This is a reprint of part of an article I wrote for At Home Magazine's Special Edition For the Home Builder's Association 2007 Home & Garden Products Show.

The bad news is...the economy in Bryan-College Station is slowing down, but for once this is a good thing.  After the huge real estate boom we saw in 2006, the economy for 2007 is slowing to a more moderate "healthy" pace.  With the constant inflow of people relocating to the area, for which we have Texas A&M University and Blinn College to thank, it's relatively impossible for our economy to slow much.  This year will be a fairly big year as far as construction goes for both commercial and residential properties.  As of November 2006, over 100 commercial permits were issued and for some of these permits the stores are already open.  This includes Circuit City next to the Petsmart in College Station. 

House prices, after appreciating at a more moderate rate of 3-5% the last few years rose around 7% in 2006.  this was partially due to investors coming into our market after the information came out about undervalued we are compared to the nation.  Our housing remains affordable with most people here being able to get much more for their money than in other markets.  Overall there is no worry about a local bubble market.  Though the nation overall has slowed, our growth rates remain steady and we've had no huge increases, unlike California's reported 200% increase in prices between 1996 and 2005.  Our median home price remains under the $150,000 range with square footage prices ranging typically from the low $80's to $130's.

New home have been upgraded quite a bit with granite counter-tops and other amenities being more the norm.  Many buyers are focusing less on the overall square footage, and more on design and style.  Bull nose corners, boxed windows and other signs of good construction techniques are getting more attention.

The new hustle and bustle in Bryan-College Station will also add to the job market this year.  Because of this year's jump up in the home improvement market, Home Depot in College Station as well as in Brenham will be hiring about 200 new employees.  West Corporation will also be hiring 395 new employees to work out of it's Bryan call center.  West currently employs about 450 workers in Bryan.  Our unemployment rate is one of the lowest around and our growth is excellent, with more jobs and residents moving in all the time.

for more great information on the area's real estate market, visit Localism.com a website built for real estate professionals to describe market conditions, offer suggestions, and advise home buyers and sellers about the area.