Houston's Growth (Vega: best city, houses, job market)

[SouthernBoy205]

Everyone had their momma know about Houston's dynamic growth. Because it is common that a boomtown can slow down in growth, do you see Houston's growth growing more rapidly, slowing down, staying the same, etc.?

[SteveArmy]

We could have grown a bit more by now if you weren't slowing us down with your questions.

[jfre81]

Originally Posted by SteveArmy

We could have grown a bit more by now if you weren't slowing us down with your questions.

So sayeth the man who cornered the market on useless posts around here.

Anyway, moving along now...

I think "boomtown" isn't a very good descriptor anymore. It was apt 30 years ago. We pretty much owe this "boom" if you want to call it that to the little runup in oil a couple years ago and the housing bubble refugees.

What's better than fast growth is sustainable growth. That means, in part, that the job market is growing as fast as people are coming in. If that's not happening, then there aren't enough jobs, and trouble's going around. I know some people make all their decisions based on this or that magazine doing "best city for (x)" rankings but the ones that put Houston at or near the top for "best job markets" actually aren't doing us any favors if they bring too much of those people here.

[SouthernBoy205]

Do you think that at the end of the year, Houston could have about 200,000 new people?

[jfre81]

Originally Posted by A&M Bulldawg

Do you think that at the end of the year, Houston could have about 200,000 new people?

200,000 new people since when? The start of the year?

[SouthernBoy205]

Yes, the start of the year.

[hsw]

All growth isn't created equal, nor are all jobs or industries or people or taxpayers

Many formerly fast-population growth places like FL or NV or AZ were built on low-skill, low-wage workers, often illegals, and weak industries like tourism or homebuilding or retailing or retirement/healthcare.....such residents often aren't major taxpayers but often consume disproportionate amounts of public services and welfare: an unsustainable economy and QOL as eventually the biggest taxpayers and major employers become irritated by rising taxes, decreasing QOL and move (taking their businesses and jobs with them) to more desirable, more economically competitive regions

Would view any region by per capita economic productivity...esp per capita income and per capita standard of living of residents...on such metrics, many highly populated, vast regions like NYC or LA (or once fast growing regions like Vegas or FL) are incredibly poor and underachieving, as top <1% of taxpayers support millions of underachieving parasites...

[davidt1]

Originally Posted by hsw

All growth isn't created equal, nor are all jobs or industries or people or taxpayers

Many formerly fast-population growth places like FL or NV or AZ were built on low-skill, low-wage workers, often illegals, and weak industries like tourism or homebuilding or retailing or retirement/healthcare.....such residents often aren't major taxpayers but often consume disproportionate amounts of public services and welfare: an unsustainable economy and QOL as eventually the biggest taxpayers and major employers become irritated by rising taxes, decreasing QOL and move (taking their businesses and jobs with them) to more desirable, more economically competitive regions

Would view any region by per capita economic productivity...esp per capita income and per capita standard of living of residents...on such metrics, many highly populated, vast regions like NYC or LA (or once fast growing regions like Vegas or FL) are incredibly poor and underachieving, as top <1% of taxpayers support millions of underachieving parasites...

Actually Houston is home to a large number illegal aliens. This city is ranked top for illegal alien smuggling, gun smuggling and drug trafficking. Businesses want them for cheap labor and fight any immigration enforcement effort. Taxpayers here pay for illegals like everywhere else. So, there is your growth.

The bright side is new comers from places like California bring in money to buy houses, open businesses and invest in the local economy. This helps everyone from industries to the tax coffer. This contribution from former Californians is not appreciated enough, I am afraid.

[Oildog]

Is this for some summer school project?

[ashmatical23]

We prefer Californians to relocate to Arizona. You should go make that state as great as you'd like to think you've made Texas.