Houston’s property tax rate is Number 1. in the nation

And this is the first place many of us would not like to see. A new report by the Tax Foundation, titled “Property Tax Collections Surged with Housing Boom” confirms what we’ve, already, seen in our new property tax assessment for 2007.
Key findings of above mentioned report are:
1. Property taxes highest in the Northeast, Texas, Illinois, and Wisconsin.
2. New York and New Jersey dominate list of high-tax counties
3. About half of all property taxes go to public schools
4. Property taxes rose faster than incomes from 2002 to 2004
5. Housing market decline may force local government to cut spending or raise property taxes.
To read the full report, please go to Property Tax Collections Surged with Housing Boom

Hottest 10 Buyer’s Markets and 5 of them are in Texas

According to Housing Predictor, hottest 10 Buyer’s markets are:
1. Albuquerque, NM
2. McAllen, TX
3. Salt Lake City, UT
4. New Orleans, LA
5. Austin, TX
6. Houston, TX
7. Biloxi, MS
8. El Paso, TX
9. Little Rock, AR
10. Dallas, TX
Housing Predictor’s selection of the Hottest 10 Buyers Markets are ased on surveys conducted on 75 markets under consideration from more than 250 local housing markets forecast on the web site.
The highest amount of forecast appreciation during the remainder of 2007 was given the heaviest weight in the survey. Market conditions, sales velocity, pricing and more than 20 other factors were also considered.
The Hottest 10 Buyers Markets represent growing local economies, which are sure to foster growth into 2008 and some even into the following decade.

For more information, please go to Housing Predictor’s Hottest 10 Markets