Mark Paulson

Hi everyone! This is my first short blog here, just wanted to try it out and see how it works.

We are really lucky to live in the Houston market. While our friends on the east and west coasts have lived through extremely fast rising appreciation then a complete collapse, we have been a steady and slowly appreciating market for over 20 years. Due to this factor, we did not have a long way to fall, and as yet, have leveled off. Few markets have declined, most are in newly built areas that have little equity.

It appears that as far as housing is concerned, the economy has had little effect on our area. Many real estate professionals, loan officers, and appraisers have moved on to tother things, but I am seeing a fairly strong market, and the sales numbers seem to prove it. As a real estate appraiser, I am seeing about 50/50 between home purchases and refinancing.

Hopefully in the next election coming soon, we will have a return of effective regulation to fix our woes in housing and finance, and re-implement the policies created after the great depression to get us back on track. Deregulating these industries did not work and only created several 800 lb gorillas running around the room. Eventually they overextended their finances and were hurt badly by it, so hopefully the future is bright. In the meanwhile, if this only lasts for 2-3 more years, I think our market will stay strong as ever as long as new home construction slows down until demand catches up.

I look forward to writing more as I have time, thanks for reading.

Mark Paulson, President

Viking Appraisals, LLC - Katy, TX

713-582-9962