Texas economic growth moderate so far in 2011

Texas economic growth moderate so far in 2011

Austin Business Journal - by Barrett Goldsmith, Houston Business Journal
Date: Thursday, March 3, 2011, 9:15am CST

of 2011, fueled by continued strength in the energy sector that led to an
uptick in demand for staffing services, according to the latest Federal
Reserve Bank of Dallas Beige Book report.

The report, released March 2, said the manufacturing and non-financial
services sectors mostly saw gains, and that the commercial real estate
market improved slightly. However, the housing market remained sluggish, and
severe weather dampened a retail sector that was otherwise flat or slightly
improved.

The labor picture was slightly brighter. Some companies in accounting,
sales, legal services and energy services said they would expand their
payrolls in 2011. Wage pressures were minimal, with the exception of some
high-skilled positions.

As for the energy sector, the Dallas Fed said drilling activity remains
strong and that it has shifted away from natural gas and toward oil-directed
drilling. But it said unconventional shale plays are the dominant factor
driving U.S. activity. The rig count in the Gulf of Mexico edged up slightly
during the reporting period.

Intermodal transportation companies, which ship goods and materials via
multiple methods, reported declined cargo volumes thanks to weaker
international demand. Small-parcel shipments grew, as did railroad shipments
and container trade volume.

The commercial real estate sector sees an overall recovery beginning, but
the report said that recovery was still "fragile."

Anne

ANNE JOHNSON-CHEVERERE

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512-917-5260 Cell 512-328-5151 Office 512-328-0404 Fax

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selling residential and investment real estate.

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APARTMENT OCCUPANCY, RENTS UP IN JANUARY

If you are an owner/investor - this is great news. If you are a renter -
not so good. APARTMENT OCCUPANCY, RENTS UP IN JANUARY

CARROLLTON (ALN Apartment Data) - Apartment occupancy and rents were up in
January throughout the Texas markets covered by ALN Apartment Data.

Here is how eight Texas cities fared overall in January, according to ALN.

Occupancy,
January 2011

Change from
January 2010

Effective Rent,
January 2011

Change from
January 2010

Austin

93.6%

up 5.1%

$838

up 6.5%
Dallas

90.4%

up 4.2%

$773

up 2.5%

Fort Worth

89.2%

up 3.6%

$675

up 2.2%

Houston

87.3%

up 2.9%

$747

up 0.3%

San Antonio

90.5%

up 3.4%

$704

up 2.7%

Lubbock

92.8%

up 3.1%

$623

up 2.2%

Amarillo

91.7%

up 3%

$596

up 1.4%

Abilene

92.8%

up 2.1%

$588

up 1.3%

Corpus Christi

91.6%

up 3%

$696

up 3.1%

Anne

ANNE JOHNSON-CHEVERERE

Realtor(r)

512-917-5260 Cell 512-328-5151 Office 512-328-0404 Fax

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RE/MAX Austin Skyline 4611 Bee Caves Rd., Suite 200 Austin, Texas 78746 annejohnson@austin.rr.com anne@HookemHomes.com Google

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me when your friends, family, and co-workers are thinking about buying or
selling residential and investment real estate.

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Austin home sales up 14% in Jan.

Austin home sales up 14% in Jan.

Austin Business Journal
Date: Monday, February 21, 2011, 11:34am CST

A total 975 homes sold in the Austin area last month, or about 14 percent
more than in than January 2010, according to Multiple Listing Service data
released on Monday.

The Austin Board of Realtors said single family homes also sold for a higher
average price - about $190,000, up 6 percent from last year. Properties
spent an average 93 days on the market, 11 percent longer than January 2010.

At the same time, new listings were down 14 percent in January this year
compared with 2010. Active listings were down 5 percent. "The latest figures show that we are seeing the economic recovery continue
in Austin," Judith Bundschuh, chairwoman of the Austin Board of Realtors
trade group.

The shift is a welcomed change for Austin, where single-family
home sales were down 5 percent 2010.

"Demand and prices are strong, but they should expect to be patient to
achieve full value. Buyers should know that fewer listings combined with
increased demand could mean they will encounter more competition for
properties."

The report is in line with national trends. The National
Association of Realtors reported last month its
Pending Home Sales Index, which measures signed purchase contracts but not
closed sales, rose 2 percent nationwide. In the South, the region that
includes Texas, pending home sales jumped 11.5 percent in December.

Keeping you informed, ready to take care of all your real estate needs and
wishing you the best, Anne

ANNE JOHNSON-CHEVERERE

Realtor(r)

512-917-5260 Cell 512-328-5151 Office 512-328-0404 Fax

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RE/MAX Austin Skyline 4611 Bee Caves Rd., Suite 200 Austin, Texas 78746 annejohnson@austin.rr.com anne@HookemHomes.com Search All Listings

The finest compliment I can ever receive is your referral. Please remember
me when your friends, family, and co-workers are thinking about buying or
selling residential and investment real estate.

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Austin Area Small Business Owners - Help is Here.

The Small Business Development Program, developed by the City of Austin is in full swing and provides assistance and business solutions to emerging small business.

The office is centrally located at One Texas Center, 505 Barton Springs Road and as the name implies the organization is available to counsel and advice all in-area small business owners to strengthen capability and survivability, especially during these challenging times.

In addition to providing solid information to business owners, the organization has a referral program to direct individuals to the resources they need to problem solve and grow in to our market.  Their technical assistance arm– BizAid Program, a one-on-one coaching program of BCL of Texas, a nonprofit group, is a great resource for the small business owner needing specific skills in areas from marketing to taxes. Classes are required for this program and are offered every Tuesday from 9 A.M. to 10:30 A.M.

The also offer special events:

 March 8th

The 7 Most Important Secrets of Small Business Success 

March 9th

Keep Your Eye on the Ball: Make Your Cash Flow Work for You 

My hat is off to the City of Austin for providing help where big help is needed – the small business owner. 

Expect Home Designs To Change

The home of the future doesn’t include Jetson-style hovercrafts or robotic maids — yet — but there are some key changes worth looking for if you’re a builder.

Based on responses to a recent survey by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), here are some ways in which builders can expect homes to change by as early as 2015:

• Single-family homes will get smaller (74 percent of respondents said).
• Homes will have more “green” features (68 percent).
• Homes will have more technology features (29 percent).
• Homes will have more universal access features (20 percent).
• Homes will have more outdoor living features, such as kitchens and fireplaces (10 percent).
• The average home size will be roughly 2,150 sf.
• Living rooms will merge with other spaces in the home (52 percent), vanish to save on square footage (30 percent), or become a parlor/retreat/library or music room (13 percent).
• If the living room doesn’t vanish, it will likely decrease in size (76 percent).
• Also downsizing are the entry foyer (66 percent) and dining room (63 percent).
• Features “very likely” to be included in a new home in 2015 include a kitchen-living room combo (“great room”), walk-in closet in master bedroom, laundry room and two-car garage.
• “Unlikely” features include three or more bathrooms, mudroom, unheated porch, dining room, skylights, three-car garage, four or more bedrooms, media room and two master bedroom suites.
• Home buyers are “somewhat likely” to want universal design features such as step-less entries, three-foot-wide doorways and four-foot-wide hallways, step-less showers that have seating, non-slip floor surfaces and grab bars in bathrooms.
• People seem likely to lavish more attention on the kitchen, ensuring that room will retain its status as the home’s social center. Survey respondents said they are “very likely” to want double sinks, recessed lighting, table space for eating and breakfast bars. They’re “somewhat likely” to want a central island, walk-in pantry, recycling center and desk/computer area. 

I see the same trends in home buying.  

Austin - Texas -- All Good

This aired last Friday evening on Katie Couric's news program! http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7224282n

&tag=mncol;lst;1

And then - there's another "top of the list" for TEXAS

Texas tops the list in U.S. for sixth straight year, followed by Colorado
and Florida

CHICAGO, Jan. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Everything's bigger in Texas -
including its appeal as a destination for residents in 2010, according to
Allied Van Lines' 43rd Annual Magnet States Report released today. For the sixth year in a row, Texas eclipsed every other state and took the
lead as the No. 1 magnet state in 2010 based on Allied's report, which
tracks U.S. migration patterns. Texas realized the highest net relocation gain (inbound moves minus outbound
moves performed by Allied Van Lines, one of the world's largest moving
companies) of 1,640, which is lower than the nearly 2,000 families it
attracted in 2009, but it far outpaced all other states. Colorado came in
second place, with net relocation gains of just over 400 and Florida, South
Carolina and Arizona rounded out the top five states with the largest net
relocation gains. "Today there are more Fortune 500 companies located in Texas than any other
state in the union," said Bill Dircks, president of Berger Transfer &
Storage, Inc. "With our branch locations in Austin, Dallas, Houston and San
Antonio, we've serviced a large number of relocations into the state this
past year. A healthy business climate, coupled with family-friendly cities,
makes Texas a very attractive place to work and live." "Allied Van Lines experienced modest growth in 2010, and the trends noted in
the Magnet States report are consistent with what we've seen when the
economy begins to emerge from a recessionary period," said Bill Lyon, Vice
President and General Manager, Allied Van Lines. "Relocation for employment
is the leading motivation for an individual to move." According to the Texas Comptroller's office, Texas' position compared to
other states remains strong in spite of national economic slowdowns. Thanks
to a diverse, strong economy, employment in Texas has weathered the storm
better than most other states. The Texas unemployment rate has been at or
below the national rate for 45 consecutive months and unlike most states,
Texas is currently adding jobs - up 172,800 jobs from October 2009 to
October 2010.

Texas logged just under 9,600 total shipments and ranked third behind
California (about 12,300 total shipments) and Florida (about 9,900 total
shipments). California secured its title once again as "most mobile state,"
with the highest volume of inbound and outbound shipments by international
mover Allied Van Lines. Keeping you informed, ready to help you with your real estate needs and
wishing you all the best, Anne

ANNE JOHNSON-CHEVERERE

Realtor(r)

512-917-5260 Cell 512-328-5151 Office 512-328-0404 Fax

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HookemHomes.com

RE/MAX Austin Skyline 4611 Bee Caves Rd., Suite 200 Austin, Texas 78746 annejohnson@austin.rr.com anne@HookemHomes.com Search All Listings

The finest compliment I can ever receive is your referral. Please remember
me when your friends, family, and co-workers are thinking about buying or
selling residential and investment real estate.

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Texans - Funds Are Running Out On The Appliance Rebate Program

Since December 20, 2010, the Texas Appliance Mail-In Rebate Program has been accepting applications. Approximately $18.5 million was earmarked for the mail-in rebate program, which will remain open until the funds are depleted. 

So if your frig, washer/dryer, hot water heater, AC, heat pump and microwave are nearing replacement time – buy Energy Star Rated appliances and get your rebate. 

I thought a review of where the funds stand as of today - January 7, 2011 -- will be helpful for all those who are interested in participating in the appliance rebate program.  Here goes:

 Estimated Rebate Funds Remaining

$8,817,339

 Rebate Funds Already Approved

$521,445

 Estimated Rebate Funds
Awaiting Validation

$9,161,216

 Days Program Has
Been Open:

19

 Visit the web site (noted above) for all program details and claim your savings – up to $1,000 on central AC systems.  You can download an application and mail it in.  Be patient – it will take 6 to 8 weeks to receive the rebate.