There are many great reasons to feel very good about owning Texas real estate, according to industry experts.

"Real estate is a localized business, and the long-term future for Texas housing is strong and fueled by a relentless growth in population," says Virginia Cook, Chief Executive Officer of Virginia Cook, Realtors.

She says, "In the next 15 years, enough people will move to Texas to create a new Dallas, Austin, Houston and San Antonio."

In a recent speech to Dallas real estate professionals, Dr. Mark Dotzour, chief economist for the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M, noted that Texas has one of the best real estate climates in the nation today with affordable housing and affordable lifestyles.

"Texas has the best tax structure for business and will continue to outperform other states in attracting relocating companies and job growth," said Dr. Dotzour.

Additionally, there are no price bubbles in Texas. "Our market is not experiencing the woes caused by a wild run up in prices in states such as California, Nevada and Florida," he said.

In fact, Texas housing values have appreciated a steady 4 percent annually for the past five years, and Business 2.0 magazine and Moody's Economy.com recently named the Dallas/Fort Worth region as the 4th best market for home-price appreciation in 2008 and 2009.

According to Dr. Dotzour, speculators, investors and people who should not qualify for a home loan have left the market, returning real estate to "normalcy," where demand is driven by a desire for shelter, a high-quality lifestyle and a sound long-term investment.

Currently most media reports capture real estate at the national level, notes Ms. Cook, where a big picture look at sales puts things into perspective.

"In 2002, home sales set a new record at just over five and a half million, and the median home price was about $164,000," says Ms. Cook. "At that time, homebuyers and the media were full of confidence that the real estate market was strong and healthy."

"Fast-forward to today where we expect national existing home sales to be about five and a half million in 2007. And the national median home price is about $224,500. Compared to 2002, sales are strong and prices are up -- it's a fairly good market even at the national level," she said.

"There are ample opportunities, in the current market for buyers who have good jobs and good credit," says Ms. Cook. "Conventional loans are available, rates are reasonable, and FHA-insured mortgage applications have been rising as low- and moderate-income buyers seek alternatives to subprime loans."

Published: November 28, 2007

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Blanche is a renowned author of five real estate books. Her newest, Bubbles, Booms and Busts: Make Money In Any Real Estate Market, McGraw-Hill, was rave-reviewed by The New York Times. She was also selected from hundreds of real estate experts to contribute to Donald Trump's book, Trump: The Best Real Estate Advice I Ever Received: 100 Top Experts Share Their Strategies, Rutledge Hill Press, and is featured on page 68. Order Now Review - Honors In 2006, Blanche was selected among scores of candidates to author two consumer real estate guidebooks for the National Association of Realtors: The NAR Guide to Home Buying, and The NAR Guide to Home Selling, Wiley & Sons. She is currently planning two new books for the NAR and its members.       Known for her keen insight into real estate industry issues and for her ability to make complex subjects easy to understand, Blanche is a sought-after keynote and continuing education speaker. Real estate organizations from MLSs, to brokerages, to franchisors, to associations hire her to provide up-to-the-minute analysis of real estate industry news and advice on how to improve revenues. Her passionate delivery, peppered with stinging wit, is a huge hit with audiences and fans. Don Klein, CEO Greater Nashville Association of Realtors, Blanche Evans, Richard Courtney, president 2007, GRAR "The GNAR membership meeting last week featured Blanche Evans as the keynote speaker. Her comments and insights resonated extremely well with those in attendance and we have had many requests for copies of her PowerPoint Presentation. She was a terrific part of the membership meeting and convention program!" - Don Klein, CEO Greater Nashville Association of Realtors Coverage from WSMV, Nashville - 8-14-2007 That Interview Guy - Get Inside The Head Of Today's Generation 2007 AE Institute Session - To purchase 2006 AE Institute Session - Parts 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 HouseValues Mastermind call - Parts 1 2 Blanche's fireside chat with Jeremy Conaway, HAR - Click here. For more articles by Blanche, click here.