How about that Texas Market?
How long will this booming market last? Are we in a bubble? Is it a good time to buy or sell? These are questions we are all hearing a lot these days. Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to find a working crystal ball anywhere in the Metroplex. However, we do have something better. Hard data from the experts. The folks at the Texas A&M Real Estate Center regularly publish data about the Texas economy. Here are the highlights from their latest report, boiled down to facts you can use when answering questions from the public.
The Texas economy is robust. Employment is the state is strong and growing. More people are re-entering the job market. The biggest gains in employment recently have been in the services sectors, (financial services, education, health services, professional and business services) as well as in trade, leisure, and hospitality. Analyses of the business cycle and current economic activity point to positive trends in the state.
Texas housing sales appear to be accelerating. Demand for housing is strong in most areas, although Houston is lagging somewhat. Across the state, housing sales increased 7.8 percent in April. Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, and San Antonio all experienced an increase in sales. Houston dropped 0.2 percent as the impact of the energy sector decline plays out in the Houston economy.
Home building activity is brisk. Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth led the nation in the number of single-family permits issued followed by Atlanta, Phoenix, and Austin in April. That said, Dallas-Fort Worth issued fewer permits than its peak rate in December 2015.
Inventory of available housing is low. Dallas-Fort Worth inventory levels were estimated at 2.2 months in both April and May, compared to 3.7 months statewide, and 5.6 months nationwide. Low inventory levels are contributing to rapid price growth in housing.
Incomes are not following pace with the housing price increase. In the Dallas-Fort Worth area, real earning levels have not increased above January 2007 levels.
