Memphians prefer Labradors

From The Memphis Business Journal

Labrador Retriever is Memphis' favorite canine, according to the American Kennel Club.
No. 2 on the list of top 10 most popular AKC-registered dogs in Memphis for 2006 is the German Shepherd, followed by Boxer and Rottweiler. Beagle, at No. 5, tied with Golden Retriever, at No. 6. Poodle, Yorkshire Terrier, Shih Tzu and Miniature Schnauzer rounded out the list.

While Labrador Retriever also tops the national list, small breeds are becoming more popular everywhere except in Memphis. Big dogs reign supreme in Memphis, with five out of the six top slots occupied by large breeds.
"Although a national trend is moving toward a preference for smaller breeds, Memphis has shown a loyalty to its large breed favorites," said AKC spokesperson Lisa Peterson in a release. "Even the popular Yorkie, which hit No. 2 nationally in 2006, only made it to No. 8 on the local list."
In general, Memphians stick to the dogs they've always loved:
> Memphis' top three breeds from 2005, Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherd Dogs and Boxers, hold steady for 2006.
> Local top 10 for 2005 all retain top 10 rankings for 2006, despite a shuffling in actual breed rankings.
And while Memphis' preferences are in line with the rest of the nation -- nine of the top 10 local choices appear on the national top 10 -- Rottweilers gain in local popularity, rising to the No. 4 spot, despite failing to make the top 10 nationally.

The American Kennel Club is a non-profit organization that oversees the sport of purebred dogs in the U.S.

N.Y. firm invests in airport center industrial site

From The Commercial Appeal

Falcon pays $37.1 million to expand holdings beyond big-market office properties

Falcon Real Estate Investment Co. LP, a New York-based real estate investment and advisory company, has entered the Memphis market with the purchase of the Memphis International Airport Center portfolio for $37.1 million.

The 68-acre industrial park, located at Winchester and Prescott, includes nine warehouses totaling 1.1 million square feet.
Falcon, known for investing in office properties in top-tier markets such as Chicago, Washington and Los Angeles, was attracted to the park because of its proximity to Memphis International Airport, the world's busiest cargo airport.

Read the entire story HERE.

Home sales down in Memphis area

From The Memphis Business Journal:


November home sales down

The Memphis Area Association of Realtors said Friday that 1,369 homes were sold during November, down from 1,427 in November 2005.

"Despite the sales decrease in November, year-to-date home sales of 18,343 and sales volume of $3.17 billion keep 2006 on track to exceed 2005's record-breaking totals," MAAR said in a statement.

The average home price was $170,000 in November, a decline of 2 percent from November 2005.
"For those who might be unsure of current economic conditions, there couldn't be a better time than now to buy a home in the Memphis area," said MAAR President William Mitchell in a statement. "With our market's long track record of steady and measured increases in property values, the historically low mortgage rates, and the good supply of homes available, buyers have a unique opportunity now invest in their future."

The Memphis Area Association of Realtors is Tennessee's largest real estate trade association with 5,000 members in Shelby, Fayette, Tipton, Hardeman, Hardin and McNairy counties. The data were collected from Shelby, Fayette, Tipton, Hardeman, Hardin, McNairy and DeSoto counties.