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Market Conditions for San Antonio Texas
The following article very accurately describes the San Antonio area realty market as of 19 July 2009:
San Antonio's real estate market continues to look a lot like the standby Saturday night date of dinner at a chain restaurant followed by a movie — not exciting, but reassuringly predictable.
With the median price of an existing home at $149,800 for the first half of the year — 1.3 percent below the median sales price during the same period last year — "stable" has become the watchword for the local resale home market.
The number of sales has dropped 16 percent for the year, to 8,251, according to new sales data released Friday by the San Antonio Board of Realtors. But the inventory of homes for sale is holding steady, which has helped keep prices from moving much in either direction.
Travis Kessler, CEO of SABOR, said that so far, the market's sales volume resembles 2003 — a time before the real estate market boomed on the strength of investor sales and exotic mortgage loans. "It looks like we could, if the trend continues, go back to a normal market for the San Antonio area," Kessler said.
"Normal" would make the city one of the better real estate markets in the country.
Realtors have been monitoring short sales — distressed sales in which a lender agrees to take less money than is owed on a house — and foreclosures to see if the numbers start rising too high as a percentage of home sales.
So far for the year, 13 percent of the homes sold through the Multiple Listing Service had fallen into foreclosure and were owned by the lender.
"Even though we have short sales in our marketplace and foreclosures, those shouldn't be a majority of the transactions. They are in other parts of the country," Kessler said. "When it doesn't control the market and isn't the majority of the market, it's a real strength for us."
The number of existing homes on the market has been virtually unchanged for the past couple of months, at just more than 12,000.
San Antonio has an 8.5-month supply of existing homes on the market, which means that if no new homes came onto the market, it would take eight months to sell all those homes at the current pace. The housing inventory has been hovering at the eight-month mark since last fall — a sign of a buyer's market. A resale home market of 6.5 months of inventory is considered balanced between buyers and sellers.
The time it takes to sell a home has gone from 83 days this time last year to 97 days now — a number that's an average across the market and varies by neighborhood.
An agent said that with prices holding steady, the longer sales time has been the biggest market change for sellers to deal with this year. "We have to educate our sellers. "This is not four years ago. It takes time."
7 Ways to Eat Smart This Summer
July , 2009-Summer may be the favorite time of year for most people, but it can also cause good nutrition to take an extended vacation. Not only is the season overrun with high-calorie foods and erratic eating opportunities, but the demands on the body are greater as well. Summer sports and outdoor chores combined with heat, high humidity and sun exposure put stress on muscles, joints, bones and fluid levels.
For kids and adults alike, nutrition in the summertime is more important than ever. So what’s the answer? These tips can help:
1. Get Your Fill of Water. Hydration is critical, especially in the southern states where the sudden transition from air conditioning to high heat can shock the body. To help avoid muscle cramps and headaches-and to nourish skin-drink plenty of liquids, especially water. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition outlines the following choices along with the maximum recommended daily eight-ounce servings: water (9 for women, 13 for men), unsweetened tea (8), unsweetened coffee (4), diet sodas and calorie-free beverages (4), skim or low-fat milk (2), 100% fruit juices, whole milk, or sports drinks (1), soft drinks or juice drinks (1).
2. Find a Farmer. There isn’t a better time of year to visit local farmers markets where an amazing array of healthy produce awaits. Many vegetables are high in nutrients and fiber-kale, chard, and mustard greens offer Vitamins C and E, which are good for eyes strained by the sun. Potassium-rich potatoes and spinach help avoid muscle cramps as well. Try putting vegetables on the backyard grill along with your main course for a special treat.
3. Up Your Fruit Quotient. The sun can wreak havoc on skin during outdoor activities. To nourish skin, complement your increased water intake with fresh fruit like raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries, all of which have antioxidants and vitamin C. Bananas are also good sources of potassium.
4. Lighter is Better. Eating smaller meals more often is always a good idea, but especially in summer when people tend to miss eating at meal times or are suddenly presented with a picnic or party smorgasbord. Lighter fare is also a good way to get nutrients without excessive calories-make gazpacho or other cold soups, and try BBQ alternatives like turkey or skinless, marinated chicken. Chili is another convenient and fun summertime entrée.
5. Go Fishing. Fish, along with lean meats, beans, chickpeas, and soy products, are all high in protein, making them great not only for muscle development, but also to help hair that is overcome by exposure to sunlight and saltwater.
6. Limit High Calorie Treats. It’s easy to make ice cream a habit during warm weather, but ice cream, not to mention cookies, popsicles, pies and fried desserts, can add fat and calories much faster than increased summertime activity can work off.
7. Think About the Kids. Erratic eating can be especially hard on children during the summer-and their demand for treats can ruin anyone’s commitment to good nutrition. Try to maintain a regular meal schedule and keep only healthy snacks in the house. Having healthy snacks in the car also helps when kids suddenly start complaining.
RISMEDIA, July 22, 2009-
7 Ways to Eat Smarter
RISMEDIA, July 22, 2009-Summer may be the favorite time of year for most people, but it can also cause good nutrition to take an extended vacation. Not only is the season overrun with high-calorie foods and erratic eating opportunities, but the demands on the body are greater as well. Summer sports and outdoor chores combined with heat, high humidity and sun exposure put stress on muscles, joints, bones and fluid levels.
For kids and adults alike, nutrition in the summertime is more important than ever. So what’s the answer? These tips can help:
1. Get Your Fill of Water. Hydration is critical, especially in the southern states where the sudden transition from air conditioning to high heat can shock the body. To help avoid muscle cramps and headaches-and to nourish skin-drink plenty of liquids, especially water. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition outlines the following choices along with the maximum recommended daily eight-ounce servings: water (9 for women, 13 for men), unsweetened tea (8), unsweetened coffee (4), diet sodas and calorie-free beverages (4), skim or low-fat milk (2), 100% fruit juices, whole milk, or sports drinks (1), soft drinks or juice drinks (1).
2. Find a Farmer. There isn’t a better time of year to visit local farmers markets where an amazing array of healthy produce awaits. Many vegetables are high in nutrients and fiber-kale, chard, and mustard greens offer Vitamins C and E, which are good for eyes strained by the sun. Potassium-rich potatoes and spinach help avoid muscle cramps as well. Try putting vegetables on the backyard grill along with your main course for a special treat.
3. Up Your Fruit Quotient. The sun can wreak havoc on skin during outdoor activities. To nourish skin, complement your increased water intake with fresh fruit like raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries, all of which have antioxidants and vitamin C. Bananas are also good sources of potassium.
4. Lighter is Better. Eating smaller meals more often is always a good idea, but especially in summer when people tend to miss eating at meal times or are suddenly presented with a picnic or party smorgasbord. Lighter fare is also a good way to get nutrients without excessive calories-make gazpacho or other cold soups, and try BBQ alternatives like turkey or skinless, marinated chicken. Chili is another convenient and fun summertime entrée.
5. Go Fishing. Fish, along with lean meats, beans, chickpeas, and soy products, are all high in protein, making them great not only for muscle development, but also to help hair that is overcome by exposure to sunlight and saltwater.
6. Limit High Calorie Treats. It’s easy to make ice cream a habit during warm weather, but ice cream, not to mention cookies, popsicles, pies and fried desserts, can add fat and calories much faster than increased summertime activity can work off.
7. Think About the Kids. Erratic eating can be especially hard on children during the summer-and their demand for treats can ruin anyone’s commitment to good nutrition. Try to maintain a regular meal schedule and keep only healthy snacks in the house. Having healthy snacks in the car also helps when kids suddenly start complaining.
Honey Orange Chicken with Sesame Sauce
 -- - 3/4 cup(s) fresh orange juice
- 1/3 cup(s) orange blossom or clover honey
- 1 teaspoon(s) grated ginger
- 1 teaspoon(s) garlic
- 1 teaspoon(s) orange zest
- 1 teaspoon(s) salt
- 1/8 teaspoon(s) ground black pepper
- 4 (6 ounces each) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, trimmed
- 1 teaspoon(s) vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon(s) toasted sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon(s) toasted sesame seeds
Directions - Combine juice, honey, ginger, garlic, zest, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Add chicken; stir to coat. Cover; refrigerate 30 minutes.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat until hot; add vegetable oil and swirl to coat. Lift chicken from marinade and let excess drip back into bowl. When oil is hot, add chicken and cook over medium heat 3 minutes per side, or until golden brown.
- Add reserved marinade to skillet and boil over medium-high heat, turning chicken once or twice, 3 to 5 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through and sauce is reduced by half. Transfer chicken to a cutting board, cut into diagonal slices, and arrange on a platter. Stir sesame oil into thickened sauce and spoon it over chicken. Sprinkle with sesame seeds.
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