Though the rate of decline is slowing in some regions, home prices continue to drop nationwide. But in Austin, home prices actually increased in March compared with the same month last year, according to research from First American CoreLogic.
According to First American CoreLogic’s Home Price Index, 33 states saw home prices decline at a faster rate in March. However in the major Texas cities, including the Austin-Round Rock metro area, prices increased. In the local area prices rose 2.2 percent in March compared with March 2008. That’s down slightly from the region’s February home price increase of 3.2 percent compared to the previous February.
Housing price declines are slowing in states that have seen the highest declines in the past three years, but prices are dropping faster in states that have seen only moderate decreases in that time period, the research found.
Nationally, housing prices fell 11.5 percent in March compared with the same month last year, down from an 11.7 percent annual decline in February.
The number of states with double-digit annual declines has doubled in the last year, according to the index, from seven states in March 2008 to 14 states this March.
Nevada remained the top-ranked state for annual price depreciation in March, with an average home price decline of 26 percent. California followed close behind with a housing price decline of 25 percent compared with the same month last year. Rhode Island, Florida and Arizona round out the top five.
Four Texas metro areas saw either the smallest housing price decline of the region’s in the study or experienced home price increases in March, according to the index. Those were San Antonio; the Dallas-Plano-Irving area; the Austin-Round Rock area and the Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown area.
Join the Austin Business Journal and our partner, Burnett Staffing Specialists for the Best Places to Work in Central Texas pep rally and luncheon. Come see which Central Texas companies have the best climate, team atmosphere, benefits and most importantly, engaged employees.
May 21, 2009
Renaissance Austin Hotel
9721 Arboretum Blvd
11:30 am - 1:30 pm
The Best Places to Work in Central Texas will be profiled in a special supplement in the May 22 edition of Austin Business Journal.
Register your table today at http://austin.bizjournals.com/austin/event/5541! Deadline to register is May 15, contact Christy Eilers at ceilers@bizjournals.com or 512-494-2548 for more information.
The Austin Business Journal is proud to host this prestigious event with our partner Burnett Staffing Specialists, sponsors BDO Seidman, LLP, Humana and Quantum Workplace and associate sponsor Texas Stars Hockey Team.
Congratulations to the 2009 Best Places to Work in Central Texas!
Accountability Resources
Adlucent
Administaff, Inc.
Alamo Title Company
Austin Marriott North
BancVue
Bazaarvoice
BuildASign.com
Campbell Stephenson LLP
Campus Advantage
Cirrus Logic, Inc.
Convio
DMX, Inc.
Door Number 3
DPR Construction, Inc.
Farmers Insurance
Greater Texas Landscapes
Heart Hospital of Austin
Hilton Austin
JOSCO Products
LifeSize Communications
Lloyd Gosselink Rochelle & Townsend, PC
Lockart, Atchley & Associates, LLP
Lois Paul & Partner
Maxwell Locke & Ritter LLP
McQueary Henry Bowles Troy, LLP
milk + honey spa
NetQoS
Padgett, Stratemann & Co., LLP
PetRelocation.com
Phoenix Management, Inc.
ProfitFuel, Inc.
ReachForce
Resource Financial Group, Inc.
Richard P. Slaughter Associates, Inc.
Seton Family of Hospitals
Shermco Industries, Inc.
SpawGlass
St. Davids HealthCare
State Farm Insurance
Stream Realty Partners
Texas Association of School Boards, Inc.
Texas Medical Liability Trust
The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies
The Steam Team
TicketCity
Transwestern
Vintage IT Services
Watkins Insurance Group
Wells Fargo
By AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF | Thursday, April 30, 2009, 06:08 PM
The following events have been canceled because of concerns over swine flu. Submit other tips about cancellations or closings here.
Due to concern surrounding the swine flu, the H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards, originally set for this weekend, have been postponed. They will now take place on June 14 at the Barton Creek Resort & Spa in Austin.
The University Interscholastic League is altering its schedule of events due to the outbreak of the swine flu in Texas. All UIL interscholastic competition is suspended until May 11.
The 2009 Texas WIC Nutrition and Breastfeeding Conference scheduled for May 6-8 in San Marcos has been cancelled.
The Austin school district has suspended all out-of-district field trips through May 11.
The Round Rock school district has canceled all extra-curricular events until May 11. All school field trips scheduled between now and May 10 have been canceled as well. The Visual Arts Scholastic Event scheduled for May 9 has been postponed along with the Hispanic Heritage Event originally scheduled for May 2.
The Pflugerville school district has canceled all extra-curricular events until May 11. As an extra precaution, guests to campuses, including parents, visitors and volunteers, will be asked to sanitize their hands upon arrival at the campus and will be restricted to public areas of campus - cafeteria, office, foyer, and luncheon areas.
An SAT exam scheduled at Smithson Valley High School on Saturday has been canceled because the Comal school district is closed until May 11. The district is working with the College Board to reschedule it for a later date.
The Killeen school district has canceled a teacher job fair that was scheduled for Saturday. There are no plans to reschedule the event.
Austin Water Utility has canceled its annual Water Science Expo, an educational event for AISD fifth- and sixth-graders scheduled for May 7 and 8.
Special Olympics Texas has canceled its spring games across the state amid concerns about swine flu. Games that were scheduled for Friday and Saturday in Houston, Wichita Falls, Dallas, Waco, Amarillo, San Antonio, Laredo and the Gulf Coast area have been canceled and will not be rescheduled. The events will not be made up, but those who planned to participate in this weekend's games are still eligible to compete in the 2009 Summer Games in Arlington May 21-24.
Whether it be a leisurely stroll or a steady
sprint, you're sure to find a race to match your
pace or purpose. Austin hosts a variety of
races throughout the year, several of which
are for charity organizations.
Information about races can be found at
www.runtex.com
Running Clubs
RunTex Free Groups / Austin
www.runtex.com/web/4-13.asp
Tri Zones Training / Austin
www.trizones.com
Rogue Programs / Austin
www.roguerunning.com
Gilbert's Gazelles / Austin
www.gilbertsgazelles.com
Strength Endurance Training 4 Runners / Austin
www.socoathleticclub.com
RunSmart Running Group / Austin
www.smartsport.info
Jeff Galloway / Austin
www.jeffgalloway.com/training_groups/austin.html
South Austin Steel Youth Track Club / Austin
www.southaustinsteel.com
The Waterloo Track and Field Club / Austin
www.waterlootrackandfield.org
Round Rock Stars Track Club / Round Rock
http://eteamz.active.com/RoundRockStarsTC/
Youth track and field program
San Marcos Runners Club / San Marcos
www.sanmarcosrunners.org
Texas Thunder / Cedar Park
www.neighborhoodsports.us/Sports/TrackandField/tabid/139/Default.aspx
For youth born between 1991 and 2001
CP Classic Running Club / Cedar Park
www.cpclassic.com
Competitive Youth Track and Cross Country
Georgetown Running Club / Georgetown
http://georgetownrunners.org
The Lake Travis Titans Track club / Lake Travis
www.laketravis.com/track.htm
All boys and girls ages 5 to 18 and adults
Austin's Triathlon Source / Austin
www.austintri.com/main.html
Austin Runners Club / Austin
www.austinrunners.org
Join a Running Meetup Group near Austin
http://running.meetup.com/cities/us/tx/austin/?from=loc_pick
Texas Iron / Multisport Training / Austin
www.texasiron.net
T3 / Austin
www.austint3.com/t3/index.htm
Life Time Fitness Indoor Triathlon / Austin
www.lifetimefitness.com/events/indoor-tri
Tough Cookies Don't Crumble!
www.tcdcfitness.com
Trails Directory
www.ci.austin.tx.us/parks/traildirectory.htm
Lady Bird lake Hike and Bike Trail
www.gracytitle.com/page/Relocation/Additional%20Links/ladybirdlake.pdf
www.runtex.com/web/4-2.asp
Plot your running routes
www.mapmyrun.com/
3M Half Marathon and Relay
http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/HalfMarathon/Home/?WT.mc_id=www.3m.com/races
1/25/09 Austin
Get Fit and Healthy with Tony & Luigi's Georgetown / 512.864.2687 2/2/09 Georgetown
AT&T Austin Marathon and Half 2/15/09 Austin
Raising a Fit Child Toxic Free / 512.472.3254 2/18/09 Austin
Love a Face 5k presented by Hill County Circle of Friends
www.childrensaustin.org
2/21/09 Austin
Mardi Gras 5K / 512.600.6455 2/21/09 Austin
Austin Runners Club Daisy 5K
www.austinrunners.org
2/28/09 Austin
ARA - Moe's Better Half Marathon
www.sanmarcosrunners.org/mbhm/index.html
3/1/09 San Marcos
CROP Hunger Walk
www.aaimaustin.org/cropwalk.html
3/7/09 Austin
5K Sweetheart & 2KFun Run / 512.322.2626 3/7/09 Bastrop
Trail Setter 5K & Kids Fun Run
www.signmeup.com/site/reg/register.aspx?fid=HY2V7K7
3/7/09 Cedar Park
5th Annual Round Rock ISD Project Graduation 5K & Kids K / 512.274.3774 3/7/09 Round Rock
Texas Independence Day 5K Run
drozinsky@yahoo.com
3/7/09 Austin
Get GT Fit / 512.818.1643 3/7/09 Georgetown
2nd Annual LHS Project Graduation Fun Run
www.signmeup.com/site/reg/register.aspx?fid=Z72V6K7
3/7/09 Leander
The 5th Annual Spokes ‘n Spurs Ride / 512.779.3868 3/14/09 Liberty Hill
Urban Dare Austin / http://www.urbandare.com 3/21/09 Austin
2009 Run for the Rovers / http://www.runfortherovers.org 3/22/09 Leander
2nd Annual St. James Missions 5K/1K Run/Walk
www.stjamescmbc.org/5K_mainIndex.html
3/28/09 Austin
11th Annual Junior ‘Dillo Kids Run
www.statesman.com/sports/content/cap10k/junior.html
3/28/09 Austin
Statesman Capitol 10K
www.statesman.com/sports/content/cap10k/index.html
3/29/09 Austin
The Great Urban Race Austin
www.greaturbanrace.com/
4/4/09 Austin
ZOOMA Austin Half Marathon & 5K
http://races.zoomarun.com/austin/
4/4/09 Austin
Relay For Life of Round Rock
http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?pg=entry&fr_id=17082
4/4/09 Round Rock
South Asian New Year Festival / 512.413.9193 4/11/09 Austin
Bat-Stravaganza Fun Run & Family Festival / 512.218.6381 4/18/2009 Round Rock
3rd Annual Chapa 5K Challenge / 512.268.8500 ext. 7870 4/18/09 Kyle
9th Annual Tiger 5K Run
www.signmeup.com/site/reg/register.aspx?fid=LD2V7K7
4/18/09 Dripping Springs
Fun Fun Sober Run
www.healthyhorns.utexas.edu/funrun/
4/18/09 Austin
Lake Georgetown Adventure Sprint
www.toocoolracing.com/
4/25/09 Georgetown
6th Annual Texas Round Up
www.texasroundup.org/10K_5K_Race.aspx
4/25/09 Austin
7th Annual Cedar Park Kids Triathlon
www.leaguelineup.com/welcome.asp?url=cptri
4/26/09 Cedar Park
PurpleStride 5K
pancan.kintera.org/faf/help/helpEventInfo.asp?ievent=298579
4/26/09 Leander
Texas State Sprint Triathlon
www.seidelproductions.com/
4/26/09 San Marcos
2009 Schlotzskys Little Bun Run (Kids K) / http://www.bunrun.com 5/2/09 Austin
2009 Schlotzskys Bun Run / http://www.bunrun.com 5/3/09 Austin
2nd Annual Ranger Triathlon
www.rangertri.com/main.html
5/16/09 Austin
Trek Women's Triathlon Series Austin
www.trekwomenstriathlonseries.com
5/17/09 Austin
Capital of Texas Triathlon / http://www.captextri.com 5/23/09 Austin
Take Steps for Crohn's and Colitis Austin Walk
http://online.ccfa.org/site/TR/Walk/2009TakeSteps?fr_id=1191&pg=entry
6/6/09 Round Rock
Texas State Championship Sprint Adventure Race #3
www.terrafirmapromo.com
6/13/09 Spicewood
3rd Annual Lake Pflugerville Triathlon
www.lakepflugervilletri.com
6/21/09 Pflugerville
Couples Triathlon
www.couplestri.com
7/12/09 Austin
The Austin Triathlon
www.theaustintriathlon.com
9/7/09 Austin
Vibha Dream Mile 5K
http://wiki.vibha.org/Dream_Mile_08:Home
10/4/09 Austin
Austin Run America Run Half Marathon 5K 10K Series
www.usaproductions.org/events/run-series/run-austin
10/11/09 Austin
Pfall Pfreakout 5k & Childrens 1k / 512.415.2523 10/24/09 Pflugerville
LIVESTRONG Challenge Austin
www.livestrongchallenge.org/site/c.frKPI1PAIoE/b.3920225/k.BDC4/Home.htm
10/24/09 Austin and
Dripping Springs
Reindeer Run / 512.350.9178 12/5/09 Austin
Central Texas Most Popular Running Events
The information herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable.
However, no investigation has been made to determine the accuracy of such information.
No person or entity should rely on the accuracy of these materials without conducting
a thorough, independent investigation of same. Gracy Title, its officers, agents and
employees have no liability, expressed or implied, relating to these materials.
After the dot-com bust, Ed Kim wanted to leave tech behind and open a sake bar with his friends.
But he soon found that starting his own Web company would be easier than trying to open a sake bar. So Kim, who had been an email marketer, joined Elliot Easterling and Craig Hordlow, to start Red Bricks Media, a search engine optimization and marketing agency headquartered in an actual red brick building in San Francisco. Today the company employs 85 people in five offices: San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Their local offices are in SoMa on Folsom Street.
It's a good thing Kim and his friends didn't make sake their business. Since starting up in 2005, Red Bricks has grown rapidly. Its revenue was $6.9 million in 2008, a 156 percent increase from 2006. Kim attributes the company's success to a couple of factors - branching out beyond just search engine optimization, and being a full-service agency able to assist companies who need to be walked through every step of the process, as well as companies that just need a little help.
Search engine optimization is, at its core, making a web site easier to find in searches. It involves identifying how a business wants to be found through specific keywords and pointing the search engines to those keywords. Search engine marketing involves bidding on keywords for paid search advertising - the ads that accompany results on search engines like Google and Yahoo.
Kim said that it's easy to convince companies to invest in SEO/SEM, when he draws the comparison to how much they're trying to spend on other media.
"It's been a really easy sell when we talk to companies spending millions of dollars on a passive audience, but yet you're not even discoverable when people are looking for you," Kim said.
Lesley Odoom, associate director of consumer marketing for the Los Angeles Times, said that the Times has been working with Red Bricks Media for two years. She said that the company chose Red Bricks because it needed a firm to walk them through every step of SEO/SEM.
"They've taken our hand and led us through the whole process and helped us develop and run some pretty efficient programs," she said.
The Times is working on a full SEO strategy and media plan .
But even with their success so far, Kim says that there is a lot of room to grow in the space. "SEO is still a fraction of the (total digital) spend," he said.
Kim also pointed out that the company is taking advantage of new forms of online advertising to enter into, like image ads and video ads, that work on the same compensation basis as paid search - cost per click, rather than cost per thousand impressions.
One thing the company has had to look out for is consolidation, both in the search engine industry and the SEO/SEM industry. Google, the largest search engine, has upwards of 60 percent of market share in the U.S. Its nearest competitor, Yahoo, hovers around 20 percent. There is also a lot of pressure, Kim says, to consolidate SEO companies within bigger agencies, but Red Bricks has been able to avoid that by expanding their offerings.
 |
|
|
Austin Real Estate agent selling homes, property, land, ranches, luxury estates in Austin TX, Lakeway, Round Rock, Real Estate, Cedar Park, Manor and Pflugerville.
ActiveRain Corp. is not responsible for the accuracy of the site's content (which is written by members of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network) and does not endorse the views of the real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and others listed here.
Powered by the ActiveRain Real Estate Network
© 2009 ActiveRain Corp. All Rights Reserved
