HOUSTON — (April 17, 2012) — The Houston real estate market enjoyed a tenth consecutive month of rising sales in March, with homes continuing to sell quickly enough to keep housing inventory at its lowest level since December 2008. Average and median prices achieved the highest levels for a March in Houston, with the average price coming just a few dollars shy of the all-time high set in June 2008.
According to the latest monthly data prepared by the Houston Association of REALTORS® (HAR), March sales of single-family homes rose 7.8 percent versus one year earlier. That follows February’s 15.6 percent jump which was the biggest sales boost since last September. Declining sales of homes priced below $80,000 combined with increased activity in the luxury housing segment fueled the pricing gains.
“March was an excellent month for home sales in Houston and the healthy appreciation in pricing is welcome news as well,” said Wayne A. Stroman, HAR chairman and CEO of Stroman Realty. “Inventory remains at its lowest level in more than three years and is outpacing the national real estate market. The moderation in pending sales in March could possibly translate to a leveling off of sales before we enter the summer buying season, but we will know for sure next month.”
The March single-family home average price rose 5.7 percent year-over-year to $227,270, the highest level for a March in Houston and only $70 below the all-time high reached in June 2008. The median price—the figure at which half of the homes sold for more and half sold for less—climbed 7.8 percent to $161,750, also a record high for a March in Houston.
Foreclosure property sales reported in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) fell 12.8 percent year-over-year in March. Foreclosures comprised 19.6 percent of all property sales, which is down from the 21.1 percent level observed over the past 12 months. The median price of foreclosures in February was flat at $81,500.
March sales of all property types in Houston totaled 5,908, an increase of 7.4 percent compared to March 2011. Total dollar volume for properties sold during the month soared 15.2 percent to $1.3 billion versus $1.1 billion a year earlier.
The month of March brought Houston’s overall housing market positive results when all sales categories are compared to March 2011. Total property sales, total dollar volume and average and median pricing rose on a year-over-year basis.
Month-end pending sales for March totaled 4,162. That is down a fractional 0.7 percent from last year and may suggest a slight tapering of sales when the April housing data are compiled. The number of available properties, or active listings, at the end of March declined 17.8 percent from March 2011 to 41,997. For the second month in a row, the inventory of single-family homes held to the lowest level since December 2008-5.6 months. That compares to 7.5 months one year earlier and means that selling the entire inventory single-family homes currently on the market would take 5.6 months to complete based on the past year’s sales activity. The figure is superior to the national inventory of single-family homes of 6.4 months recently reported by the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). These indicators continue to demonstrate that Houston has a balanced real estate marketplace.
| CATEGORIES | MARCH 2011 | MARCH 2012 | PERCENT CHANGE |
| Total property sales | 5,499 | 5,908 | 7.4% |
| Total dollar volume | $1,122,788,737 | $1,293,042,237 | 15.2% |
| Total active listings | 51,091 | 41,997 | -17.8% |
| Total pending sales | 4,190 | 4,162 | -0.7% |
| Single-family home sales | 4,634 | 4,996 | 7.8% |
| Single-family average sales price | $214,980 | $227,270 | 5.7% |
| Single-family median sales price | $150,000 | $161,750 | 7.8% |
| Months inventory* | 7.5 | 5.6 | -25.9% |
March sales of single-family homes in Houston totaled 4,996, up 7.8 percent from March 2011. This marks the tenth consecutive monthly increase.
Broken out by housing segment, March sales performed as follows:
- $1 – $79,999: declined 8.4 percent,
- $80,000 – $149,999: increased 3.5 percent
- $150,000 – $249,999: increased 19.7 percent
- $250,000 – $499,999: increased 12.1 percent
- $500,000 – $1million and above: increased 12.5 percent
At $227,270, the average price of single-family homes rose 5.7 percent from last March, resulting from a combination of increased sales activity among luxury homes and a decline in the sales of homes priced below $80,000. The average price achieved a March high but fell just shy of the historic level of $227,340 reached in June 2008. At $161,750, the median sales price for single-family homes climbed 7.8 percent year-over-year, also achieving a high-point for a March in Houston.
HAR also breaks out the sales performance of existing single-family homes throughout the Houston market. In March 2012, existing home sales totaled 4,088, a 6.3 percent increase from March 2011. The average sales price rose 6.5 percent from last year to $212,524 and the median sales price increased 7.4 percent to $145,000.
The number of townhouses and condominiums that sold in March declined 3.6 percent compared to one year earlier. In the greater Houston area, 374 units were sold last month versus 388 properties in March 2011.
The average price jumped 15.2 percent to $166,228 compared to March 2012. The median price of a townhouse/condominium rose 17.4 percent to $135,000.
Demand for lease properties persisted throughout the Houston market in March. Single-family home rentals rose 10.3 percent compared to one year earlier and year-over-year townhouse/condominium rentals increased 3.8 percent.
- Volume of single-family home sales rose 7.8 percent, accounting for the tenth consecutive monthly increase;
- At $227,270, the single-family home average price reached the highest level for a March in Houston and came just $70 short of the all-time high achieved in June 2008.
- At $161,750, the single-family home median price also hit the highest level for a March in Houston;
- Single-family home rentals rose 10.3 percent;
- Townhouse/condominium rentals increased 3.8 percent;
- 5.6 months inventory of single-family homes remains at the lowest level since December 2008 and compares favorably to the national average of 6.4 months.
The computerized Multiple Listing Service of the Houston Association of REALTORS® includes residential properties and new homes listed by 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 http://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 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.
