The Houston Chronicle investigates the Houston-Area real estate market, finding signs of the oil slump's effect on a formerly hot market.

"Houston-area home sales fell 8.8 percent in July, the most severe decline since last winter and a sign that the oil slump finally may be catching up with the housing market," reports Nancy Sarnoff.
"The July drop follows months of relative stability in the property market, which defied the impact of low crude prices that have bankrupt scores of energy companies and resulted in layoffs across the region," adds Sarnoff.
So far, local economic efforts are describing the trend as a yellow flag, but that could change to a red flag if the year-over-year drop continues for a few more months.
FULL STORY: Houston housing market takes summertime hit

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Wind Energy on the Rise Despite Federal Policy Reversal
The Trump administration is revoking federal support for renewable energy, but demand for new projects continues unabated.

Passengers Flock to Caltrain After Electrification
The new electric trains are running faster and more reliably, leading to strong ridership growth on the Bay Area rail system.

Texas Churches Rally Behind ‘Yes in God’s Back Yard’ Legislation
Religious leaders want the state to reduce zoning regulations to streamline leasing church-owned land to housing developers.
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