Welcome (But Watch Out)
(Fambrough) 3pp.
Enjoying nature has inherent risks. Texas statutory law generally protects landowners when injuries occur as a result of naturally occurring hazards. The Texas Supreme Court created a test for courts to consider in determining if landowners are liable for failing to warn guests of such dangers.
Going to the Pros
(Klassen) 5pp.
Commercial transaction volume is going up, and more distress is ahead. The decline in values will snowball. Good opportunities exist in local submarkets, but knowledge is key. Commercial market professionals should nurture relationships with banks to take advantage of opportunities as they arise.
The River Wild: Housing Market Ebb and Flow
(Dotzour) 2pp.
Transaction volume in the housing market is like a river. For the most part, the flow is "normal," but on occasion, drought causes the river to dry up, or excess rain causes floods. The same ebb and flow exists in the housing market. A variety of factors precipitate these changes.
Level Land: Texas Rural Land Markets 2010
(Gilliland, Gunadekar, Sriram, Gross) 3pp.
Farmland was in demand in 2010 thanks to rising commodity prices and low interest rates. Investors had stiff competition from farmers whose good crop yields gave them plenty of cash to spend. Overall, 2010 land markets were flat statewide.
New Sublease on Life
(Wilson) 4pp.
Assigning a lease or subleasing a portion of the premises to a suitable assignee or subtenant can help commercial tenants resolve cash-flow problems. Landlords benefit too because their income stream remains the same, and they incur no additional risk.
Bubble Radar
(Anari) 4pp.
Housing costs as a percentage of total family income suggest which direction housing prices are headed. So does the ratio of sales price to rent. Currently, both suggest the likelihood of a major home price decline in Texas is negligible.
Returns for Retirement: Pension Funds & Real Estate
(Donnell) 3pp.
With its long-term nature and relatively high income, real estate is appropriate for pension funds. Real estate will continue to receive a share of investment capital from this group.
