Economy

Wage Increases Buoy Labor Force, Provide Access Up The Property Ladder

By Joanna England / July 10, 2018 /

When it comes to buying a home in hot North Texas markets, what’s holding a lot of buyers back — besides inventory — is income. With so much of a recent graduate’s paycheck going toward exorbitant student loans, and with many families making the tough choice of forgoing homeownership so one parent can stay home…

Economists Predict Recession, But How Soon?

By Bethany Erickson / June 27, 2018 /

There’s been a pretty steady drumbeat from leading economists — a recession is coming. In fact, at this month’s National Association of Real Estate Editors journalism convention, all three economists on a dais one Friday found themselves agreeing on two things: a recession is coming, and real estate won’t be the impetus this time. Frank…

Home Improvement Professionals Report Feeling More Confident, More Concerned with Labor

By Heather Hunter / June 28, 2017 /

Confidence among home improvement professionals is booming. After a quarterly survey of thousands of remodelers, carpenters, painters, plumbers and roofers, the HomeAdvisor Farnsworth Index reports that over three-quarters of those home improvement professionals feel highly confident in their business prospects over the coming year. The survey was administered between May 11 and May 26 to…

Immigration Policies Under Trump Administration Threaten DFW Economy

By Heather Hunter / March 17, 2017 /

Second only to California, Texas hosts largest immigrant population in the United States. And in Dallas-Fort Worth alone, more than 1.2 million immigrants make their homes, hold jobs, attend schools, and participate in local communities. An integral part of the DFW economy, immigrants contributed $8.4 billion in taxes and over $25 billion in spending power…

2016 House Flipping Report Shines Spotlight on Housing Affordability

By Heather Hunter / March 10, 2017 /

If you feel like everyone you know has gotten into the flipping game, your instincts are correct. According to 2016 Year-End U.S. Home Flipping Report by ATTOM Data Solutions, the number of folks making a living from house flipping reached a nine-year high last year. Data shows that in 2016, 126,256 individuals and corporate entities…