Austin #2 on cities most Americans are moving to (Dallas, Howe: appointed, real estate)

[gb0610]

5 cities where Americans are relocating - MSN Real Estate



Unemployment is on the rise, credit is tight and consumers aren't spending — which means they aren't picking up and moving much, either. Very few places in America saw significant population growth in 2008.
Despite the overall economic slowdown, some parts of the country keep on moving ahead, attracting more and more newcomers — even if it's at a slower pace than in more sound economic times. These places still offer a semblance of stability, as well as great weather, cultural life and, in many cases, affordability.

Behind the numbers



To determine the fastest-growing metro areas in the country, Forbes used 2008 population estimates for metropolitan statistical areas with a population of more than 1 million, released March 19, 2009, by the U.S. Census Bureau. MSAs are geographic entities defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget for use by federal agencies in collecting, tabulating and publishing federal statistics.

Forbes then compared the 2008 population estimates to the previous year's data to see which areas had grown the most, percentagewise.
The cities that made the list share similar qualities: more business opportunities, better weather and more affordable housing. The top three areas according to the data are Raleigh, N.C., ranking first, which jumped 4.29% to nearly 1.9 million; Austin, Texas, which came in second, with a 3.77% increase to almost 1.7 million; and Charlotte, N.C., which moved up 3.36% to 1.7 million.


All these areas' increases were smaller in 2008 than they were in 2007 (Raleigh increased by 4.7% in 2007, Austin by 4.29% and Charlotte by 4.2%), but a slight slowdown is not necessarily a bad thing, says William Frey, a demographer at the Brookings Institution, an independent research and policy group based in Washington, D.C. "Part of the story here is the rapid rise in growth in the middle of decade," he says. "That growth was unnatural."


The in-migration that happened in the middle of this decade certainly had a lot to do with the housing boom. When that went bust, so did those crazy population balloons. But these particular places are still growing because instead of building an economy that relies heavily on one industry, most of the metro areas on Forbes’ list serve as headquarters for a diverse range of companies.

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For example, Austin's biggest employers include the University of Texas, Advanced Micro Devices and Dell. That wide range might have something to do with the area's relatively low January 2009 unemployment rate of 6.4%.
This is the opposite of what happened in true housing boom-and-bust towns like Las Vegas. In 2004, Las Vegas — a foreclosure mecca — saw a population increase of 4.6%, followed by 3.66% in 2005, 3.98% in 2006 and 3.22% in 2007. In 2008, that number fell to 2%.

The power of business



When it comes down to it, a buzzing business community is a metro area's most important characteristic, says Sean C. Safford, a professor at the University of Chicago and author of “Why the Garden Club Couldn't Save Youngstown: The Transformation of the Rust Belt.” He studies the social economics of U.S. cities and metro areas.
"Perception is driven by the vibrancy of the companies in an area," he says.


However, that doesn't mean that these metros won't suffer from a slowdown in population growth when 2009's numbers are released next year. Charlotte, for example, reported a 10.5% unemployment rate for January 2009, likely related to the fact that Bank of America is headquartered there. That high unemployment rate almost guarantees stunted growth in 2009.
"We don't quite yet know what the impact (of the ongoing recession) will be for 2009 populations," Frey says. "But we do know it's not going to get any better."
Indeed, where Americans are relocating today has little to do with where they'll be moving tomorrow.
Top 5 cities where Americans are relocating
1. Raleigh, N.C.
2. Austin, Texas
3. Charlotte, N.C.
4. Phoenix
5. Dallas
Click here for the full slide show of 10 cities where Americans are relocating.

[llkltk]

Poor Phoenix, people are moving there to scoop up the great home deals. I feel sorry for those homeowners that lost so much money on their houses.

I think Austin will see an increase in an older population, it's always been a young city. Seniors are moving here to help out with grandchildren. My parents will probably move her in the next two years.

[CptnRn]

This is going to be a little like all during the dust bowl when thousands of people showed up in California desperate for jobs.

Quotes from the Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck

I know this … a man got to do what he got to do.

And the great owners, who must lose their land in an upheaval, the great owners with access to history, with eyes to read history and to know the great fact: when property accumulates in too few hands it is taken away. And that companion fact: when a majority of the people are hungry and cold they will take by force what they need. And the little screaming fact that sounds through all history: repression works only to strengthen and knit the repressed.

How can you frighten a man whose hunger is not only in his own cramped stomach but in the wretched bellies of his children? You can't scare him--he has known a fear beyond every other.

In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage.

Whenever they's a fight so hungry people can eat, I'll be there. Whenever they's a cop beatin' up a guy, I'll be there . . . . I'll be in the way guys yell when they're mad an'-I'll be in the way kids laugh when they're hungry an' they know supper's ready. An' when our folks eat the stuff they raise an' live in the houses they build-why, I'll be there.

Can our infrastructure support all of the unemployed people who will are moving here? There is already a housing shortage predicted. Where shall we put the tent cities? At least California had a comfortable climate. The tent cities will be miserable in the summer.

[austinite45]

I have never regarded Forbes as a reliable source of serious business info. Over the years the magazine has put out numerous misleading and untimely articles. It's no wonder some people use such magazines as contrarian indicators in stock trading.

Note how the stats were compiled and Forbes' interpretations and characterizations:

These places still offer a semblance of stability, as well as great weather, cultural life and, in many cases, affordability.

Yeah, right.

To determine the fastest-growing metro areas in the country, Forbes used 2008 population estimates for metropolitan statistical areas with a population of more than 1 million, released March 19, 2009, by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Estimates, for 2008, and only those areas with population of 1 million+.

Forbes then compared the 2008 population estimates to the previous year's data to see which areas had grown the most, percentagewise.

comparing 2008 estimates to 2007 estimates, and use the percentage (an estimate) to describe the current (2009) situation.

The cities that made the list share similar qualities: more business opportunities, better weather and more affordable housing.

Was I hallucinating, or was Austin's foreclosure rate already spiking in 2008??

All these areas' increases were smaller in 2008 than they were in 2007 ...

but a slight slowdown is not necessarily a bad thing, says William Frey, a demographer at the Brookings Institution, an independent research and policy group based in Washington, D.C. "Part of the story here is the rapid rise in growth in the middle of decade," he says. "That growth was unnatural."

isn't Forbes "timely"?!

The in-migration that happened in the middle of this decade certainly had a lot to do with the housing boom. When that went bust, so did those crazy population balloons.

yeh.

now the contradictions and falsehood:

But these particular places are still growing because instead of building an economy that relies heavily on one industry, most of the metro areas on Forbes’ list serve as headquarters for a diverse range of companies.

For example, Austin's biggest employers include the University of Texas, Advanced Micro Devices and Dell. That wide range might have something to do with the area's relatively low January 2009 unemployment rate of 6.4%.

DELL had announced massive layoffs well before Jan 2009. AMD and UT had also announced layoffs prior to Jan 2009.

What were those morons at Forbes smoking?

[joejitsu]

Does this mean traffic will get even worse?

[CptnRn]

Originally Posted by joejitsu

Does this mean traffic will get even worse?

We won't need tent cities, everyone can just camp in their cars on the freeways! They won't be moving anyway!

[artsyguy]

Everybody moving to Austin for jobs or a better life is going to be sorely disappointed and culture shocked unless they are coming from some backward hick village.....then they will fit right in and get along with all the very nice people.

[artsyguy]

It's going to turn into one huge tent city pretty soon .... oh wait it already is .........

Originally Posted by CptnRn

We won't need tent cities, everyone can just camp in their cars on the freeways! They won't be moving anyway!

[oldtoiletsmkgdflrpots]

You're right on cue artsyguy. Weren't you moving?

[artsyguy]

I moved far far away from the hugest toilet in the world yes...thanks for asking

Originally Posted by oldtoiletsmkgdflrpots

You're right on cue artsyguy. Weren't you moving?