🏙️ Texas Wins Big: What Google’s $1.4B Settlement Means for CRE 🏢

New🌐 Google’s $1.4B Settlement Could Unlock CRE Development in Texas 🚧 Blog Post

May 12, 2025•2 min read

🌐 Google’s $1.4B Settlement Could Unlock CRE Development in Texas 🚧

🏙️ Texas Wins Big: What Google’s $1.4B Settlement Means for CRE 🏢

Texas Scores $1.4B from Google—Here’s Why It Could Be a Game-Changer for Commercial Real Estate

The Lone Star State just landed one of the largest data privacy settlements in U.S. history. On May 9, 2025, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced that Google has agreed to pay $1.375 billion to settle allegations of unlawfully tracking and collecting personal data from Texas residents. It follows a similar settlement with Meta in 2024 for the same amount.

💡 But here's what business owners, commercial developers, and CRE investors should really pay attention to: this influx of funds—and the privacy precedent it sets—could spark significant momentum in Texas’s commercial real estate market.

💰 Where Could the Money Go?

While details on how the funds will be allocated are still emerging, past settlements have been used for:

Economic development grants
Infrastructure modernization
Digital literacy and broadband expansion
Privacy and data protection initiatives

Each of these areas intersects with commercial real estate. Whether it’s new tech hubs, retail adaptations for digital-first users, or privacy-compliant workspaces, we expect a ripple effect throughout the CRE sector—especially in fast-growing regions like Katy, Fulshear, and Houston.

🧩 Why This Matters to CRE Stakeholders

Data Security as a Location Driver: Office tenants, particularly in tech and finance, increasingly prioritize secure infrastructure. This case may nudge landlords to upgrade.
Potential Grant Opportunities: Developers could benefit from public-private partnerships as the state reallocates funds toward tech-forward infrastructure or small business programs.
Shifting Consumer Behavior: Users are more aware of how their data is tracked. Expect higher demand for spaces that support encrypted transactions and privacy-centric design.

The message is clear: As Texas puts Big Tech on notice, commercial real estate could see both direct and indirect benefits.

📚 Original article source: CNBC – Google agrees to pay Texas $1.4 billion in data privacy settlement

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Bill Rapp, CRE Broker

I am a Houston commercial broker, with residential experience, as well as a lending background. I have been in the real estate industry for 14 years and counting, and I have worked in many roles within the industry and each has given me a unique perspective of the industry as a whole. My dedication to clients is rooted in this industry knowledge, but also includes my desire to go the extra mile in networking to source off market opportunities for my clients. Me and my team at eXp Commercial have a cutting-edge technology package that gets the widest exposure for each transaction. eXp Commercial offers a nationwide network through which we can deliver the best exposure and professional advice to achieve our clients’ goals while also minimizing their risk. Clients appreciate my methodical method of discovery in our initial consultation. Through which we can get to know each other and their specific’s business’s needs and objectives on a granular level. Our processes help navigate each transaction and its potential pitfalls through to a successful outcome for our clients. It is my stated goal to provide our clients with extensive market analysis and expertise that fosters innovative solutions and rewarding commercial real estate opportunities.

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