All Forum Posts by: Brian Foster

I would be happy to meet with you. Wear comfortable clothes and old shoes as we might be on a construction site or rehab or two. Of course any thing with a Red Sox or Patriots logo is always welcome attire with me to :-)

Anyone have any insight why this was abandoned? The reports that I have read indicate that UT was ready to move forward with a world class institution and build a new campus that would rival globally renowned institutions and help advance the technology, energy and healthcare sectors for generations to come.

At best this appears to be a misunderstanding between the University of Houston and the University of Texas System. At worst it seems to be a battle of some huge egos that is preventing something that could be a game changing, quantum leaping type of institution from ever getting off the ground.

Just trying to understand what is happening here?

@Jeff Wallenius  You pretty much nailed it. Agree, Agree, Agree 

Dad was from Westbook/Portland. Spent a week on Peaks Island last October. Deep New England Roots (Rhody boy). Moved to Houston in 1990. The area was devastated from Oil & Gas downturn back then.

Today's Houston looks nothing like that. 25 years of drawing other industries into the state of Texas has left us with an economy & population that Brookings Institute said was the 2nd largest growth area over the last decade (San Jose was #1) in the nation.  Houston shed >80,000 jobs in the last 2 years and still ended up with the highest employment in the city"s history thanks to all the other industries that have been drawn here by tax abatement and incentives. We have the largest medical Center in the world here.   Expected to add 30,000 jobs to the economy here this year. Oil Rig count for March was 2X what it was one year ago, and Texas Railroad commission granted 2X the drilling permits this year over last (O&G has bottomed and is coming back). 

Harris Co. has been the fastest growing (population) county in the country for  8 years in a row. Last year that fell to #2 in the country. It might slow a little more due to immigration policy change but the attraction is drawing both domestic and international immigration. Jobs being created here and the economy is growing. Population is the most racially diverse in the Nation (we passed NYC last year).

Texas is one of the fastest growing economies in the Country and Houston is one of (maybe the top) growth economy in Texas. Not enough single family homes to meet the demand (3.5 months of inventory on MLS).

Climate vs Maine will be vastly different (hot and humid) but culture will be very similar. Texans (like Maine) don't whine a lot and are not considered snowflakes. Buy a house with a pool, you'll spend a lot of time in it. Look anywhere on the new Rt 99 (Grand Parkway) between Katy and The Woodlands and you will see great appreciation for the next 5-10 years.

Rent to value ratios are excellent ($150,000 property will rent for $1,500).

Lots of Sawx and Patriots fans here too. Helps to speak spanish but not absolutely necessary. 

Plan your vacations back to Maine to see family and friends for Aug & Sep (labor day does not signal the end of summah here)

Que up Chris Rea "Texas" while you pack the car. Finally this little gem from my neighbors in 1990

"A yankee comes for a visit, a damn yankee comes with a u-haul"

Final reason I like Houston. Astro's moved over to the AL a few years ago and I get to see my Sawx (Rhody roots) at least once a year in Minute Maid now. If you are a Yankee fan, you're in luck, Met's not so much...

#andrew 

I like the Rio Grande Valley area too. What are your property management options like there? 

Brookings Institute rated Houston #2 for economic development (San Jose was #1) over the last 10 years. Despite hemorrhaging >80,000 oil and gas jobs in the last 2 years Houston employment rates are the highest in history at the end of 2016. Oil and Gas are now hiring back. The Greater Houston area will pass 7 million people this year. Current real estate is still a strong sellers market as there is less than 3.5 months of inventory available in single family homes (6 months inventory considered balanced inventory). Texas economy is one of the best in the country and the Houston economy is one of the best in Texas. Houston surpassed NYC as the most racially diverse city in the country in 2016. We are growing our population and our economy (jobs) in an amazing way. Harris County ended an 8 year run last year as the fastest growing (population) and still ended up #2 in the country. There are really good reasons so many companies and people are moving here. Jobs, jobs jobs 

Housing prices well below national averages. 4 th largest city in the country and your money buys more house here than in any of the other 4. Great investment market (REI) because of low cost of entry and rent/ownership ratio is strong.

We have the largest medical center in the entire world with the leading cancer center that is a destination facility people come from all over to visit.

Oh and I almost forgot, buy a place on the new Grand Parkway (Texas Route 99) because it is a game changing new toll road that is linking all the burbs like never before. 

Or you could do Florida I guess ;-)

I'd be happy to help you. Please message me. Thx

O&G hemorrhaged >80,000 jobs in 15 & 16. Market still had net job growth due to diversification of economy. Houston has the largest medical center in the world. The other side of the O&G industry that is going great is the petrochemical and refining business because they took this as an opportunity to reinvest in infrastructure (created a lot of jobs). Houston finished 2016 with the highest employment rate in the city's history according to the Greater Houston Partnership.

Brookings Institute did a 10 year study and had Houston ranked #2 for economic growth (San Jose was #1).

Biggest population growth in the Nation for about 8 years in a row, showing no signs of slowing down. Way over inventoried in Class A apartments and commercial Real Estate (office space) right now but at one of the lowest inventories of SFH (3.5 months) ever. We will pass 7 million people this year even if they build the wall ;-)

Lots of reasons to be bullish on HTown economy, and SFH inventory (lack of) is a big problem (opportunity) right now.

I took classes there back in the 90's :-)

They've been around a long time (I think that is a good sign) and they've trained many/most of the areas professionals.