Silke Jasso
It’s no news that Houston’s prosperity is closely linked to booms and busts in oil.
Videos by Rare
But with a downturn in energy production, real estate economists are predicting an uptick in foreclosures around town, and they’ve got their eye on a new economic terror: technology.
RELATED: Houston developers are paving over history and changing family legacies, all in the name of progress
Kevin Riles, a Houston-area real estate agent, shared some insight on the foreclosure situation.
“It’s not doom and gloom. My perspective is the market has been white hot, and it’s just going to normalize.”
While the rate of home foreclosures may be worse in a year, local businesses are feeling some economic pressures of their own – not from the crude reliance of oil, but from technology reshaping Houstonians’ lives.
Last week, Gander Mountain announced it was filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and closure of 10 underperforming stores across Texas.
Three of those stores are in Houston: at 19820 Hempstead Highway in northwest Houston, 19890 Southwest Freeway in Sugarland and 13441 Westheimer Road in West Houston.
The Gander Mountain in Spring didn’t make the list this time, but the Northwest Mall near 290 and the Loop has seen better days.
All but five of the mall’s stores are scheduled to close by the end of the month.
Levcor Inc., which owns the property, purchased the mall for $19 million in 2007, and estimates show the location was worth approximately $86 million in 2014.
The announcement comes amidst a slew of closures across the country and Houston, including Sports Authority, which is set to close all 11 of its Houston stores, and Macy’s, which is closing 68 of its retail stores across the country.
RELATED: Confirmed: These Macy’s locations are closing
Experts agree other brick-and-mortar retail locations will continue facing mounting challenges to stay in business as technological conveniences eliminate the need to leave the comfort of your couch for anything, including searching for your new home.
There might be some cheap ones out there soon.
