Housing headlines in Texas tend to be about Texas. But the forces moving our market (interest rates, inflation, energy prices and where wealth is flowing) are global, and it helps to see how other markets are handling them.
The big picture
Knight Frank, the London-based property consultancy, tracks prime (top-end) residential prices in about 47 major cities. In its Prime Global Cities Index for the second quarter of 2026, prices rose 2.6% on average over the previous year, up from 2.0% in the first quarter but below the 3.0% pace of a year earlier. Thirty-two of the 47 cities posted annual gains; fifteen saw declines.
Knight Frank's broader index of mainstream house prices across 55 countries told a similar story earlier in the year: growth of about 1.4% in the year to the first quarter of 2026, its weakest since 2024, although most countries were still positive.
The leaders
| City | Prime prices, year to Q2 2026 |
|---|---|
| Tokyo | +50.7% |
| Manila | +14.6% |
| Dubai | +10.9% |
| Singapore | +9.5% |
| Nairobi | +8.5% |
Tokyo's jump is extraordinary, and Knight Frank cautions that the market has been volatile, with a strong rebound in the second quarter following a dip in the first. Asian cities dominate the top of the table overall.
The laggards
| City | Prime prices, year to Q2 2026 |
|---|---|
| Beijing | −8.4% |
| Toronto | −7.3% |
| Wellington | −5.4% |
| Shanghai | −4.9% |
| Auckland | −3.8% |
Mainland China's long property slump continues, though Knight Frank sees early signs of stabilisation in some cities. Canada and New Zealand, where many borrowers face shorter fixed-rate terms and feel rate increases sooner, are also near the bottom. London was down 3.6%.
How U.S. cities compare
Among U.S. cities in the index, San Francisco led with prime prices up 5.0%, followed by Miami at 3.9% and Los Angeles at 1.4%. New York was slightly negative at −0.4%. Texas cities are not part of this index, but the comparison is useful: the U.S. top end is growing modestly, not booming or busting.
Why it matters in Fort Worth
Knight Frank's research team points to local supply, currency moves, wealth creation and interest rates as the factors deciding which cities rise or fall. Fort Worth has several of those working for it: steady job and population growth, no state income tax, and more room to build than most coastal cities. Rates are the headwind here, as they are almost everywhere.
For sellers, the lesson from markets around the world is the same as the lesson at home: where buyers have more choice, pricing and presentation decide who sells. For a look at the local picture, see our fall Texas market update.