The four largest cities in Texas account for more than one-third of the total single family permits in the last 12 months in the twenty largest housing markets in the US. Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Miami and Minneapolis dropped off the list months ago. Like many border states, Texas attracts lots of immigrants but it also is attracting domestic migrants from other states seeking jobs in new businesses or lower living and housing costs, says Reed Construction Data chief economist Jim Haughey.