Mid November Edition @RelyOnTodd (Todd Johnson Real Estate Agent)

Quote Of The Day:

"Better to see something once than to hear about it a thousand times."

--- Asian Proverb

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Mid November Message:

Happy Mid November everyone and an early Happy Thanksgiving to you all.  I'd like to try to relate a long standing tradition tied to a relocation in the "message" portion of this blog.  In 1979 we relocated to Minneapolis, MN from Chicago, IL.  We lived in a little subdivision of Barrington, IL.  All of us kids ran around all over the neighborhood playing all kinds of games, rode our bikes, sledded, ice skated, played HORSE (hoops), etc.  Behind us a couple of doors down, was a family with a son a few years older than my brother and a daughter a few years younger than me.  Well, a few months after we moved to Edina, MN, they moved to another Minneapolis 'burb, Burnsville. 

That Thanksgiving, we were having an aunt and uncle up from Chicago over, and that year marked year number 1 of a tradition that had gone on for 36 years.......yes 36 years.  Except for one year that we headed to Tomball, TX for Thanksgiving, to visit my aunt and uncle and cousins, we celebrated Turkey Day with our wonderful neighbor friends from Chicago.  (Of course my Dad and I made that trip to Tomball very brief as I had to get back to Minnesoohhta for a hockey tournament.)

This family is very, very dear to ours', and I have made it a point to NOT miss a single Turkey Day in Minnesota since I moved to Texas in 1999.  Well, 2016 marks the first year of a break in that tradition.  As people get older, things change, and some times, getting together isn't as easy as it used to.  As much as not heading to Minnesota for Turkey Day tugs on my heart, and yes I am actually getting a little emotional about it, to visit my family and our wonderful friends, hopefully this year is the start of another tradition. 

And actually, we are very excited that my parents are making the trek to Houston for Thanksgiving this year!!!  They will have the chance to meet my gal's family, our friends, and see my aunt and uncle and cousins (and the 7 troops/kids!!!).  It'll likely much warmer, although you'd be surprised how pleasant the weather is up "Nort"........yes, I said "Nort" (North....wink).  I chatted with a friend of mine this week that lives in Alexandria, MN, and he actually played golf last weekend.  And believe it or not, it was only about 5 degrees cooler than we were.......BUT just wait,  I've seen that before.  They'll all be bundling up soon up there! 

So what is my point of this story and does it relate to moving, relocating, or whatever?  Well moving as a child from Chicago to Minneapolis was scary.  And it was exciting and scary when I moved to Texas.  I guess my point is that things can change, no matter where you are, where're you lived prior, and where you may end up in the future, the friends you make wherever are very important.  Traditions can be created, especially around holidays, and new traditions can start.  Embrace your friends and family no matter where you or they are.  And embrace the city where you call home.....Chicago, Minneapolis, Houston, etc.!!!

Enjoy your friends, families, traditions, etc. this Thanksgiving and Holiday Season!!!  AND thank a military and law enforcement personnel every day!!!

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Houston Housing Market Update:

Multiple Listing Service of the Houston Association of REALTORS® includes residential properties and new homes listed by 32,000 REALTORS®

MLS Report for November 2015

MLS Report for October 2016

THE HOUSTON REAL ESTATE MARKET ENTERS AUTUMN ON STEADY FOOTING

Home sales volume keeps pace with 2015 while pricing achieves October highs

HOUSTON — (November 9, 2016) — Despite continued strains within the energy industry and jitters surrounding the outcome of the presidential election, the Houston housing market held steady for a second straight month. Home sales in October were statistically unchanged compared to October 2015. Homes priced between $150,000 and $500,000 experienced positive sales volume while the market’s high and low ends saw declines, mirroring September’s trends. Both median and average price reached record highs for an October.

According to the latest monthly report prepared by the Houston Association of Realtors (HAR), a total of 5,916 single-family homes sold in October compared to 5,893 a year earlier. On a year-to-date basis, home sales are up 1.2 percent compared to this point in 2015. Inventory levels grew slightly from a 3.5-months supply to 3.8 months.

"The Houston housing market continues to demonstrate its strength by holding steady in the midst of a weakened energy sector and uncertainty about the presidential election,” said HAR Chairman Mario Arriaga with First Group. “Even without those influences, autumn traditionally marks a period of slower sales, so we are extremely pleased to see the market keeping pace with last year’s record levels."

The single-family home median price—the figure at which half of the homes sold for more and half sold for less—rose 6.3 percent to $218,000 That marks the highest median price ever for an October. The average price increased 2.2 percent to $277,904, which also represents an October high.

October sales of all property types in Houston totaled 7,120, up a fractional 0.7 percent from the same month last year. Total dollar volume for properties sold in October rose 1.4 percent to $1.9 billion.

October Monthly Market Comparison

Houston's monthly housing market indicators yielded positive readings compared to October 2015. On a year-over-year basis, single-family homes sales were statistically unchanged, total property sales rose fractionally, total dollar volume grew, and both the median and average home prices climbed to record October highs.

Month-end pending sales for single-family homes totaled 6,589, an increase of 16.4 percent compared to last year. Total active listings, or the total number of available properties rose 9.2 percent from October 2015 to 37,111.

Single-family homes inventory edged up from a 3.5-months supply to 3.8 months. For perspective, housing inventory across the U.S. currently stands at a 4.5-months supply, according to the latest report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR).

* 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.

Lease Property Update

The lease market cooled in October. Single-family home leases declined 1.0 percent, while townhome/condominium leases dropped 2.3 percent. The average rent for single-family homes was up 1.2 percent to $1,728, while the average rent for townhomes/condominiums was down 2.1 percent to $1,488.

Houston Real Estate Highlights in October

• Single-family home sales were statistically unchanged with 5,916 units sold;

• On a year-to-date basis, single-family home sales were up 1.2 percent;

• Total property sales rose 0.7 percent to 7,120 units;

• Total dollar volume increased 1.4 percent to $1.9 billion;

• At $218,000, the single-family home median price rose 6.3 percent to an October high;

• The single-family home average price increased 2.2 percent to $277,904, which was also the highest level for an October;

• Single-family homes months of inventory climbed to a 3.8-months supply;

• Townhome/condominium sales were flat, with the average price unchanged at $197,558 and the median price up 4.7 percent to $157,000;

• Leases of single-family homes declined 1.0 percent with average rent down slightly to $1,728;

• Leases of townhomes/condominiums fell 2.3 percent with average rent down 2.1 percent to $1,488.

  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.

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Commerical Real Estate news on the next blog!!!  Happy Thanksgiving!!!

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