Posted on May 14, 2012 | Tagged in: real estate , news , economy
Throughout the brutal recession, one metropolitan area floated serenely above the carnage: Washington, D.C. Buoyed by government spending, the local economy expanded 17% from 2007 to 2012. But for the first time in four years, the capital region has fallen out of the top 15 big cities in our annual survey of the best places for jobs, dropping to 16th place from fifth last year.
It’s a symptom of a significant and welcome shift in the weak U.S. economic recovery: employment growth has moved away from the public sector to private businesses. In 2011, for the first time since before the recession, growth in private-sector employment outstripped the public sector. More than half (231) of the 398 metro areas we surveyed for our annual study of employment trends registered declines in government jobs, with public-sector employment dropping 0.9 percent overall. Meanwhile, private-sector employment expanded 1.4 percent.
Instead of government, the big drivers of growth now appear to be three basic sectors: energy, technology and most welcome of all, manufacturing. Energy-rich Texas cities dominate our list — the state has added some 200,000 generally high-paying oil and gas jobs over the past decade — but Texas is also leading in industrial job growth, technology and services.
To determine the best cities for jobs, we ranked all 398 current metropolitan statistical areas based on employment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics covering November 2000 through January 2012. Rankings are based on recent growth trends, mid-term growth, long-term growth and the region’s momentum.
In addition to energy, the technology sector has been on a tear. After a decade of tepid growth and some years of job losses, Silicon Valley has blown itself another huge tech bubble, this time driven by the social media craze and a surge in private-equity investment. In the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara metro area, the number of information sector jobs is up 36 percent over the past five years; this year the epicenter of Silicon Valley jumped 22 places to No. 5 among the 65 biggest metro areas.
Here are the five best big cities for jobs, according to the data:
No. 5: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, Calif.
2011 Rank: 27th
2012 Overall Rank: 38th
Employment Growth (year-on-year): 2.8%
No. 4: Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas
2011 Rank: 15th
2012 Overall Rank: 37th
Employment Growth (year-on-year): 2.7%
No. 3: Salt Lake City, Utah
2011 Rank: 20th
2012 Overall Rank: 22nd
Employment Growth (year-on-year): 3.3%
No. 2: Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, Texas
2011 Rank: 3rd
2012 Overall Rank: 8th
Employment Growth (year-on-year): 3.3%
No. 1: Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, Texas
2011 Rank: 1st
2012 Overall Rank: 5th
Employment Growth (non-farm, year-on-year): 2.2%
Source: Joel Kotkin, Forbes.com
Posted on Mar 23, 2012 | Tagged in: news , Mischer Development , Houston , economy , business
For the past several years, Houston has thrown off the shackles of the recession and its economy has obliterated the growth statistics of virtually all other American municipalities. Now comes more good news.
Site Selection Magazine, a worldwide leader for providing information to executives responsible for corporate site selection and facility planning, has ranked Houston as the number one U.S. metropolitan area for corporate facility expansions and relocations for 2011 in its most recent edition.
The Greater Houston Area secured 195 corporate facility expansion and relocation projects in 2011, according to Craig Richard, chief economic development officer the the Greater Houston Partnership. This has allowed its metropolitan economy to grow at a rate higher than every other North American metro area, according to a recent study released by the Brookings Institution.
Houston’s 195 expansion deals easily surpassed the second-highest city of the survey, Chicago, which counted 167 projects.
Mischer Development, the developer of the master-planned community Cypress Creek Lakes, has announced plans for a major expansion to include 700 acres that will consist of new building programs, new builders, a recreation center complex and a community welcome/information center.
Located less than two miles from US 290 in the Cypress area, Cypress Creek Lakes, which first opened in 2004, will add a 50-foot and a 70-foot building program to its existing 60-foot and 80-foot programs that have been a part of the community since its beginning.
Currently, Perry Homes and Coventry Homes are building on 80-foot home sites in the active Phase 2. The next phase of Cypress Creek Lakes will include Ashton Woods and Lennar in a new 50-foot program, Perry Homes and Newmark Homes in a 60-foot program and Darling Homes and Village Builders in a 70-foot program. New homes will range in price from the $190,000s to the $600,000s. Phase 3 will add over 1,000 new homes to the community.
“The additional programs represent a growing demand we’re seeing among new-home buyers and will be a great complement to our existing building programs,” said Randy Corson,Vice President of Mischer Development.
Sales in Cypress Creek Lakes were even with projections in 2011, and to date, are already ahead of last year. Corson believes that recent improvements in the housing market and the completion of major roadway expansions make now an ideal time to open this newest phase of the community. “The expanded building programs will help us meet a significant part of the market that we were missing previously,” he said. In addition to an increased interest among new-home buyers, Cypress Creek Lakes is benefiting from the expansion of Tuckerton Road which runs through the new Phase 3. Tuckerton is now a major east-west connector, open from Fry Road to Huffmeister, and is greatly enhancing access within the Hwy. 290 corridor. The expansion of Tuckerton will also provide opportunities for future commercial development in Cypress Creek Lakes. Already, Metropolitan Baptist Church, The MET, purchased 100 acres at the southeast corner of Fry Road and Tuckerton for its West Campus that will begin construction later this year.
Posted on Feb 16, 2012 | Tagged in: news , lifestyle , Houston , family , events , event
Grab your stetson, belt buckle, and partying spirit, because it is that special time of year in Houston!
The world’s largest entertainment and livestock exposition, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, comes to Reliant Stadium running daily from Tuesday, February 28, to Sunday, March 18.
Houston has celebrated this event every year since 1932, and the three-week celebration will have the city buzzing with concerts, parades, rodeo competitions, and of course- delicious food.
And what would the Houston Rodeo be without performances by some of the biggest stars in the music business?
Posted on Feb 2, 2012 | Tagged in: news , Houston , economy
A study by the Brookings Institution, a non-profit, non-partisan public policy organization, titled “The Global MetroMonitor” for 2011 reveals the Houston economy to be the fastest growing major metropolitan area in North America.
Houston ranked as the 19th fastest growing city worldwide in 2011. The only other North American city to appear on the top-40 list was Dallas, which ranked at 36.
The report cited not only the obvious booming energy business as a primary reason the Houston regional economy grew at such a strong rate, but also the city’s diverse economy.
The local $311 billion economy benefited from a combination of high oil and gas prices, a strong housing market, and rapid growth in the commodities, manufacturing, trade, and tourism sectors.
Posted on Sep 26, 2011 | Tagged in: real estate , news
The Texas Legislature has made significant changes to the requirements for homestead exemptions.
These affect all types of homestead exemptions, not just the regular homestead exemptions. The changes also affect over-65 exemptions, over-55 surviving spouse exemptions, disability exemptions, and the 100% Disabled Veteran exemptions (all of which are considered homestead exemptions). Any new applications as of September 1 must comply with all requirements.
Effective September 1, 2011, in order to qualify for a residential homestead exemption you must provide HCAD with a copy of either your Texas driver’s license or Texas ID Card. This address must also be the same as the address on your vehicle registration. Attach a copy of your vehicle registration receipt to your homestead application.
Remember: Your physical street address must match the address on your vehicle registration and both must match the address on your driver’s license or state ID card. All three must have the same address.
Read more at http://www.hcad.org/.
UNDERSTANDING THE PROPERTY TAX PROCESS
The property tax is the primary source of local government revenue in Texas and provides funding for the services provided by counties, cities, school districts, and a variety of special entities such as community colleges, port authorities, hospital and flood control districts, and municipal utility districts. While the total combined state and local tax burden in Texas is among the lowest in the nation, the portion of the tax burden borne by property taxpayers in Texas is relatively high.
Posted on Aug 3, 2011 | Tagged in: news
As we recently celebrated Independence Day and honored those who have served our country, I was reminded of the wonderful program designed to help our service men and women attain their dream of homeownership!
The Texas Veterans Loan Programs was originally formed by Sam Houston and the Texas Republic to reward veterans land in return for their military service. Although Texas no longer gives land away to veterans, there are many housing opportunities including low interest loans for everything from land purchase to home improvements.
According to the programs website, here is a list of some of the guidelines to help you determine eligibility for the Texas Veterans Loan Program:
Posted on Jul 18, 2011 | Tagged in: news , homeowners , homebuyers , economy
Amidst the recent housing bubble, an unpredicted buyer has emerged – Women.
Women, in particular younger women, are finding their most opportune shot at home ownership. In recent years, more men than women lost their jobs by a ratio of almost three to one, in the financial and manufacturing sectors.
Ellen Iggulden, a 27-year-old Chicago-based auditor, says “most of my guy friends are sitting on the buying sidelines. But among my female college pals, (I) was actually one of the last to take the real estate plunge.” Hearing about their successes, she says, was empowering - “If they can do it, so can I!”
And, according to the National Association of Realtors, women now sign on the dotted line in nearly a quarter of all U.S. home deals - up from 14 percent in just 10 years ago. As a result, new home sales teams are incorporating sales tactics including expanded “paint-color psychology” and hosting spa nights, instead of the traditional open house, in an attempt to do everything they can to eliminate the “intimidation factors” associated with females perceived purchase process. Home-marketing consultant Sara Lamia addressed a gathering at the International Builders’ Show by summing up this theory, stating, “If Mama ain’t happy, you’re dead in the water!”
Posted on Mar 24, 2011 | Tagged in: news , Houston , family
The Houston Zoo proudly announced the birth of Asali, a female Masai giraffe. She is the first baby to be born in the Zoo’s new African Forest, which opened in December 2010.
Mom, Tyra, delivered her Asali just after 5 p.m. on March 4 at the McGovern Giraffe Exhibit at The African Forest following a long 14-month pregnancy. Asali became the 8th Masai giraffe in the Zoo’s herd.
“The calf weighs 150 pounds and is over 6 feet tall. She’s a strong healthy baby,” said McGovern. “This is 12 year old Tyra’s sixth calf. Kiva, the father is 15 years old.”
Founded in 1922, the Houston Zoo is an exciting live animal adventure that provides a unique educational and conservation resource serving more than 1.8 million guests annually. Set in a 55-acre lush tropical landscape, the Zoo is home to more than 6,000 exotic animals representing more than 800 species. Visitors can experience the wonders of Africa at The African Forest, the new 6.5 acre, $40 million addition featuring chimps, rhinos, and giraffes. Travel to Africa. No Passport Required.
The Houston Zoo is located at 6200 Hermann Park Drive in the beautiful Hermann Park. The Zoo is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. during Central Standard Time (last admission at 5 p.m.) and from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. during Central Daylight Time (last admission at 6 p.m.). For information on all the great benefits of becoming a Zoo Member, call 713-533-6713 or visit HoustonZoo.org.
