Multiple Listing Service of the Houston Association of REALTORS® includes residential properties and new homes listed by 50,000 REALTORS®
MLS Report for April 2009 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Houston Home Prices Reach a Seven-Month High in April |
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Single-family home sales volume is second highest of 2009 |
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HOUSTON (May 19, 2009) Average and median home prices for the greater Houston area reached the highest levels since September 2008 in April, and sales volume was the second highest for 2009, reflecting a continuation of the traditional spring uptick in real estate activity. Compared to one year earlier, however, overall April property sales fell 24.3 percent and sales of single-family homes dropped 22.5 percent, according to new monthly data prepared by the Houston Association of REALTORS® (HAR). |
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* 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. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
April sales of single-family homes in Houston totaled 4,200, down 22.5 percent from April 2008, and accounted for the 20th consecutive monthly drop. After several months of double-digit increases, year-over-year sales of single-family homes priced at $80,000 and below dipped 2.1 percent in April, reflecting the slowdown in foreclosure-related transactions. HAR also reports existing home statistics for the single-family home segment of the real estate market. In April 2009, existing single-family home sales totaled 3,519, a 21.8 percent decrease from April 2008. At $178,141, the average sales price for existing homes in the Houston area fell 5.2 percent compared to last year. The median sales price of $139,000 for the month was unchanged from one year earlier. Townhouse/Condo Update The average price of a townhouse/condominium dipped to $167,121, down 1.5 percent from one year earlier. However, that represents the highest price since last August. The median price declined 3.4 percent to $135,000 from April 2008 to April 2009, but is unchanged from last month. Lease Property Update Houston Real Estate Milestones in April At $194,222, the average price of a single-family home reached its highest level since September 2008; At $149,050, the median price of a single-family home rose to the highest level since September 2008; Volume of single-family home sales reached the second highest level of 2009; Volume of townhouse/condominium sales reached the highest level of 2009; At $167,121, the average price of a townhouse/condominium rose to the highest level since August 2008; Single-family home rentals rose 8.0 percent; Rentals of townhouse and condominium units increased 12.2 percent; Months inventory of single-family homes dipped from 6.4 to 6.1 months compared to the national average of 9.8 months; Active listings fell 14.7 percent, representing a generally balanced supply of housing inventory. |
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The computerized Multiple Listing Service of the Houston Association of Realtors® includes residential properties and new homes listed by 26,000 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 53,000 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 27,000-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 membership trade association in Houston, as well as the second largest local association/board of Realtors® in the United States. |