Austin, U.S.A. — In another example of how Texas is leading the nation’s economic recovery, the real estate market continues to show marked improvements over last year, according to the 2012-Q2 edition of the Texas Quarterly Housing Report issued today by the Texas Association of Realtors. Featuring 13 percent more single family home sales than the same quarter of the prior year and a median price that was seven percent higher than 2011-Q2, the results demonstrate that Texas’ economic recovery is robust and widespread throughout the state.

“The momentum we saw in the first quarter of this year is continuing and we’re seeing that now not only in increased sales volume, but also in a strong increase in the median price,” said Joe Stewart, chairman of the Texas Association of Realtors. “That is good news for Texas homeowners who have been thinking of moving up, but who have remained on the sidelines because they’re concerned about earning full value for their current home.”

In the second quarter of 2012, 67,334 single family homes were sold in Texas, which is 13.04 percent more than the second quarter of 2011. In addition, the median price in the second quarter of 2012 was $161,400, which is 7.45 percent more than 2011-Q2.

“One of the most noteworthy aspects of this quarter’s results is the consistency across markets,” said Jim Gaines, Ph.D., an economist with the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University. “Occasionally, statewide results can be dominated by trends in Texas’ largest markets due to the large volume of real estate transactions they represent. However, in this case, the increases in both sales volume and median price are seen throughout most of the 48 Texas markets included in the report.”

In addition to improvements in sales volume and median price in the second quarter of 2012, the “months inventory” figure improved. Indicating the balance between supply and demand in the real estate market, the Texas market featured 5.9 months of inventory in 2012-Q2, which is 2.2 months less than 2011-Q2. The Real Estate Center cites 6.5 months of inventory as a market in which demand is balanced with supply.

Gaines explained, “At 5.9 months of inventory, Texas is bordering on a sellers’ market. However, I think that is due as much to a decrease in supply – from fewer foreclosures, lack of new speculative home building and apprehensive homeowners not listing properties – as it is to increasing demand. Nonetheless, homebuyers should expect competition for desirable properties.”

Chairman Stewart concluded, “Texas has been leading the economic recovery and these results are more proof that our state is one of the nation’s best places to own a home. Now, we must protect the high quality of life that fueled that recovery and work on absorbing the growth of our state. That is the focus of the Texas Association of Realtors as we once again begin preparing to advocate for Texas homeowners during the 83rd session of the Texas Legislature in 2013.”

The article Texas is Leading the U.S. Economic Recovery appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Achtung Austin! Germany’s interactive capital will attend SXSW 2012 with a total of 14 music- and 17 interactive companies presenting fresh content and new business models MADE IN BERLIN (Video: Berlin Interactives at SXSW 2012) at the Berlin stand in Hall 3. The strong joint presence will showcase the creative potential of Germany’s capital region to SXSW visitors.

This year’s trip is being organized for the fourth time by the capital’s music business network, the Berlin Music Commission. Their partner in the interactive field is the Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, the first stop for creatives in the film, media and interactive industries.

Ashton Kutcher does it, Werner Vogels does it, Matt Cohler and Founders Fund do it, Stephan Glanzer and Passion Capital do it, Kleiner Perkins Caulfield and Byers (KPCB) do it, Index Ventures do it, Niklas Zennstrom does it, the Samwer Brothers and Rocket Internet do it! They all invest in fresh, interactive companies from Berlin-Brandenburg.

This year’s interactive delegation is the biggest ever and reflects the exciting dynamic in the capital region. Berlin’s IT and Web industry is booming and generating an amazing wave of start-ups. It’s no wonder people call it “Europe’s Silicon Valley.” More than 500 software and IT companies were founded in 2011 alone. In Austin, investors will have an added chance to get to know creative talent from Germany’s capital region. Please find information about all participating companies below.

The Berlin delegation is taking part of a number of networking events:

Meet the Germans (March 13, 2012 | 4-6 pm | SXSW Trade Show)

As part of the SXSW Block Party, Berlin and the entire German delegation are happy to invite all representatives of the three trades – interactive, music and film – to a gathering at all German stands. Get in touch with all 73 German exhibitors and enjoy the added bonus of some German beer.

Country Connections (March 14 & 15, 2012 | 11am-12:30pm | SXSW Trade Show)

Country Connections provides coordinated international networking sessions set up by the export offices of Canada, Australia, the UK and Germany. The meetings will be offered to labels, live and music digital companies and managers. You’re invited to be one of our country and sector experts for just 90 minutes on one of the days.

Wunderbar - Finest Lunch (March 15, 2012 | 12-4pm | Parkside Restaurant 301 E 6th St)

Join us for Wunderbar – Finest Lunch with the Germans, a lively and delicious event luncheon hosted by Initiative Musik and presented by the Berlin Music Week. It’s considered a casual forum where you can meet the ever-growing German delegation. Come network and schmooze while enjoying the highlights of modern German cuisine and the sounds of Berlin-based artists Apparat, Bonaparte and Touchy Mob, whose DJ sets will provide an ideal musical backdrop.

Lone Star River Boat (March 16, 2012 | 2-4pm | 1st Bridge/Hyatt Regency, 208 Barton Springs Rd)

Come aboard: The >>Initiative Musik<< extends an invitation to a two-hour boat trip on Lady Bird Lake. During the trip, the Berlin-based bands Talking to Turtles, Touchy Mob and Fenster (Morr Music) will play short sets to introduce themselves.

This project is financed by the State of Berlin and the European Union (European Regional Development Fund).

Meet the Berliners at the Berlin booth # 1323 | 1325 | 1327 | 1329, Exhibit Hall 3

For more Information visit official website. For image material please go here.

All Berlin and Brandenburg interactive companies at the 2012 SXSW at a glance:

88tc88
88tc88 translates, approves, releases and sells your music to one billion Chinese people.
www.88tc88.com

Amykdala
Music search engine – all have a voice
www.amykdala.com

AUPEO!
Personal Radio
www.aupeo.com

Exozet Berlin
exozet group – success on all screens
www.exozet.com

fwli
Your everyday un-chaos of people and stuff
www.fckweloveit.com

INTERPOL+-
Germany’s only true boutique agency
www.interpol-berlin.com

kinderfee.de
Trusted marketplace for childcare services
www.kinderfee.de

mashero
mashero offers a tool to design and personalize dynamic display ads with targeting in real time.
www.mashero.com

Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg
The first stop for creative professionals active in the film, TV and media industries in Berlin-Brandenburg
www.medienboard.de

Moviepilot
The world’s largest movie community you’ve never heard of
www.moviepilot.com

mufin
mufin offers first-class mobile and desktop solutions for music recommendation and audio identification
www.mufin.com

NOWTILUS
White label video on demand solution for all internet connected devices
www.nowtilus.tv

Pixelpark
Pixelpark Group is Germany’s largest independent interactive service provider
www.pixelpark.com

servtag
High performance-based mobile marketing solutions
www.servtag.com

VISAPIX
Visapix makes the interactive marketing of tomorrow a reality today
www.visapix.com

vm-people
The art and science of gaining and keeping fans
www.vm-people.de

wahwah.fm
wahwah.fm is a location-based social music app. With it everybody becomes a radio station.
www.wahwah.fm

All Berlin and Brandenburg music companies at the 2012 SXSW at a glance:
Listen to their music here

!K7 Records
Be independent
www.k7.com

Berlin Music Commission
The business network representing Berlin’s music industry
www.berlin-music-commission.de

Berlin Music Week
Cast off on the Spree River! September 5th to September 9th, 2012
www.berlin-music-week.de

Bingo Merch
THE place to go in Europe for quality tour merchandise production, coordination, and online fulfillment
www.bingomerch.com

Budde Music 
Independent publishing, around the world
www.buddemusic.de

City Slang
Indie label and European home for bands like Notwist, Broken Social Scene, HEALTH et al.
www.cityslang.com

Four Artists
From Artists FOUR ARTISTS!
www.fourartist.com

Headquarter Entertainment
International bookers & promoters for over a decade
www.headquarter-entertainment.de

Morr Music 
Morr Music, a leading German label for a merging of indie pop and electronica
www.morrmusic.com

piranha womex
WOMEX is “The most important international professional market of world music of every kind.” UNESCO Global Alliance for Cultural Diversity
www.womex.com

Sinnbus Records
Good music for good people since 2003
www.sinnbus.de

Sophia Lovett 
We make your band your business
www.sophialovett.com

Superstar Entertainment
Germany’s leading Dance and Electronic label
www.superstar.ag

Tracks & Fields
Where advertising, film and interactive look for music
www.tracksandfields.com

Image Courtesy of   http://ge.tt

The article Berlin to Attend SXSW 2012 appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.