings a resort-style pool with shade cabanas and a splash pad, pickleball courts, a basketball court, playgrounds, and miles of hike and bike trails to the rolling terrain just east of Rockwall. Builders include Highland Homes, Grand Homes, David Weekley, and K. Hovnanian, with homes priced from the mid-$400s into the upper $800s on 50-, 60-, and 70-foot lots.

It's zoned to Rockwall ISD, sits about five miles east of downtown Rockwall with easy I-30 access, and has Lake Ray Hubbard just minutes away. For buyers looking for new construction in Rockwall County at a range of price points — this one is worth a visit.

For buyers watching the eastern Metroplex corridor — and for anyone who already owns in Rockwall County — both of these projects are exactly the type of signal that supports long-term value.

WHAT WE'RE LOVING

We just finished watching Remarkably Bright Creatures on Netflix — Sally Field is extraordinary in it — and we cannot stop talking about it. It's the kind of film that moves quietly but stays with you long after it's over. If you're looking for something to watch this weekend that isn't loud or chaotic, this is our recommendation without hesitation.

Cory and I are counting down to Taylor Sheridan's new series, Dutton Ranch, premiering May 15th. If Yellowstone was your thing, you already know. If you've somehow missed it — well, there's still a little time.

And we have some family news worth celebrating. Our son Michael is graduating Magna Cum Laude from Texas Tech on May 15th with a degree in Civil Engineering. We are beyond proud — that's an understatement. And our daughter Laura is stepping into her first sabbatical in seven years. She's been doing extraordinary work in global missions with Launch Global at The Village Church in Flower Mound, and she has earned every day of rest that's coming to her. We're grateful for both of them, and it's been a full, good season in our house.

Ready to know what your home is worth right now?

Rockwall County prices are up 8.8% year-over-year — but every home is different, and the market varies by neighborhood and price point. If you'd like a straightforward look at what yours could sell for in today's conditions, reach out. No pressure, no pitch — just the numbers.

See what your home is worth →

Call/Text Cindy & Cory directly at 972-679-1789.

Thank you for reading this month’s edition of At Home with Cindy & Cory.

Whether you're staying put this year or quietly thinking about what's next, we hope this gave you a helpful snapshot of what's happening around DFW and what opportunities might be taking shape.

As always, we're here to answer questions, share perspectives, or just talk through what makes sense for you and your family.

We’ll see you right back here next month!

Warmly,