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.

"Houston Property Sales Rise for 10th Straight Month" was brought to you by the outstanding agents at Register Real Estate Advisors.

In an effort to keep our members as informed as possible about the real estate market, we wanted to make you aware of the latest statistics. Obviously, it is important to remember that “all real estate is local,” and these figures are for the aggregate of the greater Houston area. That is why we strive to encourage all consumers to seek the guidance and assistance of their REALTOR® who has the most experience and market knowledge about their particular localized market.

"Houston Home Sales Remain in Positive Territory for a 6th Straight Month" was brought to you by the outstanding agents at Register Real Estate Advisors.

The next events are October 18th in the Woodlands and October 19th in the inner loop. Check their website or Facebook page for details.

"Real Estate Networking Night – Houston, Texas" was brought to you by the outstanding agents at Register Real Estate Advisors.

More than 21,200 existing single-family homes were sold, data showed.

The median home price was $153,200, about the same as a year ago, and the state’s overall inventory was at 7.4 months.

August 2011 MLS data for many Texas cities are available on the Center’s website. Here is a sampling (data current as of Sept. 29, 2011):

"August Texas Existing Home Sales Up 24%" was brought to you by the outstanding agents at Register Real Estate Advisors.

Free for Realtors and mortgage professionals, RENN is a way to take all of the friends you have made online through social media, and turn them into a real face. Register Real Estate Advisors is proud to support this great organization and will be at the events in force.

The first event is in the Woodlands on October 18th at Baker Street Pub & Grill on 25 Waterway Ave. Find them on Facebook to find an event near you!

Don’t miss them, we will see you there!

"Real Estate Networking Night" was brought to you by the outstanding agents at Register Real Estate Advisors.

We are honored to be mentioned and are constantly striving to ensure our company has the latest technology, best educated agents, and is the most effective brokerage in the Houston metro area.

Check out the link. If you are a Realtor, your copy will be in your mailbox soon.

http://realtormag.realtor.org/for-brokers/standouts/article/2011/10/lights-camera-sale

"RREA Featured in the National REALTOR Magazine" was brought to you by the outstanding agents at Register Real Estate Advisors.

Team RREA did their best. What they lack in bowling skill, they more than make up for in enthusiasm!

This event raises money for the Texas Real Estate Political Action Committee.

"2011 TREPAC Bowl-a-thon" was brought to you by the outstanding agents at Register Real Estate Advisors.

The office market fared well in first quarter 2011, especially Class-A
space, which had a positive absorption of 203,564 sf.
Overall negative net absorption was 64,608 sf.

The industrial market is stabilizing, with a negative absorption
of only 34,621 sf.

"Bayou City’s Speedy Recovery" was brought to you by the outstanding agents at Register Real Estate Advisors.

 It may be a relief for many homeowners to learn their homes are not located in a mapped floodplain – especially when lenders don’t require them to have flood insurance.  Many may think, “Great!  I must not be at risk for flooding.”  However, that kind of thinking could be a costly mistake.  About 70% of the 2,300 homes that flooded in west Harris County last April were not in a mapped floodplain.  While Flood Insurance Rate Maps, also called “floodplain maps,” are good indicators of certain flooding risks, they do not show all flooding risks for our area, which receives about 4 feet of rain every year.

Floodplain maps, which are produced by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help determine flood insurance rates, show flooding risks from bayous and streams topping their banks during certain theoretical floods, namely the 100-year and 500-year floods, and from coastal flooding.  A 100-year flood has a minimum of a 1% chance of occurring every year, and a 500-year flood has a .2% chance of occurring every year.  To put that into perspective, during a 30-year period of time- the duration of many home mortgages – a home in a 100-year floodplain has a minimym of a 26% chance of flooding, and a home in a 500-year floodplain has a minimum of a 6% chance of flooding.  The closer the home is to a bayou or a stream, the greater the chances of flooding.

Buy there are other types of flooding risks not depicted on floodplain maps.  The maps do not show flooding risks from street flooding caused by roadside ditches and storm sewers exceeding their capacity, or from “street flow,” which is water traveling over land to reach the bayous.  Unfortunately, half or more of the flooding that occurs in Harris County falls into these categories.  The maps also do not show flooding risks from extreme flooding events, such as Allison.

While the Harris County Flood Control District works year-round to widen bayous and to excavate stormwater deterntion basins to reduce flooding risks, homeowners are advised to do their part and protect their property with flood insurance, as flooding is the No.1 natural threat to this area.

All Harris County residents are eligible for flood insurance, which is relatively inexpensive, especially for homes outside a mapped floodplain.  To buy a policy, homeowners can call their insuance agent or company.  Because flood insurance is administered by the federal government, rates will not vary.  Some insurance carriers allow the premium to be paid through an escrow account.

While flood insurance won’t keep a home from flooding, it can help homeowners recover from costly damages.  To get more information on flood insurance, visit the National Flood Insurance Program on-line at www.floods-mart.gov or the Harris County Flood Control District at http://www.hcfcd.org .

"Get The Facts About Flooding" was brought to you by the outstanding agents at Register Real Estate Advisors.

"What a Realtor Association is…" was brought to you by the outstanding agents at Register Real Estate Advisors.