Every quarter, real estate market analysis firms send us reports containing their latest data for various Texas markets (e.g. office/industrial/medical office data for Houston/Austin/San Antonio/DFW). Often, there’s a significant difference in the data provided by each firm even though they are covering the same cities and categories of buildings. For example, one firm might say […]
The American economy is dynamic. It runs in cycles. When economic activity and hiring are increasing, we call that an expansion. When economic activity and hiring are decreasing, we call that a recession. This phenomenon of economic cycles is part of the fabric of American life. Recessions are short and painful. Since 1950, the United […]
I got to keynote the 2015 Commercial Real Estate Forecast Competition for the Houston CCIM chapter this month. There were lots of numbers flying through the room, with some of the best brokers in town sharing their expertise. Here are some of the comments I heard regarding industrial space in the Houston market. We are […]
Every so often, we at the Real Estate Center pause for a moment to try and get a sense of what’s on our customers’ minds. Most recently was in December, when we surveyed Tierra Grande readers to find out which TG article from 2014 they found most useful. The most popular responses will likely come […]
Almost all Americans can tell you what inflation is. When the price of hamburger goes up or the cost of medicine goes up, that’s inflation. Inflation is a way of life in America. We expect it. The cost of living goes up every year. When you retire on a fixed income, you really notice it. […]
During 2009 and 2010, the federal government was being encouraged to “do something” about the large number of families that were delinquent on their home mortgage. I’m sure that some of the people in my audiences then thought that I was very calloused and uncaring. But, being from the “old school,” I was suggesting at […]
The price of oil is volatile. It’s like the GEICO commercial says “everybody knows that.” Texans in Houston know it. Texans in Midland and Odessa know it. The oil companies know it, too. Some of their stock prices are off 40 percent in just a few months. Stockholders don’t like 40 percent losses. It doesn’t […]
You better watch out because Santa’s not the only one with his eye on you this year. Last Thursday, RealtyTrac released its lists of the ten “nicest and naughtiest” housing markets in the country. Six Texas cities can expect to unwrap something cool under the tree this year. In compiling its lists, the housing market […]
Economic growth in America has been sluggish since the end of the recession in 2009. There are myriad reasons why this is happening. Many of them are internal to our country, such as government uncertainty related to health care and bank regulation. But internal problems are being compounded by warlike conditions that are hindering our […]
Since the end of the Great Recession in June 2009, the number of full-time employed in the United States is 2.2 million below its 2007 pre-recession peak (Figure 1). Although, the number of individuals working part time has remained high, it’s starting to decline (Figure 2). Part-time work increased during the recession, which is typical. […]