Buying a Home Near a Data Center? Here’s What North Texas Buyers Should Know

When you're shopping for a home, there are a lot of things you probably think about before you ever consider a data center.

How are the schools?
How long will the commute be?
Is there enough space for the family?
What restaurants and shopping are nearby?

But these days, there's another question North Texas homebuyers may want to add to the list:

What's being built nearby?

Data centers are becoming a much bigger part of the North Texas landscape, and that means buyers and homeowners may encounter them when they're researching a neighborhood, looking at a particular property or hearing about future development.

In fact, this isn't just something happening somewhere else in Texas.

It's happening right here.

North Texas Is Becoming a Major Data Center Market

Data centers aren't new to North Texas. The region has had major technology and telecommunications infrastructure for years.

What's changing is the scale and pace of new development.

A recent survey from the North Central Texas Council of Governments found that nearly two-thirds of the 31 North Texas cities and counties that responded have either approved a data center within the past 10 years or are actively considering one.

Even more interesting, 78% of those respondents said they disagreed or strongly disagreed that their existing infrastructure could support additional data center development without major upgrades.

That's why this has become more than a technology story.

It's a community and real estate story, too.

And if you live in or are considering moving to Mansfield, Texas, Arlington, Texas, Midlothian, Texas, Fort Worth, Texas or another growing North Texas community, it's worth understanding what that development could mean.

Mansfield, Texas, Is Already Part of the Conversation

If you live in Mansfield, you've probably heard some of the discussion surrounding data-center development.

The City of Mansfield approved a zoning change in 2024 for approximately 26.9 acres at the northeast corner of Heritage Parkway South and Britton Road for a data center. The city subsequently approved a development agreement with Aligned Data Centers.

The project is significant. State records describe a roughly 429,600-square-foot, two-story data center with an exterior generator yard at 3801 Britton Road.

So for someone shopping for a home in Mansfield, this isn't simply a hypothetical question.

Development like this can actually affect the decisions buyers are making today.

That doesn't mean every buyer should automatically rule out a property because a data center is nearby.

It means you should know what you're buying into.

Will a Data Center Hurt Your Home's Value?

This is probably the biggest question homeowners have.

And the answer isn't as simple as yes or no.

The available research does not show that simply having a data center in your ZIP code automatically causes home values to fall.

That makes sense when you think about how real estate works.

A data center several miles away is a very different situation from having a large facility directly behind your neighborhood.

A property with a view of a large industrial facility may be perceived differently from one that's close to a data center but separated by roads, commercial property or substantial open space.

And a new facility that's part of a larger development corridor may have a different impact than one that's surrounded by established residential neighborhoods.

Proximity and context matter.

That's why I wouldn't make a blanket statement that a data center is either “good” or “bad” for property values.

Instead, I'd want to know exactly where the facility is, what is planned for the site and what surrounds it.

There Can Be Benefits, Too

It's easy to focus on the concerns—and there are legitimate ones—but large developments can also bring benefits to a community.

Data centers can contribute to economic activity and property-tax revenue. They can also require improvements to roads, power infrastructure, fiber networks and other systems.

Those improvements don't necessarily benefit only the data center.

And North Texas is experiencing a tremendous amount of growth already. New infrastructure is part of what comes with that growth.

The important question is whether the infrastructure and development are being planned in a way that makes sense for the surrounding community.

That's a much more useful question than simply asking whether data centers are “good” or “bad.”

But There Are Things Buyers Should Pay Attention To

If you're considering a home near an existing or proposed data center, there are a few things I would want you to investigate.

Noise

Data centers have cooling systems, backup generators and other equipment that can produce noise.

That doesn't mean every facility will create a noticeable noise problem for nearby homeowners.

But if you're considering a property close to one, go see the property at different times of day and find out what the surrounding environment actually sounds like.

Traffic and Construction

Construction can temporarily change the character of an area.

Depending on the project, you could be dealing with construction vehicles, road improvements and other activity for an extended period.

Ask what the construction timeline looks like and what improvements are planned.

Power Infrastructure

This is one of the biggest issues being discussed across North Texas.

The NCTCOG survey found widespread concern among local governments about the infrastructure demands associated with data-center growth.

At the same time, I would be careful about telling a buyer, “A data center nearby means your electric bill is going to go up.”

It isn't that simple.

Electricity demand is increasing across the country, and data centers are one contributor. The U.S. Energy Information Administration expects U.S. electricity consumption to reach record levels in 2026 and 2027, with data-center growth among the factors driving increased demand.

But the effect on an individual homeowner's utility bill depends on the local utility, infrastructure investments, rate structure and a number of other factors.

So this is something to investigate—not something to assume.

Future Development

This may actually be the most important question of all.

A data center may be only one part of a much larger development plan.

What is going around it?

Are there additional commercial projects planned?
New roads?
Power infrastructure?
Industrial development?
Residential neighborhoods?

When I'm helping someone evaluate a home, I want them to think about what the neighborhood could look like five or ten years from now, not just what they see from the driveway today.

Arlington, Texas, Is Another Example

Data centers aren't limited to Mansfield.

Arlington, Texas, already has several data-center facilities, and public records also show additional proposed data-center-related development.

That's important for buyers because Arlington is such a diverse market.

A home near a technology or commercial corridor may have a very different development outlook than a home in an established residential neighborhood.

This is one reason I don't think buyers should make a decision based solely on a map showing a data center somewhere in the general area.

You need to understand the specific property and what's immediately around it.

What Should Buyers Do Before Making an Offer?

If you're buying a home in North Texas, I recommend adding one more step to your normal due diligence:

Look beyond the property lines.

Before you fall in love with a house, check:

• What's already operating nearby?

• Are there approved development projects nearby?

• Are there zoning cases that could change the surrounding land use?

• Are there proposed data centers or other large developments?

• What road or infrastructure improvements are planned?

• How close would the facility actually be to the property?

• Could you see or hear the facility from the home?

• What does the city's future land-use plan show?

This is especially important in fast-growing communities like Mansfield, Texas, where today's undeveloped land can look very different a few years from now.

The City of Mansfield provides a development-project map that allows residents to research proposed and active development projects around the community.

And that's exactly the kind of information I want my buyers to understand before they make a major purchase.

What If You're Selling a Home Near a Data Center?

If you're already a homeowner and a data center is being built nearby, don't automatically assume your home's value is going to drop.

But don't ignore buyers' questions, either.

If a buyer is concerned about the facility, they'll want answers.

Being able to explain the location, development timeline, surrounding land uses and what you know about the project can help take some of the uncertainty out of the conversation.

And when it's time to sell, your home's value should be based on the actual market evidence for comparable properties, not on assumptions about what a particular development might do.

That's where having an agent who understands the local market can make a difference.

The Bottom Line

Data centers are becoming another part of the North Texas growth story.

For buyers, that means it's worth looking beyond the house itself and understanding what's happening around it.

For homeowners, it means not jumping to the conclusion that a nearby data center will automatically hurt—or help—your property value.

There are too many variables for a one-size-fits-all answer.

If you're considering buying or selling in Mansfield, Arlington or another North Texas community where major development is happening, I'd be happy to help you look beyond the listing photos and understand what's happening around the property.

Because when you're buying a home, where you live isn't just about the house. It's about everything around it, too.

Source & Attribution

This article was inspired by information originally published by Keeping Current Matters (KCM) and incorporates current information from the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG), U.S. Energy Information Administration, City of Mansfield, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, and City of Arlington. Development plans and infrastructure projects can change, so buyers should verify current information before making a real estate decision.