Three Texas real estate markets hit ULI list

HOUSTON – The Urban Land Institute (ULI) and PwC US have released the 2013 Emerging Trends in Real Estate report. Three Texas markets — Austin, Houston, and Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) — made ULI’s top ten markets to watch list.

Austin ranked No. 4. In 2013, Austin looks set to extend its trend of attracting individual and institutional investors alike. Expansion of commercial real estate in Austin looks likely with a population increase of 2.3 percent anticipated next year, pushed by the echo boomer demographic.

Houston ranked No. 5. Energy-related employment is one of the driving forces behind the Houston market and the investment prospect rank jumped from eighth to fifth. Survey participants believe the main buying opportunities are in the industrial sector — 50 percent believe that space in Houston is worth taking a chance on.

Dallas-Fort Worth (No. 9) ranks behind only Houston as a job provider, and the DFW job base is one of the most diversified of the 51 markets covered.