Archive for the 'Fort Worth Economy' Category

New Home Sales May Climb 30% in 2010, Goldman Says

New Home Sales May Climb 30% in 2010, Goldman Says
By John Gittelsohn / Bloomberg.com
September 24, 2009

Sept. 24 (Bloomberg) — New U.S. home sales may jump 30 percent next year, buoyed by low mortgage rates and a “greater than 50 percent probability” that Congress will extend a tax credit for first-time buyers, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. said.

New home sales in California will lead as property values rise and transactions climb to more than 525,000 nationally, analysts led by Joshua Pollard wrote in a note to investors. The firm raised its recommendation for D.R. Horton Inc., Meritage Homes Corp., Toll Brothers Inc. and M.D.C. Holdings Inc.

“Phrases like ‘the worst is well behind us’ and ‘things remain encouraging’ capture the mood of many constituents we met with on residential real estate,” Pollard said after visiting California. “The mood was much more negative on commercial real estate.”

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Some still optimistic about Fort Worth real estate

Some still optimistic about Fort Worth real estate
By Darla Miles / WFAA-TV
September 18, 2009

FORT WORTH - One of the premier developments in downtown Fort Worth, Le Bijou, has gone under. But, foreclosure is not necessarily the new face of the city.

The Texas Pacific Lofts on the south end of downtown is 95 percent sold. Some experts say the lofts’ success is a more accurate picture of downtown Fort Worth real estate.

Villa de Leon is the newest high rise in downtown Fort Worth. It has 23 luxury condos overlooking the Trinity River. Prices range from $780,000 to $2.2 million.

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Batteries Plus positive on plans for Fort Worth market

By Aleshia Howe / Fort Worth Business Press
August 17, 2009

With one successful location on Camp Bowie Boulevard in Fort Worth, Hartland, Wis.-based Batteries Plus is charging up to install four to six new locations in the Fort Worth area in coming months.

Batteries Plus, a franchise battery retailer, has targeted the greater Fort Worth area for expansion plans and currently is searching for qualified franchisees.

“Fort Worth is primed for additional Batteries Plus expansion,” said CEO Russ Reynolds. “Our track record in similar markets, coupled with a significant and growing consumer demand for battery products and services, makes Batteries Plus a lucrative opportunity for ambitious entrepreneurs in the Fort Worth area.”

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Bell, engineering union reach contract agreement

The Associated Press / Chron.com
August 17, 2009

FORT WORTH, Texas — Bell Helicopter has a new three-year contract with a union representing about 175 engineering workers in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

The company said the Bell Production Engineers Association ratified the contract Sunday night by a three-to-one margin. The contract includes a cumulative wage increase of 10.4 percent over the three years of the deal, and each union member will receive a $3,000 cash ratification bonus.

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Real estate: Sinclair Building won’t lose parking

By Sandra Baker

May. 24, 2009

The owners of the Sinclair Building in downtown Fort Worth were not left without parking for their tenants when they recently sold the building’s parking lot at Third and Commerce streets to billionaire Ed Bass’ Fine Line Diversified Realty.

As part of the deal, Fine Line conveyed to Sinclair Building Partners the 20,000-square-foot surface parking lot it owned on Jones Street, between Fifth and Sixth streets, two blocks east of the Bass Performance Hall, according to deed records. The Sinclair Building is at Fifth and Main streets.

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Texas highway officials support plans to divide stimulus money among Fort Worth-area projects

By MICHAEL A. LINDENBERGER / The Dallas Morning News
AUSTIN – Texas highway officials, carving up federal stimulus money, are endorsing projects that range from a big toll road in Fort Worth to road improvements across North Texas.

Among the ideas:

•$250 million for the DFW Connector toll road project, which would expand State Highways 121 and 114 near Grapevine in Tarrant County.

•$60 million to repair dozens of existing highways in Dallas, Collin, Tarrant and nine other nearby counties.

•$144 million for a new interchange at Interstate 20 and State Highway 121 in Tarrant County.

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