October 2013

The severe drought of the past couple of years is enough to make even optimistic people worry that Texas might run out of water eventually. To ensure that doesn’t happen, 16 regional water planning groups are in place, charged with the weighty task of managing current water resources and meeting projected needs 50 years in the future.

Manufactured housing has evolved into something sturdier and considerably more appealing than its forebears. While affordability remains its biggest draw, today’s buyers also can choose from an array of energy efficiency upgrades without breaking the budget.

Thanks to the growing metropolitanization of the Texas economy, the majority of the state’s jobs are in the four huge metro areas. But any region’s share of the state’s total employment waxes and wanes according to how well its industries are doing.

Between now and mid-century, Texas’ population will grow at a dizzying rate. New residents will hail from elsewhere in the United States and from around the globe. Distributions of ethnic groups and age categories will shift significantly, resulting in a more diverse and older population.

Prices for some home construction materials and supplies are higher now, primarily because production slowed during the Great Recession. But as the housing market continues to recover, building materials should be in greater supply, driving prices down.

Some commercial developers, particularly those in Houston’s office and retail sectors, are choosing to build “green” to recruit and retain younger employees who are loyal to the “reduce, reuse, recycle” concept.