Home sales push total dollar volume past record set in 2007
HOUSTON — (November 19, 2013) — Twenty-nine consecutive months and counting. That’s how long Houston home sales have held to positive territory. Home buyers sent housing inventory levels down to 3.1 months in October compared to 4.4 months one year earlier, but they also contributed to a record total dollar volume.
According to the latest monthly report prepared by the Houston Association of REALTORS®, home sales climbed 13.5 percent year-over-year, with contracts closing on 6,020 single-family homes. That is the lowest one-month sales volume since March.
The median price of a single-family home—the figure at which half the homes sold for more and half for less—rose 8.9 percent to $177,500. The average price increased 7.9 percent year-over-year to $239,773. Both figures represent the highest prices for an October in Houston.
October brought gains to all housing segments except the under-$80,000 market. Homes selling from $150,000 through $500,000 scored the greatest increase in sales volume.
“Home sales have shown no sign of letting up, which illustrates the strength of the Houston economy and its continued job growth,” said HAR Chairman Danny Frank with Coldwell Banker, United REALTORS®. “Unfortunately, the home buying frenzy has also sparked a recent wave of scams in which for-sale properties are falsely advertised in online listings as rentals with scam artists trying to take advantage of unsuspecting consumers. HAR urges consumers to always work with a REALTOR® and remember that a deal that sounds too good to be true most likely is too good to be true.”
Foreclosure property sales reported in the HAR Multiple Listing Service (MLS) fell 46.9 percent compared to October 2012. Foreclosures currently make up just 7.5 percent of all property sales, down from 19.6 percent at the beginning of the year. The median price of foreclosures edged up 0.9 percent to $85,706.
October sales of all property types in totaled 7,322, a 14.7 percent increase over the same month last year. Total dollar volume for properties sold rose 26.7 percent to $1.7 billion versus $1.3 billion a year earlier. At $17.7 billion total dollar volume for the year, 2013 has already surpassed 2007’s record-setting total dollar volume of $16.6 billion.
October Monthly Market Comparison
Houston’s real estate market experienced gains in all categories in October when comparing sales to October 2012. Total property sales, total dollar volume and average and median pricing all rose on a year-over-year basis,
Month-end pending sales totaled 3,995, a 3.7 percent gain over last year and a strong indicator of another month of positive sales when the November numbers are tallied. Active listings, or the number of available properties, at the end of October dropped 16.5 percent to 31,638.
Houston’s inventory of available homes dipped from 3.2 months in September to 3.1 months in October, down from 4.4 months of inventory one year ago. The inventory of single-family homes across the United States currently stands at 5.0 months, according to the latest report from the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR).
| CATEGORIES | OCTOBER 2012 | OCTOBER 2013 | CHANGE |
| Total property sales | 6,385 | 7,322 | 14.7% |
| Total dollar volume | $1,334,844,884 | $1,690,606,011 | 26.7% |
| Total active listings | 37,909 | 31,638 | -16.5% |
| Total pending sales | 3,854 | 3,995 | 3.7% |
| Single-family home sales | 5,303 | 6,020 | 13.5% |
| Single-family average sales price | $222,187 | $239,773 | 7.9% |
| Single-family median sales price | $163,000 | $177,500 | 8.9% |
| Months inventory* | 4.4 | 3.1 | -30.3% |
Single-Family Homes Update
October sales of single-family homes in Houston totaled 6,020, up 13.5 percent from October 2012. That marks the 29th consecutive monthly increase.
Home prices reached the highest levels ever recorded in Houston for an October. The single-family median price rose 8.9 percent from last year to $177,500 and the average price climbed 7.9 percent year-over-year to $239,773.
Broken out by housing segment, October sales performed as follows:
- $1 – $79,999: decreased 28.6 percent
- $80,000 – $149,999: increased 7.1 percent
- $150,000 – $249,999: increased 26.1 percent
- $250,000 – $499,999: increased 23.6 percent
- $500,000 – $1 million and above: increased 21.3 percent
HAR also breaks out the sales performance of existing single-family homes throughout the Houston market. In October 2013, existing home sales totaled 5,160, a 16.2 percent increase from the same month last year. The average sales price rose 6.8 percent year-over-year to $223,446 while the median sales price rose 10.3 percent to $165,500.
Townhouse/Condominium Update
October sales of townhouses and condominiums were up 20.0 percent from one year earlier. A total of 583 units sold last month compared to 486 properties in October 2012. The average price rose 12.5 percent to $189,429 while the median price was flat at $135,000. Months inventory fell to 2.9 months versus 5.0 months in October 2012.
Lease Property Update
Houston’s lease property market showed further growth in October. Rentals of single-family homes rose 9.4 percent compared to October 2012 while year-over-year townhouse/condominium rentals increased 3.2 percent. Average rents retreated slightly from their recent record highs, although they are up year-over-year. The average rent for a single-family home rose 5.4 percent to $1,647 while the average rent for a townhouse/condominium increased 5.2 percent to $1,463.
- Single-family home sales increased 13.5 percent year-over-year, accounting for the market’s 29th straight monthly increase;
- Total property sales rose 14.7 percent compared to one year earlier;
- Total dollar volume climbed 26.7 percent, increasing from $1.3 billion to $1.7 billion on a year-over-year basis; at $17.7 billion total dollar volume for the year, 2013 has already surpassed 2007’s record-setting total dollar volume of $16.6 billion.
- At $177,500, the single-family home median price reached the highest level for an October in Houston;
- At $239,773, the single-family home average price also reached an October high;
- 3.1 months inventory of single-family homes is down from 3.2 months in September 2013 and down from 4.4 months in October 2012 while comparing to the national average of 5.0 months;
- Sales of townhouses/condominiums rose 20.0 percent year-over-year.
- Rentals of single-family homes rose 9.4 percent while and townhouse/condominium units increased 3.2 percent.
consider custom designs or additions, such as landscaping, high-grade windows or a new roof. This can help improve the home’s aesthetics, while potentially adding value to the home. Any improvements should be practical and use colors and designs that will appeal to the widest audience. In addition, they should complement the home and its other amenities, such as building a deck or patio adjacent to an outdoor swimming pool.
offer things or terms that might sweeten the pot. For example, sellers that offer the buyer a couple of thousand dollars credit toward closing costs, or offer to pay closing costs entirely will in some cases receive more attention from house hunters looking at similar homes. In a down market, buyers are looking for a deal, so do your best to make them feel they’re getting one.
it is still important to price the home appropriately. Consult a local real estate agent, read the newspapers and go to online real estate sites to see what comparable homes are going for in your area.