Zbranek: “2010 there have been very few specs built, so people will have to buy resale”. Right now there are subs looking for work, rates are low, easy access to permits and inspectors so this will make building go faster. But expect when production building goes up that they will draw the supplies and custom costs will go up 20% trying to compete for drywall, concrete, etc. Then the prices of new construction in fall 2010 will go up but appraisers will have trouble and need to be educated, as will bankers telling them costs went up. SF building permits in Austin are 6,419 for 2009, way down from the 12,000- 15,000 permits from mid 2004-2007

Pike Powers: Austin has a visionary collaboration between science/technology, the ChamberAustin is the best place to live in the country because government, academia and business work well together and have a history and rich tradition of collaboration.   Consider the Cockrell School of Engineering at UT working on societal drivers like medicine, public policy, business, law, technology creation such as research and commercialization in solar, drug, energy, cancer, etc, and Engineering sciences working in natural, computer science, math, geosciences, cognitive sciences. “There are places around this country that would give body party to be like Austin” “We know how to come together as a community like no other.”

John Hockenyes: Economics is part science and part art/psychology. As consumer confidence and attitudes about stock market (or lack of other options) grow, so will GDP. But a secondary impact is lost jobs, exhausted savings, foreclosures, bankruptsy and public sectors struggling for budget issues. Bottom was likely mid-summer 2009. “Austin remains stronger than elsewhere in the nation, but all of the above impact.” National job growth is not going to improve until demand increases, and right now deferred IT spending is getting done rather than adding people. Health insurance cost unknowns for employers  are tied to thoughts of hiring. Industry capacity is underutilized at 71%, whereas it was 80% in 2005,06,07. So unused utility must improve before building new facilities happens.

Eldon Rude: You need consumer confidence and job growth for people to feel confident to buy large ticket items like houses and cars.   2009 had fewer house listings in summer 09 than summer 08, with supply just under 5.7 months. Sellers are in a “very good place and it is the time to list.” Average annual % change in home prices in 3Q 09 for Austin was only -0.6%. Apartment market in 3Q09 was 89% occupancy and rents averaged $.93/SF and trending UP because new apartment construction starts in the next 12 months are going to be the lowest in ten years agt 1207 starts. Resale housing market MLS statistics show past three months closings were UP, months of inventory is 5.7months and fewer listings than last year!