Thursday, October 28, 2010

Austin #1 In Jobs in the Nation - for fifth month in a row.

Austin is a great place to Live, Work, Play and Invest! Here is yet another sign that Austin is the MOVE-TO location! Contact us for a free relocation package 866-693-7741

Austin, the 42nd largest job market, consistently outperforms all other metros. Based on state and national numbers, Austin grew 2.3% year-over-year by creating 17,300 jobs in the last 12 months (or 5% of all jobs created in the U.S.)

Other key points:
§ Total Austin non-farm jobs peaked in November 2008 with 783,400. September 2010 total jobs of 771,200 are only 12,200 off of our peak.
§ At our current trend rate, Austin could be back to its peak employment by May 2011
§ 22 of the 50 largest Metros are now experiencing positive job growth
§ Austin’s 2.3% growth rate compares to 1.0% for Dallas, 0.9% for Fort Worth, 0.7% for San Antonio and 0.1% for Houston
§ Texas jobs have grown 4 months in a row. The state added 166,600 jobs or 1.6% increase.
§ Nationally, 321,000 jobs (0.2%) have been added over the last 12 months. This is the third month of year-over-year growth, following 26 straight months of negative growth.

Link to Chamber Article: http://austinchamber.com/LiveWork/Economic/report.html

Central Texas Economy in Perspective
By Beverly Kerr, Chamber Vice President of Research
October 26, 2010 edition

For the fifth month in a row, Austin takes first place in a ranking of the 50 largest metros based on the percent increase in payroll jobs over the preceding 12 months. (source - US Burea of Labor Statistics)

Friday’s release of September 2010 payroll jobs numbers by the Texas Workforce Commission and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics saw Austin sustain growth over 2% year-over-year seen in the previous two releases of this data. Austin has added 17,300 jobs, or 2.3%, over the last 12 months. Job growth is now positive in 22 of the 50 largest metros. (source - Texas Workforce Commission, Current Employment Statistics)

Jobs in Austin are also up from August to September, by 2,700 in the not seasonally adjusted series, however, on a seasonally adjusted basis, the change is slightly negative, by -0.1% or 600 jobs. On the seasonally adjusted basis, Texas jobs are essentially unchanged and the national jobs total also registers a -0.1% drop in September. (Source - Texas Workforce Commission, Current Employment Statistics)

Job losses in this recession peaked at 24,400 (-3.1%) in September of 2009, year-over-year, but steadily narrowed thereafter and reverted to positive, by 0.4%, in April. With Austin’s nonfarm payroll jobs totaling 771,200 in September, the metro remains 12,200 (-1.6%) off the November 2008 peak of 783,400 jobs. If we were to sustain just a 2.3% year-over-year growth rate over the coming months, it would take until May 2011 to surmount Austin’s previous peak for nonfarm payroll jobs.

Austin’s aggregate job gain for September of 17,300 or 2.3% compares to 20,200 or 1.0% for Dallas, 7,800 or 0.9% for Fort Worth, 3,300 or 0.1% for Houston, and 5,800 or 0.7% for San Antonio. September is Texas’ fifth instance in a row of year-over-year job growth. The state added 166,600 jobs or 1.6%. Nationally, 321,000 jobs (0.2%) have been added over the last 12 months. This is the third month of year-over-year growth, following 26 straight months of negative growth. The national year-over-year deficit had been steadily narrowing since September. (Source - Texas Workforce Commission, Current Employment Statistics)

In Austin, four industries lost jobs and seven industries added jobs in the last 12 months (and one industry remained unchanged). The industries that see positive growth are manufacturing, financial activities, professional/business services, education/health services, leisure/hospitality, other services, and government. The most robust gainer in both numbers and rate of growth was leisure/hospitality with 10,100 new jobs, or 12.2%. Three other private industries (professional/business services, education/health services, and other services) also enjoyed above average growth.

Most months in this recession, we’ve attributed the highest job losses and rates of loss to manufacturing and construction/natural resources, but that is not the case in September. The two goods-producing industries combined lost only 400 jobs (-0.5%) in the last 12 months (a small 200-job gain one helping to offset 600 jobs lost in the other. Of the three service-providing industries with negative growth, retail lost the greatest number, 1,900 jobs (-2.3%) and information lost at the greatest rate, -3.1% (600 jobs). Private service-providing industries, with both gainers and losers, have seen a net gain of 14,700 jobs (2.9%) over the last 12 months, while government has seen a gain of 3,000 jobs (1.8%). (Source - Texas Workforce Commission, Current Employment Statistics)

Statewide, jobs in both manufacturing and construction/natural resources are up from one year ago—the former by 2.9% and the latter by 2.0%. Texas has been adding manufacturing jobs each month since February. Steady manufacturing job losses began in the summer of 2008 and the state remains 87,400 jobs or 9.4% below June of 2008. Construction/natural resources has also been adding jobs since February but jobs in the industry remain nearly 124,800 or 13.6% below their fall 2008 peak.

Texas’ largest gains occurred in professional/business services (3.9%) and education/healthcare (3.5%). As in Austin, the greatest rate of loss was in information, which is down by 7.3%. Nationally, the best gains were also in professional/business services and education/health services (2.1% and 2.0% respectively), and the greatest drop was 2.3% in both construction/natural resources and information.
We also now have September unemployment (and labor force and employment) numbers for Texas, local areas in Texas, and the U.S. However, the federal release of this data for all U.S. metros, that we sometimes do a ranking of, will not be available until Wednesday, November 3. (In August, Austin had the fourth lowest rate of unemployment among the 50 largest metros.)

Unemployment numbers for September show Austin’s performance relative to the state and other major Texas metros being sustained. In September, Austin is at 6.8%, while the other major metros range from 7.2% in San Antonio to 8.2% in Houston. The rates are 7.9% in Dallas and Fort Worth. The national rate is 9.2%. Austin’s rate one year ago was 7.2% and Dallas and Fort Worth’s rates are 3 to 4 points below last September. Houston and San Antonio’s rates are at or about the level of a year ago. Texas rate, now 7.9%, was 8.1% this time last year. (Source-Texas Workforce Commission, Current Employment Statistics)

On a seasonally adjusted basis, Austin’s September unemployment rate is also 6.8%, down from 7.0% in August. Texas’ other major metros seasonally adjusted rates are also each down by two to three points from August. The state’s rate is 8.1%, down from August’s 8.3%. The seasonally adjusted national rate is 9.6%, unchanged from August.
With Austin’s unemployment rate reduced over one year ago, the number unemployed has is also dropped. In September 2009, Austin’s unemployed was 64,329, and has now dropped to 61,923. There are 6,560 fewer unemployed in Austin now compared to the peak reached in January. Civilian labor force (employed plus unemployed) increased by 23,903 or 2.7% in the last 12 months and persons employed increased by 26,309 or 3.2%. Texas is also showing growth in employed (1.3%) as well as labor force (1.6%). Nationally, both civilian labor force and employed are above the levels of a year ago by 0.2% and 0.5% respectively.
(Source-Texas Workforce Commission, Current Employment Statistics)

Information Supplied by
Lisa Altamirano
Sales Executive

2010 Best Places to Work!
Lake Travis

cell: 512.826.6666 | office: 512.261.7819 x2211 | fax: 512.261.7829




Sunday, October 24, 2010

What's So Great About Austin, the Highland Lakes & the Central Texas Hill Country.

The Central Texas Hill Country is an amazing place in which to Live, Work, Play and Invest!

With our exceptional and convenient location between three other major Texas Cities ~ Houston, San Antonio & Dallas ~ you will find that the Austin and Highland Lakes area is not only rich in history, it also offers some of the most stunning scenery in Texas. World-Class Barbeque, Music Venues (we are the Music Capital of Texas!), Great Restaurants, many Fairs & Festivals, quaint small towns, a stable, diverse & growing economy, job creation, plus affordable real estate, the Austin area is a wonderful place to call home. Top that with our many beautiful lakes & rivers, hilly terrain, many golf courses, tennis facilities & other recreational activities plus a relatively mild climate, you will love living here!

Whether you are single, have a family or a partner, are retiring, just starting out, or buying a second home, the Austin area has so much to offer. Lake homes, luxury homes, ranches, condominiums, lots, multifamily, commercial property, golf course homes and more - there is something for everyone in the Highland Lakes and Austin areas.

Area Lakes & Rivers

The Austin/Highland Lakes area offers a wealth of rivers & lake that provide stunning vistas, wonderful home sites and many recreational opportunities. The Pedernales & Colorado Rivers, Lake Austin, Lake Travis, Lake Marble Falls, Lake LBJ, Inks Lake and Lake Buchanan are all located within a one hour drive from Central Austin – where else can you live and have so many wonderful options??!!

Vacation & Second Homes

Many people purchase second homes that they plan to move or retire to at a later date. This is a great option as it allows you to purchase your home at today's prices and use it for vacations in the meantime. Others become Winter Texans! Spend your winters here in Texas and your summer at another location - it breaks up your year and you get the very best of weather to enjoy. Many Winter Texan owners also rent or lease out their properties when they are not in residence. Because this is a popular vacation & second home area, it's easy to do. Horseshoe Bay on Lake LBJ is a highly desired resort location in our area.

Central Texas Weather

Our weather tends to be mild in winter. We rarely wear coats around here! Once in a while we will get a light dusting of winter snow or ice, but even if we do, a couple of days later it will be 60 or 70 degrees again. One thing that we have lots of here in Central Texas is sunshine - our golden days make life feel bright! Summers are hot and range in temperature from about 85 degrees to over 100 degrees occasionally, but for the most part, we stay in the low 90's during the hotter parts of summer. However, we are very fortunate here in the Texas Hill Country because of our many lakes, our evenings tend to be cooler and most evenings it is comfortable enough to sit outside and serve dinner on your patio. Those hill & lake breezes really make a difference.

Health Care

Central Texas offers excellent healthcare facilities with several more currently under construction or in the development phase. Plus, we are within easy driving distance of all the wonderful facilities that Houston & San Antonio have to offer.

Communities

Austin and the surrounding Hill Country Lakes & Towns offer many possibilities in a diverse group of communities and locales. While there are several communities that cater specifically to the 55 & over buyer, such as Sun City in Georgetown, there are many more possibilities that will offer a more mixed group of residents including singles, families, empty nesters, and, of course, second home owners. Golf course or lake communities, in-town lofts, quiet subdivisions, town home or condominium complexes, acreage tracts or ranches, you will have no trouble finding the perfect home.

Welcome to Austin & the Central Texas Hill Country


What are you waiting for? Contact us for a FREE Relocation Package, search for listings and area information on our website at www.ParagonPropertyGroup.com or sign up for FREE Listing Updates.




Saturday, October 23, 2010

2010 Best Performing Cities where Jobs are Created & Sustained

Best-Performing Cities 2010: Where Jobs Are Created and Sustained

Texas metros dominated the 2010 rankings, eclipsing even last year’s stellar performance. Lone Star State metros occupied 11 of the top 25 positions among the 200 largest metros in the country and five of the top 10. For the second year running, the same two Texas cities claimed the top two spots, except Killeen–Temple–Fort Hood edged past Austin–Round Rock to take first among the 200 largest metros. Another way to highlight Texas’ dominance is that just two of the state’s 13 metros didn’t make the top 25, with the lowest-ranking metro coming in at 57th overall.

The 2010 top performers (with 2009 rankings) among the 200 largest metros are:

Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood, TX (2)
Austin-Round Rock, TX (1)
Huntsville, AL (8)
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX (4)
Kennewick-Richland-Pasco, WA (n.a.)
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (25)
Raleigh-Cary, NC (10)
Anchorage, AK (40)
El Paso, TX (14)
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX (5)

Excerpt from report regarding Austin: “Although employment fell in 2009, Austin’s unemployment rate peaked at 7.3 percent, roughly 3 percentage points less than the national figure. Austin’s relatively low cost of doing business for a leading knowledge-based economy hub, combined with a favorable business climate and access to an educated workforce, makes it a very attractive location to start or expand a business. Austin’s net population increased by 32,000 in 2009, according to the Census Bureau, compared with a peak of 48,000 in 2006. Austin hopes to encourage more high-tech services, recognizing that hardware and chip makers will create fewer jobs in the future. That said, Samsung intends to add a production line in Austin that will employ 500 workers to make logic chips, demonstrating that Austin remains a key center of U.S. chip manufacturing and will attract new incremental capacity in the future. On the high-tech service side, one recent success is Apple’s acquisition of Intrinsity Inc., which designed key parts of a chip for Apple’s iPad. Intrinsity had around 100 employees at the time of the acquisition, but it is likely that Apple will make additional investments and add more employees. Apple already has around 2,500 employees in central Texas. Many other high-tech service firms such as Google and Facebook are adding employees in Austin.”

Thanks to Lisa Altimirano at Gracy Title, Austin for providing this article.

Call us at 866-693-7741 if you are thinking to moving to the Austin or Highland Lakes areas, we'll be happy to provide you with a FREE Relocation Package. Go to our website for Free Real Estate Searches. www.ParagonPropertyGroup.com

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Join us to Just Say "BOO" to Cancer at our Fundraiser - Oct 27th

Buy Raffle Tickets Online at http://main.acsevents.org/goto/ColdwellCares if you would like to purchase a raffle ticket (you do not have to be present to win). Just put $10.00 in the “Enter Amount” field (or any $10 increment) and put a note in the “Send a personal note to the person you are donating to” field that you would like to purchase a raffle ticket(s).



Join us on October 27th 4-8pm at the Bee Caves Twin Liquors for an evening of fun, wine & beer sampling and hors d'oeuvres. Lots of fun - Slipada Jewelry Rep - Get started on your holiday shopping!, Silent Auction Items and Raffle Tickets for three great trips plus a $500 Gift Card.

Call for more information 866-693-7741

Ribbon Cutting for Start of New Bridge Construction in Marble Falls

2pm October 25th - River City Grill - Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for New Bridge Construction in Marble Falls

6 Reasons to Buy a Vacation Home Now

Read this article about buying a vacation home. The Central Texas Hill Country is a wonderful place to visit, relax and enjoy, and invest. Whether its an downtown Austin Condo, a villa on Escondido Golf Course, a Lake LBJ lakefront home, a Lake Travis View home or condo, we've got a wonderful lifestyle and plenty to keep you as busy as you like!

For Your Clients: 6 Reasons Why It\'s Smart to Buy a Vacation Rental Home

Contact us if you would like more information about investing in the Highland Lakes or Austin/Lake Travis Areas. We'll be happy to send you a complementary Relocation Package.

www.ParagonPropertyGroup.com

Sue Ellett, Broker-Associate
Paragon Property Group
Coldwell Banker United Realtors

Monday, October 18, 2010

It's a Great Time to Buy or Sell a Home - Cash Back Bonuses to Buyers and Sellers

The Central Texas Hill Country is a GREAT Place to Live, Work, Play and Invest
and now, you may be able to get CASH BACK at closing when Buying or Selling.

Thinking of purchasing or selling a home in the Greater Austin or Highland Lakes areas (Marble Falls, Horseshoe Bay, Lake LBJ, Burnet...)?

We may be able to offer you CASH BACK at closing whether you are
BUYING OR SELLING
.

First Responders, Medical Personnel, Educators
and
Military & Former Military

may be eligible for this CASH BACK program. Contact us to find out if can participate.

If you are looking in other areas, let us know and we'll be happy to refer you to an agent in that area and be sure you receive a FREE Relocation Package.
Many programs are available in other locations too.


Special Loan Programs may be available also.

Also, Homebuyers - USDA Loans (100% financing) and BOND 77 Downpayment Assistance may be available as well.

Email Sue@elletts.net or call 866-693-7741 for more information on how you can benefit and receive CASH BACK or a great loan when you are Buying or Selling a Home. (Cash back is paid to buyer or seller after closing)

Visit our Website for more information.



Friday, October 1, 2010

REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-Fannie, Freddie Offering Hard-to-Beat Deals

REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-Fannie, Freddie Offering Hard-to-Beat Deals

Check this out - if you are thinking of buying property in the Austin and Highland Lakes areas, give us a call....

Paragon Property Group
Coldwell Banker United, Realtors
www.paragonpropertygroup.com
866-693-7741

Texas foreclosures half of national average - Austin Business Journal

Texas foreclosures half of national average - Austin Business Journal

Pricing has remained stronger as have sales, in the Austin region, especially in certain areas and price segments.

It's a great place to live, work, play and invest!