Fast Follow. Anyone in the U.S. can receive Tweets on their phone even if they haven’t signed up for Twitter. This is a simple way for people to get information they care about in real-time. For example, let’s say you want to get Tweets from New York City’s office of emergency management (@NotifyNYC). Just text ‘follow NotifyNYC’ to 40404 in the US.

Try it out the next time you see a Twitter @username at a restaurant or store, on a billboard or on TV, or if you hear one mentioned on the radio. If you want to appear in a user’s followers list or start to get followers, you’ll need to create a Twitter account. You can SMS by texting ‘signup’ to Twitter at 40404.

Fast Following without creating an account is currently available only in the U.S., but Twitter is working with carriers to bring it to other countries.

Set SMS alerts: From your computer, wherever you see a user on Twitter.com, you can hover over their name or avatar, and click on the phone icon that appears in the hovercard. Whenever they tweet, you'll get it as an SMS message on your phone.

It's just as easy to set alerts from your phone. Send ‘on [username]’ or ‘off [username]’ to 40404 in the U.S.

Tell Twitter to be quiet. Turn text messages on or off by sending ‘on’ or ‘off’ to Twitter. You can also go to our settings page if you want to turn off text message updates during a certain time period.

Keep up with the latest Tweet. If you text 'Get [username]’, that user’s most recent Tweet will be sent to your phone, even if you don’t follow them. There are a bunch of other fun commands you can use with Twitter on your phone.

 Comparison of prior markets     

 ·       Average Interest Rate for 2009 was 5.04%.

·       Average Interest Rate for 2008 was 6.03%.

·       Average Interest Rate for 2007 was 6.34%.

This chart shows the change in weekly interest rates from January of 2008 forward based on the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey of approximately 125 lenders. Freddie Mac’s survey is generally viewed as the best indicator of interest rate trends.

A typical homeowner's insurance policy provides protection for casualty, liability and personal property. Your insurance broker can help you determine how much coverage you need for each of the three standard protections.

Casualty coverage provides protection for common hazards including fire, wind, lightning or other incidents that can cause structural damage to your home. If the house is damaged or destroyed by a covered peril, the casualty insurance should cover the cost to rebuild. Ask your insurance broker about a guaranteed replacement cost provision. The provision ensures that your insurance will cover the cost of rebuilding your home even if the cost exceeds your policy limits.

Homeowners can be subject to a host of legal liability issues. The liability coverage provision in a homeowner's policy provides protection against lawsuits that can result if a guest or some other visitor is injured while on the property. One rule to consider is that your liability limits should total at least twice the property’s value.

Personal property coverage protects the contents in your home. The limits and terms of this coverage can vary widely. For example, a replacement cost provision can provide reimbursement for your possessions based on today’s market value. Conversely, the coverage may value your possessions based on what they were worth when initially purchased minus depreciation. In the event that you file a personal property claim, it’s a good idea to have a detailed catalog of your possessions. The easiest way to document and itemize your personal property is to go from room to room with a video recorder and methodically record your home’s contents.

Here’s a list of articles from this year discussing the long term demographics and economic strengths of both Austin and Texas:   

• Austin is Kiplinger's number-one Best City for the Next Decade – “Austin is arguably the country’s best crucible for small business.” … It has “a huge angel-financing network, billionaires who will freely offer you advice,” plus a culture that “attracts the best and brightest.”
• Texas is the big winner in population growth for the decade– Brookings Institute study: Big Texas metros have done well because they avoided a lot of the pitfalls of the housing boom and bust. Six Texas counties are among the 25 fastest-growing from 2000 to 2009: Rockwall, Williamson, Collin, Hays, Fort Bend and Montgomery. The Houston metropolitan area, which has a population of 5.9 million, is the USA's sixth-largest, up two notches since 2000. Austin, the 35th-largest metro at 1.7 million, moved up five spots and San Antonio ranks 28th, up one rung, at 2.1 million.
• Texas job growth tops nation for the decade - Texas continued to make strides in private sector job growth during the past 10 years. Texas led the nation with 724,300 more net private sector jobs in December 2009 compared with one decade ago.  Over the last 10 years only two of the 10 largest states, Texas and Florida, had positive job growth.  “Texas’ business, tax, and economic policies created an environment where businesses can succeed and create jobs.” (Source: Austin Business Journal, U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics and Texas Workforce Commission)
• Ten boom towns with resilient economies, growing industries, and lots of job potential. Knowledge workers, take note. – BNET ranks Austin number one for job growth over the next decade. “Over the next decade, the best jobs are going to go to the cities with the industries and the entrepreneurial incentives in place to support a highly educated, tech-savvy workforce.”
• Best Cities for Jobs – Moster.com ranks Austin number one for jobs in 2010 and lists the criteria needed for creating jobs in the future that are a great match for Austin: 1) Tech companies are moving there, 2) Universities and research parks collaborate with the local business community. 3) The political climate is business-friendly. 4) There’s a high concentration of entrepreneurs. 5) A large proportion of the residents have a bachelor’s degrees or higher.
• Texas gains the most Jobs over the Decade– Another Brookings report showed that Texas gained the most jobs with more than 40 percent more jobs at the end of 2009 than at the end of 1999.

Source: Gracy Title - Austin

TREC Licensed inspectors in Texas have been reporting the lack of AFCI (known as Arc Fault) in home inspection reports now since 02/2009 due to the new Standards of Practice requirement; this even applies to homes built before AFCI was invented, much like the case of GFCI. (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters)

AFCI has been around since 1999, the requirement was revamped in 2002 for new homes and then another expanded requirement in 2008 was introduced by the NEC (National Electric Code). A good inspector on older homes should be able to help set the right perspective as this is a recommendation to upgrade to a "best practice", newer standard, but is still a grandfather type clause and it is common buyer practice not to expect sellers to bring their homes up to code.  However we advise buyers to think Safety First.

So what is Arc Fault?

An "arc fault circuit interrupter" (AFCI), is a new type of circuit breaker designed to detect sparking in an electrical system, and to shut down the affected circuit before it causes a fire. The jury is still out on whether AFCIs actually save lives and property.

A household circuit can cause fire in two ways: circuit overload and sparking. Standard circuit breakers or fuses usually protect an overloaded circuit, but the breakers may not trip from intermittent sparking. For example, if you pierce or sever an electrical cable while hammering a nail into a wall, you could create an intermittent short, resulting in sparking. If the breaker does not trip, a fire could start.

What's the Difference Between an AFCI and a GFCI?

A GFCI, or a "ground-fault circuit interrupter," is typically installed in areas with a high risk for electrical shock, such as bathrooms. A GFCI protects people from electric shock, while an AFCI protects homes from electrical fires.

Is it working?

According to our inspector sources it will take several more years before statistics reflect anything concrete about how well AFCIs function. In the meantime, it is a good assumption that AFCIs reduce the chances of electrical spark-induced fires. Electrical authorities do plan, however, to ultimately mandate every breaker in your electrical panel as an AFCI or a GFCI, or a device that covers both, protecting people from electric shock and homes from electrical fires.

TIP ONE
Pick a vacation destination that really, truly offers something for every family member - Look for hotels, resorts and getaways that have a wide variety of activities; golf for dad, spa for mom, structured kid's clubs for children.

TIP TWO
Don't overschedule your vacation - Our families are so busy. We balance school, jobs, homework, sports, dance and other activities all the time. Vacation is a time to relax and enjoy the down time.

TIP THREE
Kids are creatures of habit that don't tell time - They know what is coming next because of the sequence, order and routine. Even on vacation go through the same steps surrounding bed time, meal time and potty time so the children know what to expect.

TIP FOUR
If traveling with another family, be very clear about everyone's vacation expectations before you leave - Discuss how much time you plan to spend all together. Talk about all costs from meals to rental cars. Know if one team of parents is going to stay with the kids one night and let the other parents have an adult night.

TIP FIVE
Be prepared! Arm yourself with information about the place you are planning to visit. Most every city has a local visitor's bureau, and their websites are loaded with information about the destination. Check out their sites to learn about family friendly activities, dining offers, special events and more.

TIP SIX
Make a boredom bag for a car trip - Take a hanging travel cosmetic case and fill each pocket with age appropriate activities; things like books on tape, hand held electronic games and self contained craft kits. Hang it from the seat back in front of where your child is sitting. This will keep everything organized and the young one from asking "are we there yet?"

TIP SEVEN
Sneak in an educational experience - We are never too old to stop learning! Visit hands on, kid friendly museums, walk in the footsteps of history or take a trip to aquarium. Learning can be lots of fun.

TIP EIGHT
Be loyal - Credit card companies, airlines, hotels, cruise lines and rental cars all reward their most devoted customers with special perks, from free upgrades to amenities in their hotel room. Some airlines don't charge their premium members to check baggage and offer access to the most desired seats.

TIP NINE
Disconnect to reconnect - Our families are so wired in with technology that we miss the chance to talk to each other. Kids can stop texting, mom can stop with the cell phone and dad can stop with the blackberry so the family can enjoy each other.

TIP TEN
Make the Internet your travel agent to save time and money - Purchase tickets to theme parks and other attractions online ahead of time, and print them before you leave. That way you don't waste valuable vacation time waiting in line to pay for admission.

Source -Family travel expert, Emily Kaufman, The Travel Mom.

How long have you been a buyer’s agent?

What percentage of your business is devoted to buyers?

Can you share the names and contact details for three past buyer clients who can provide references?

What are your areas of specialized knowledge?

Which types of housing or neighborhoods do you know best?

Please explain what representation choices I have as a buyer.

What is meant by fiduciary duties?

Do you practice dual representation?

Do you hold an ABR (Accredited Buyer’s Representative) designation?

What other real estate designations or credentials do you hold?

Please explain how you will assist me at each stage of the transaction.

Do you have a written buyer representation agreement that details our obligations to each other?

How will you be compensated?

If I hire you as my buyer’s agent will I be subjected to any additional costs in my transaction?

Do you have full access to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS)?

Will you try to find suitable properties beyond the MLS?

Will you handle all aspects of my transaction, or will I be working with assistants?

Who will be explaining the various forms, agreements and steps required to reach closing?

Will you counsel me on a negotiating strategy and appropriate contingencies?

How will you package my offer to the seller? Will you personally present my offer?

Will you provide guidance on affordability, mortgage options and how to choose a lender?

Why should I consider becoming pre-qualified or pre-approved on a mortgage?

Can you provide referrals to providers of other services related to my transaction, including home inspectors, surveyors, movers, etc?

There are excellent interest rates on mortgages currently, which will make payments lower. We haven’t seen interest rates like this for 40 years and may not again.

There are fewer buyers in the marketplace and the benefit is there is less competition for the best homes.

Lower buying activity in the marketplace causes lower prices, which translates to better buying opportunities.

Sellers may be more willing to negotiate not just on price but also on other things such as paid closing costs.

People were still buying homes in the early 80’s when interest rates were 18% for FHA and 7 points. Buying a home, even at high interest rates was still a better alternative than renting. 

It is a great time to move up if you have equity in your current home.  With the low rates available, you can often afford a larger home at close to the same payment they are currently making.

Put away any evidence of pets, pet food bowls and pet liter boxes.  In addition pets should take a mini holiday for showings, tours and open houses.

Play classical music throughout the house – 89.5 FM is a great local station for Austin-area residents. You can also choose a light jazz station or classical station from your digital cable or satellite provider. 

All handles, knobs, latches and light switches must be impeccably clean.

Clean all surfaces so they feel clean and grit free.

Bake cookies for open houses or showings.

Place mild scented releases (vanilla or cinnamon or apple spice) or create your own by mixing water, cinnamon, clove and ginger and boiling. Be sure to turn off boiling water just before you leave!

Use dryer sheets or fabric softener for a fresh scent at closets and laundry room.

Place bowls of individually wrapped candy around the house.

Put personal products out of site; get baskets for family members in which they can place their products.

For showings, turn on all lights, even closet lights. Open blinds, draw open curtains and draperies. Set air conditioning to cool, 72 degrees and turn on all fans.

LIGHTEN AND BRIGHTEN: Turn on all lights, accent lighting and ceiling fans (slow speed for fans). Open all window coverings to let in the sunlight.

Fresh flowers are a wonderful touch!

Tuck away evidence of pets (litter boxes, food, toys) and try to keep pets elsewhere for showings.

Make all beds.

Put the door into the manual mode (normally by pulling the release handle hanging on a rope) and lift it by hand. A properly balanced door should lift easily and smoothly and stay open on its own about 3 feet off the ground. If it doesn't, hire a garage-door technician to counterbalance the overhead spring.

Return safety latch to auto mode (usually by sliding it until it clicks).Set the reversing force on the opener as low as possible by placing a 2x4 board on the ground under the door, wide side down. The door should pop back up when it hits the board. If it doesn't, call a garage-door pro.

Test the photoelectric eyes by blocking the beam between them. The door should reverse direction; if it doesn't, have it checked by a pro. Lubricate all rollers, tracks and hinges (white grease or silicon works well).

Look for water stains where the deck ties to the house since leakage can lead to wood decay. If you have any doubt about the structural integrity of the deck, call a pro to investigate. Get rid of moss and mold. Pressure washers are effective if used properly and carefully.

Remember, if you see wood damage, like raised fibers, increase the distance between the spray nozzle and the decking. Normal wear and tear may also loosen joints and connections, so check and tighten them regularly. Apply a coat of wood stain or water repellent every 1 to 2 years.

Experts recommend setting aside 1-3 percent of the market value of your home each year to pay for maintenance and repair costs. Even though all of these funds may not be needed if your home is new, the accumulated amounts will help you prevent a budget crisis when it is time for large future expenses such as re-roofing or replacing a heating unit. Preventative home maintenance helps provide a healthy, safe environment and it protects your growing investment. We suggest having a qualified home inspector inspect at least every ten years.

Some Suggested April Home Maintenance Items

1 .Mark and monitor small/hairline cracks in foundation. If stable after a few months fill with epoxy. If they've expanded beyond one half inch, call a structural engineer.

2. Inspect crawl spaces for seepage/leakage.

3. Inspect roof for any missing, loose or damaged shingles.

4. Check and clean AC/furnace systems. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations

5. Clean and/or replace the AC/furnace filters. Adjust thermostats for season change.

6. Check and clean gutters, downspouts and extensions and repair/replace as needed

7. Do a safety check: smoke detectors, fire escape routes, fire extinguisher, carbon monoxide alarms and window locks.

8. If you have a fireplace check flue to make sure it is closed for warmer weather.

9. Scrape, caulk and paint any wood surfaces that have peeled or weathered.

10. Clean and inspect windows, windows sills and caulking.

We like to encourage folks to de-clutter in an eco-friendly was as possible. 

Since Earth Day is coming up on April 22, we thought we'd list a few Austin area resources for disposing of your “stuff” in an environmentally sensitive way. 

Most of these resources are free, but some charge a small fee.  Well worth it when ridding your life of that annoying junk and that little boost to your  social conscious feels nice as well. If you are donating, be sure to ask about a receipt for donations.

Quick Fix

Goodwill in Austin will accept almost anything under the sun - even computers, satellite dishes, and electronics - but not building and hazardous materials.  

Paper

Austin:

ARMA Shred Day – April 17th

8:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Austin High School Parking Lot 1715 W. Cesar Chavez Households can bring up to five file boxes of paper records for shredding.  Mobile shredding trucks from Austin Shred, a Balcones Resource Company, CenTex Shred, Certified Shred LLC and Iron Mountain will be on-site to shred the material.

Building and Hazardous Materials

City of Austin

Habitat for Humanity  

RE-Store Austin

Earth Friendly 

Earth911.org and Our Earth list disposal resources in your area.

Ebay Resellers 

The Sellery

Electronics (that recycle)

Altex Computers 

Best Buy  

Big Green Box

CD Recycling Center 

Office Depot   

Verizon Wireless  

Giveaway / For Sale 

Freecycle 

Craigslist

Recycling 

City of Austin  

Ecology Action

Extra Trash

Dial 311 - $20 for extra pick up of up to 50 bags (max 40 pounds each) or $17 per month for an extra can       

The Fed indicated the move, along with other recent modifications to its credit programs, does not signal a change in its outlook for the economy or for monetary policy, and the more important fed funds rate remains in its range of 0% to 0.25%.  The Fed usually changes the discount rate at the same time it does the fed funds rate, but after the unprecedented steps taken to combat the financial crisis, the Fed appears eager to start bringing rates back to more traditional levels, and Thursday’s move was a start.

What does this mean for interest rates?  Right now the mortgage market is still off negative on yesterday’s inflation news.  Action by the Fed historically calms fixed rate investors nerves about inflation eating up the value of their mortgage investment. 

If you do consider that selling your property is the right move, then your next question is likely, “In this challenging market, is it a good time to sell?” Here are the four factors we believe make now actually a strong time to sell.


1. Sell low and buy low. Because all property values are down, the loss on the property a home owner sells is really only a paper loss because the next property he buys also will be a bargain. If he buys smartly, when prices come back up in a few years, he’ll be in better shape.

2. Down-payment help is widely available. While nothing-down loans have disappeared, it is easy to find down-payment assistance for lower-income and first-time home buyers. Programs vary all over the country, but one good way to find them is to search online for “down-payment assistance programs” and the name of your region or give us a call.

3. Your uncle has money to share. Besides the $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit and the $6,500 move-up credit, there are an array of energy tax credits that can make home improvements pay off in cash.

4. Good help is available. Some really talented remodelers, contractors, landscapers and designers are slower than normal and are available and eager for new client.

5. You have super stars on your side. We are ready willing and able to work for you and put your interest first and foremost

At the recent 2010 NAHB International Builders' Show builders were given a list of 40 features and asked which ones they were likely to include in new homes this year. Here's what's hot and what's not.

Items most likely to be found in new homes for 2010:

1. Walk-in closet in master bedroom
2. Separate laundry room
3. Insulated front door
4. Great room
5. Low-E windows
6. Linen closet
7. Programmable thermostat
8. Energy-efficient appliances and lighting
9. Separate shower and tub in master bedroom
10. Nine-foot ceilings on first floor

The least likely items homebuyers will find in new homes this year include:

1. Outdoor kitchen
2. Outdoor fireplace
3. Sun room
4. Butler's pantry
5. Media room
6. Desk in kitchen
7. Two-story foyer
8. Eight-foot ceiling on first floor
9. Multiple shower heads in master bath
10. Smaller kitchen area than in recent years

We have notice that buyers are focusing their wants heavily on energy-saving. Things we thought were consumer necessities — such as granite countertops in the kitchen or home offices — are no longer on the list.

Also not as popular in 2009 were energy-guzzlers like the high-ceiling entryways. Builders are leaning more in 2010 to nine-foot ceilings hoping to give the buyer a feeling of more square footage, which has been reduced.

Buyers continue to look for products that save money. Did you know, water-saving toilets use an average of 39,000 fewer gallons of water annually for a family of four. That's enough for a lifetime of drinking water for three people according to Kohler a leading manufacturer of faucets and fixtures.

NAHB conducted a consumer survey to compare the wants of older buyers with others. They found that those age 55 and older have a slightly different "want" list in a new home:

1. Washer-dryer in the unit
2. Storage space
3. Windows that open easily
4. Garage door opener
5. Easy-to-use thermostat
6. Master bedroom on first floor
7. Private patio
8. Porch
9. Attached garage
10. Bigger bathrooms

1. Price-aphobia:
The fear that a property will sell for less than a premium price. Price and greed combine to form a drug like addiction to unrealistic expectations. Only buyers determine true market value.  When selling sellers should use all resources and analysis to make the best attempt to list at a price that will receive the most favorable attention by buyers and then review and adjust their pricing every few weeks with the goal for reaching the buyer sweet spot for maximum seller return on investment in the shortest period of time.  For sellers often times the enemy of good…is better.

2. Shag-itis
Sellers must understand that certain home decorating trends are not coming back  Despite that they love that sea shell wallpaper in the master bath or that shag carpet in the game room has been barely walked on. These areas need to be evaluated and redone.

3. Pet Addictions:
Not everyone loves seller’s pets as much as they do. No matter how adorable “Precious” is, pets almost always have a negative affect on showings and value.  This can equate often to 3-5% of value.  Often times “Precious” becomes a $10-$15K+ kitten.

4. Photo-mania:
Dozens of family photos can distract a buyer’s attention from the property. While it is nice to show how “homey” a house can be, the buyer needs to imagine their life in this house, not the sellers. Sellers need to understand they are not “selling a home”, but now marketing a commodity to the broadest range of buyers.  Oftentimes buyers curiosity is draw to a small family photo with comments like, “Look how cute those little kids are!” While missing the Brazilian hardwoods and canyon views.

5. Pack Rat Plague
The Little Angel doll collections and shrine to World War II paraphernalia need to be packed away. While they may be sentimental to the seller, they are yet another distraction to the buyer. In addition, buyer and buyers children will often pick-up, handle and damage items.

6. “As-Is” ism
The seller thought process of “The Buyer can take it or leave it” in regards to stained carpet, defects or repairs is flawed.  90% of the times that is exactly what buyers do….”leave it”. Buyers often construe the smallest defects as heralds of huge problems, i.e. a broken door bell is a sign of giant electrical problems or worse a reflection on the sellers poor ongoing maintenance of the home.

7. Audio Selectivism:
Sometimes, the Seller just hears what they want to hear. “The buyer must be confused.” “The appraiser was in a bad mood, or he just didn’t like us.” “My neighbor said I wasn’t asking enough.” The most important data the seller has at their dispose is comparative market analysis of recently sold similar homes from a competent real estate professional.

On January 1, 2010 new rules went into effect, which mandate that all home loan applicants be given a new version of the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s “Good Faith Estimate” (GFE) form.

The new form is HUD's latest development in the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, RESPA, (12 U.S.C. 2601) which, regulates real estate transfers involving a "federally related mortgage loan" by requiring, among other things, certain disclosures to borrowers and is designed to clarify what home loans will actually cost, which should make it easier for borrowers to compare home loans. All lenders must disclose their fees and put them in the same places on the form.

In addition to interest rates, there are other costs associated with loans that should be compared. These are what are typically known as “origination costs,” which are the fees a lender charges, and there are “settlement fees” – such as appraisal fees, title insurance, etc. – that are part of the costs.

The new regulations require that lenders disclose these fees uniformly and then stick to them. For example, if you are quoted a $450 appraisal fee on a Good Faith Estimate form, you cannot be charged more than 10 percent of the price quoted.

According to HUD "The intent of the standardized GFE and HUD-1 is to provide borrowers an easier means of comparing loan offers, and to determine that they are getting the loan at settlement that they were offered in the GFE." Thus making it easier for consumers to do an apples-to-apples comparison of different loan products.

On the third page of the three-page form, there is a place to do a side-by-side comparison of up to four different loans and recognize what is the best deal. Sometimes, borrowers get so caught up in what the interest rate or monthly payment is that they lose track of other costs associated with a loan, and it becomes more expensive than they thought.

Proponents claim HUD’s new efforts will improve transparency and uniformity and in turn assist consumers with finding the best loan deal more easily.

Critics claim the new HUD mandated GFE makes it easier to hide the yield spread compensation because it actually misrepresents the yield spread as a credit back to the borrower. At the very least the new HUD GFE takes focus off of complete transparency - and does not squarely break numbers down for borrowers. The lack of line-items leaves mortgage brokers holding the bag when it comes to explaining fees without being able to direct them to the specific line item.

The view from this desk is that consumers should know upfront in plain simple language exactly how much fees are for originating loans. The new muddled GFE often provides the consumer with only one lump sum amount which is the summation of different fees going to different people.

I believe brokers should be compelled to provide an additional form with a simple line by line breakdown of all their costs on one easy to understand page.

Now, Forbes and Moody’s Economy.com projects Austin's economy will grow by 32% over the five year period from 2007 to 2012. Not only is Austin’s economy growing, but it's growth rate is nearly 50% higher than #2 ranked Fort Myers, Florida. Equally important to Austin’s economic growth is Austin's population growth which is expected to grow by an amazing 15%.

 “To compile our list, we looked at all of the country's 363 metropolitan areas, defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as a geographic region with a "core urban area" of at least 50,000 people. Because many small metro areas are high growth--and because we wanted to show growth in large cities as well--we split the group into two classes: the largest 100 metro areas (with at least 528,000 people) and everyone else. We use projections run for us by Moody's Economy.com to show growth in GMP between 2007-2012.

Of course, if one looks at economic growth in the country's largest 100 metros, the usual suspects jump to the top of the list. With an estimated 32% GMP growth from 2007-2012, Austin, Texas, is the winner for big metros. Atlanta, Seattle, Orlando, Houston and San Jose, Calif., also appear high on the list. What do they all have in common? They're tech hubs with proximity to universities and a healthy increase in population. Austin's population, for example, is expected to increase by nearly 15% by 2012, according to Moody's Economy.com forecasts.”

Go Austin. Go.

Full Article: http://www.forbes.com/2008/01/30/economy-cities-alabama-biz-cx_bw_0130econcities.html

In todays January 8, 2010 morning edition of USA Today they list the types of jobs that will experience the most growth over the next 10 years.

Good news for Austin that Biomedical, Healthcare and Education fields are projected to create the most job opportunities which is a great fit the Central Texas area.

Forecast for the fastest-growing occupations by percentage, 2008-2018

Occupation, May 2008

New jobs

% chg.

Median wage

Biomedical engineer

11,600

72%

$77,400

Network/data system analysts

155,800

53%

$71,100

Home health aides

460,900

50%

$20,460

Personal and home care aides

375,800

46%

$19,180

Financial examiners

11,100

41%

$70,930

Medical scientists¹

44,200

40%

$72,590

Physician assistants

29,200

39%

$81,230

Skin-care specialists

14,700

38%

$28,730

Biochemists/ biophysicists

8,700

37%

$82,840

Athletic trainers

6,000

37%

$39,640

Fastest-growing occupations for 2008-2010 period, by number of new jobs

Registered nurse

582,000

22%

$62,450

Home health aides

460,900

50%

$20,460

Customer service representatives

400,000

18%

$29,860

Food service and preparation²

394,000

15%

$16,430

Personal and home care

375,800

46%

$19,180

Retail sales

375,000

8%

$20,510

Office clerks

359,000

12%

$25,320

Accountants

279,000

22%

$59,430

Nursing aides

276,000

19%

$23,850

College teachers

257,000

15%

$58,830

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Full Article: http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/employment/2010-01-07-future-job-prospects_N.htm