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by AustinRealEstate from Austin Texas

Last Post 7 days, 2 hours Ago


Unemployment Rates Rise, But So Do Jobs
May 15, 2008 | 10:57 PM
Category: News
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The continual talk of the economy’s wavering state probably has you convinced that millions more than usual are unemployed. Therefore, you have, in a mild panic, begun working doubly hard so as not to lose your own job and join the men and women throughout Texas desperate for employment. While I wouldn’t want to curb your effort or encourage you to stop working, you should know that your worry is not as necessary as you would think. 

Yes, statistically speaking, the number of unemployed has risen. Between February and March it increased from 4.1 percent to 4.3 percent. However, a year ago it was 4.4 percent. And throughout the rest of the country, the current unemployment rate is 5.1 percent, considerably higher than Texas’. Some areas, of course, are better than others. The Midland Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) had a 2.6 percent rate of unemployment in March; the Odessa MSA had a rate of 3.0 percent and Amarillo, 3.1 percent.

Fortunately, the slight increase in unemployment has not been matched by a decrease in employment opportunities. In fact, just the opposite is true. In the past three months, Texas has seen an addition of nearly 40,000 jobs, 13,500 of which appeared in March. In that month, job openings in Trade, Transportation and Utilities increased by 7,800, in Leisure and Hospitality by 4,300, in Education and Health Services 2,200 and in Natural Resources and Mining, 1,300. 

This increase in job opportunities is making Texas a solid place to live and grow. As companies relocate to the area, expand their business and develop a larger employment base, Texas will continue to grow, with areas like Austin moving against the housing crisis. This is truly home sweet home.

Joe

Joe Cline works in Austin Texas Real Estate. If you are looking to buy, sell, or lease Austin Real Estate, it would be my pleasure to help. I also work selling Lakeway Real Estate.

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Member Comments Total Comments: 8
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texasson read my blog view my photos
May 16, 2008 | 9:37 PM

You, sir, obviously don't live in the same "Texas" as I do. I would be more than honored to lead you personally by the hand and show you the multitude of minimum-wage, thirty-seven-and-a-half hour (just under consideration as full-time, therefor ineligible for benefits) so-called "jobs" designed to keep the working poor, the working poor. Go pump your polluted "Real Estate" sunshine somewhere else. This ain't the freakin' classifieds. This blog site was intended for the airing of public comment and sentiment, the sharing of ideas and for constructive argument, not for your thinly-veiled attempt at acting like you really care about the unemployed, while your true intent is to hawk your real estate business. I see through you. And if I can see through you, think how transparent you must be in the eyes of God your Creator. Shame....In the words of the song by the "Alan Parsons Project"..."I wouldn't want to be like you...."

The Messenger-
AustinRealEstate read my blog
May 17, 2008 | 11:31 AM

You're right Texasson. I don't live in the same Texas that you do. I live in Austin. Austin, the progressive, young, vibrant, accepting, hill country. We that tolerance and education are the only cures for many of our woes. I also don't take the pessimistic view on everything as I can tell that you do from your bible-beating, rants and raves.

Now that we've got that part straight, it's incredibly presumptuous and rude for you to assume that you know anything about me or who I care about. I know that since you believe that you are one of God's children and that this earth is yours, that anyone not on your moral level, as judged by you, should be ashamed of themselves.

For your information, I RESEARCH before I write my blog posts. If you had any message other than hate and pessimism, I might be inclined to enter into a debate with you.

Rather than provide any information that refutes the facts and statistics that I obtained from the Bureau of Labor; rather than speak to what the real estate market is doing in Texas; rather than making a "constructive argument"; you sir, speak in generalizations and insults.

Maybe you should read the Bible some more and learn to apply its teachings.

Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned, forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.
- Luke 6:37

Lastly, it's a great market.... for BUYERS. Perhaps you've heard of the buy low, sell high strategy for investing.

I'll leave you with a quote from Dale Carnegie.

"Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain - and most fools do."
texasson read my blog view my photos
May 17, 2008 | 3:29 PM

It is not my place to judge anyone. I merely observe and tell truthfully that which I see with my own eyes and understand with my own mind. If you feel so guilty as to defend yourself, then you must have something to defend yourself from. I expect criticism from those who are self-righteous and think they have no sin of which to be ashamed. You are of the same blood as those who dis-believed and mocked and scorned and killed the Lord of Lords. Your fate is your worry, not mine.

The Messenger-
unitqm read my blog view my photos
May 17, 2008 | 5:47 PM

AustinRealEstate you sadly had to respond to texasson. There is no reasoning with those with no reason. I enjoyed nodding my head in agreement with all of your points however.

On a separate note. Could a single fellow making approximately $30,000 a year afford a home in the Austin market right now? I feel like a complete chump for paying rent when I could be paying a mortgage for the same price. The taxes and closing cost are what scares me.
AustinRealEstate read my blog
May 20, 2008 | 2:10 AM

Hi unitqm!
Good to hear a friendly voice out there. Sorry for the delay, but my computer had a fan break and it kept overheating so I was out of commission for a day or so while it was being fixed.

In response to your question about buying a home, there are many properties that you can buy on 30k per year. You'd be a first time buyer and with that income level you would likely qualify for first time home buyer programs and possibly interest FREE loans from the City of Austin. See this link! http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/ahfc/first_dpa.htm

Also, you'd want to buy an affordable home. A starter home to, exactly as the name implies, get you in the game. There are houses for sale that might need a little work or be in a starter neighborhood, but they are out there and you can get loans on them.

Of course all this depends on your debt, credit score, and the house itself, but it can and has been done.

The good thing about the taxes and mortgage is that they are mostly tax deductible. The rent you pay now is not. So imagine getting to pay income taxes on 20k instead of your 30k and having a house to boot.

It can be effort to get into a home, but you need to in order to build equity and keep up with appreciation of other houses. If you rent forever you'll watch the cost of homes go up and up while you don't gain the benefit of the appreciation on your own home, that is if you don't own one.

Key point here. Get in the game.

Joe
unitqm read my blog view my photos
May 20, 2008 | 6:11 PM

Thank you Joe. I found your response to be very useful. I will check out the link you provided. I still think that I have another full year of saving up money right now.
unitqm read my blog view my photos
May 20, 2008 | 6:12 PM

Where did my comment go... All I said was thanks.
dcowboys99 read my blog
May 25, 2008 | 4:38 PM

texasson, I see once again your posts contain inaccurate information.

Working 37.5 hours does not classify you as 'part-time' (and 40 as 'full-time'), thus disqualifying you for benefits. There is no national or Texas law that requires an employer to provide benefits to it's employees.
http://law.justanswer.com/questions/156ct-texas-employm
ent-law-specifies

If employers choose to make the distinction, it's their call. Most of the basic wage, payday, and social safety net (government unemployment insurance, foodstamps, workerscomp) are the result of Democratic ('liberal') programs. Those have been cut back some recently, and the odds of those ever getting more funding in Republican Texas are very low. Texas does have lots of low-wage jobs & one of the lowest rates of usage of it's social safety nets (http://www.nelp.org/docUploads/pub7.pdf), it's a shame, but given the current political mindset here, there is little chance of it changing. Most Republicans believe this is a private-sector issue, though most Democrats believe it's part of the social contract between us as human beings.

Texas does have a law that if you offer benefits to employees, you can't discriminate based on employee 'class'. However, this law is waived after you get big enough (I think 50? or 30? empoyees). The Family Medical Leave Act (federal) also exempts employers with
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AustinRealEstate

I've lived in Texas for 9 years and love it. Austin, well Travis County, is the only place in Texas that I would live in. Being from New England, I tend to be middle of the road on politics with a slight lean to the left and a live and let live attitude on most issues. I sell real estate in Austin for my job. I like to take my dogs to the off lease parks, garden, read, surf the internet, and try new restaurants around town. Joe

Member Since: 5/14/2008


 

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