September Houston Housing Review

Single-family home sales throughout greater Houston cooled a bit in September, with a fractional 0.5 percent year-over-year decline. Homes priced between $150,000 and $500,000 saw positive sales volume while the market’s high and low ends experienced declines. Both median and average price reached record highs for a September.

According to the latest monthly report prepared by the Houston Association of REALTORS® (HAR), a total of 6,652 homes sold in September compared to 6,685 a year earlier. On a year-to-date basis, however, home sales are up 1.3 percent compared to this point in 2015. Inventory levels rose from a 3.5-months supply to 3.9 months.

"With home sales ahead of where they were at this time last year – a record sales year – in a market that continues to suffer energy-related job losses, I believe we’re doing well,” said HAR Chairman Mario Arriaga with First Group. “Inventory is still moving in the right direction, and consumers that were not buying homes in September accounted for strong rental activity throughout the month."

The single-family home median price—the figure at which half of the homes sold for more and half sold for less—rose 4.8 percent to $219,990. That is the highest median price ever for a September. The average price increased 2.4 percent to $277,849, which is also a September high.

September sales of all property types in Houston totaled 7,893, down 1.6 percent from the same month last year. Total dollar volume for properties sold in September was unchanged at $2.1 billion.