Multiple Listing Service of the Houston Association of REALTORS® includes residential properties and new homes listed by 50,000 REALTORS®
Home sales maintain the aggressive pace of 2012 as the new year begins
HOUSTON — (February 19, 2013) — Housing inventory in Houston now matches levels last seen 13 years ago, as January home sales maintained the aggressive pace established in 2012. January marked the 20th consecutive month of positive home sales, with average and median prices reaching the highest levels for a January in Houston.
According to the latest monthly data prepared by the Houston Association of REALTORS® (HAR), single-family home sales achieved the highest monthly year-over-year percentage increase since last October, rising 28.3 percent compared to January 2012. Contracts closed on 3,899 homes, shrinking inventory to 3.6 months. That matches a level last recorded in December 1999.
All housing segments saw gains in January, with homes priced from $250,000 through the millions registering the greatest sales volume and accounting for the boost in pricing.
The Houston real estate market gained even more momentum as the new year began, said HAR Chairman Danny Frank with Prudential Anderson Properties. We are maintaining a watchful eye on the local housing supply because a significant decline from current inventory levels could potentially have an adverse effect on sales and drive prices disproportionately higher. Market conditions right now are excellent for those considering selling their homes, especially as further growth in hiring continues to drive more potential buyers to the Houston area every day.
The single-family home average price increased 3.4 percent year-over-year to $200,296, the highest level for a January in Houston. The median pricethe figure at which half of the homes sold for more and half sold for lessjumped 7.2 percent to $150,000, also a record high for a January in Houston.
Foreclosure property sales reported in the HAR Multiple Listing Service (MLS) declined 11.9 percent compared to January 2012. Foreclosures currently make up 19.6 percent of all property sales, which is the highest level since February 2012. The median price of January foreclosures dipped 1.5 percent to $81,074.
January sales of all property types in Houston totaled 4,680, a 29.1 percent increase over the same month last year. Total dollar volume for properties sold in January leapt 33.6 percent to $908 million versus $680 million a year earlier.
January brought Houstons overall real estate market positive results when all sales categories are compared to January 2012. On a year-over-year basis, total property sales, total dollar volume and average and median pricing all rose.
Month-end pending sales for January totaled 3,591. That is up 13.5 percent from last year and signals the likelihood of further gains when February property sales data are totaled. Active listings, or the number of available properties, at the end of January declined 20.3 percent from January 2012 to 33,532.
Housing inventory in Houston retreated to 3.6 months in January, the lowest level since December 1999. Inventory first fell below a five-month supply in August 2012 and then dropped below a four-month supply last December. By contrast, the highest months inventory in recent history was 8.2 in June 1996. For perspective, the national inventory of single-family homes stands at 4.4 months, according to the latest report from the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR).
CATEGORIES | JANUARY 2012 | JANUARY 2013 | PERCENT CHANGE |
Total property sales | 3,626 | 4,680 | 29.1% |
Total dollar volume | $679,902,223 | $908,525,939 | 33.6% |
Total active listings | 42,067 | 33,532 | -20.3% |
Total pending sales | 3,164 | 3,591 | 13.5% |
Single-family home sales | 3,039 | 3,899 | 28.3% |
Single-family average sales price | $193,717 | $200,296 | 3.4% |
Single-family median sales price | $139,900 | $150,000 | 7.2% |
Months inventory* | 5.7 | 3.6 | -36.2% |
January sales of single-family homes in Houston totaled 3,899, up 28.3 percent from January 2012. That marks the 20th straight monthly increase.
Broken out by housing segment, January sales performed as follows:
The average price of a single-family home rose 3.4 percent from last year to $200,296, the highest level for a January in Houston. At $150,000, the median sales price for single-family homes also achieved a record high for a January in Houston, up 7.2 percent year-over-year.
HAR also breaks out the sales performance of existing single-family homes throughout the Houston market. In January 2013, existing home sales totaled 3,382, a 32.6 percent jump from the same month last year. The average sales price rose 2.9 percent year-over-year to $184,755. The median sales price climbed 9.6 percent to $137,000.
January sales of townhouses and condominiums increased 20.3 percent from one year earlier. A total of 320 units sold last month versus 266 properties in January 2012. The average price leapt 23.5 percent to $172,313 while the median price shot up 33.5 percent to $134,800. Months inventory dove 40.8 percent year-over-year to 4.0 months compared to 6.8 months in January 2012.
Demand within Houstons lease property market leveled off in January. Rentals of single-family homes edged up a fractional 0.7 percent compared to January 2012, while year-over-year townhouse/condominium rentals were flat. The average rent for single-family lease homes was $1,548 while it was $1,393 for townhouses/condominiums representing increases of 7.4 percent and 9.3 percent respectively.
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.