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"Recession Rx"
(Gaines) No. 1916, Tierra Grande reprint, 4pp. (10/20/2009) |
 It'll take more than a flu shot to cure this ailing economy. Positive changes must occur in all areas of the economy — business profits, consumer spending, employment and lending practices — to name a few — to end the recession.
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"When Data Collide"
(Gaines) No. 1905, Tierra Grande reprint, 4pp. (7/20/2009) |
 Tracking trends in home prices is a challenge because methods of measuring price changes differ widely. Some methods track only new home sales, while others track both new and existing homes. Some do not include distressed property sales. In the end, results of any one method may be skewed.
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"Balancing Act: What is a 'Normal' Market?"
(Gaines) No. 1897, Tierra Grande reprint, 3pp. (4/27/2009) |
 The months inventory measure is one way to determine the relative balance of housing supply and demand in a market. As supply increases relative to demand, prices tend to fall. Inventory level is not the only factor affecting prices, so the relationship is not a direct, mathematically precise computation. Rather, it is a general indicator of the direction and potential magnitude of future price changes.
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"'09 Outlook: Nothing Certain but Uncertainty"
(Gaines) No. 1891, Tierra Grande reprint, 5pp. (1/19/2009) |
 This year (2009) will not be as good as the past few for Texas housing markets thanks to the global economic recession and capital market collapse. Home sales will continue to dip, as will new home construction, which is expected to fall for at least the next two years. Recovery depends on the home mortgage credit market and the financial sector at large regaining stability.
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"Foreclosure Forecast: Texas Floats While Nation Flails"
(Gaines) No. 1876, Tierra Grande reprint, 4pp. (10/20/2008) |
 The national economic emergency is deepening, but Texas is doing better than most states.
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"Still Standing: New Jobs Keep Texas Housing Going"
(Gaines) No. 1869, Tierra Grande reprint, 5pp. (7/22/2008) |
 Texas' housing market continues to be significantly stronger than the national market. Home sales will probably decline, but prices should be flat. New home construction will remain soft until the market finds balance.
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"Looming Boom: Texas Through 2030"
(Gaines) No. 1841, Tierra Grande reprint, 5pp. (1/20/2008) |
 The next quarter century should be marked by prosperity in Texas, driven by population and job growth. By 2030, the state is expected to have added 13.6 million people, the equivalent of another Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio, Houston and Corpus Christi
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"Impact Fees: Crunching the Numbers"
(Gaines) No. 1834, Tierra Grande reprint, 5pp. (10/22/2007) |
 Texas law governing impact fees is complicated. The variables used to compute the maximum allowable impact fee are complex and difficult to quantify accurately. Municipalities, developers, builders and the public need to educate themselves on what the law requires and allows, and everyone should get involved in the process as early as possible.
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"Impact Fees"
(Fambrough & Gaines) No. 1822, Tierra Grande reprint, 5pp. (7/23/2007) |
 Many communities, especially those in high-growth areas, are assessing impact fees to finance infrastructure construction. Creating a local ordinance is the first step in the process, which is governed by the Texas Local Government Code. Chapter 395 provides specific requirements for enacting a local impact fee.
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"The Value of Subprimes"
(Gaines) No. 1824, Tierra Grande reprint, 4pp. (7/23/2007) |
 Subprime loans are high-risk loans and consequently have much higher delinquency and foreclosure rates. But they are useful to buyers with low, bad or no credit, may of whom would not be able to purchase a home without them. Much of the negative media attention related to subprimes has focused on predatory lending and other illegal practices, which must be stopped.
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"Housing Affordability"
(Gaines) No. 1796, Tierra Grande reprint, 12pp. (10/20/2006) |
 A look at how each of the component costs of homeownership -- mortgage payment, property taxes, insurance and utilities -- affect home affordability. The article shows that 35.9 percent of Texas households cannot afford a home priced more than $75,000, and 57.5 percent cannot afford a home priced more than $125,000.
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"Measuring Up: Supply, Demand and Home Price Appreciation"
(Gaines & Anari) No. 1794, Tierra Grande reprint, 4pp. (10/20/2006) |
 From 2001-04, Texas' rate of average home price increase was 64 percent lower than the U.S. rate. While the demand for Texas housing increased significantly during those years, the corresponding growth in supply of housing units offset a great deal of the potential price increase.
The five major Texas metropolitan areas average one home sale for every 23 residents, down from one sale per 34.5 residents a decade earlier. Meanwhile, the state's major metro areas issued an average of oue new single-family building permit for every 3.3 new residents, down from 4.4 new residents in 1980-84.
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Homeownership Costs and Housing Affordability Sensitivity
(Gaines) No. 1789, Technical report, 22pp. (10/4/2006) |
 Real estate agents, homeowners and prospective homeowners know the key to acquiring a home is qualifying for the purchase mortgage. This analysis explores the role that principal, interest, taxes, utilities and insurance have on affordability.
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"Deep Impact "
(Gaines & Anari) No. 1778, Tierra Grande reprint, 3pp. (7/13/2006) |
 Estimating the total economic effects of a real estate project is an important factor in securing the support needed to ensure a successful investment.
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"Housing's Perfect Storm"
(Gaines) No. 1768, Tierra Grande reprint, 4pp. (4/18/2006) |
 Texas' residential market is healthy now, but we all know life is uncertain. What would happen if the worst case scenario came to pass?
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"Texas Housing Bubble: Truth or Scare?"
(Gaines) No. 1769, Tierra Grande reprint, 4pp. (4/18/2006) |
 The bubble talk just won't go away. But a good look at important market indicators should give Texas homeowners some peace of mind.
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"What's Happening with Home Appreciation?"
(Gaines) No. 1773, Tierra Grande reprint, 3pp. (4/18/2006) |
 Texas home prices have not appreciated as rapidly as those in other parts of the United States. Here's why.
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"Texas, Do We Have a Foreclosure Problem?"
(Gaines) No. 1761, Tierra Grande reprint, 3pp. (12/16/2005) |
 Foreclosure rates can signal a price bubble that is likely to burst. What does Texas' foreclosure rate indicate about the housing market?
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"THAI Makeover"
(Gaines) No. 1748, Tierra Grande reprint, 3pp. (10/14/2005) |
 The Texas Housing Affordability Index, one of the Real Estate Center's staple products, has been revised to make it more comparable to other published indices.
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THAI: Revised Texas Housing Affordability Index
(Gaines) No. 1742, Technical report, 6pp. (10/11/2005) |
 Beginning with first quarter 2005, the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University revised its calculations of the Texas Housing Affordability Index (THAI). This was done to be more consistent with other published indices and to reduce the complexity and subjectivity of the analysis.
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