Monthly Housing Update

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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 January 2017
THE HOUSTON REAL ESTATE MARKET LAUNCHES 2017 IN POSITIVE TERRITORY

Sales volume and pricing were up in January; inventory grew

HOUSTON (February 8, 2017) The Houston housing market carried its positive momentum from 2016 into the new year, with single-family home sales and pricing both on the rise in January. Homes priced between $500,000 and $750,000 showed the strongest sales activity, and the luxury market ($750,000 and above) enjoyed its third consecutive month in the black, reflecting resistance to any lingering effects of the ailing energy industry.

According to the latest monthly report produced by the Houston Association of Realtors (HAR), a total of 4,080 single-family homes sold in January compared to 4,011 a year earlier. That represents an increase of 1.7 percent. Housing inventory grew from a 3.3-months supply to 3.5 months.

"The Houston real estate market is off to an impressive start for 2017, with the end of the holidays and rising interest rates spurring many on-the-fence buyers to take action in January," said HAR Chair Cindy Hamann with Heritage Texas Properties. "It is especially encouraging to see vitality in the high end of the market, which faltered in response to falling oil prices, but has now registered positive sales for three straight months."

The single-family home median price (the figure at which half of the homes sold for more and half sold for less) rose 4.0 percent to $210,000. That marks the highest median price ever for a January. The average price jumped 5.3 percent to $275,696, which also represents a January high.

January sales of all property types in Houston totaled 4,997, up 0.9 percent from the same month last year. Total dollar volume for properties sold in January increased 6.2 percent to $1.3 billion.

January Monthly Market Comparison

The Houston housing market saw across-the-board gains in January, with single-family home sales, total property sales, total dollar volume and pricing all up compared to January 2016.

Month-end pending sales for single-family homes totaled 6,286, an increase of 24.7 percent compared to last year. Total active listings, or the total number of available properties, rose 8.6 percent from January 2016 to 34,958.

Single-family homes inventory grew from a 3.3-months supply to 3.5 months. For perspective, housing inventory across the U.S. currently stands at a 3.6-months supply, according to the latest report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR).

CATEGORIES JANUARY 2016 JANUARY 2017 CHANGE
Total property sales 4,953 4,997 0.9%
Total dollar volume $1,227,395,347 $1,303,839,766 6.2%
Total active listings 32,190 34,958 8.6%
Single-family home sales 4,011 4,080 1.7%
Single-family average sales price $261,847 $275,696 5.3%
Single-family median sales price $202,000 $210,000 4.0%
Single-family months inventory* 3.3 3.5 0.2 mos.
Single-family pending sales 5,041 6,286 24.7%
* 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

Single Family

Single-family home sales totaled 4,080, up 1.7 percent from January 2016, when sales volume totaled 4,011. The median price rose 4.0 percent to a January high of $210,000. The average price climbed 5.3 percent to $275,696, also a record high for a January. Days on Market (DOM), or the number of days it took the average home to sell, edged up to 64 days versus 63 last year.

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

  • $1 - $79,999: decreased 16.3 percent
  • $80,000 - $149,999: decreased 9.4 percent
  • $150,000 - $249,999: increased 4.1 percent
  • $250,000 - $499,999: increased 3.7 percent
  • $500,000 - $749,999: increased 16.5 percent
  • $750,000 and above: increased 14.3 percent
  • Single Family Average Home Price

    HAR also breaks out the sales figures for existing single-family homes. Existing home sales totaled 3,429 in January, up 2.6 percent versus the same month last year. The average sales price rose 6.5 percent to $259,865 while the median sales price jumped 5.4 percent to $195,000.

    Townhouse/Condominium Update

    Townhome and condominium sales fell in January, with 369 units selling versus 390 a year earlier. That represents a decline of 5.4 percent. The average price rose 1.4 percent to $187,176, while the median price slipped 1.1 percent to $138,000. Inventory jumped from a 3.0-months supply to 3.6 months.

    Townhouse/Condominium Sales

    Lease Property Update

    The lease market had a strong showing in January. Single-family home leases climbed 5.7 percent and townhome/condominium leases increased 6.0 percent. The average rent for single-family homes dropped 1.3 percent to $1,718, while the average rent for townhomes/condominiums fell 4.7 percent to $1,497.

    Houston Real Estate Highlights in January
    • Single-family home sales rose 1.7 percent with 4,080 units sold;
    • Total property sales edged up 0.9 percent with 4,997 units sold;
    • Total dollar volume jumped 6.2 percent to $1.3 billion;
    • At $210,000, the single-family home median price rose 4.0 percent to a January high;
    • The single-family home average price climbed 5.3 percent to $275,696, which was also the highest level for a January;
    • Single-family homes months of inventory climbed to a 3.5-months supply;
    • Townhome/condominium sales fell 5.4 percent, with the average price up 1.4 percent to $187,178 and the median price down 1.1 percent to $138,000;
    • Leases of single-family homes rose 5.7 percent with average rent down slightly to $1,718;
    • Leases of townhomes/condominiums increased 6.0 percent with average rent down 4.7 percent to $1,497.
    The computerized Multiple Listing Service of the Houston Association of REALTORS® includes residential properties and new homes listed by 36,000 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 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 36,000-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 dues-paying membership trade association in Houston as well as the second largest local association/board of REALTORS® in the United States.