Julie Johnson » Texas

North Texas Housing Market Fairing Better Than Most

Julie — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 17:56:15 +0000

The S & P has surveyed 20 large metropolitan areas regarding housing values. According to that survey, nationally, home values have plummeted well over 18 percent. In the 20 metropolitan areas that were surveyed, all are reporting decreases and 8 of the top 20 are reporting that values have declined more than 20 percent!

North Texas home values are fairing far better than the vast majority of the rest of the country. Between December 2007 and December 2008, home values in North Texas dropped by only 4.3 percent. North Texas ranks 2nd best in the areas surveyed.

Texas is tops in U.S exports

Julie — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 18:11:12 +0000

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has just announced that for the 7th straight year, the state of Texas leads the nation in exports. All that exporting means jobs for Texans!

The exports coming from the Lone Star State, which include chemicals, electronics, oil and transportation equipment, totaled more than $192 billion which represents a 14% increase over 2007. The largest export recipients include Mexico, Canada, China, Holland and Brazil.

According to Texas Governor Rick Perry, there’s a reason for this success. “Maintaining our rank as the nation’s top exporting state is proof positive that Texas has sound policies in place to cushion it from the effects of an economic downturn,” he said.
To hear more about the great state of Texas visit www.texaplex.com

Realtors look forward to stimulus

Julie — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 01:27:29 +0000

Recovery in the housing market is key to overall economic recovery and no one knows that better than the National Association of Realtors (NAR). They are looking forward to the implementation of the Presidents stimulus package citing a number of reasons why they back this plan.

According to NAR President Charles McMillan, who is also a Dallas based broker, jobs and tax cuts are going “to help families recover and prosper, and these initiatives will help more people keep their homes and help others become homeowners.” Additionally, the final bill raises the tax credit to $8,000 for first time home buyers plus it no longer requires repayment as stipulated in earlier legislation. NAR estimates more than a quarter of a million additional home sales could be realized , helping to stabilize the value of existing homes.

Also included in the bill are monies slated for neighborhood stabilization efforts to help communities purchase foreclosed properties to be rehabilitated to keep home values up.

Source: msnbc.com

Texas Greenbelt Coalition

Julie — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 04:06:48 +0000

The Greenbelt Coalition, a newly formed clean energy technology advocate group, wants Texas to lead the nation’s effort to pioneer clean alternative energy solutions.

The group, made up of political and civic leaders, wants to find ways to lure jobs to Texas and that is good news! Concentrating on clean-tech jobs, and promoting the expansion of current Texas wind, solar, natural glass and advanced battery industries, proponents are working with area chambers of commerce to promote alternative energy sources.

Source: Herald-Zeitung.com

Big stimulus money for Texans

Julie — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 04:26:04 +0000

The State of Texas stands to receive an extraordinary amount of money in the federal stimulus package. How big? Well for some programs, the infusion money will surpass the states annual share of appropriations. Some of the monies, about $270 million, are to be set for clean water infrastructure, which is more than twice what the Texas Water Development Board has received for the last three years combined. The package could also add about $2.4 billion for roads and bridges, $1.2 billion for lower performing schools. This would almost double what the state receives for these programs annually.