Have you Heard how Great Texas is Doing?

With the national media focusing heavily on the negative markets highlighted by States such as California, Nevada and Florida, very little attention is being paid to the markets that are thriving and continuing to grow.With recently released data, it is evident that the Texas real estate market is not only thriving, but poised for considerable growth."Texas - Poised for a 21st Century Boom""So far, skyrocketing home prices common to fast-growing states like California and Florida have not occurred in Texas." says Dr. Jim Gaines, research economist for the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University.

Gaines says housing affordability is just one card in a deck stacked in the state's favor. The other winning cards include lower cost of living, cost of business, greater employment opportunities and an appealing lifestyle. "Events and circumstances point toward a Texas-sized boom between 2005 and 2030", Gaines writes in the latest issue of Tierra Grande magazine, a periodical sent to all the state's real estate licensees."The state's population and economy -- as well as its housing and commercial real estate markets -- are poised to explode in volume and prices. Texas leads the nation in job creation. If Texas maintains its average employment-to-population ratio as expected during the next 25 years, the state will add another 4.5 to 5.8 million jobs", says Gaines. "Job growth is expected to be stimulated by overall U.S. economic growth and enhanced by Texas' employment-friendly characteristics. Texas is the most housing-affordable, high-growth state in the nation."


Accordingly, he presented the following data for what Texas currently has going for it:

• Population and economic growth
• Low cost, affordable labor
• Pro growth attitude
• Migration into state from elsewhere
• Attractive retirement areas
• Pressure on infrastructure, government sources, public finances
• Most affordable state for land, housing and overall cost of living


The Current Texas Real Estate MarketConsider the following...

• 4 major Texas cities were recently included in the Forbes Top 10 recession proof cities. These included San Antonio at #2, Austin at #3, Houston at #7 and Dallas at #10.

• Unemployment rates for all 4 cities have fallen across the state and job growth has increased in many cities (Austin, Dallas and Houston all showed an increase)

• Almost all Texas counties showed no decrease in house price. The majority of Texas counties showed an increase of up to 5%!


In conclusion, the Texas market is not feeling the effects to the extent the rest of the nation. While we are not in the boom market we were two years ago, it is evident that the Texas real estate market is healthy and growing. Population growth has tremendous bearing on the health of a real estate market and the projections for population increase in Texas are quite exciting. To quote Dr. Gaines "we are the most affordable State in the US. Texas housing is a bargain... land sales are going up... commercial rents continue to go up... You draw the conclusion as to how the real estate market is in Texas, and what potential it holds".

We look forward to working with you! -Roman

Zachry, ACS Awarded TRANS-TEXAS CORRIDOR Contract

AUSTIN (Austin Business Journal) – Zachry American Infrastructure and ACS Infrastructure have been selected by the Texas Transportation Commission to plan, develop, build and operate the I-69 corridor, one of two highways being considered for the Trans-Texas Corridor.
The Trans-Texas Corridor is a proposed multi-use network of transportation routes in Texas that will incorporate existing and new highways, railways, utility rights of way and toll roads.

Cameron County - The Sleeping Tourism Giant

On February 12, 1848 the Texas legislature decreed the existence of Cameron County, with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgoqv, on July 4, 1848 the area officially became part of the United States.

Cameron County, was named for Scottish born, Captain Ewen Cameron, who was executed by order of Santa Anna, on April 25, 1843, at age 32, in Huehuetoca, Mexico, one month after surviving the "Black Bean Episode".

While there are many stories to tell between 1848 and the present, I will leave those to historians and later musings on this blog.

In the last 2 decades, since Texas started its diversification from an oil based economy to its present state, the border towns of El Paso, McAllen and Laredo have experienced phenomenal growth, while Cameron County slumbers, with 1 eye open.

Yes, there are some new restaurants, stores and a few roads, but nothing compared to the rest of Texas.

Cameron County is the only county in the continental U.S. that has a coastline and a warm year round climate, outside of southern Florida. There are 31.5 miles of sub-tropical coastline and an Island Resort Community in the Gulf of Mexico, a fishing/boating community with miles of deep water frontage (unique between Houston & the Yucatan Peninsula), a deep water shipping port, 3 airports, 4 international bridge crossings, 1 University, Union Pacific & Rio Grande Intl. Railroad service and more less notable infrastructure to be sure.

While on the recreational front we boast the best shallow water flats and deep sea fishing in Texas, the best surfing in the Gulf of Mexico, one of the best windsurfing & kite boarding spots in North America, home to over 300 butterfly species, where 2 major avian migratory paths cross (almost 400 bird species) and the friendliest county in Texas to live in..., so what's next?

Anything is possible:

• UTB becoming a center for biotech, medical, nano, reusable energy & tourism studies?
• A year round tourism economy on the southern tip of Padre Island (the longest barrier island, on planet Earth) that benefits the entire area?
• A Tourism Destination Project, i.e. Disney, Six Flags, Cesar's/Venetians?
• More domestic non-stop flights: Chicago, Denver, St. Louis, Kansas City, OK City, etc.
• International tourism? Non-Stop flights from Monterrey, Mx, Toronto & Calgary?
• Bring Whole Foods and H.E.B.'s Central Market to Brownsville?
• World class health care & activity centers for our seniors? (They deserve it!)
• World class (Landmark/PGA) golf course communities?
• MLB Spring training camps?
• Upgrading the Port of Brownsville to a container shipping port?
• Three thriving airports, each with its own strengths?
• A 50,000 person capacity event center/coliseum for performing arts, concerts, sports, etc.
• An international cruise ship terminal with Carnival, Princess, Norwegian, etc.
• A Performing Arts & Music Center
• Museum of Arts
• Museum of Natural History
• Enhance our existing facilities/attributes:
• Sabal Palm Grove Sanctuary
• Gladys Porter Zoo
• Isla Blanca Park - Hotel, Marina, Aquarium, IMAX Theater, enhanced beach with lifeguards , 24-hour clinic, expanded parking, new Surf City Jetties Restaurant & Museum
• Palmetto Battlefield
• Palo Alto Battlefield
• El Jardin Hotel

Let us designate what we want to save and preserve and then master plan the rest.

The next 20 years will be easier, more profitable and pleasant for all, when we have charted our course.

By the way, Happy Birthday Cameron County, you've come a long way in 160 years.

Roman C. Esparza