While the 4th Of July and all the fireworks have come and gone, there's still a boom that echoes through the Oklahoma City Metro. Several recent stories from major national magazines have noted Oklahoma City as being a stand-out among the strongest housing markets, all but guaranteeing that the Metro is no dud when it comes to home ownership.

Until recently, most national news stories on the topic have painted a bleak picture of the real estate industry as a whole, which in my opinion has led many in the buying public locally to an inaccurate conclusion about housing here. In an effort to fire back at those reports that don't hold a candle to what's really happening in our market, I've pointed out several times in recent months both in the Jeff Click Homes Blog and in quotes in the media regarding how the Oklahoma City Metro, including Edmond, enjoys a unique position over other comparable, and even larger real estate markets around the country.  Given the explosion of urban renewal, which has bolstered the city's economy and sparked the interest of many major companies looking to expand into new territories, along with our already low cost of living, these recent dazzling reports on the investment opportunities here come as no shock.

Just last month, Forbes gave OKC the nod as the 2nd best housing market in the U.S. based on average property appreciation, which is just over 12%. Money magazine ranks Oklahoma City as the 39th most affordable housing market, a ranking of 6th place in our region.

Perhaps most importantly, in consideration of how other housing markets are suffering from a recent slump, Money lists Oklahoma City among its "11 Bust-Free Markets". As one of the few markets in the country still enjoying double-digit gains in property values, it's nice to finally see OKC and other strong markets receive some national recognition for bucking the trend.

So while the fuses fizzle out in other markets around the country, stand back when it comes to OKC. Sparks are still flying. The question is, will the fireworks be happening in your portfolio, or will you just be watching the show from afar?

 © 2007, Jeff Click Homes, L.L.C. All Rights Reserved. Syndicated From The JCH Blog.