Created Tuesday, 23 December 2008 11:39

  TEXAS (Real Estate Center, MarketWatch) – A total of 12,816 existing homes were sold in Texas last month, a 32.9 percent decline from November 2008, according to MLS data compiled by the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University. The median price dropped 5.4 percent to $136,900 during the same period, and the state finished the month with a 6.8-month inventory of existing homes. Here is how select Texas cities fared in November (data current as of Dec. 23, 2008):

  Additional home sales data for these and other major Texas cities are available on the Center’s website. Nationally, sales of existing single-family homes and condos dropped 8.6 percent last month to a 4.49 million seasonally adjusted annual pace, according to the National Association of Realtors. At $181,300, the median sales price was down 13.2 percent from a year earlier. Inventory was at 11.2 months. Meanwhile, sales of new homes nationally were at 407,000 in November, down more than 35 percent from a year ago, according to the U.S. Commerce Department. The median sales price was $220,400. At the current sales pace, there was an 11.5-month inventory.

Texas A&M Real Estate Center news brought to you by Mission Realty,Inc. San Antonio Real Estate  

And you thought the Spurs were all about defense.  Typically, San Antonio has made its living on that end of the court, but their most recent win was due as much to a powerful offense as anything.  Against the Golden State Warriors, the Spurs put up 123 points, while holding the Warriors to just 88.  Duncan was sporting a new hairdo--of lack thereof--having shaved his head.  Whatever it was, worked.  Duncan scored almost a point a minute, tallying 20 points in just 21 minutes of work, while pulling down 13 rebounds.  In that game, four of the Spurs starters scored in double digits, with Ginobili just missing out with 9.  Everyone on the team scored except for Jacques Vaughn.

The scoring orgy came on the heels of another impressive offensive performance against the Nuggets, in which San Antonio won, 108-91.  Just a month earlier, the Spurs posted their highest point total of the year, when they scored 129 against the Timberwolves.

San Antonio has finally gotten healthy, and even though Ginobili still hasn’t quite found his form yet, the team is 7-3 over its last 10 games, and 11-8 overall.  Ordinarily, that record wouldn’t be one to brag about, but since the Southwest is the most competitive division in the NBA, the Spurs are tied for fourth place, but are only 1.5 games behind division-leading Houston.  Also, Spurs fans must be pleased that some of their wins have been over some of the better teams in the league.  San Antonio has beaten Houston, Utah, and Denver, among others.

As far as the Western Conference is concerned, San Antonio finds itself in a three way tie for seventh place with Dallas and Phoenix, and are 6 games behind the Lakers, who lead the conference.

Ginobili’s return has been helpful, although he has yet to regain his form from last year, where he averaged nearly 20 points per game.  This year, Ginobili has only played in 7 games, and is averaging just under 14 points.  The one player that has really stepped up his game is Tony Parker.  The speedy Frenchman is averaging 22 points per game, as opposed to 18 last year.  Parker worked on his outside shooting during the offseason, and it certainly paid off.  Parker is shooting a lights-out 40% from behind the arc, although he has only played in about half the games this year also.

The two newest members of the Spurs, rookie George Hill, and Roger Mason, have been welcome additions.  Hill, the team’s first round pick this year, is averaging 10 points per game, with three rebounds, and three assists.  Roger Mason seems to have finally come into his own with the Spurs.  Averaging just 6 points for his journeyman career, Mason has been a shot in the arm for San Antonio, scoring just under 14 points per game for his new team, while making almost half of his shots from behind the arc, and 90% from the free throw line.

December’s schedule looks favorable for the Spurs, with most of their games coming against the league’s more unfortunate teams.  San Antonio also has a few chances to move up in their own division, as they go to Dallas and New Orleans.  The season is still very young, and the Spurs have weathered injuries to two of their core players for the second straight year, but are in a great position to win the division.  Hopefully, the injury bug won’t bite twice in the same season, and the Spurs can focus their attention on continuing to develop team chemistry with the new guys, and trying to catch up to the division-leading Rockets, and Western Conference-leading Lakers.

COLLEGE STATION (Real Estate Center) – Texas relentlessly added more jobs in October despite more job losses for the nation. Texas’ nonfarm employment rose 2.2 percent from October 2007 to October 2008 compared with a decrease of 0.9 percent for the United States.

The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose from 4.3 percent in October 2007 to 5.6 percent in October 2008. Over the same period, the nation's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose from 4.8 percent to 6.5 percent.

Despite recent oil price decreases, the state’s mining industry continued to gain more jobs and ranked first in job creation, followed by the professional and business services, leisure and hospitality industry, education and health services industry, and construction industry.

All Texas metros had positive employment growth rates from October 2007 to October 2008. McAllen-Edinburg-Mission ranked first in job creation followed by Laredo, College Station–Bryan, Midland and Longview.

The state’s actual unemployment rate in October 2008 was 5.4 percent. Petroplexes Midland and Odessa ranked first and second in lowest unemployment rate followed by Amarillo, Lubbock, Abilene and College Station–Bryan.

The complete economic review is available on the Real Estate Center's website.

COLLEGE STATION (Real Estate Center) – Although recent government efforts to improve America’s housing markets have proven less than effective so far, noted economist Dr. Mark Dotzour says bold government action can get the market back on track.

In a white paper released today, the chief economist for the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University offers a four-part solution to fixing the housing crisis, one that involves more than simply devising ways to keep people in their homes.

“The housing problem is fairly easy to understand,” said Dotzour. “We have too much supply and not enough demand, and we need to reverse that.”

Dotzour's white paper is available on the Center's website.

Don't Shoot Holes in Your Deer Lease

COLLEGE STATION (Real Estate Center) – Deer hunting season is underway, and this means big business for Texas landowners, who control the major supply of huntable land.

Deer leases generate substantial revenue for landowners, but they come with certain responsibilities. Those responsibilities are explained in The Texas Deer Lease, published by the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University.

This handy guide to deer lease management has been updated and can be downloaded free at the Center’s website. Copies can also be purchased at the Center’s online store.

Texas Still Good value for homebuyers

COLLEGE STATION (Real Estate Center) – Texas continues to be a better value than the rest of the country when it comes to buying a home, according to the latest Housing Affordability Index (HAI) numbers.

Texas finished second quarter 2008 with an HAI of 1.55. The United States' HAI was 1.27.

The index is the ratio of median family income to the income required to qualify for an 80 percent, fixed-rate mortgage to purchase the median-priced home.

“Nationally, housing affordability has improved considerably as the overall median home price continues to descend from its record high in mid-2006,” said Dr. Jim Gaines, research economist with the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University. “As the HAI figure suggests, Texas remains even more affordable despite the fact that home prices in the state increased modestly during the first half of the year.”

The Texas HAI has been updated on the Center's website. To view the index, click here. An index for first-time homebuyers is also available. Click here to view.

November 16, 2008 brings the inaugural Rock and Roll Marathon to San Antonio Texas.  The event is being managed by Elite Racing, and is just one in a series of similar events being put on across America.  This unique event will feature live bands playing all along the 26 mile, or 13 mile half-marathon course.  The headlining show features The Cult playing at the Alamodome, with doors opening at 6:30 PM.  Participants entry is included with their registration, and general admission costs $26 in advance, or $30 at the door.

The marathon begins on Broadway, just north of Post Street, and culminates at the finish line on Cherry Street at Wyoming.  The half-marathon starts and ends at the same points, but obviously takes a different course.  As both races wind through the city, participants will pass by some of San Antonio’s most well-known and important landmarks.  Both the full and half races will pass by or through: The Alamo, San Pedro Park, King William District, and the Southtown Arts District.  Those participating in the full race will pass Mission Concepcion, Mission San Jose, Mission Espada, and the Tower of the Americas.

Throughout the races, runners will be supported by service of water, sports drinks, and energy foods, in addition to medical care, aid stations, and a wave start, insuring that runners will be comfortable during the start of the races.  Both races begin at 7:30 AM.

As far as the name of the race is concerned, it will definitely be a rocking time, with over 70 live bands and DJs performing throughout the race.  Among some of the names that can be seen are: Dog Men Poets, Omega, Lynette Brehm, Texas Renegade, Crimson Envy, Alter Ego, The Worx, Bad Neighbor, JointMethod, Scratch, Sons of Sancho, Last Week was Better, Slick Dickens, The Black Doves, Resounding Victory, Halfway Legal, Rick Cavender, Hellbound Glory, Ashlee Rose, Dertybird, The Krayolas and many more!

At the finish line, runners will find recovery areas sponsored by New Balance, complete with personal trainers, stretching mats, and seats, where weary racers can rest and recuperate after finishing.  Family members will find a waiting and greeting area where they can relax in anticipation of their loved ones.  The Verizon Wireless Family Reunion Area features free beer and refreshments, as well as more music!

Military members and veterans are invited to join in the USAA Military Racers Division, where the top male and female finishers in the marathon and ½ marathon will receive a special award.  Also, military members will also receive a discount on their entry fees.

In addition to the San Antonio race, Elite Racing is hosting races across America throughout the year.  Runners can participate in Rock and Roll Marathons and ½ marathons in Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Tempe, Arizona; in San Diego and San Jose, California; in Chicago, Seattle, and Virginia Beach.  In Nashville, Tennessee, Elite is sponsoring the Country Music ½ Marathon, featuring jazz, country, and rock and roll acts from the area.

San Antonio remains a city with a variety of interesting and exciting cultural events, and even if you aren’t a runner, you can still come out and enjoy the great weather, and exciting acts that will be performing at the inaugural Rock and Roll Marathon!

Created Sunday, 02 November 2008 08:29  

San Antonio Spurs

Spurs Team Roster and Spurs Salaries

2008-09

Spurs Drop Season Opener Against Phoenix, Oberto Out

The Spurs kicked off their season Wednesday night, but someone may have forgotten to tell the team that the games count from here on out. Although, on the other hand, the team didn't have a particularly stellar pre-season either, so they might as well get started with the real games. The idea behind the pre-season is to practice working together and knock off the rust from the summer. The idea is to get better through practice. Unfortunately for the Spurs, the team's pre-season record was 3-4, so hopefully they weren't practicing bad habits. After dropping the first game of the season to Phoenix, 103-98, one has to ask.

The Suns have a new coach this year, as ex-Bucks coach, Terry Porter, was tapped as the head man after Mike D'Antoni left to go to the Knicks. As all Spurs fans know, Phoenix is a heated rival, and many times have the teams met in the playoffs, with the Spurs usually getting the best of the match ups. While Phoenix may have some new wrinkles this year, especially on the defensive side of the ball, San Antonio's tried and true game of tough-as-nails defense and a powerful inside scoring should be much the same as it has been the last few years. Of course, with Manu Ginobili out until mid-December, someone else will have to step up and fill in the missing defense and scoring in the meantime.

In the season opener, the Spurs defense was not up to its usual standards, as the team allowed five Suns' players to score in double digits, allowed the team to shoot almost 50% from the field, and 40% from behind the three point line. As expected, the Spurs Big 2 did most of the damage, with Tony Parker and Tim Duncan each scoring 32. Roger Mason did his best to come off the bench with a Ginobili impersonation, and logged 12 points and 4 rebounds, but it wasn't enough in the end. Kurt Thomas, Udoka, and Jaques Vaughn only managed 2 points each. Bruce Bowen didn't score. As a team, the Spurs shot fairly well from the field (50%) and adequately (33%) from behind the arc, but the Spurs also got a bit of unfortunate news when Fabricio Oberto felt a flutter in his heart and was diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat. He missed the season opener and is being monitored daily. If things go as planned, Oberto is expected to return next week.

We all know that the NBA season is long (from October to June, seriously?) and getting off to a great start is not all that important. Finishing it is, and there are months and months to go before things get decided. The key for the Spurs is to keep afloat and in the division mix until Ginobili gets healthy.