Centex, Inc. Centex was founded in 1950 in Dallas, Texas; it went public in 1969; its main businesses include housing construction, property services, real estate Centex was founded in 1950 in Dallas, Texas, and went public in 1969; its primary businesses include homebuilding, property services, real estate, financial services, construction-related services and traditional commercial banking; it has been repeatedly recognized as one of the "Most Admired Companies in the Industry.