Dallas Home Prices to Climb in 2012

After almost five years of declines, Dallas-Fort Worth home prices will edge up in 2012, according to a new forecast. The D-FW area will be among the top 10 home price gainers this year, according to a report by California-based housing analyst Clear Capital.
Overall home prices in D-FW should rise 5.8 percent by the end of 2012, Clear Capital predicts. That's higher than the nationwide forecast of a 0.2 percent price gain. About half of the 50 major U.S. cities in the Clear Capital forecast are expected to have price gains this year. "Our projections show that the current balance the market has found will continue through 2012," Clear Capital research director Alex Villacorta said in the report.

The largest price increases are forecast for Orlando, Fla., and Bakersfield, Calif. - both over 11 percent. Those markets have been among the hardest hit during the housing downturn.
Along with D-FW's increase, Clear Capital also predicts a 3 percent price gain in Houston. Major declines of home prices are forecast this year for cities including Atlanta, down 14.4 percent, and Los Angeles, down 10.3 percent.

Home prices in the D-FW area have been falling since mid-2007, down about 9 percent since then. Nationwide, home prices are down more than a third. "Dallas hasn't fallen very far and is hanging in there," Villacorta said in a recent interview. "The positive year [2011] you have is outperforming the nation."
Through the first 11 months of 2011, the median price of homes sold in North Texas through real estate agents' multiple listing services was flat compared with the same period of 2010.

Ted Wilson of Residential Strategies said that since the supply of homes on the market in North Texas is falling, it makes sense that prices would inch up. "The tighter supply of housing should help to boost prices," Wilson said. Local data shows that prices in D-FW are rising slightly in affluent areas. But prices were still falling in 2011 in low- and moderate-price neighborhoods that have seen large numbers of home foreclosures.

Clear Capital estimates that in the fourth quarter of 2011, more than 28 percent of the homes for sale in North Texas were previously foreclosed properties. That was higher than the nationwide rate of just under 25 percent of distressed properties on the market.

North Texas home prices will be negatively affected if large numbers of additional foreclosed homes hit the market, said Dr. James Gaines, an economist with the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University. "2012, though, will generally be an up year, but the up won't be all that remarkable and still not what we might call a full-on recovery," Gaines said. "That will take several more years to get to."

By STEVE BROWN
STEVE BROWN The Dallas Morning News
Real Estate Editor
stevebrown@dallasnews.com
Published: 09 January 2012 06:46 AM

The Spice of Life

All those spices and herbs in your spice rack can do more than add a little extra kick to your meals — they can rev up your metabolism and improve your health at the same time. Many spices are considered superfoods because they are full of antioxidants! Consider adding two to three spices to all your meals to make them not only taste great, but also help detoxify your body at the same time. (Don’t you just love nature!?) Here’s a list of some of the herbs and spices that will give a healthy (and flavorful) boost to your foods.
Basil is rich in antioxidants like vitamins A and C.
Black pepper increases the hydrochloric-acid production in your stomach, aiding digestion.
Cayenne pepper is a cardiovascular booster.
Crushed red-pepper flakes contain capsaicin, a potent anti-inflammatory.
Cumin primes the salivary glands and improves digestion.
Curry powder combines all the benefits of cumin and turmeric in one quick pinch.
Dill is a potent antioxidant and a good source of calcium.
Fennel boosts levels of vitamin C and contains anethole, a phytonutrient that can prevent cancer.
Garlic can help regulate the number of fat cells in your body and protect your cardiovascular system from disease.
Lemon and lime brighten up the flavor of plain water — and boost your intake of vitamin C.
Mint can help fight cancer.
Nutmeg can help you get sleepy at night.
Onion offers similar cardiovascular benefits as garlic.
Oregano is, pound for pound, one of the most antioxidant-rich foods around.
Paprika is an excellent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant.
Rosemary may be a weapon in the fight against cancer by preventing carcinogens from binding to cells.
Sage contains the same cancer-fighting compounds as rosemary.
Tarragon can aid digestion and help improve heart health.
Thyme is a relative of mint and a potent antioxidant.
Turmeric has been shown in several studies to have anti-inflammatory properties — and could help protect against degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and heart disease.
Vanilla is not only a sweet flavoring but also a stellar antioxidant.