Remember not that long ago when everyone was freaking out because of area job layoffs and predicting doom and gloom?  Today an article in the Chronicle states "The Texas economy is outperforming the nation as a whole mostly on Houston's coattails, alongtime observer of the city's econmy said Thursday.  Texas is doing well because Houston is doing well."

If I am not mistaken that sounds like good and encouraging news!  Of course it came as no suprise to me.  Just go to any shopping mall and the crowds will tell you that people must have a disposable income because they are out buying.  The article further says "Another good sign is the recent surge in local sales tax receipts, which have been strong since midsummer and up about 10 percent since then on an annualized basis."

As a Realtor, friends will often ask me "so how does 2012 look for real estate?"  People are looking at homes online, you can almost sense people exhaling (after a few years of holding their collective real-estate breath), and with interest rates ridiculously low I am looking forward to 2012 as it looks very promising.

Read the entire Chronicle article here http://www.chron.com/business/economy/article/Houston-driving-Texas-growth-economist-says-2642864.php