Multiple Listing Service of the Houston Association of REALTORS® includes residential properties and new homes listed by 50,000 REALTORS®
MLS Report for March 2009 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Seasonal Homebuying Interest Translates to Increased Houston Home Sales in March |
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Single-family home prices reach highest levels of 2009 |
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HOUSTON (April 21, 2009) Declines in the sales and pricing of homes throughout the greater Houston area eased in March, matching a trend that the Federal Reserve noted in several markets around the country in its Beige Book survey released last week. Overall March property sales fell 18.9 percent and sales of single-family homes dropped 16.1 percent versus March 2008, according to new monthly data prepared by the Houston Association of REALTORS® (HAR). However, from February to March of this year, overall property sales volume increased 26.1 percent while sales of single-family home rose 27.8 percent as we enter the spring and summer seasons, a period that traditionally produces higher sales volume than the fall and winter months. |
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* 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. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
March sales of single-family homes in Houston totaled 4,355, down 16.1 percent from March 2008, and accounted for the 19th consecutive monthly drop. Year-over-year sales of single-family homes priced at $80,000 and below rose 20.1 percent in March, buoyed by foreclosure-related transactions. HAR also reports existing home statistics for the single-family home segment of the real estate market. In March 2009, existing single-family home sales totaled 3,624, a 13.4 percent decrease from March 2008. At $178,477, the average sales price for existing homes in the Houston area fell 5.5 percent compared to last year. The median sales price of $133,000 for the month was down 4.9 percent from one year earlier. Townhouse/Condo Update The average price of a townhouse/condominium dropped to $159,733, down 10.4 percent from one year earlier. The median price dipped 4.7 percent to $134,000 from March 2008 to March 2009. Lease Property Update Houston Real Estate Milestones in March At $193,880, the average price of a single-family home reached its highest level since September 2008; At $145,000, the median price of a single-family home rose to the highest level of 2009; Sales of single-family homes priced at or below $80,000 jumped 20.1 percent, driven largely by foreclosure activity; Single-family home rentals rose 4.3 percent; Rentals of high rise units increased 82.0 percent; Months inventory of single-family homes dipped from 6.3 to 6.1 months compared to the national average of 9.7 months; Active listings fell 12.4 percent, representing a generally balanced supply of housing inventory. |
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The computerized Multiple Listing Service of the Houston Association of Realtors® includes residential properties and new homes listed by 26,000 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 53,000 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 27,000-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 membership trade association in Houston, as well as the second largest local association/board of Realtors® in the United States. |