KLUP 3/3 Base Realignment and Closure BRAC

While the focus of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure decision (BRAC) is on several San Antonio military installations, local community leaders say this is an opportunity to revitalize some Alamo City neighborhoods as well. John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty here with today's San Antonio Business Journal News Feature. The BRAC action is bringing over $2 billion in construction to the city, most of that to the Fort Sam Houston area. That area will also see an influx of more than 11,000 people. "All the growth coming to Fort Sam Houston over the next few years is great news for San Antonio. It's going to be a tremendous boost to our economy," says Howard Peak, former San Antonio mayor. "However, we need to make sure this growth is managed in such a way that we not only reap the economic

KLUP 2/29 North East ISD STEM Project

A new educational initiative, nicknmed STEM, geared toward encouraging students to pursue science, technology, engineering and math careers has taken root in San Antonio and promises big results in just a few years. John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty here with today's San Antonio Business Journal News Feature. Last fall, the North East STEM Academy at Robert E. Lee High School opened up with its first class of students -- 73 freshmen. Also, 88 sixth-grade students at Nimitz Middle School were enrolled in a feeder program for the new academy. This year, two more STEM programs are getting under way at a couple of local charter schools. students participating in the district's program will be immersed in science and math education throughout high school in all of their core courses, even English and social studies. By the time they graduate, students will have earned between 12 and 24 college credit hours in math and science and they will have a head start over other entering college students regarding what the college experience is all about. For San Antonio area homes and real estate Deep in the Heart of Texas, call John Thurman of HeartofTexasRealty.com

KUP 2/28 San Antonio Hostin NCAA Final Four

In a little over a month, San Antonio will host its third NCAA Men's Final Four basketball championship. John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty with Today's San Antnio Business Journal News Feature. San Antonio Business Journal writer, Scott Bailey, reported with escalating competition from an increasing number of cities and the emergence of newer, larger domed stadiums in Texas and elsewhere, it's possible that this could be San Antonio's last dance with the NCAA on the Final Four stage. San Antonio leaders hope not. But they are fully aware that landing another one will not be easy. In 2009, the NCAA takes its Final Four to Ford Field in Detroit. The 2010 and 2011 Final Fours will be played in Indianapolis' Lucas Oil Stadium and Houston's Reliant Stadium, respectively. Nearly a dozen markets are expected to bid on the next round of Final Fours to be played in 2012 through 2016 and many of those have more modern facilities. The advantage San Antonio has, she says, is that it can use this 2008 Final Four as one more "audition" for the next bidding round. For San Antonio area homes and real estate Deep in the Heart of Texas, call John Thurman of HeartofTexasRealty.com

KLUP 2/26 San Antonio Couting India

City leaders see big business opportunity in India market, John Thurman of Heart of Texas REalty here with Today's San Antonio Business Journal NEws Feature. In 1985, a San Antonio delegation led by former Mayor Henry Cisneros traveled to Japan to discuss future business and cultural opportunities, leading to the signing of a sister city agreement with Kumamoto two years later. Many local leaders believe that pact opened the door for Toyota to plant its flag in the Alamo City. More than two decades later, San Antonio is engaging in talks with officials in India that could possibly lead to a similar sister city pact with the port city of Chennai or another city in that South Asian country. A number of local leaders believe these talks could represent a landmark step toward what could eventually become a lucrative political and economic relationship between San Antonio and India. In November 2006, Richard Perez, then a member of the San Antonio City Council and now president of the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, traveled to India with a contingency of U.S. business and political leaders. For San Antonio area homes and real estate, call John Thurman of HeartofTexasRealty.com.

KLUP 2/25 San Antonio Information Technology Salaries

San Antonio's Information Technology Starting Salaries lag the national average. John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty here with Today's San Antonio Business Journal News Feature, San Antonio Business Journal writer, Catherine Dominguez reported that a 2008 nationwide salary study shows San Antonio ranks in the middle of the pack in the region, but dead last among Texas' big cities, when it comes to starting salaries for information technology jobs. The 2008 Salary Guide compiled by California-based Robert Half Technology shows that starting salaries for IT-related positions will increase 5.3 percent nationwide this year. Although starting salaries in San Antonio may not appear as high as they are in other big Texas cities, the Alamo City is in fact just as competitive. "The demand for (IT professionals) is as high in San Antonio and the only reason you see percentages lower than Houston, Austin and Dallas is because we have the luxury of a lower cost of living," "People are coming here as quick as they can." Of the 10 major cities in the study's West South Central region -- which included Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana -- San Antonio ranked fifth in terms of projected 2008 average starting salaries. Houston, Dallas and Austin ranked as the top three, respectively. For San Antonio area homes and real estate, call John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty.

KLUP 2/16 Venue Tax

The nearly $200 million San Antonio River Improvements project is expected to have a billion-dollar economic impact, say project supporters. John Thurman of Heart of texas Realty here with today's San Antonio Business Journal News Feature,. San Antonio Business Journal writer, Scott Bailey, reported that much of financial impact the riverwalk project will have on the community will be concentrated in a roughly two-mile urban portion of the so-called Museum Reach segment where work has already begun. Museum Reach construction is already generating development-related momentum to the north and south of downtown, where funding remains a critically important issue. The planned work could be stalled if voters fail to approve the use of $125 million from an extended venue tax for the river improvements project. Bexar County Commissioners have called an election for May 10 when voters will decide the fate of four venue tax propositions: They include the construction of amateur sports facilities and cultural arts venues, as well as improvements to AT&T Center and the San Antonio River. For San Antonio area homes and real estate, call John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty.

KLUP 2/15 AT&T

AT&T Inc. has signed a 10-year naming-rights deal for two links courses under development at TPC San Antonio, which may be the first resort course to sell a traditional naming-rights sponsorship. John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty here with today's San Antonio Business Journal news feature. "This is the first time that a destination golf course, that I know of, has been named after a consumer brand," says Dave Pillsbury, who manages the TPC network as president of PGA Tour Golf Course Properties, a subsidiary of the PGA Tour. The Tournament Players Club (TPC) consists of 26 golf venues either owned, operated or licensed by the PGA Tour. The TPC network was developed, in part, to reduce the tour's dependence on television revenue. AT&T is still examining how to leverage the investment, but logos will be kept to a minimum. "We don't want branding to be all over the place," says Eric Fernandez, executive director of sponsorships and events for AT&T. "It's got to be organic. We're going to focus on integrating our technology into the golfing experience." For San Antonio area homes and real estate, call John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty.

KLUP 2/14 SABOR Bob Leonard

The chairman of the San Antonio Board of Realtors (SABOR), Bob Leonard, is taking on a statewide assignment. John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty here with today's San Antonio Business Journal news feature. Leonard, a Realtor with Re/Max Associates, has been appointed to the Texas Association of Realtors' Tax and Appraisal Task Force. The organization serves as an advocate for implementing reforms in the state's appraisal process and in the use of real property taxes in Texas. Work by the tax force has resulted in legislative actions to protect property owners from mortgage fraud, excessive deed restrictions, taxation and other issues. Leonard has been a licensed Realtor and a member of SABOR since 1986. In 2005, he was elected to the board of directors for SABOR. He also serves as a director for the Texas Association and the National Association of Realtors. For San Antonio area homes and real estate, call John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty.

KLUP 2/13 Texas Comptroller Susan Combs

Texas Comptroller Susan Combs reported that the rate of growth of state collected sales tax revenues is slowing. John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty here with today's San Antonio Business Journal news feature. Sales tax reveunes are up 5.2 percent compared to January 2007 and "While growth remains firm, it is slower than that of the past two years," Combs says. "This moderation is consistent with the slowing economy." The comptroller also distributed $640.8 million in local sales taxes to Texas cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts in February. This is up 5.1 percent from the local sales tax distribution in February 2007. The City of San Antonio received a sales tax revenue check of $23.2 million this month. This is up 1.86 percent from February 2007. Bexar County does not collect a sales tax. But VIA Metropolitan Transit and the San Antonio Advanced Transportation District received checks for $10.6 million and $5 million, respectively. This represents increases of 3.15 percent and 5.94 percent. For San Antonio area homes and real estate, call John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty.

KLUP 2/12 US Air New Flights

US Airways is offering two new regional flights between its Charlotte, NC hub and the San Antonio International Airport. John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty here with today's Business News Feature . US Airways will begin offering two flights daily in each direction beteen Charlotte, NC and San Antonio on May 4 via heir commuter carrier, Mesa Airlines, using an 86-seat Canadair CRJ900. US Airways' Director of Express Planning, Jason Reisinger, noted that the new routes are supported by a solid business and government base, outstanding educational institutions, a diverse economy, culture and tourism. US Air is pleased to offer central Texas connections to Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean through our Charlotte hub. Tempe, Ariz.-based US Airways (NYSE: LLC) is now offering 540 daily departures to 128 nonstop destinations from its Charlotte hub. The airline is the fifth-largest carrier in the country. The company employs 36,000 individuals. For San Antonio area homes and real estate, call John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty.

KLUP Post 1/3/2008 More Hotels in San Antonio

The British are Coming, The British are Coming, John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty here with Today’s San Antonio Business Journal News Feature. Business Journal writer Tricia Lynn Sylva reported that English hotel powerhouse InterContinental Hotels Group has announced that construction will begin soon on nine new hotels in greater San Antonio. These hotels will be Candlewood Suites Staybridge Suites and all of them fall into InterContinental's extended-stay segments. Their locations will include suites off I35 in Schertz , the Westover Hills area. The common denominator in the selection of the various locations is the proximity of job growth, and companies that need employees to stay in temporary quarters for extended periods of time but not permanently. San Antonio's industrial and tourism base continues to grow and the need for extended stay hotels is evidence of that growth. Westover Hills, one of the areas where these new hotels will be located, continues to attract high tech businesesses that have need for employees to reside in extended stay hotels. For San Antonio area homes and real estate, call John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty. www.HeartofTexasRealty.com

KLUP Post 1/4/2008 Venue Tax

The battle for the projects to be funded with the venue tax is just beginning to heat up. John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty here with Today’s San Antonio Business Journal News Feature. Business Journal writer Scott Bailey reported that in January, Bexar County officials will begin to firm up a plan to present to voters later next year that would result in a lengthy extension of the venue tax to help fund an array of community projects, possibly including a riverwalk extension, a performing arts center, and an intercollegiate athletics complex. The catch is that once the tax is allocated, other projects that may appear on the horizon may have to wait until another time to be considered. Such projects could easily be an National League Football franchise or a major league baseball franchise. The tax is comprised of a combination of hotel occupancy and rental car taxes that are paid by visitors and not generally by local citizens. San Antonio already pre auditioned for an NFL franchise when it hosted the New Orleans Saints after their New Orleans stadium was severely damaged by hurricane Katrina. For San Antonio area homes and real estate, call John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty. www.HeartofTexasRealty.com

KLUP Post 1/7/2005 San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs are valued at a cool $405 Million according to Forbes report. John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty here with Today’s San Antonio Business Journal News Feature. Business Journal writer Scott Bailey reported that the Spurs Sports & Entertainment company, home of its flagship franchise, the defending NBA national champion San Antnio Spurs, can make history by repeating its championship yet another year. But the owners of the team are already celebrating because a new report indicates that the value of the team has skyrocketed in recent years. Forbes ranked the Spurs as the 10th most valuable NBA Franchise in the league and that's a $15 million bump over last year. Both Houston and Dallas are larger markets than San Antonio and their NBA franchises are predicatly more valuable than the Spurs. But the Spurs are gaining value rapidly and they are now within striking distance of a fourth national title, a feet accomplished only byt the Chicago Bulls, Boston Celtics and the LA Lakers. For San Antonio area homes and real estate, call John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty. www.HeartofTexasRealty.com

KLUP 1/14/2008 San Antonio Economic Development

Local Trade Group wants to tackle some tough issues in 2008. John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty here with Today's San Antonio Business Journal News Feature. Business Journal writer Mike Thomas reported that Foreign investments in San Antonio declined in 2007 compared to the last couple of years, according to the city's Economic Development Foundation, but the overall prospects for foreign trade are looking up as the as the Free Trade Alliance pushes ahead with an ambitious agenda for this year. Kyle Burns, President and CEO, Free Trade Alliance of San Antonio, wants to expand foreign investmens in the Alamo City in 2008. Mario Hernandez, President, San Antonio Economic Development Foundation, noted that some decline in foreign investment was to be expected after the completion of phase one of the Toyota Manufacturing Plant. Hernadzez notes that his office is working on 104 prospects for job creation investments and eight of them are internationally based. In years past, the number of internationally based companies that were looking at investing in the Alamo City were more than that number. Toyota is likely to announce another phase for its manufacturing plant but until that happens the city is looking to the Free Trade Alliance to pursue the initiaive. For San Antonio area homes and real estate, call John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty. www.HeartofTexasRealty.com

KLUP Post 1/15/2008 Toyota

Toyota is trucking through tough market conditions. John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty here with today's San Antonio Business Journal News Feature. Business Journal writer Scott Bailey wrote that truck sales were down at Ford and General Motors in 2007. And while Toyota saw an impressive increase in its Tundra sales versus the previous year, the automaker still came up short of what some industry observers have referred to as a conservative sales goal. Toyota officials say the company sold almost 200,000 Tundra Trucks nationwide in 2007 - up from 125,000 in the previous year. Industry analyst Ron Pinelli of Auto-Data Corp. notes that the auto industry has contracted because of the housing and credit crunch. Pinelli believes however, that considerable improvement will occur in both markets in 2008 and Toyota should benefit from that. One hitch though that may affect large vehicle sales is oil prices. Many analyists predict that the price for a barrell of oil could go as high as $200.00 per barrel, roughly doubling the price of a gallon of gasoline. If this were to happen, large vehicle sales would undoubetly sufffer. However, Toyota's history is in light trucks and cars and they have plans to build such a smaller model if gas prices get out of hand. For San Antonio area homes and real estate, call John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty. www.HeartofTexasRealty.com

KLUP Post 1/16/2008 Transportation

Funding shortfalls taking major toll on TxDot's future mobility. John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty here with today's San Antonio Business Journal News Feature. Business Journal writer Tamarind Phinisee reported officials with the Texas Department of Transportatoin say construction cost inflation and decreased federal funding are hampering mobility and maintenance projects across the state, while also prompting budget cuts and a reduction in the agency's local workforce. Clay Smith, TxDOT Director of Transportation Planning and Development for the San Antonio TsDOT District, says his office plans to reduce its personnel by 8% or 60 jobs. The department plans for the reduction to take place through attrition rather than through layoffs. The TxDOT Distirct oversees a twelve county area and they design, build, and operates of the state's highway systems. The problem is not that the area's needs have been met. The issue is a severe shortage of money to build and maintain the areas highway system. For San Antonio area homes and real estate, call John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty. http://www.heartoftexasrealty.com/

KLUP Post 1/17/2008 The Dominion Development

Another new office development is going to get some company at The Dominion. John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty here with Today’s San Antonio Business Journal News Feature. Business Journal writer, Tricia Lynn Silva, reported that another office and retail project is underway in San Antonio by The Dominion. The project which is christened, One Dominion Place, will cost approximately $30,000,000 and it is currently under construction on 11.5 acres of land along side the Interstate 10 Highway just south of the Boerne Stage Road in Northwest San Antonio. Plans call for the project to include 150,000 square feet of commercial space to be spread out over two multi-tenant retail buildings and 24 office Condominiums. The Mediterranean-style development will feature jogging trails, plenty of mature trees and a creek that will run through the project. All of the offices will be two stories and will range in size from 2,200 to 8,000 square feet. Tenants in the development are expected to include medical practioners, attorneys, engineers, insurance and financial planners and higher end specialty retailers. For San Antonio area homes and real estate, call John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty. www.HeartofTexasRealty.com

KLUP Post 1/18/2008 Air Force Contracting Office

Planned Air Force contracting center to add 200 jobs here. John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty with today's San Antonio Business Journal News Feature. Business Journal writer, Catherine Dominguez, reported that San Antonio will soon be the home to the new US Air Force Southwest Regional Contracting Center and the facility will bring 200 new jobs, most of whom will be civilian workers, to the Alamo City. The center is part of the military's plan to consolidate its contracting and purchasing under the Air Force Materiel Command headquartered at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. The Air Force Materiel Command conducts research, development, tests and evaluations and provides the acquisition management services and logixtics for the Air Force. The Southwest Regional Contracting center is one of the five cdenters that will be located across the nations. The specific location of the command has not yet been determined but locations at Randolph AFB, Brrks city Base, Port San Antonio and Ft. Sam Houston are being considered for the facility. For San Antonio area homes and real estate, call John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty. www.HeartofTexasRealty.com

KLUP Show Topic 1/19/2008 NCAA Big 12 College Football

Is NCAA Big 12 College Football on the Horizon for San Antonio? UTSA Assistant Athletic Director for External Affairs, Brad Parrott, will be the featured guest this Saturday at 11:00am on Real Estate Focus Focus here on NewsTalk 930 KLUP. Brad will tell our listeners all about the recent Greater Chamber announcement that they are supporting the proposed football program at the University of Texas at San Antonio. County Judge Nelson Wolff has been working behind the scenes for some time to help the UTSA finance their program. You will hear all about it on Real Estate Focus, this and every Saturday at 11:00am with John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty on News Talk 930 KLUP.

KLUP Post 1/21/2008 FBI Counterintelligence

FBI launches education campaign targeting economic espionage. John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty here with today's San Antonio Business Journal feature. Business Journal writer Catherine Dominguez reported that the FBI is ramping up its efforts locally and across the country to protect the technology and trade secrets of American businesses and universities through a recently unveiled program focused on economic espionage. According to FBI officials, the United States is a prime target of foreign spies seeking the steal critical information, not only military plans and national security secrets but also business trade secrets and technologies. FBI counterintel experts have developed materials outlining the risk factors and what business and university leaders can do to protect their trade secrets. Also participating with the FBI is the Defense Security Service, Army Counterintelligence, the Naval Criminal Investigative Services, the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Counterintelligence Field Activity and the Department of Commerce. For San Antonio area homes and real estate, call John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty. www.HeartofTexasRealty.com

KLUP Post 1/22/2008 UTHSCSA

Local Surgeon has built transplant program that has real heart. John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty here with today's San Antonio Business Journal News Feature. Business Journal writer, Mike Thomas reported that Dr. John Calhoon, the son of a respected heart surgeon, grew up admiring Drs. Michael DeBakey and Denton Cooley, the pioneering heart surgeons from Houston's MD Anderson Medical Center. Dr. Calhoon's mentor however, was Dr, Kent Trinkle, his predecessor as the head of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio from 1972 to 1994. University officials note that under Dr. Calhoon, the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio has one of the most respected heart and lung transplant programs in the country. Since its inception in 1987, the program has performed more than 250 heart and 250 lung transplants according to David Abramson, Administrative Associate for Thoracic Surgery. Dr. Calhoon has personally participated in over 5,000 open heart cases of which about half involved children. For San Antonio area homes and real estate, call John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty. www.HeartofTexasRealty.com

KLUP Show Topic 1/26/2008 UTSA

The University of Texas at San Antonio is leading the way for technology and entrepreneurship in the Alamo City. Dr. Cory Hallam, Director of the Department for Innovation and Technology Entrepreneurship will be the Featured Guest, this Saturday, on Real Estate Focus with John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty here on NewsTalk 930 KLUP. Dr. Hallam will tell our listeners how real estate value is being created in San Antonio via his department's emphasis on improving the technologies that are used in manufacturing, and electronics are being applied through entrepreneurial initiatives in the local, state and national arenas. That's Real Estate Focus with John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty this and every Saturday at 11:00 am on NewsTalk 930 KLUP.

KLUP Post 1/28/2008 Guadalupe Medical Center Expansion

Area hospital launches $100 million expansion. John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty here with Today's Wan Antonio Business Journal News Feature. Busines Journal writer Scott Bailey reported that the Guadalupe Medical Center plans to nearly double its size as San Antonio continues to expand. Scott noted that the spillover is increasingly affecting some of the city's closest neighbors in all directions. Boerne and Helotes are being affected to the north and west. Seguin is experiencing record growth to the east and Floresville and Pleasanton are growing rapidly to the south. The Guadalupe Medical Center's expansion will be one of the most ambitious expansion projects to be undertaken in the San Antonio area in recent years. The project will cost approximately $100 million and will be completed in 2010 and will include a three story in patient hospital facility and a new multi-story outpatieit facility. For San Antonio area homes and real estate, call John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty. www.HeartofTexasRealty.com

KLUP Post 1/29/2008 Six Flags Budget Cuts

Six Flags Incorporated considers selling more parks and they are eying big budget cuts. John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty here with Today’s San Antonio Business Journal News Feature. Business Journal Writer Scott Bailey reported that the financial rollercoaster of Six Flag Inc. the parent company of Six Flags Fiesta Texas, has taken another dramatic turn. Amid speculatoin from some industry observes that the deeply indebted company could be headed for bankruptcy. The company filed a notice with the Secutities and Exchange Commission that the company is planning huge spending cuts and the possible sale of more parks. Six Flags CEO is Mark Shapiro, a former Disney and ESPN executive notes the problem they are facing is a huge debt load. The company plans to slash between $25 to $30 million out of this year's operating budget and that will invlove paring their employment and cutting ineffecient rides and attractions. Six Flags Fiesta is an important asset to San Antonio though but the company did not report how this facility will be affected. For San Antonio area homes and real estate, call John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty. www.HeartofTexasRealty.com

KLUP Post 1/30/2008 KCI Expanding Headquarters

KCI is mulling move to new headquarters space. John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty with Today's San Antonio Business Journal news feature. Business Journal writer Tricia Lynn Silva, reported that San Antonio based Kinetic Concepts, a publicly traded developer of specialty medical beds and therapeutic products, is negotatin with a local developers for a build-to-suit peoperty that could accommodate its corporate headquaeters according to J. David Held, whose firm provides commercial real estate brokerage services in San Antonio. KCI is looking for between 150,000 and 200,000 square feet of space and various sites have been considered. KCI already occupies approximately 500,000 square feet of space in San Antonio but their headquarters is split between the KCI tower and another building on the northwest side. Should KCI vacate its space in its two towers, that could represent an opportunity for another company to move to San Antoni and some companies are considering doing just that. For San Antonio area homes and real estate, call John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty. www.HeartofTexasRealty.com

KLUP Post 1/31/2008 Armed Forces Reserve Center

$40 million reserve center signals start of Base Realignment And Closure Projects. John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty here with today's San Antonio Business Journal news feature. Business Journal writer Catherine Dominguez reported that that a $40 million Armed Forces Reserve Center is in the works at Camp Bullis on the city's far northwest side. The Reserve Center, as well as the $92 million joint Center of Excellence for Battlefield Health and Trauma are now under way at Ft Sam Houston. The are the first projects slated for construction here as a result of the Base Realignment and Closure Commission's decision taht has resulted in locating a number of important missions in the Alamo City area. The funds will be used to build two buildings that will be used by the US Army and the US National Guard. the center will be used as a training, conference, administration office and storage. The reason for the increased space is the US Army is expanding its reserve component and reducing its active duty component. The overall BRAC project will encompas 78 new or renovated facilities which will total about six million square feet of new space to the Army and US National Gurad's arsenal. For San Antonio area homes and real estate, call John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty. www.HeartofTexasRealty.com

KLUP Post 2/1/2008 Talks of Recession

Talks of recession may slow future construction projects. John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty here with today's San Antonio Business Journal news feature. Business Journal writer Mary Scott Nabers reported that as the housing market and construction in general slows, the public sector is ramping up in a big wa. Government entities, cities, counties, state and federal agencies, have millions of dollars to spend in '08 and '09 for all types of construction and infrastructure projects. As private sector construction related projects slow, contractors are well advised to consider bid opportuniteis with goverment agencies. Even though residential and commercial building projects are slowing, the Texas economy remains very strong but talks of recession have caused many private companies to be cautious about spending. Business development in this sector may be very competitive. But, although national economic indicators are down, government has money for public sector initiatives becaus the projects were planned and funded some time ago. For San Antonio area homes and real estate, call John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty. www.HeartofTexasRealty.com

KLUP Real Estate Focus Show, 2/2/2008

The Mortgagte Industry has been in the news a lot lately and the news has been somewhat mixed. Lance Bryce, San Antonio manager for Countrywide Home Loans will be the featured guest this Saturday for Real Estate Focus with John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty, San Antonio's most listened to Realtor. Lance will discuss the influence that the news media has had on the both the mortgage and the real estate market and what the actual facts are relative to the San Antonio real estate market. That's Real Estate Focus, this and every Saturday at 11:00am with John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty on NewsTalk 930 KLUP

KLUP News Post 2/4/2008 San Antonio Economy

San Antonio stays stable as credit crunch hits national real estate market. John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty with today's San Antonio Business Journal news feature. Business Journal writer, Michael D. however wrote that we passed through a period of unbridled enthusiasm and now it is time to come back to realty. Recent reports are heralding the impact of the credit crisis on commercial real estate, and to be sure, since August of 2007, a hauntingly familiar bubble started to arise within the industry. After a dozen years of up cycle in the real estate industry, we have to ask, When will the ride come to an end? Increased values, low interest rates, rising rents and huge profits led to an intense rush of capital into the market. A record $130 billion was poured into the market in the first half of 2007. Things looked good. Underwriting standards by the more aggressive lending institutions were lax and cheap debt was easily available. That's all coming back to earth and hopefully for a soft landing because job creation and family growth are both continuing and a steady rate this pointing to continued growth and stability in the Alamo City. For San Antonio area homes and real estate, call John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty. www.HeartOfTexasRealty.com

KLUP Post 2/5/2008 Tom Benson and Intercollegiate Athletics

New Orleans Saints owner wants to gain positive yardage for the Alamo City, John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty with Today's San Antonio Business Journal News Feature. Business Journal writer Scott Bailey, reported that long time business leader and owner of the New Orleans Saints, Tom Benson, is working to remove some question marks attached to this city's football future. Tom Benson believes that the key that opens the door to a future filled with an array of intercollegiate and professional athletic programs is the upstart University of the Incarnate Word football program set to begin in 2009 in a stadium that will bear Benson's name. UIW President Lou Agnese and Tom Benson have been talking about a football program at UIW for a number of years but the community and internal support at UIW was lacking. However, when Benson's New Orleans Saints came to the Alamo City after Katrina, UIW's administrators noticed the support the community had for the program. The next hurdle however was finding an underwriter for the stadium. Tom Benson underwrote the $6 Million needed for stadium so construction could begin. The UIW Cardinals will play their first season starting in September of 2009. I'm John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty.

KLUP News Posting 2/6/2008 Air Force Cyberspace Command

Elected leaders express support for locating Air Force unit to the Alamo City. John Thurman with today's San Antonio Business Journal News Feature. San Antonio Business Journal writer, Catherine Dominguez, reported that as the US Air Force is inching closer to announcing the short list of cities it will consider for its new Cyberspace Command. Members of the Texas Congressional Delegation, both Democrats and Republicans, have come together to make the case for closing San Antonio as the home for the new unit and they have communicated that to Michael W. Wynne, Secretary of the Air Force. Even though the Air Force plans to announce the short list of cites they are considering out of the Base Realignment and Closure Commission, (BRAC) in March, they do plan to have the command operational by October 1st of 2008. This means that time is certainly critical because building facilities, equipping them for their respective tasks and moving people to support the mission all take time to complete. This task may well come down to which city and facility can accomplish the mission by the target date. For San Antonio area homes and real estate, call John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty.

KLUP News Post BRAC 2/7/2008 San Antonio Gaining Jobs

San Antonio city leaders seek outside insights to address BRAC driven growth. San Antonio Business Journal writer Catherine Dominguez reported that local leaders are looking to representatives of Fairfax County VA, to help develop ideas on the best way to deal with the effect the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure action will have on the Bexar County area. Kara Hill, Military Liaison for Bexar County, met with Mark Canale, BRAC Coordinator for Fairfax County, last month in Virginia to gather ideas on how do deal with increased vehicle traffic around expanding military installations located in residential areas. Ft. Belvoir in Fairfax County VA will be gaining approximately 19,000 new troops and Ft. Sam Houston in Bexar County will gain approximately 11,000 new troops. BRAC will also affect Lackland and Randolph Air Force Bases, Brooks City Base, and Camp Bullis. San Antonio has moved well ahead of other competing communities for BRAC realignments because the county, city, and state leaders such as County Judge Nelson Wolff and San Antonio Mayor Phil Hardberger are anticipating change rather than reacting to it. For San Antonio area homes and real estate, call John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty.

KLUP Business News Posting 2/8/2008

$32 Million Office Park slated for the Northwest Side. John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty here with Today's Business News Feature. San Antonio Business Journal writer Tricia Lynn Sylva reported that developer R. L. worth & Associates Ltd. Pulled the trigger on The Oaks at University Business Park, its latest master-planned project. The Oaks is slated be bring 420,000 square feet of office space to San Antonio's Northwest side according to R. L. Worth founder and President Bob Worth, Jr. The office park will be located at Northwest Parkway and Silicon Drive along Interstate Highway 10. Current plans call for four buildings that will include a mix of single-story and multi-story structures. The land the project is being built on is home of several hundred large oak trees and most of these will be preserved. A special feature of the office park will be after hours security. The park will be gated and after hours entry will be through an electronic key card so that access to the facility during non-traditional business hours will be restricted. For San Antonio area homes and real estate, call John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty.

KLUP Show Topic 2/9/2008

A number of Real Estate Focus listeners have been asking lately if the transaction they participated in created any forward liability for them. Real Estate Attorney Scott Cline will be the featured guest this Saturday on Real Estate Focus with John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty, San Antonio's most listened to Realtor. Scott will discuss the varieties of scenarios that are resulting in legal issues like mortgage fraud and foreclosure that people are finding themselves concerned with. That's Real Estate Focus, this and every Saturday at 11:00am with John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty on NewsTalk 930 KLUP.

KLUP Business News Posting 2/11/2008

SecureLogix Corp has been awarded its 12th patent by the US Patent Office. John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty here with today's Business News Feature. SecureLogix Cororation's patent is their 12th in the US and its 13th worldwide. The patent protects the company's core technology, secifically, their Virtual Private Switched Telecommunications Network, which can encrypt voice, fax, modem and video calls across the traditional public telephone network. "Over the last 10 years, SecureLogix has been developing innovative solutions to secure voice networks from attack and abuse, and to simplify usage reporting and network management," SecureLogix President Lee Sutterfield says, the company bills itself as a communications intelligence firm that secures telecom network resources from attack and abuse. Chief Technology Officer Mark Collier says the company filed its first telecom firewall patent request in 1998 and its first telecom Virtual Private Network patent request in 2000. For San Antonio area homes and real estate, call John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty.