20Jul
Here’s an article from Pegasus News discussing some DFW communities highlighted in a new book. The book is titled “Next Stop, Reloville“, and discusses the lifestyles of the rootless families which constantly migrate in chase of professional validity. These are the Management Teams and professionals seeking a family life that melds well with upper middle class pursuits of income.
Not surprisingly DFW ranks among of those attractive Relovilles. Rattling off suburbs like Frisco, Plano, Carollton, and McKinney. Bleh, Bleh, and Bleh. Professional families who opt for manicured subdivisions with relatively new houses, thin windows, and cheeky brickwork. These are your HR managers that drive in 30 miles for work, and constantly cost/benefit getting that Masters or paying for braces.
Smothering all happiness from their middle age years with endless suburbia and minivans…. Perhaps I am to harsh and cynical for my own good.
18Jul
Pulte and Centex shareholders are voted on a merger yesterday.
I expect that we will see more of this as the residential builders seek to stay afloat the next few years. Most of the smaller guys are going belly up already.
Think about what is most likely on our doorstep though. Extreme interest rates. I would imagine that we can expect the development industry to face times which are remarkably similar to the 1980’s. Consolidation may be the only route to survival for many of these companies. This Pulte Centex merger might be a good stock to watch for a bottom in. They can always adapt to a new market, assuming they survive the current one.
18Jul
Here’s an article from the Dallas Business Journal saying that DFW office properties will be hit harder than any other in Texas. It projects rent declines of 5.5 percent, and some 73,000 lost jobs.
I can’t say that I am surprised, but here is the real issue. Any development that has been built out on the last 8 years or so has been leased out at inflated prices. When those leases expire, renegotiation’s will have to take place at cheaper amounts. This is good for economic stability of the lessees, but it places a heavy burden on the lessors. The revenue generation from their properties will decline, and if it can’t service their own notes they will have a serious problem.
If a corporation, or an investor, is currently cash flush this is the time to think about buying. We are entering a period of commercial investments being better than we have since the 1980’s, and perhaps even better still than the 80’s.
17Jul
I saw an ad for a site called AnyWhereInDFW.com. The ad didn’t make it real clear what the focus of the site was, and there wasn’t anything really clear there either. It looks like maybe they rep for a particular residential development company? The site was poorly designed in a lot of different ways, but I kept noticing this “Register to Win” all over the place. I am still not sure what there is to win, or register for. But you sure can register. I think I’ll pass that one up, lest I receive junk mail for the rest of my life.
Some people really amaze me with their web marketing. Logic often fails to come into play. Your general line of business should be displayed prominently and succinctly. Promotions should be thoroughly thought out and displayed. And when all else fails (especially on design), hire a professional.
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