Monthly Housing Update

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Matthew Burrus

Chief Communications Officer

David Mendel

Public Relations Manager

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

MLS Report for February 2016
THE HOUSTON HOUSING MARKET HOLDS STEADY IN FEBRUARY

Homes priced between $150K and $500K performed best

HOUSTON (March 9, 2016) The Houston real estate market managed to resist most of the effects of the energy downturn in February, with home sales up over two percent compared to the same month last year. Single-family homes priced between $150,000 and $500,000 recorded positive sales volume while the luxury home segment experienced the biggest decline.

According to the latest monthly report compiled by the Houston Association of Realtors (HAR), February single-family home sales rose 2.2 percent versus February 2015, with a total of 4,602 sales compared to 4,505 a year earlier. New listings helped inventory grow from a 2.7-months supply to 3.4 months.

“So far in 2016, the Houston housing market has remained healthy despite the ongoing strains facing the energy industry,” said HAR Chairman Mario Arriaga with First Group. “Sales are still down in the luxury home market, but, just as we saw in January, mid-range housing performed well and inventory levels grew. There was also a lot of activity among rental properties.”

Last week, the Greater Houston Partnership (GHP) reported revised Texas Workforce Commission data showing that the Houston metropolitan area gained 15,200 jobs in 2015, not the 23,200 jobs previously estimated. The GHP report also stated that nearly 51,000 jobs were lost in January, a 1.7 percent decline and slightly above what is considered average for that time of year.

The single-family home average price squeezed out a fractional 0.5 percent year-over-year increase, reaching $260,872, the highest figure ever for a February. The median price—the figure at which half of the homes sold for more and half sold for less—was unchanged at $200,000.

February sales of all property types in Houston totaled 5,548, statistically flat compared to the same month last year. Total dollar volume for properties sold in February rose 1.2 percent to $1.4 billion.

February Monthly Market Comparison

Houston’s monthly housing market measurements were largely positive in February compared to those from a year earlier. On a year-over-year basis, single-family homes sales, average price, total dollar volume and inventory levels rose while median sales price was flat.

Month-end pending sales for single-family homes totaled 6,801. That is up 1.3 percent compared to last year. Total active listings, or the total number of available properties, at the end of February rose 17.6 percent from February 2015 to 32,914.

An increase in new listings in February gave single-family homes inventory a boost, with levels climbing from a 2.7-months supply to 3.4 months. For perspective, the national supply of homes reported by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) currently stands at 4.0 months.

CATEGORIES FEBRUARY 2015 FEBRUARY 2016 CHANGE
Total property sales 5,538 5,548 0.2%
Total dollar volume $1,364,211,035 $1,380,586,269 1.2%
Total active listings 27,990 32,914 17.6%
Single-family home sales 4,505 4,602 2.2%
Single-family average sales price $259,676 $260,872 0.5%
Single-family median sales price $200,000 $200,000 0.0%
Single-family months inventory* 2.7 3.4 30.5%
Single-family pending sales** 6,717 6,801 1.3%
* 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.
** Effective May 2015, in an effort to be consistent with industry standards, the Houston MLS is now including all categories of pending sales in its reporting. Previously, the Houston MLS did not include “option pending” and “pending continue to show” listings in its reporting of pending sales. The new methodology is now all-inclusive for listings that went under contract during the month.

Single-Family Homes Update

Single Family

Single-family home sales totaled 4,602 in February, up 2.2 percent from February 2015. That marks the first increase in sales volume since last September.

The average price increased a fractional 0.5 percent to $260,872, a record high for a February in Houston, while the median price remained unchanged at $200,000. Days on Market (DOM), or the number of days it took the average home to sell, edged up to 62 days versus 61 in 2015.

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

  • $1 - $79,999: decreased 1.1 percent
  • $80,000 - $149,999: decreased 7.3 percent
  • $150,000 - $249,999: increased 9.5 percent
  • $250,000 - $499,999: increased 4.4 percent
  • $500,000 and above: decreased 12.0 percent
  • Single Family Average Home Price

    HAR also breaks out the sales figures for existing single-family homes. Existing home sales totaled 3,869 in February, up 4.6 percent versus the same month last year. The average sales price rose 1.0 percent year-over-year to $238,961 while the median sales price climbed 2.6 percent to $185,000.

    Townhouse/Condominium Update

    Sales of townhouses and condominiums dropped 17.8 percent in February. A total of 398 units sold compared to 484 properties in February 2015. The average price declined 1.3 percent to $199,205 while the median price rose 2.8 percent to $150,000. Inventory grew from a 2.6-months supply to 3.3 months.

    Townhouse/Condominium Sales

    Lease Property Update

    Demand for single-family lease homes shot up 14.6 percent in February while townhomes/condominiums saw demand increase 10.3 percent. The average rent for single-family homes edged up 0.6 percent to $1,688 while the average rent for townhomes/condominiums rose 2.5 percent to $1,545.

    Houston Real Estate Highlights in February
    • Single-family home sales rose 2.2 percent compared to last February, marking the first increase since September 2015;
    • Total property sales were unchanged at 5,548 units;
    • Total dollar volume increased 1.2 percent to $1.4 billion;
    • At 260,872, the single-family home average price reached its highest level ever for a February;
    • The single-family home median price was unchanged from a year earlier at $200,000;
    • Single-family homes months of inventory climbed to a 3.4-months supply versus 2.7 months a year earlier;
    • Townhomes/condominium sales fell 17.8 percent with the average price down 1.3 percent at $199,205 and the median price up 2.8 percent to $150,000;
    • Leases of single-family homes soared 14.6 percent with rents up a fractional 0.6 percent at $1,688;
    • Leases of townhomes/condominiums climbed 10.3 percent with rents up 2.5 percent to $1,545.
    The computerized Multiple Listing Service of the Houston Association of REALTORS® includes residential properties and new homes listed by 32,000 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 32,000-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.