Beginning in 2018, the Texas Commission on Public School Finance, comprised of 13 members inside and outside of the legislature, will begin the task of studying and making recommendations to improve the school finance system. This five-part series prepares readers to engage with lawmakers and the school finance commission by providing background…

Down payment or closing cost assistance is an effective program in addressing the wealth constraints of low-and moderate-income homebuyers. However, the spillover effect of such programs on the neighborhood is unknown. This paper estimates the impact of the City of Dallas Mortgage Assistance Program (MAP) on nearby home values using a hedonic…

This paper uses a regression discontinuity design to examine the effects of geographically targeted business incentives on local labor markets. Unlike elsewhere in the United States, enterprise zone (EZ) designations in Texas are determined in part by a cutoff rule based on census block group poverty rates. Exploiting this discontinuity as a…

The nation's recuperation from the Great Recession remains sluggish, with high unemployment and a weak housing market continuing to squelch hopes that a full economic recovery will soon be at hand. The intensity and nature of the recession's lingering effects vary considerably across the country, however. Some metro areas, like Austin and…

Part of a series of classroom aids designed for real estate instructors, this instructional packet was developed to help real estate students understand the principles and practices of managing rental property. First, an evaluation form for the packet is presented. Next, a summary is provided for the instructor of some basic principles of property…

This is the third in a trilogy of policy briefs discussing education and taxation. In their first brief, the authors explain the state's need to increase its investment in public education. In their second, they explain how a Texas-style personal income tax is the best way both to adequately support public education and to reduce reliance on the…

Part of a series of classroom aids designed for real estate instructors, this instructional packet was developed to help real estate students understand the content and complexities of the Real Estate License Act of Texas. The packet has three parts. The first two parts provide an instructor's evaluation form and the instructor's guide to the law,…

Part of a series of classroom aids designed for real estate instructors, this instructional packet was developed to help real estate students understand public and private easements, which most commonly entail the right of a person (or the public) to use the land of another in a certain manner. Following an evaluation form for the packet, a…

Two steps are required to obtain a real estate salesperson's license in Texas: (1) selecting a broker to serve as an advisor, and (2) meeting personal requirements (at least 18 years old, a Texas resident, completion of a minimum of 12 semester hours of real estate and related courses, application, acceptable score on state exam, and payment of…

Part of a series of classroom aids designed for real estate instructors, this instructional packet was developed to help real estate students understand the various alternative mortgage instruments, including their major advantages and disadvantages. First, an evaluation form for the packet is presented. Next, a summary presentation on four basic…

Part of a series of classroom aids designed for real estate instructors, this instructional packet was developed to help real estate students understand the rules, regulations, and laws governing home foreclosures under deeds of trust in Texas. Information on home foreclosures is presented, covering: (1) the three elements of a proper foreclosure;…

Part of a series of classroom aids designed for real estate instructors, this instructional packet was developed to help real estate students understand the more common provisions and the legal significance of an oil and gas lease, as well as some provisions landowners may wish to insert for personal benefit and protection. Following an evaluation…

Part of a series of classroom aids designed for real estate instructors, this instructional packet was developed to help real estate students understand requirements for structure of the Texas real estate brokerage industry. First, information is presented on real estate brokerage, touching upon the industry's growth and the expansion of brokerage…

Part of a series of classroom aids designed for real estate instructors, this instructional packet was developed to help real estate students understand the characteristics of Texas homebuyers. First, a summary profile of homebuyers is presented, indicating that: (1) the typical 1984 Texas homebuyer was married, was between 25 and 34 years old,…

Part of a series of classroom aids designed for real estate instructors, this instructional packet was developed to help real estate students understand the landowners' and brokers' legal liabilities resulting from environmental pollution. First, an instructor's presentation, keyed to a series of overhead masters, is provided. Section I offers…