FEATURE STORY


speaker at the Greater Houston Builders Association (GHBA) Forecast Luncheon. Inselmann addressed the topic of the 2011 economic forecast to a room full of prominent local Houston and Texas state politicians, along with more than 800 GHBA members.


Recovery 2011 O


n January 6, Mike Inselmann, co-founder and president of Metrostudy, was the keynote


The Houston area has persevered the down market much better than the rest of the country throughout the recession,


Mike Inselmann shares predictions, economic forecast for the Houston homebuilding industry


and the low cost of living and the diverse industries have fueled much of the success of the city and surrounding area. In his comments, Inselmann referenced FORBES Magazine naming Houston a


having challenges.” Even through these challenges Houston has added 15,000 jobs despite the budget gap, the issues facing NASA, the drilling moratorium, and companies like Continental moving elsewhere, according to Inselmann’s findings.


“Builders should focus their efforts diligently on everyone who comes through to look at a model home” —Mike Inselmann


‘Model City.’ However, Inselmann said, “Even in Houston, as good as it is, we are in the fourth year now…and we are still


PHOTO ONE: A highlight of the luncheon was the presentation of funds from the 2010 Benefit Homes Project. The project donated $187,193.61 to the Alzheimer's Association, Texas Children's Cancer Center, and HomeAid Houston. Since the project began, more than $6 million has been donated to Houston-area charities. Pictured (l to r): Joe Barwinski, Village Builders; Don Klein, Benefit Home Committee Chair; Cindy Hinson, Village Builders; Kelly Cliburn, Texas Children’s Cancer Center; Richard Elbein, Alzheimer’s Association; Parke Patterson, HomeAid Houston; Lenore Kimmel, Village Builders; Tim Fitzpatrick, Friendswood Development; and Alan Dossey; Village Builders.


He noted that the Greater Houston Partnership’s Economic Forecast projects 18,400 jobs, while the IHS Global Insight foresees on a larger scale, an estimated


24,000 job growth.


Much of the job growth he attributes to the big picture economy that shows that Houston has been in recovery from the recession for six quarters. Inselmann said, “The recession was officially over 16 months ago.”


The rate of foreclosures, he assures, has not risen to the crisis level that is occurring in other markets across the country, and is less problematic as a threat to builders’ competition. “The biggest challenge is our (the builders) ability to compete with those homes that you sold three or four years ago that are most likely in the same neighborhoods that you are still building in,” he added.


PHOTO TWO: Thanks to The Stevenson Group, luncheon sponsors. Pictured (l to r): Jerry Stevenson, Brian Stevenson, Brian Hagen, Richard Wilson, Rodger Lyle, Ted Key.


In 2009, Houston experienced 18,752 home starts. The projection for 2010 is approximately 19,000 to 20,000 home starts. Inselmann said, they are better than what they were, and it is projected that the first half of 2011 will be better then the second half of last year. He warned it won’t be comparable to the first half of 2010


Continued on next page 10 FEBRUARY 2011 | HOUSTON BUILDER | GREATER HOUSTON BUILDERS ASSOCIATION – BUILDING A BETTER FUTURE 


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