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        <title>Real Estate Blog</title>
        <link>http://www.pollysellsaustin.com/blog/</link>
        <description></description>
        <item>
            <guid>http://www.pollysellsaustin.com/blog/home-prices-rise-in-half-of-us-cities-as-markets-stabilize.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.pollysellsaustin.com/blog/home-prices-rise-in-half-of-us-cities-as-markets-stabilize.html</link>
            <author>polly@turnquistpartners.com (Polly Clarke)</author>
            <title>Home Prices Rise in Half of U.S. Cities as Markets Stabilize </title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Prices for single-family homes climbed in half of U.S. cities in the first 
quarter as real estate markets stabilized.


The median sales price 
increased from a year earlier in 74 of 146 metropolitan areas measured, the 
National Association of Realtors said in a report today. In the fourth quarter, 
only 29 areas had gains.










 















 






May 7 (Bloomberg) — Michelle Meyer, a senior economist at Bank of America 
Merrill Lynch, talks about the U.S. economy and real estate market. She speaks 
with Tom Keene on Bloomberg Television’s “Surveillance Midday.” (Source: 
Bloomberg)








The U.S. housing market is showing 
signs of bottoming as improving employment and record-low 
mortgage rates boost demand while 
inventories of available properties tighten. At the end of March, 2.37 million 
previously owned homes were available for sale, 22 percent fewer than a year 
earlier, the Realtors said.


“The housing market is still 
depressed but it had a good quarter,” Patrick Newport, an 
economist at IHS Global Insight in Lexington, Massachusetts, said in a 
telephone interview today. “We’re on the mend but it’s still something that will 
take two or three years before we’re back to normal.”


The national median existing single-family home price was $158,100 in the 
first quarter, down 0.4 percent from the first three months of 2011, according 
to the Realtors group.


The best-performing metro area 
was Cape Coral, Florida, where prices increased 28.1 percent from a year 
earlier. Prices rose 19 percent in Grand Rapids, Michigan; 16.9 percent in Palm 
Bay, Florida; and 16.6 percent in Erie, Pennsylvania.


Biggest Declines


Kingston, New York, had the 
biggest decline, with the median selling price tumbling 22 percent in the 
quarter. It was followed by Stamford, Connecticut, with an 
18 percent decline; Mobile, Alabama, at 14.7 percent; and Atlanta at 12 
percent.


The median selling price is influenced by the mix of homes on the market and 
probably was boosted by a smaller share of transactions involving distressed 
properties. Those homes, which sell at discounts, accounted for 32 percent of 
first-quarter sales, down from 38 percent a year earlier.


Prices are more volatile than 
normal because they are affected by the prevalence of distressed sales and 
“sudden upswings” in buyer interest in some areas, said Lawrence Yun, the group’s 
chief economist.


‘Broad Shortages’


“We have broad shortages of lower-priced homes in much of the country, with 
very tight supply in Western states for homes through the middle price ranges,” 
Yun said in the report.“This is good news for many sellers who wish to list now, 
or for those waiting for prices to improve.”


Sales of previously owned homes rose 5.3 percent in the first quarter from a 
year earlier, according to the report. Purchases climbed 11.7 percent in the 
Midwest, 6.6 percent in the Northeast, 4.1 percent in the South, and 1.4 percent 
in the West.


Fannie Mae, the nation’s 
biggest mortgage-finance company, today reported a $2.7 billion first-quarter 
profit after a $6.5 billion loss a year earlier, citing smaller declines in home prices as one of the 
reasons for improvement. The Washington-based company said that it won’t need 
Treasury Department aid to balance its books for the first time since it was 
seized by federal regulators in 2008
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Thu, 17 May 2012 12:50:32 -0500</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.pollysellsaustin.com/blog/austin-rated-one-of-the-best-cities-in-the-nation-for-small-business-growth-and-prosperity.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.pollysellsaustin.com/blog/austin-rated-one-of-the-best-cities-in-the-nation-for-small-business-growth-and-prosperity.html</link>
            <author>polly@turnquistpartners.com (Polly Clarke)</author>
            <title>Austin rated one of the best cities in the nation for small business growth and prosperity!</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Austin Business Journal                                                                        by G. Scott Thomas                                            


 


This week's editions of On Numbers have identified the best markets for small businesses within the nation's four regions. These were the winners:


East (21 markets): Pittsburgh


South (37 markets): Austin


Midwest (19 markets): Minneapolis-St. Paul


West (23 markets): Salt Lake City


Now it's time to combine the four lists and declare an overall champion.


The U.S. market that provides the best opportunities for small businesses to grow and prosper is Austin, which also finished first in On Numbers' rankings for 2011 and 2010.


Austin is known for its small business drive. The Austin City Council recently approved a resolution to allow the city to work with the Austin Independent Business Alliance   Austin Independent Business AllianceLatest from The Business JournalsFollow this company                     on some of the goals outlined in the independent business alliance’s Local Business Manifesto.


Another three markets from the South — Raleigh, Oklahoma City and Houston — occupy the runner-up slots in this year's national rankings. Salt Lake City rounds out the top five.


On Numbers has fashioned a six-part formula to analyze small-business climates across the country. (A small business is defined as any private-sector employer with fewer than 100 workers.)


The formula's components include five-year population growth, five- and one-year private-sector employment growth, concentration of small businesses per 1,000 residents, one-year change in that concentration, and one-year growth in the number of small businesses.


The following database contains the full national standings, along with selected statistics. It can be re-sorted by any category. Just click the appropriate header.


Austin's number of small businesses increased 0.4 percent from 39,180 in 2008 to 39,350 in 2009, the latest year for which official figures are available from the U.S. Census Bureau  U.S. Census BureauLatest from The Business JournalsFollow this company                    . That was the biggest gain by any market. Ninety-seven of the 100 metros actually suffered losses.
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Thu, 19 Apr 2012 09:49:12 -0500</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.pollysellsaustin.com/blog/austin-2nd-in-the-nation-in-population-growth.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.pollysellsaustin.com/blog/austin-2nd-in-the-nation-in-population-growth.html</link>
            <author>polly@turnquistpartners.com (Polly Clarke)</author>
            <title>Austin 2nd in the nation in population growth</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/blog/morning_call/2012/04/austin-no-2-fastest-growing-metro.html


 
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Tue, 10 Apr 2012 14:02:24 -0500</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.pollysellsaustin.com/blog/expected-population-growth-in-austin-and-what-it-means-for-the-housing-market.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.pollysellsaustin.com/blog/expected-population-growth-in-austin-and-what-it-means-for-the-housing-market.html</link>
            <author>polly@turnquistpartners.com (Polly Clarke)</author>
            <title>Expected Population growth in Austin and what it means for the housing market</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2012/03/26/austin-no-2-for-urban-population-growth.html?surround=etf&amp;ana=e_article ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Fri, 30 Mar 2012 13:39:02 -0500</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.pollysellsaustin.com/blog/optimism-in-the-austin-housing-market-and-the-booming-job-sector.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.pollysellsaustin.com/blog/optimism-in-the-austin-housing-market-and-the-booming-job-sector.html</link>
            <author>polly@turnquistpartners.com (Polly Clarke)</author>
            <title>Optimism in the Austin Housing market and the Booming job sector!!</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/blog/morning_call/2012/03/optimistic-forecast-for-austin-housing.html?ana=e_aus_rdup ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Fri, 30 Mar 2012 13:36:24 -0500</pubDate>
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        <item>
            <guid>http://www.pollysellsaustin.com/blog/hba-announces-parade-of-home-for-2012.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.pollysellsaustin.com/blog/hba-announces-parade-of-home-for-2012.html</link>
            <author>polly@turnquistpartners.com (Polly Clarke)</author>
            <title>HBA announces Parade of Home for 2012</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 


The Home Builders Association (HBA) of Austin has announced
the builders for the 2012 Parade of Homesä.
Pillar Custom Homes, Dillon Custom Homes, JKD Builder, Enertech Custom Homes
and PGM Design +Build will display their unique upscale properties during the
tour which is scheduled from October 20-November 4, 2012.




Polly Clarke has noted, “The homes will range from $865,000
to over $1million and most are to be styled in a modern and cutting edge
contemporary style of which we have all ready received a great amount of
inerest”.oHomesHmmm


 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Fri, 30 Mar 2012 13:03:01 -0500</pubDate>
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        <item>
            <guid>http://www.pollysellsaustin.com/blog/2012-austin-texas-parade-of-homes-site-the-overlook-estates.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.pollysellsaustin.com/blog/2012-austin-texas-parade-of-homes-site-the-overlook-estates.html</link>
            <author>polly@turnquistpartners.com (Polly Clarke)</author>
            <title>2012 Austin, Texas Parade of Homes™ Site-The Overlook Estates</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
The Overlook Estates in West Austin is a beautiful new community that features hill country views for miles and large trees.


 The subdivsion is located very close to Austin(15-20 minutes) and only 10 minutes to the new Bee Caves Hill Country Galleria shopping area. 


Acreage lots are priced from $108,000 and are sized from 1/2 acre to 1.7 acres.


Residents can enjoy low taxes of 1.96% withfire hydrants, sidewalks, reasonable deed restrictions and paved streets.


 Reservations are now being accepted and the final completion of the roads are expected to be done by the end of Septmeber 2011. 


The first phase of the subdivsion has 36 lots and the second phase will feature 44 lots that are planned for completion in 2 years. 


For more information on this exciting new development, call Polly Clarke, Turnquist Partners Realotrs at (512)658-6389 or go to the website at www.theoverlookestaes.com.


 


 
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Tue, 06 Sep 2011 15:35:52 -0500</pubDate>
                    </item>
        <item>
            <guid>http://www.pollysellsaustin.com/blog/2012-parade-of-homes.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.pollysellsaustin.com/blog/2012-parade-of-homes.html</link>
            <author>polly@turnquistpartners.com (Polly Clarke)</author>
            <title>2012 Parade of Homes™</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
The Overlook Estates will host the
Homebuilders of Austin 2012 Parade of Homesä
beginning September 12th. 
The 58th Parade of Homesä
will feature several custom builders from the Austin area with luxury homes
priced in the $700,000-800,000 range. 
The builders are yet to be announced but it is expected there will be 8
homes on tour.  


The Parade of Homesäwill
offer a diverse line up of homes that are fully decorated for the public to
view. The builders and decorators will also be on hand to answer any questions
people may have.  


During the two weeks of The Parade of
Homesä,
visitors are asked to vote on their favorite homes with an award going to the
builder who receives the most votes.


This Parade of Homes ä is
expected to draw approximately 15,000 visitors from all over the Austin area.

For more information, contact Polly C. Clarke, Turnquist Partners Realtors, (512)658-6389. ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Fri, 02 Sep 2011 11:35:55 -0500</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.pollysellsaustin.com/blog/council-denies-zoning-for-e-austin-homes-project.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.pollysellsaustin.com/blog/council-denies-zoning-for-e-austin-homes-project.html</link>
            <author>polly@turnquistpartners.com (Polly Clarke)</author>
            <title>Council Denies Zoning for E. Austin Homes Project </title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Austin City Council members denied two measures Thursday for a 117-home project on East Riverside Drive.


Read full article here.
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Wed, 06 Jul 2011 15:54:47 -0500</pubDate>
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        <item>
            <guid>http://www.pollysellsaustin.com/blog/existing-home-sales-decline-in-may-with-market-constraints-temporary-conditions.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.pollysellsaustin.com/blog/existing-home-sales-decline-in-may-with-market-constraints-temporary-conditions.html</link>
            <author>polly@turnquistpartners.com (Polly Clarke)</author>
            <title>Existing-Home Sales Decline in May with Market Constraints, Temporary Conditions</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Existing-home
 sales were down in May as temporary factors and financing  problems 
weighed on the market, according to the National Association of 
 Realtors®.


Read full article here.
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Wed, 06 Jul 2011 15:53:44 -0500</pubDate>
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