The cost of living is low, property values are steady, people are relocating here, business is strong, infrastructure is viable, weather is pretty consistent, and the people are friendly!  D/FW is a great place to raise your family or keep a job, and according to Forbes April 2008 edition, we are Recession Proof!  When you hear this phrase, recession proof, you may think of certain jobs such as ER doctors, lawyers or bail bondsman, but do you think of an entire city?  Well Forbes did, and for good reason -- take a peak at their index and you decide for yourself and your clients.
 
One of the most crucial Consumer Confidence Indicies (CCI) is the Unemployment rate and D/FW has one of the lowest boasting a steady and low 4.3%, recently reduced from 4.5%.  The low unemployment rate is credited with many companies calling D/FW their headquarters including American Airlines parent company AMR, Southwest Airlines, Texas Instruments, Dean Foods and many many more already here and coming every day.  Last year over 350 new people relocated to D/FW every day!
 
Another main CCI indicator weighing the market reactivness to a possible recession is the increase in our home owner's equity.  The median home price increases 0.5% according to Forbes.  Even though that figure is not astronomical, the D/FW market has a consistent and steady growth stream dating back to the 1970's when big business, specifically oil companies, really took an interest in investing in Dallas and Fort Worth.  Also, keep in mind that this number is a median percent and in the Collin County Area, prices typically increase 3-5% annually for our sellers.
 
Lastly, Forbes looked at D/FW's key growth indicators -- education and health.  The percent came out to be a strong 5.6%. Other Top 10 cities exceled in hospitality and leisure, tourism, construction, and natural resources. Education and healthcare jump to the top of the growth chart when it comes to citizens of D/FW. Also, because D/FW has many affluent suburbs including Southlake, Highland Park, Plano, Allen, Frisco, University Park, Keller, etc. there is a high demand for personal care and luxury healthcare procedures and clinics which might be why we are one of the fore running cities in this industry.  This category also noted how foreclosures affected levels of productivity on a micro level and within our suburbs, and the outcome was not too harmful to other home sales and CCI. 
 
Dallas/Ft Worth will continue to be one of the recession proof cities as long as it continues doing what its doing. I believe in this so much that I moved my company to Allen from San Francisco three years ago and have not looked back once...other than to bring my clients and friends with me!  I feel grateful everyday that I get to live the dream in a place that has sunny skies, happy people, lots of land, inexpensive housing and a central location...just in case I ever get the urge to go back to San Francisco...and the urge to get right back to D/FW!