Deployments, Mid-terms and The Market

       We live in a town where almost everybody is here for one of two reasons, either Fort Campbell or Austin Peay State University (APSU). That being said, there is a vital link between these two and the local economy, including real estate. Personally, my link here is through Fort Campbell, and I am by no means alone.
       As far as the military is concerned, there are two variables that control its side of the market. On the 10th of every month, replacements trickle onto post to replenish the Soldiers that have left in the previous months. This would constitute the constant influx. Then you have the deployment cycle. This is a mass exodus of Soldiers to wherever needs saving, usually by the Brigade, which can number upwards of 3,500 Soldiers. Add families to about half of these Soldiers and you are talking about 8,000-10,000 people affected by each Brigade deployed. This wreaks havoc on the rental markets, but it also plays an important part in the sales market too. Ask any land developer around Tiny Town Rd. if the military has an impact on homeownership. Markets go down when the Soldiers leave, and it rebounds about a month before they return. Families are coming back to the area to see their loved ones and reestablish a house. Since there are many Brigades on Fort Campbell, these effects stack and counteract with each other, creating an interesting market.
       APSU also has two variables, although they are mostly separate. Each semester, students come in and soak up the rentals. These are generally confined to the areas around campus and the business districts (mall, bars, etc.) The majority of these come in the fall semester since APSU is a more traditional university. The second variable with APSU is graduates, mostly coming at the end of Spring. Many of these graduates find jobs right after (preferably before) graduation, and will need a place to live. These graduates will move away from the campus and closer to work. This creates a market for rentals and purchases away from Fort Campbell and APSU to sustain the rest of the town.
       These two forces constantly pull and push the market, and a good real estate agent will know how the market is moving at any given time. If you have any questions about how the market is moving now, please call me at (931)920-6873.
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