February 2016 H OUSING N EWS R EPORT “We are seeing an up-trend in inventory,” said Caballero, whose company sold nearly 2,400 new homes in 2014, generating $929 million in sales. “Every year, we’ve had higher prices and more sales. It’s very possible 2016 will not continue that trend. There’s a lot of unknowns that could make this oil problem worse.” Builders hire Caballero to market their new properties to local real estate agents. He provides weekly sales reports to builders every Friday at 8 a.m. The biggest questionmark for Texas’ economy is Houston, which benefited heavily from the energy boom and now is dealing with the consequences of an 18-month oil slump that’s buffeting the city’s once-booming housing market. Housing markets like Houston with many oil- related jobs are experiencing a slowdown in Continued Next Page Houston’s Housing Slumps
said the state’s economy is strong and doing much better than the rest of the nation. He stressed that the current weakness in some Texas major metros, like Houston, could be attributed to seasonal patterns in real estate, with sales picking up in the spring months and slowdown after summer. “Dallas is a much more diversified market,” said Caballero, a top broker whose company has developed a computer system that allows him, and his employees, to quickly take listings from multiple builders and put them in local multiple listings services and send them to other sites like realtor.com and RealtyTrac. All leads are forwarded directly to the home builders. “Dallas is doing better than Austin.” Caballero said both inventory and days-on- the-market has increased in all the major Texas metros.
Ben Caballero CEO and President HomesUSA.com Dallas, Texas “ There’s a lot of unknowns that could make this oil problem worse. ”
Dallas and Austin, Texas
WHAT: 4-bedroom home HOW MUCH: $450,000
WHAT: 4-bedroom home HOW MUCH: $409,990
WHAT: 5-bedroom home HOW MUCH: $1,050,146
Built by Highland Homes, this gorgeous Windsong Ranch home is located in Prosper, Texas. Kitchen has white cabinets, and granite countertops, stainless steel appliances and double ovens. Tandem style three car garage with large backyard big enough for pool. Agent: Ben Caballero, HomesUSA.com, Inc., (214) 616-9222, www. bencaballero.com.
This luxury home by CalAtlantic in Austin’s Sweetwater community has
Built by Toll Brothers in the Southlake, Texas community of Shady Oaks, this ready- to-move into home features a three-car, side-entry garage, beautiful study with corner fireplace, stunning wrought iron dual staircase, and a private media room. 4.5 baths, 5,966 square feet. Agent: Ben Caballero, HomesUSA.com, Inc., (214) 616- 9222, www.bencaballero.com.
beautiful hill country views and an array of neighborhood amenities. It has a gourmet kitchen, extended covered patio and makes entertaining a breeze while offering the best of Texas living. Agent: Ben Caballero, HomesUSA.com, Inc., (214) 616-9222, www. bencaballero.com.
17
Made with FlippingBook Online newsletter