Good highlights of economic growth in Lubbock (Center, Campbell: homes, unemployment rate)

[case44]

Originally Posted by rr2005

This is great news! I've been hearing for a long time that Lubbock is fertile for tech industry growth because of the high number of recent university grads. Even better that they're going to office downtown!

Out of all the places in West Texas, Lubbock would be the perfect place to launch tech opportunities. And it's not necessarily because of Texas Tech. The state, as a whole, provides fertile ground and tons of potential for growth that many businesses, in or out of the tech industry, can get a good leg up and get others going, too. It's happened in Austin, so I couldn't see why it couldn't happen in a place like the Hub City.

[shoe01]

X-FAB, New Country Organics unveil combined $66 million Lubbock expansions, investments | Lubbock Online | Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

[rr2005]

Originally Posted by shoe01

X-FAB, New Country Organics unveil combined $66 million Lubbock expansions, investments | Lubbock Online | Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

Wow! That is great news for Lubbock! Hats off to LEDA for the success they've had!

[shoe01]

LEDA, Market Lubbock report a prosperous year, on-track downtown | Lubbock Online | Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

[DougStark]

Lubbock forum, I've never been to your town (only Amarillo.) Couple of questions please:

Does Lubbock have an expansive soils problem like DFW?

Where does Lubbock get their drinking water, and is it abundant?

Re: climate. I realize you don't have the ultra humid, wet climate of east Texas. But I think I read Lubbock is one of the windiest cities in the US. One thing I noticed about Amarillo when I drove through is that the trees look like they've been affected by the wind (they're not quite upright, but somewhat swept to the side.) I'll guess the same is true in Lubbock? How ever, due to your higher elevation and western location, you're probably spared the sultry, humid head like DFW or SA.

Your metro may be a good market to invest in real estate--to either live there, or rent out for cash flow.

Thanks.

[shoe01]

Originally Posted by DougStark

Lubbock forum, I've never been to your town (only Amarillo.) Couple of questions please:

Does Lubbock have an expansive soils problem like DFW?

Where does Lubbock get their drinking water, and is it abundant?

Re: climate. I realize you don't have the ultra humid, wet climate of east Texas. But I think I read Lubbock is one of the windiest cities in the US. One thing I noticed about Amarillo when I drove through is that the trees look like they've been affected by the wind (they're not quite upright, but somewhat swept to the side.) I'll guess the same is true in Lubbock? How ever, due to your higher elevation and western location, you're probably spared the sultry, humid head like DFW or SA.

Your metro may be a good market to invest in real estate--to either live there, or rent out for cash flow.

Thanks.

Will try to answer to the best of my ability...

From what I understand, the soil isn’t as hard on foundations as Blackland Prairie, unless a developer dug soil from a playa lake and put it under a home (not sure how common that is).

Lubbock gets its water from four sources: Roberts County and Bailey County wells from the Ogalalla, Lake Alan Henry, and Lake Meredith. There were big restrictions and rates during the state’s megadrought of 2011, but those have been lifted/lowered.

It does get humid, but not nearly to the extent of D/FW, Austin, San Antonio, etc. Its wind is famous, but it’s not constant and is most noteworthy in spring and occasionally other parts of the year. Dust storms/haboobs can happen, but I think fog is more common. It’s not as windy in the the center of the city as in the outskirts. Yes, a few trees look like small, green versions of a certain old Italian tower.

Any place on Earth is risky for real estate investment, but Lubbock has historically been known as one of the most recession-proof cities in Texas.

As with any property, look to see whether it’s on a flood plain.

Please correct me if I’m wrong on any of this, RR2005, Westerner92, etc. Some could probably expand on things, as well.

[case44]

One thing we'll need to watch is in West Texas, but way south of Lubbock. This could impact the whole region. A new oil refinery is being built for the first time in 40 years in the U.S. Its location: 20 miles northeast of Fort Stockton. The impact on the regional economy, once it is opened, could be felt as far away as Lubbock and, possibly, Amarillo. The expected opening date is 2019. Just something to keep an eye on.

[shoe01]

Originally Posted by case44

One thing we'll need to watch is in West Texas, but way south of Lubbock. This could impact the whole region. A new oil refinery is being built for the first time in 40 years in the U.S. Its location: 20 miles northeast of Fort Stockton. The impact on the regional economy, once it is opened, could be felt as far away as Lubbock and, possibly, Amarillo. The expected opening date is 2019. Just something to keep an eye on.

Wonder what it would do for gas prices in Lubbock, if anything? Should be great for Fort Stockton, and weary travelers on I-10.

[shoe01]

State of the local economy from November:

http://lubbockeda.org/wp-content/upl...11.13.17-1.pdf

Pages 35 and 38-40 seem interesting, as they relate to Downtown.

[case44]

Great stuff going on, shoe. I just wish that the Lubbock EDA would update their map grid. Marsha Sharp Freeway still shows as side streets.