FormFactor Farmers Branch Plant Opens: What 600+ Chip Jobs Mean for North Dallas Housing in 2026

The FormFactor Farmers Branch advanced manufacturing plant is now open. It is one of the biggest economic development wins in North Dallas in years. In November 2025, the City of Farmers Branch and FormFactor, Inc. (Nasdaq: FORM) announced that the company had started site work and equipment installation at a former cleanroom campus on Innovation Drive. By late October 2026 the ribbon was cut, and the plant has shipped its first production unit to a customer.

If you own a home in Farmers Branch, Carrollton, Addison, Coppell, Irving or Northwest Dallas, or you plan to buy, sell or rent there, this is worth understanding. Below we cover what FormFactor makes, what the company and public records actually say about jobs and investment, and where the plant fits in North Texas's fast-growing semiconductor cluster. We also look at current home prices nearby and what all of this could mean for your next move. Everything here is current as of November 2026.

Key Takeaways

• The plant is open. FormFactor announced the opening of its Farmers Branch facility on October 22, 2026. On its Q3 2026 earnings call, the company said it had qualified the plant's assembly and test operations and shipped its first production unit to a leading customer.
• Location: 4350 Innovation Drive, Farmers Branch, TX 75244, according to Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation records.
• Jobs: The Texas Governor's Office says the plant is expected to create more than 600 jobs. The city's economic development agreement says about 650 high-paying jobs, at an average annual wage of about $81,700.
• Investment: FormFactor paid $55 million for the site in 2025. It originally guided $140 million to $170 million of capital investment for 2026. The state awarded a $24.2 million Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund grant, and the city agreed to a grant of up to $2 million.
• Housing context: As of September 2026, Redfin median sale prices near the plant range from about $390,000 in Irving to about $637,000 in Coppell. Farmers Branch itself sits at about $410,000, nearly flat year over year.
• What it means for you: New, well-paid jobs can support housing demand over time, especially for homes and rentals with short commutes. But the plant is one factor among many, and it does not guarantee higher prices.

What FormFactor Does and Why Farmers Branch Matters

FormFactor is based in Livermore, California. It makes test and measurement technology for the semiconductor industry. Its core product is the probe card, a precision tool used to test chips while they are still on the silicon wafer, before they are cut apart and packaged. In the original announcement, CEO Mike Slessor described the company as "the world's leading supplier of advanced probe cards, which are used by global manufacturers of the logic and memory chips at the heart of AI revolution and data centers."

The November 12, 2025 release says FormFactor has "shipped billions of micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) probes to date and has an installed base of over 10,000 probe systems globally."

Why does this matter for North Texas? Probe cards sit at a key step in the chip supply chain. The Governor's Office said the Farmers Branch site "will enable production of FormFactor's core probe card products, which are components used to test integrated circuits during wafer-level manufacturing." Governor Greg Abbott added that the investment "fills a gap in the domestic semiconductor supply chain."

City leaders were just as direct. In the 2025 announcement, the Farmers Branch City Council called it "the most significant economic development in our city's recent history." Mayor Terry Lynne said it "validates Farmers Branch as a high-tech destination."

Why this site?

FormFactor did not build from scratch. On June 2, 2025, the company announced it had bought an existing Farmers Branch manufacturing site of four structures, including 50,000 square feet of cleanroom space, for $55 million. Slessor said it is "one of a handful of existing facilities in the U.S. that has a clean room and comes equipped with the infrastructure to meet our future manufacturing needs." Because the buildings and cleanroom already existed, the company was able to move from purchase to ribbon-cutting in a little over a year.

FormFactor Farmers Branch Project Fact Sheet

Project Timeline

A note on the numbers: the job and investment figures differ a little by source because they measure different things over different periods. "Over $140 million in 2026" is a one-year company figure. The $231 million in the city agreement is total equipment investment. The DBJ's "up to $230 million" lines up with that larger total. Hiring is expected to ramp over time, not arrive all at once.

The Bigger Picture: North Texas Is Becoming a Chip Hub

FormFactor is part of a larger wave. North Texas has deep semiconductor roots, and the past two years have added major new capacity:

• Texas Instruments has been in North Texas for nearly a century. On December 17, 2025, it began production at SM1, its new 300mm wafer fab in Sherman. TI says the Sherman site has plans for up to four connected fabs and could support "as many as 3,000 direct jobs."
• GlobalWafers America officially opened its 300mm silicon wafer plant in Sherman in May 2025.
• The Texas CHIPS Act, signed in 2023, created the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund that awarded FormFactor's $24.2 million grant, according to the Governor's Office.

What sets Farmers Branch apart is location. Sherman is about an hour north of Dallas. Farmers Branch sits inside the established North Dallas job corridor, close to Addison, Las Colinas, the Galleria area and DFW Airport. That means FormFactor workers can choose from a wide range of existing neighborhoods instead of one fast-growing exurb.

Location and Commute: Getting to Innovation Drive

The plant's 75244 ZIP code puts it in southeastern Farmers Branch near the Dallas city line. The area is well connected:

• LBJ Freeway (I-635) runs just south, with fast east-west access to Irving and Las Colinas, DFW Airport and the Galleria and Richardson corridor.
• I-35E (Stemmons Freeway) runs along the city's west side, connecting to Carrollton, Lewisville and Denton to the north and to downtown Dallas to the south.
• President George Bush Turnpike (SH 190) runs east-west north of the city, linking Carrollton, Coppell, Plano, Richardson and Garland.
• Dallas North Tollway is just east through Addison.
• DART rail: Farmers Branch Station is on the Green Line. The newer Silver Line serves Addison Station and runs between Shiloh Road in Plano and DFW Airport Terminal B.

For buyers and renters who want a short commute to the plant, the most practical areas are Farmers Branch itself, Carrollton, Addison, Northwest Dallas, Valley Ranch and north Irving, Coppell and southern Lewisville. Drive times vary a lot at rush hour, so test your route at the times you would actually commute.

Housing Snapshot: Home Prices Near the FormFactor Plant

Here is where home prices stand in the communities closest to the plant. The data is Redfin's median sale price for the three months ending September 2026, the latest available at the time of writing in November 2026.

Source: Redfin, three months ending September 2026, based on MLS and/or public records. Addison has a small number of sales (27 in September 2026), so its percentage change can swing widely from one period to the next. Neighborhood-level figures for Preston Hollow and Valley Ranch are not listed because we could not verify a current, comparable figure. Ask us for a custom report.

What the numbers tell us

1. Farmers Branch is priced in the middle of the pack. At about $410,000, it sits right alongside Carrollton and Lewisville. It costs well below Coppell and Addison and slightly more than Irving.
2. The market is balanced, not frenzied. Redfin reports Farmers Branch homes sold for about 96.7% of list price on average, and 41.3% of homes had a price drop. Buyers have room to negotiate, and well-priced homes still sell.
3. Sales volume is down. Redfin counted 81 Farmers Branch homes sold in September 2026, compared with 100 a year earlier. Carrollton saw a similar decline. Higher borrowing costs and more listings have slowed the market across DFW. We cover the whole metro in our regular market updates.
4. Coppell remains the premium option. At a median of about $637,000 and 29 days on market, it is the fastest-moving market on this list. That reflects Coppell ISD demand and limited inventory.

Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD: What Families Should Know

Most of Farmers Branch, along with large parts of Carrollton and some nearby areas, is served by Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD (CFBISD). Attendance zones do not follow city limits, so always check the district for a specific address.

According to the district's August 2026 announcement:

• CFBISD earned a B (81) in the Texas Education Agency's 2026 accountability ratings, its second B in a row.
• Nearly 70% of district campuses earned an A or B.
• Creekview High School and Early College High School earned A ratings. Ranchview, Smith and Turner high schools earned B ratings.
• Blair, Carrollton, Good, Kent, Las Colinas and Rainwater elementary schools earned A ratings.
• 97% of students graduated College, Career and Military Ready (CCMR).

The district also noted four campus consolidations and rezoning, so families should confirm a home's current campus assignments before making an offer. Campus profiles are on the Texas School Report Cards site.

What the FormFactor Plant Could Mean for Local Housing

Let's be honest about what a single employer can and cannot do to a housing market.

What could help demand:

• Well-paid, stable jobs. The city agreement targets an average wage of about $81,700. Workers at that level often rent first, then buy within a reasonable commute.
• Relocating employees. A new plant usually brings managers, engineers and technicians from other company sites or other states. Redfin's migration data already shows Los Angeles as the top outside metro searching for homes in Farmers Branch, which is worth noting for a California-based company.
• Supplier and service jobs. City leaders expect the plant to "boost ancillary businesses," in Mayor Lynne's words. Suppliers, contractors and local restaurants and services may add jobs over time.
• Redevelopment momentum. Bringing a long-underused industrial campus back to life can lift how buyers and businesses view the surrounding area.

What keeps it in perspective:

• Hiring ramps over years. The city agreement's deadline for full operation is the end of 2027. Several hundred jobs added over time is meaningful locally, but in a metro as large as Dallas-Fort Worth it will not move regional prices on its own.
• Mortgage rates and inventory matter more. Interest rates, the number of homes for sale and the broader economy will drive prices far more than any one employer.
• Plans can change. FormFactor's own releases include forward-looking statement disclaimers, and capital spending has already shifted between years.

Bottom line: The plant adds a real, positive layer of job demand to an already strong North Dallas employment corridor. Over time, it may support steady demand for homes and rentals with easy commutes, especially in the $300,000 to $500,000 range common in Farmers Branch, Carrollton, Irving and Lewisville. It is a reason to pay attention, not a promise of appreciation.

Practical Guidance: What to Do Next

If you are buying

1. Use today's balanced market. With roughly 4 in 10 Farmers Branch listings having had a price cut, there is room to negotiate on price, repairs or seller-paid closing costs.
2. Map your commute first. If you or someone in your home might work at the plant, or anywhere along the LBJ and I-35E corridor, compare Farmers Branch, Carrollton, Valley Ranch and Northwest Dallas by real drive times.
3. Check school assignments by address. Within CFBISD, campuses and ratings vary, and rezoning has changed some boundaries.
4. Budget for property taxes. Rates differ by city, school district and county. Ask your lender to model your full monthly payment, not just principal and interest.

If you are selling

1. Price for today, not for headlines. News about the plant does not justify an over-ambitious list price. Farmers Branch homes are selling at about 96.7% of list on average. Overpricing leads to price cuts and longer days on market.
2. Market to relocating professionals. Highlight commute times to Innovation Drive, LBJ, I-35E and DART, along with nearby amenities. Show well online for out-of-state buyers.
3. Prepare the home well. Clean, repaired and well-photographed homes stand out in a balanced market.

If you are renting

1. Expect more competition for close-in rentals over time as hiring ramps up, especially for well-kept single-family homes and townhomes.
2. Lock in a longer lease if you find a good place at a fair price.
3. Consider buying. With prices flat to slightly down in several nearby cities, compare your rent with a full ownership payment.

If you are investing

1. Underwrite with conservative assumptions. Base rent and appreciation on current comparable properties, not on future job announcements.
2. Focus on commute-friendly properties. Homes and townhomes with quick access to LBJ, I-35E or DART tend to appeal to a wide range of renters.
3. Watch the 2027 ramp. FormFactor's earnings calls and city updates will show whether hiring stays on schedule.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the FormFactor Farmers Branch plant located?

At 4350 Innovation Drive, Farmers Branch, TX 75244, in Dallas County, according to Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation records. It sits in southeastern Farmers Branch with quick access to LBJ Freeway (I-635) and I-35E.

How many jobs will FormFactor create in Farmers Branch?

The Texas Governor's Office says the plant is expected to create more than 600 jobs. The city's economic development agreement says about 650 high-paying jobs at an average annual wage of about $81,700. Hiring is expected to ramp over time as production expands through 2027.

Is the FormFactor plant already open?

Yes. FormFactor announced the opening on October 22, 2026. On its Q3 2026 earnings call, the company said it had qualified the assembly and test portion of the plant and shipped its first production unit to a customer.

What does FormFactor make?

FormFactor makes semiconductor test and measurement products. Its main product is probe cards, which test chips while they are still on the wafer. The company says its probe cards are used by makers of the logic and memory chips behind AI and data centers.

Will the FormFactor plant raise home prices in Farmers Branch?

No one can promise that. New, well-paid jobs can support housing demand over time, especially near the plant. But mortgage rates, inventory and the broader economy have a much bigger effect on prices. As of September 2026, Farmers Branch's median sale price was about $410,000, essentially flat year over year according to Redfin.

What school district serves Farmers Branch?

Most of Farmers Branch is in Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD, which earned a B (81) in the 2026 TEA ratings. Always confirm the assigned campuses for a specific address with the district.

Related Reading from OnDemand Realty

• North Texas Bond Election Results 2026: What Homeowners Need to Know
• More DFW market updates and guides on the OnDemand Realty blog

Thinking About Buying, Selling or Renting Near Farmers Branch?

Whether you are relocating for a new job at the FormFactor plant, thinking about selling your Farmers Branch home, or looking for an investment property in North Dallas, OnDemand Realty can help you make a confident, data-driven decision. Visit www.ondemanddfw.com to search homes, request a free home value estimate or connect with our team.

Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not financial, legal, tax or investment advice. Project details, job counts, investment figures and timelines come from the public sources linked above as of November 2026 and may change. Market data comes from Redfin (three months ending September 2026) and may differ from other sources. Past performance does not guarantee future results. School ratings and attendance zones change, so verify them with the school district. Consult qualified professionals before making real estate decisions.