It’s not always easy to tell how national real estate news pertains to Texans. That’s why we’re providing links to articles from other sources, along with comments to help you put them in perspective.

Texas ranks as top place for business
Several factors lead to the state's pro-business environment
According to a study by Directorship, a publication that caters to corporate boardroom leaders, Texas is the place to be for businesses of all sizes (Study: Texas ranks first for business, Austin Business Journal, June 17, 2009). The study evaluated all 50 states on their overall economy, tax climate, cost of living, and education. Texas ranked number one due to its ability to attract Fortune 500 companies, its solid economy, affordable cost of living, and its pro-business tax climate.

Texas cities lead U.S. economic report
Cities in the Lone Star State dominate list
A recent study by the Brookings Institution ranked the economic strength of the country’s 100 biggest metropolitan areas using employment figures, average wages, housing prices, and the number of foreclosed homes (City ranks well in US recession report, by Jennifer Latson, Houston Chronicle, June 16, 2009). Five of the six best-performing cities were in Texas, including San Antonio as No. 1 followed by Austin, Houston, Dallas, and McAllen. Forbes also put these cities at the top in its recent article titled The Best And Worst Cities For Recession Recovery, by Joshua Zumbrun, June 10, 2009. Once again economists cited housing prices in Texas among the most resilient in the country.

Texas among top 5 early recession risers
End of the recession near, jobs on the rebound
If you’re on the lookout for an economic rebound, Texas is the place to be according to an economic forecast by Moody's Economy.com (Which states will be early risers?, by Bill Dedman, MSNBC.com, June 2, 2009). Texas was among the last to enter the recession in February 2009, meaning Texans have "less of a hole to dig themselves out of," said Moody’s Economist Andrew Gledhill. The report predicts Texas employment to rebound in the fourth quarter of 2009, while other states are slated for recovery well into 2010. Among other factors, the report cited the state's insulation from the national housing slowdown as a key factor in its economic strength.

Texas is "the place to go"
Jobs and affordable housing are big draw for people moving here from other states
Why does it cost four times as much to rent a moving truck going from LA to Fort Worth than renting the same truck from Fort Worth to LA. It all has to do with supply and demand. People from California and many other states are moving to Texas for the favorable job outlook and overall economy (From the Midwest to the Pacific, job seekers are heading to Texas, by Steve Campbell, Star-Telegram.com, May 17, 2009). The article makes the point that people continue to move to Texas for jobs and affordable housing. One expert quoted in the article said that Texas is located in the "Zone of Sanity," where housing prices remained steady.

Texas cities give you the best bang for your buck
Austin leads the nation’s top bargain cities
In a recent Forbes study, the large metro areas in Texas – including Austin, Houston, San Antonio, Dallas and Fort Worth – were among the top 10 best bargain cities in America, and not a single city in Texas ranked on the study’s list of overpriced places (America’s best bargain cities, by Zach O’Malley Greenburg, Forbes, May 13, 2009). The study compared the country’s 50 largest metro areas using data on average salary, unemployment statistics, cost of living, and the Housing Opportunity Index, which measures the affordability of homes in given area. Austin topped the list, with high marks across the board, including the lowest unemployment rate in the country.

No bubble to bust
Texas a shining star in national real estate market
While residents of other states are wishing for the glory days of 2006, Texas remains one of the few that sidestepped the brunt of the national real estate slowdown (Why Texas missed the bubble bust by Jennifer Hiller, San Antonio Express-News, May 7, 2009; Why didn’t the housing bubble mess with Texas? by Nick Timiraos, the Wall Street Journal, April 30, 2009). From 2006 to 2009, the median home price in Texas increased 17%, while the U.S. median home price decreased 11% during the same period. How did Texas avoid the mess? The state has fewer barriers for residential development, making homebuilding and buying more affordable, and stringent home equity lending laws that helped Texans dodge the worst of the mortgage meltdown. Texas REALTORS® have been strong proponents over the years to keep consumer protections in home equity laws in the state for exactly the reasons highlighted by this article.