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Multiple Listing Service of the Houston Association of REALTORS® includes residential properties and new homes listed by 50,000 REALTORS®

MLS Report for December 2013

THE HOUSTON REAL ESTATE MARKET ZOOMS INTO RECORD TERRITORY IN 2013

December home sales help push the year’s total dollar volume to an all-time high and inventory to an all-time low

HOUSTON (January 21, 2014) The Houston real estate market ended 2013 as it began: in the fast lane. Surging home sales throughout Greater Houston were largely driven by the addition of more than 86,000 jobs that drew buyers and renters from all around the country and world. December marked the 31st straight month of positive home sales and was a month in which prices again rose and housing inventory shrunk to new record lows.

According to the latest monthly data prepared by the Houston Association of REALTORS® (HAR), December single-family home sales increased 14.3 percent versus December 2012. Contracts closed on 5,813 homes, driving inventory down to 2.6 months supply, the lowest level of all time.

All housing segments saw gains in December except for the low end of the market—those homes priced at $80,000 and below. Homes priced from $250,000 and above registered the highest sales volume and accounted for another hike in prices.

“The Houston housing market had its best year on record in 2013, and those of us who work in real estate have never been busier,” said HAR Chair Chaille Ralph with Heritage Texas Properties. “Stewart Title Chief Economist and former HAR Chairman Dr. Ted C. Jones forecasts positive sales to continue in the new year, but at a slower pace. He anticipates about a 5 percent increase in home sales and a 6 percent gain in pricing. However, all that hinges on having homes to sell, and the local inventory is running extremely low.”

The single-family home average price rose 10.3 percent year-over-year to $265,017 while the median price—the figure at which half of the homes sold for more and half sold for less—rose 10.9 percent to $188,500. Both figures represent historic highs for a December in Houston.

Sales of foreclosure properties continued their year-long decline, falling 48.8 percent compared to December 2012, according to the HAR Multiple Listing Service (MLS). Foreclosures currently make up 6.5 percent of all property sales reported through the MLS, one-third of the share they comprised at the beginning of 2013. The median price of December foreclosures increased 8.3 percent to $91,000

December sales of all property types in Houston totaled 6,987, a 14.2 percent increase over the same month last year. Total dollar volume for properties sold in December soared 24.2 percent to $1.8 billion versus $1.4 billion a year earlier.

2013 Annual Market Comparison

The Houston housing market concluded calendar year 2013 with strong gains in sales volume and pricing versus 2012. The heaviest one-month sales volume of the year was recorded in May, with 7,705 closings. By contrast, the lightest one-month sales volume of 2013 took place in January, with 3,889 closings. However, January also marked the greatest year-over-year percentage sales increase, with a 28.0 percent gain over January 2012.

Single-family home sales rose 17.4 percent for the year and sales of all property types increased 18.8 percent. On a year-to-date basis, the average price climbed 10.3 percent to $248,591 while the median price increased 9.4 percent to $180,000. Total dollar volume for full-year 2013 reached a record high, jumping 30.2 percent to nearly $21 billion compared to $16 billion in full-year 2012.

CATEGORIES FULL-YEAR 2012 FULL-YEAR 2013 CHANGE
Single-family home sales 62,374 73,232 17.4%
Total property sales 74,116 88,059 18.8%
Total dollar volume $16,040,186,637 $20,891,392,084 30.2%
Single-family averagesales price $225,330 $248,591 10.3%
Single-family median sales price $164,500 $180,000 9.4%

December Monthly Market Comparison

December delivered positive results across all sales categories compared to December 2012. On a year-over-year basis, total property sales, total dollar volume and average and median pricing were all on the rise. Active listings, or the number of available properties, at the end of December declined 16.1 percent from December 2012 to 28,147.

Housing inventory in Houston has been below a four-month supply since November 2012. It fell below a three-month supply in November 2013, dropping in December to a 2.6-month supply from 3.7 months a year earlier. That is the lowest level ever recorded locally. Inventory consisting of a 6.0-month supply is typically regarded as constituting a balanced real estate market. For perspective, the national inventory of single-family homes is 5.1 months of supply, according to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR).

CATEGORIES DECEMBER 2012 DECEMBER 2013 CHANGE
Total property sales 6,116 6,987 14.2%
Total dollar volume $1,428,784,358 $1,774,274,690 24.2%
Total active listings 33,554 28,147 -16.1%
Total pending sales 3,087 3,122 1.1%
Single-family home sales 5,086 5,813 14.3%
Single-family average sales price $240,326 $265,017 10.3%
Single-family median sales price $170,000 $188,500 10.9%
Months inventory* 3.7 2.6 -29.0%
* Months inventory estimates the number of months it will take to deplete current active inventory based on the prior 12 months sales activity. This figure is representative of the single-family homes market.

Single-Family Homes Update

December sales of single-family homes in Houston totaled 5,813, up 14.3 percent from December 2012. That marks the 31st consecutive monthly increase.

Single Family

Broken out by housing segment, December sales performed as follows:

  • $1 - $79,999: decreased 29.4 percent
  • $80,000 - $149,999: decreased 7.7 percent
  • $150,000 - $249,999: increased 19.6 percent
  • $250,000 - $499,999: increased 40.7 percent
  • $500,000 - $1 million and above: increased 29.8 percent
  • Single Family Average Home Price

    The average price of a single-family home rose 10.3 percent from last year to $265,017, the highest level ever for a December in Houston. At $188,500, the median sales price for single-family homes also achieved an historic high for December, up 10.9 percent year-over-year.

    HAR also breaks out the sales performance of existing single-family homes throughout the Houston market. In December 2013, existing home sales totaled 4,890, a 17.9 percent increase from the same month last year. The average sales price rose 11.9 percent year-over-year to $248,072. The median sales price increased 11.4 percent to $171,500.

    Townhouse/Condominium Update

    December sales of townhouses and condominiums jumped 15.4 percent from one year earlier. A total of 533 units sold last month versus 462 properties in December 2012. The average price increased 9.4 percent to $210,138 while the median price was flat at $155,350. Supply of inventory plunged 39.4 percent year-over-year to 2.5 months compared to 4.2 months in December 2012.

    Townhouse/Condominium Sales

    Lease Property Update

    December demand was hot for Houston’s lease property market. Rentals of single-family homes rose 7.8 percent compared to December 2012, while year-over-year townhouse/condominium rentals increased 9.8 percent. The average rent among single-family lease homes remained stable throughout the year, recorded at $1,612 in December. The December average rent for a townhouse/condominium rose 12.0 percent to $1,476 per month.

    Houston Real Estate Milestones in December
    • Single-family home sales increased 14.3 percent year-over-year, accounting for the market’s 31st consecutive monthly increase;
    • Total dollar volume jumped 24.2 percent, increasing from $1.4 billion to $1.8 billion on a year-over-year basis;
    • At $265,017, the single-family home average price reached the highest level for a December in Houston;
    • At $188,500, the single-family home median price also reached a December high for Houston;
    • A 2.6-month supply of inventory of single-family homes is the lowest level of all time and is lower than the national average of 5.1 months;
    • 2.9 months inventory of single-family homes is down from 3.1 months in October 2013 and from 4.1 months in November 2012 while comparing to the national average of 5.0 months;
    • Sales of townhouses/condominiums rose 15.4 percent year-over-year;
    • Single-family home rentals rose 7.8 percent compared to December 2012 while rentals of townhouses/condominiums climbed 9.8 percent.
    The computerized Multiple Listing Service of the Houston Association of REALTORS® includes residential properties and new homes listed by REALTORS® throughout Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery counties, as well as parts of Brazoria, Galveston, Waller and Wharton counties. Residential home sales statistics as well as listing information for more than 50,000 properties may be found on the Internet at https://www.har.com.

    The information published and disseminated to the HAR Multiple Listing Services is communicated verbatim, without change by Multiple Listing Services, as filed by MLS participants.

    The MLS does not verify the information provided and disclaims any responsibility for its accuracy. All data is preliminary and subject to change. Monthly sales figures reported since November 1998 includes a statistical estimation to account for late entries. Twelve-month totals may vary from actual end-of-year figures. (Single-family detached homes were broken out separately in monthly figures beginning February 1988.) Founded in 1918, the Houston Association of REALTORS®

    (HAR) is a member organization of real estate professionals engaged in every aspect of the industry, including residential and commercial sales and leasing, appraisal, property management and counseling. It is the largest individual dues-paying membership trade association in Houston as well as the second largest local association/board of REALTORS® in the United States.