Archive for the ‘Houston Real Estate’ Category

Thursday, January 12th, 2012

2011 Review and Forecasts for 2012……

The year 2011 rolled out of Houston leaving residential real estate in a positive position and set the stage for an even better year in 2012.

Here’s a snapshot view of statistics on the Houston housing market for 2011:

Houston Real Estate Information Services [MLS] 2011 vs. 2010
 Measurement  Amount % change from 2010
# of sales 53,606 4%
Dollar volume $11,456,826,125 5%
Average sales price $213,723 1%
Median sales price $155,000 1%
Contracts written [pending] 35,031 8%
# of active listings [current] 30,786 -4%

# of active listings are down by 4% and that’s a good thing!  If sales in 2012 are similar or better than 2011, one could at least expect dollar volume, average sales price, and median sales price to rise this year. 

Economic Forecast for Houston in 2012 is Expansion!

Sales could be much better in Houston if the forecast from the Greater Houston Partnership comes to fruition. The Partnership’s forecast calls for the10-county Houston metro area to add 84,600 jobs in ’12.  Read more in  “From Recovery to Expansion”  Houston homebuilders are moving forward with a positive strategy in 2012 as Mike Inselmann, President of Metro Study, estimates that approximately 20,000 new homes will be built in the Houston area this year. 

And why not?  Houston is a great place to buy a home!  Interest rates are still at record lows, the job forecast for Houston is positive and there is a good selection of well-priced homes available across the metro area.

The top ten selling price classes by units in Houston for 2011 are:

Top Ten Selling Price ClassesHouston Single-Family Real Estate2011
Price Class # 2011 Sales Active Listings Months of Inventory
1. $200,000-$249,999 5,266 2,612 6
2  $300,000-$399,999 4,300 2,288 6.4
3. $250,000-$299,999  3,995 2,007 6
4. $120,000-$129,999 2,581 1,283 6
5. $130,000-$139,999 2,495 1,178 5.7
6. $110,000-$119,999 2,454 1,185 5.8
7. $80,000-$89,999 2,360 1,070 5.4
8. $140,000-$149,999 2,290 1,099 5.8
9. $90,000-$99,999 2,248 1,153 6.2
10$150,000-$159,999 2,189 979 5.4

In reviewing the table above over the course of this year, the good news is that each of these price classes has a lower # of months of inventory than has been seen over the previous months. 2011 was a year when inventory in Houston began trending in the right direction – down

In respect to number of sales for 2011, price classes between $90,000 – $159,999 experienced a decline in sales from 2010, however most other price classes experienced increases.

Houston real estate is out of recovery-mode and on a slow but steady upward climb.  Historically, these are the best times to buy a home.

Data compiled by the Houston Association of Realtors® and the Real Estate Center of Texas A & M University and composed by Toni Nelson, Director of Strategic Initiatives for Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors®.

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Friday, December 9th, 2011

Houston Real Estate Trends Up in November

Houston single-family real estate continued its upward trend in November with an 11% increase in home sales, or 3,973 sales.  Dollar volume sales were up 6% at $822,287,837.  The median price of November home sales were $154,950, a 3% increase over last year.  Two of the most encouraging statistics for November were pending sales and listing inventory.  Pending sales were up a whopping 19%, which means 19% more contracts were written in November with a closing date some time in the future.  It now appears that although the expectation was for Houston to experience the same year as last, it will probably close the year with 5% more sales and most likely a higher median sales price than last year.  Active listings fell 15% to 27,749 homes on the market.  Fewer homes on the market and higher buyer demand is a recipe for rising home values, if the trend continues as it has in the last few months.

Here is a snapshot of November YTD 2011:

Houston Real Estate Information Services [MLS]November YTD 2011
 Measurement  Amount % change from 2010
# of sales 49,061 4%
Dollar volume $10,457,370,447 5%
Average sales price $213,150 1%
Median sales price $154,500 1%
Contracts written 32,619 8%
# of active listings 31,248 -3%

As you can see above, the overall year is positive in all categories and that alone makes it a much better year than 2010.

What price class of homes are the top selling homes in Houston?

Top Ten Selling Price ClassesHouston Single-Family Real Estate

The Year 2011 thru 11/30/2011

Price Class Sales Year to Date Active Listings Months of Inventory
1. $200,000-$249,999 4,814 2,848 6.5
2  $300,000-$399,999 3,903 2,460 7.0
3. $250,000-$299,999 3,621 2,156 6.6
4. $120,000-$129,999 2,371 1,399 6.5
5. $130,000-$139,999 2,268 1,267 6.2
6. $110,000-$119,999 2,261 1,241 6.1
7. $80,000-$89,999 2,168 1,137 5.8
8. $140,000-$149,999 2,113 1,244 6.6
9. $90,000-$99,999 2,043 1,253 6.8
10 $150,000-$159,999 2,013 1,098 5.9

The refreshing part of the above table is one that is not evident unless you peruse all prior blogs on this topic.  It’s the fact that all price classes have experienced fewer months of inventory this month than in previous months.  Many price classes above are on the low end of a buyers market, many are balanced and some price classes reached the sellers market.  Homes with a Months of Inventory over 6 months represents a buyers market, 6 months is a balanced market and below 6 months is a sellers market.  The months of inventory trend has moved closer to a balanced market over the last few months than anything seen within the last 2 years.

With all the economic uncertainty, we are truly blessed to live in Houston which has one of the strongest markets in the nation.  Houston never participated in the bubble and although we were not immune to its national impact, Houston appears to be one of the first markets to be pulling out.

For more on the Houston market, go to http://media.garygreene.com/index.php?s=38&item=328

Information compiled by the Houston Association of Realtors® Multiple Listing Service and the Real Estate Center for Texas A&M.  Blog written by Toni Nelson, Director of Strategic Initiatives for Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors®.

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Tuesday, November 8th, 2011

Houston real estate. It’s all good and getting better!

It has been so refreshing for the last few months to review the overall Houston market activity and see all the metrics in a good position and getting better.  October single-family home sales were up 9% which helped strengthen an upward trend.  

Year-to-date, home sales are up 3% [as was the case in September] with 45,096 MLS recorded home sales.  Homes are showing a resiliency in value – the median price of a home in Houston year-to-date is $154,890 and that’s 1% above the median price last year.   Probably the most encouraging market stat at the conclusion of October 2011 is pending sales.  Pending sales are contracts written that are scheduled to close in the near future.  For the year, Houston is up 7% with 30,046 pending sales recorded.  As stated earlier, for the month, Houston is up 9% with 4,080 pending sales recorded.  Both statistics indicate that Houston will end the year with a better sales record than found in 2010  One other statistic that indicates Houston is trending in a positive direction is active listings.  At the close of October, there were 29,016 single-family homes on the market – a 14% decline since last October.  Property types, like townhouses/condos, high rises, multi-family, etc. are experiencing similar double digit inventory declines.  This is the single best trend in stabilization and can ultimately lead to rising home values. 

Here’s a snapshot view of statistics on the Houston housing market through October 2011:

Houston Real Estate Information Services [MLS]October  YTD 2011 vs. October YTD 2010
 Measurement  Amount % change from 2010
# of sales 45,096 3%
Dollar volume $9,648,441,038 5%
Average sales price $213,953 2%
Median sales price $154,890 1%
Contracts written [pending] 30,046 7%
# of active listings [current] 29,016 -14%

The top ten selling price classes by units in Houston year-to-date:

Top Ten Selling Price ClassesHouston Single-Family Real EstateOctober YTD 2011
Price Class # Sales Year to Date Active Listings Months of Inventory
1. $200,000-$249,999 4,405 2,970 6.8
2  $300,000-$399,999 3,593 2,584 7.4
3. $250,000-$299,999  3,319 2,303 7.1
4. $120,000-$129,999 2,156 1,431 6.6
5. $130,000-$139,999 2,111 1,355 6.6
6. $110,000-$119,999 2,086 1,268 6.2
7. $80,000-$89,999 1,983 1,178 6.1
8. $140,000-$149,999 1,947 1,298 7.0
9. $90,000-$99,999 1,880 1,354  7.1
10$150,000-$159,999 1,853 1,161 6.3

In reviewing the table above over the course of this year, the good news is that each of these price classes has a lower # of months of inventory than has been seen over the previous months, even in September.  Contrary to the national news, inventory in Houston is certainly trending in the right direction – down.

Price Class Demand Year-to-Date:

The table above depicts the top ten selling price classes year-to-date.  Paradoxically, most price classes below $200,000 have all seen sales declines over the last year, whereas price classes below $80,000 and above $500,000 have experienced increases, [many are experiencing double digit increases] in sales over last year.  The largest increase in sales by price class has been in the $1,000,000 + price range.  Home sales of $1,000,000+ have increased by 18% over this time last year.  When the two extreme price classes see double-digit increases, the overall average sales price does not accurately reflect the current state of the market.  Our average sales price currently shows a 2% increase for the year.  Median sales price, which is up year-to-date by 1% is probably more realistic in terms of reflecting the trend in home values.  The current median sales price indicates that Houston has remained resilient during very turbulent economic times.  A 1% increase in median sales prices is a statistic every market in the nation would be happy to have. 

We are fortunate to live in Houston where it’s all good and getting better.

Data compiled by the Houston Association of Realtors® and the Real Estate Center of Texas A & M University and composed by Toni Nelson, Director of Strategic Initiatives for Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors®.

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Monday, October 10th, 2011

Houston real estate market is trending up.

The real estate market in Houston is brimming with good news and a positive outlook according to statistics from the Houston Association of Realtors® Real Estate Information Services.  For starters, September single-family home sales increased 17% over last year with 4,635 MLS recorded home sales.  Year-to-date, home sales are up 3% with 41,050 MLS recorded home sales.  Homes are showing a resiliency in value – the median price of a home in Houston year-to-date is $155,000 and that’s 1% above the median price last year.   Probably the most encouraging market stat at the conclusion of September 2011 is pending sales.  Pending sales are contracts written that are scheduled to close in the near future.  For the year, Houston is up 7% with 27,429 pending sales recorded.  For the month, Houston is up 5% with 2,628 pending sales recorded.  Both statistics indicate that Houston will end the year with a better sales record than found in 2010 and that’s very encouraging.  The final statistic that indicates Houston is trending in a positive direction is active listings.  At the close of September, there were 30,013 single-family homes on the market – a 13% decline since last September.  What’s more is that other property types, like townhouses/condos, high rises, multi-family, etc. are experiencing similar double digit inventory declines.  This is the single best trend in stabilization and ultimately rising home values. 

This good news correlates with other good news that rolled into Houston in September:

  1. Texas boasts the best business climate in the country, according to a new survey of U.S. corporate executives conducted by Development Counsellors International (DCI). It was the fifth consecutive time the Lone Star State has ranked first in the survey. DCI said Texas was the ”clear-cut favorite” among the 322 survey respondents, with 49.4 percent identifying the state as having the most favorable business climate. The corporate decision-makers who named Texas as having the most favorable business climate most frequently cited “tax climate” (44 percent), “pro-business climate” (31 percent) and “economic development support/incentives” (15 percent) as reasons for their positive perceptions.
  2. One of the “healthiest employment markets in the country” will keep Houston office properties among the nation’s strongest performers this year, reports Marcus & Millichap in its third-quarter 2011 office market update. Among the firm’s projections for Houston for the remainder of 2011:
  • The city will add 98,000 jobs this year, an increase of 3.9 percent, the nation’s largest. Last year, the metro gained 45,900 positions, climbing 1.8 percent. Office users will create 17,900 spots, rising 3.4 percent.

Finally, as the Panama Canal prepares to open more gates to expand commerce, the Houston Ship Channel is preparing to gain a tremendous thrust in economic development as a result of it.

There is plenty of good news about Houston that this one blog could never cover.

Here’s a snapshot view of statistics on the Houston housing market through September 2011:

Houston Real Estate Information Services [MLS]September  YTD 2011 vs. September YTD 2010
 Measurement  Amount % change from 2010
# of sales 41,050 3%
Dollar volume $8,812,524,855 5%
Average sales price $214,678 2%
Median sales price $155,000 1%
Contracts written [pending] 27,429 7%
# of active listings 30,013 -13%

The top ten price classes that sold in Houston year-to-date:

Top Ten Selling Price ClassesHouston Single-Family Real EstateSeptember YTD 2011
Price Class Sales Year to Date Active Listings Months of Inventory
1. $200,000-$249,999 4,025 3,048 7.0
2  $300,000-$399,999 3,273 2,671 7.7
3. $250,000-$299,999  3,015 2,434 7.5
4. $120,000-$129,999 1,961 1,480 6.9
5. $130,000-$139,999 1,910 1,455 7.1
6. $110,000-$119,999 1,898 1,378 6.8
7. $80,000-$89,999 1,771 1,244 6.5
8. $140,000-$149,999 1,746 1,317 7.2
9. $90,000-$99,999 1,703 1,346 7.3
10$150,000-$159,999 1,692 1,239 6.8

In reviewing the table above over the course of this year, the good news is that each of these price classes have a lower # of months of inventory than has been seen over the prior months.  Inventory in Houston is certainly trending in the right direction.

The Paradox of Price Class Demand Year-to-Date:

The table above depicts the top ten selling price classes year-to-date.  Paradoxically, these price classes [excepting $300,000-$399,999] have all seen declines over last year, whereas price classes below $80,000 and above $500,000 have experienced double digit increases in sales over last year.  When the two extreme price classes see double-digit increases, the overall average sales is not a true reflection of the current state of the market.  There is more validity in the median, which is up year-to-date by 1%.  In these troubling economic times we live in, a 1% increase in median home sale prices is a statistic every market in the nation would be happy to have.  We are fortunate to live in Houston where it’s all good!

Data compiled by the Houston Association of Realtors® and the Real Estate Center of Texas A & M University and composed by Toni Nelson, Director of Strategic Initiatives for Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors®.

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Monday, September 12th, 2011

Houston Real Estate Market Exceeds Last Year

Single-family home sales surpassed year-to-date 2010 statistics at the close of August.  Sales are up by 1% over August YTD 2010 and dollar volume is up 4%.  During this time of economic uncertainty, it is difficult to predict if this trend will continue, however, pending sales [homes scheduled to close in the near future] are up 7%.  Current metrics that may have a negative future impact are days-on-the-market {DOM} and active listings.  DOM is up 17% from last year.  This means on average, it takes 89 days to sell a house today and last year, it took approximately 15 fewer days.  Active listings are up 1% and while this is slight, if supply continues to grow, it may have a declining impact on  average sales price and median price. 

Here is a snapshot view of activity through August 2011:

Houston Real Estate Information Services [MLS]August YTD 2011
 Measurement  Amount % change from 2010
# of sales 36,463 1%
Dollar volume $7,842,831,484 4%
Average sales price $215,090 2%
Median sales price $154,900 1%
Contracts written 24,801 7%
# of active listings 32,119 1%

What price ranges are selling in Houston?  Below you will find a table of the hottest selling price ranges.  It is also interesting to note that all homes priced $600,000 and up have experienced double-digit increases in sales since last year, except for homes priced $900,000-$999,999, a 9% increase.  Although all sales over $600,000 represent only 4.47% of all sales in Houston year-to-date, these sales have had a major impact on increasing  the average sales price of Houston overall.  Median sales price is a better barometer of the true state of the market.

Top Ten Selling Price ClassesHouston Single-Family Real EstateThe Year 2011
Price Class Sales Year to Date Active Listings Months of Inventory
1. $200,000-$249,999 3,529 3,204 7.5
2  $300,000-$399,999 2,907 2,809 8.2
3. $250,000-$299,999 2,681 2,486 7.9
4. $120,000-$129,999 1,714 1,492 7.1
5. $110,000-$119,999 1,696 1,451 7.3
6. $130,000-$139,999 1,664 1,512 7.5
7. $80,000-$89,999 1,589 976 5.7
8. $140,000-$149,999 1,536 1,415 7.8
9. $150,000-$159,999 1,521 1,260 6.8
10 $90,000-$99,999 1,512 1,399 7.7

The Good News in Real Estate for Houston:

  • According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown had $4.17 billion in new residential projects in 2010, more than any other U.S. city.  Houston is among the nation’s strongest when it comes to residential construction activity.
  • Texas jobs created from July 2010 to July 2011 accounted for 20.5 percent of total new nonfarm jobs in the United States, according to the Real Estate Center’s latest Monthly Review of the Texas Economy.
  • During that period, Texas gained 278,100 nonfarm jobs, an annual growth rate of 2.7 percent compared with 1 percent for the nation.
  • The state’s private sector added 292,700 jobs, an annual growth rate of 3.4 percent compared with 1.7 percent for the nation.

So, despite the national news – if you live in Houston, you are in the best place to own a home.

Statistics [unless otherwise noted] compiled by the Houston Association of Realtors Information Systems and the Real Estate Center at Texas A & M and written by Toni Nelson, Director of Strategic Initiatives for Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors.

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Wednesday, August 10th, 2011

Houston sees double-digit increases in July home sales.

Single-family home sales rose 17% in July in comparison to July 2010.  This is truly positive news in a year where a cloud of uncertainty hovers incessantly over the economy.   While this is good news, some of the  increase can be attributed to being compared  to last July when an anomaly occurred in the market.  July 2010 was the first month following the expiration of the Homebuyers Tax Credit when sales declined dramatically.   When July home buyers would normally be in the market, many capitalized on the tax credit and bought a home before July.  July 2011 year-to-date sales are a better indicator of the state of the market.  Home sales are down 2% year-to-date from last year.   The upside is that July experienced a double-digit increase in contracts written.  This indicates that 2011 will probably end with sales at or below 2010 levels. 

Here’s a snapshot of the Houston single-family market:

Houston Single-Family Homes                                                                                Houston Real Estate Info Services [July Month and YTD 2011 vs. 2010]
 Metric # Sales July ‘11 % Change from July ‘10 # Sales YTD July ‘11 % Change July YTD ‘10
#  of sales 5,034 17% 30,950 -2%
Dollar volume $1,128,169,740 18% $6,651,648,072 0%
Avg. Sales Price  $224,110  1%  $214,916  3%
Med. Sales Price  $160,000  0%  $153,900  1%
Contracts written 3,077 11% 21,468 5%
# of listings 32,096 -10% 32,312 3%

For information on specific areas of Houston, click here.

For a glimpse of the Houston Hotness Index by area, click here.

To search for homes in Houston via your smartphone, text HHS to 87778 and follow the response link to download the app.

Information provided by the Houston Association of Realtors® Information Services and the Real Estate Center at Texas A & M University.  Written by Toni Nelson, Director of  Strategic Initiatives for Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors®.

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Tuesday, July 5th, 2011

Mid-Year Houston Economic Outlook is Upbeat

CB Richard Ellis reported in its second quarter 2011 retail market report that economic indicators such as job growth and housing offer an upbeat outlook for Houston.

Houston’s economy is now back to prerecession levels, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, and an “On Numbers” study of new data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics ranks Houston number one in retail job growth, with 4,100 retail jobs added since 2008.

Also, according to estimates released by the Texas Workforce Commission, Houston gained 45,000 jobs from May 2010 to May 2011.

The majority of Houston retail leasing activity is largely represented within the food and services industries, while grocery-anchored centers perform well because of their ability to attract significant amounts of consumer traffic.

Retailers continue to focus on the historically fast-growing, master-planned suburban areas and the high-income Inner Loop area. According to Metrostudy’s quarterly statistics, the most recently reported top five master-planned communities were Cinco Ranch (770 home starts), The Woodlands (756), Telfair (379), Bridgeland (287) and Sienna Plantation (259).

The Houston Real Estate Market Responds to Upbeat Economic Outlook.

The most recent real estate statistics compiled by the Houston Association of Realtors® indicate June single-family home sales were the first positive sign of recovery.  The Houston area experienced 5,571 homes sales, a 1% increase over June 2010.  Dollar volume was 4% higher and totalled $1,273,809,150 for the month.  The average sales price is currently $228,650 and that’s 4% more than found last year.  The median sales price for June registered at $161,000 – a 2% increase. 

The most fortunate news of all for June came in the “contracts written” category.  Contracts written represent current buyer demand and future home closings. They were 21% higher than last year.  There were 3,245 contracts written in the month of June.  This double digit increase is for certain, artificially high, as it is being compared to last years’ drop in buyer demand immediately following  the expiration of the 2010 Homebuyers Tax Credit.  

The second most positive news about June came in the area of active listings.  There has been a 5% decrease in homes on the market since last year.  Active listings currently total  32,970.   Falling inventory, if even ever so slight helps keep home values stable and/or rising and that’s good news for homeowners.

Stay tuned for next months’ update on the Houston market. 

Source: Texas Real Estate Center and Houston Association of Realtors® Real Estate Information Services.

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Thursday, June 9th, 2011

Houston Real Estate Fares Better Than Most – May YTD 2011

According to the Greater Houston Partnership in its’ “Houston – The Economy at a Glance” distributed June 2011, Houston has fared better than most and has now recovered three fourths of its job losses experienced during the recession.  For an indepth report on the Houston Economy, click here.

The Houston real estate market is currently being compared to last years’ economic stimulus incentive – the Homebuyer Tax Credit. Last year, the tax credit pulled buyer demand forward.  When the tax credit deadline for being “under contract” expired, and closings were completed circa July 15th, buyer demand declined.   This year’s market is functioning under the normal market incentives found in homeownership – mortgage interest rate deduction, building equity and currently, low interest rates. 

Houston Housing as it stands currently. 

Now is a great time to buy real estate in Houston.  Interest rates are still low, homes are well-priced and inventory is plentiful.  These assets never stay the same for long.  The single-family sales May YTD closed out at 20,343 or 7% fewer homes than last year. It has exceeded the 2010 May YTD in average sales price by 3% and is 8% above the number of homes on the market last year. 

Houston has experienced 15,146 contracts written year-to-date and is up from this time last year by 2%. This indicates the market is slowly returning to normal as just last month, contracts written were down by 2%. Contracts written are contracts scheduled to close in the future and indicate current buyer demand.  

Houston Home Values Are Likely to Hold

Houstons’ average sales price is up 3% year-to-date; yet median sales price [where half the homes sell above and half sell below the midpoint] is flat. Inventory has remained the same since last month and actually declined 2% from February to March and then 2% again from April to May.  This indicates no additional inventory has crept into the market that would inordinately hold housing values down.

Houston Real Estate Information Services [MLS]May YTD 2011 vs. May YTD 2010
 Measurement  Amount % change from 2010
# of sales 20,343 -7%
Dollar volume $4,270,246,267 -4%
Average sales price $209,912 3%
Median sales price $150,000 0%
Contracts written 15,146 2%
# of active listings 32,223 8%

The Price Class Spectrum Impact

 One definitive change in the Houston real estate market over last year has been buyer demand by price class.  Homes priced between $80,000 – $299,999 are selling fewer units than last year and in many cases are experiencing double-digit declines.  Yet homes below $80,000 and above $500,000 [both extreme ends of the price class spectrum] are experiencing increases in buyer demand over last year.

At the high end of the price class spectrum, most notable of all price class sales increases is the

  • $700,000-$799,999 range which has experienced a 37% increase over last year. 
  • The second highest demand increase [29%] has been in the $900,000-$999,000 range and
  • Homes priced $1 million and over are up 9% from 2010.

 The Houston overall market is so large, it rarely reflects the same trends as a submarket area located within its boundaries.  Some areas are shining brightly while others are not as lustrous.  For a breakdown of activity by area, CLICK HERE.

To see the hottest selling geographical areas in Houston, CLICK HERE.

To search for homes by price range, map and/or even foreclosures, go to www.GaryGreene.com.

 

Data provided by the Houston Association of Realtors® Multiple Listing Service, and The Real Estate Center for Texas A&M and written by Toni Nelson, Director of Strategic Initiatives for Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors®

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Tuesday, May 10th, 2011

Houston ranks third in Fortune 500 companies

The media mostly goes negative on real estate from an investment standpoint.  Unfortunately, their statistics are national and rarely reflect what it’s really like at the local level.  It’s all about jobs and the economic health of a region that primarily drive real estate sales and values.

The Houston real estate market is currently being compared with the market last year, which was part of the economic stimulus – the Homebuyer Tax Credit. As a result, the market doesn’t look as robust as it will be.  Last year, the tax credit pulled buyer demand forward.  When the tax credit deadline for being “under contract” expired, and closings were completed, buyer demand went south.   This year’s market is functioning under normal market incentives found in homeownership – mortgage interest rate deduction, building equity and currently, low interest rates.  Below is a refreshing picture of how the Houston housing market will fare in the future based on its strong job base.

Credit goes to the Greater Houston Partnership Research Department for compiling statistics on Houston’s national ranking of Fortune 500 companies:

“Twenty-three companies on the 2011 Fortune 500 list are headquartered in the Houston MSA based on the rankings released today [5/5/2011] by Fortune magazine. Houston ranks third among areas in Fortune 500 headquarters, behind New York (74) and Chicago (27), and ahead of Los Angeles (21), Dallas-Fort Worth (20), and Minneapolis-St. Paul (19). Many other Fortune 500 companies maintain U.S. administrative headquarters in Houston.

Targa Resources is new to the Houston list. This independent midstream energy company landed at #416 on the 2011 list with $5.5 billion in revenues.

The biggest movers are Frontier Oil moving up from #488 ($4.2 billion) in 2010 to #389 ($5.9 billion) in 2011, Baker Hughes from #243 ($9.7 billion) to #170 ($14.4 billion) and Apache from #271 ($8.6 billion) to #206 ($12.1 billion).

Three companies fell off the list. Continental Airlines merged with United Airlines, and the newly formed company is located in Chicago. Smith International was acquired by Schlumberger in 2010. FMC Technologies was just short of making the cutoff with revenues of $4.1 billion while the #500 company made $4.4 billion in revenues.

FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES HEADQUARTERED IN HOUSTON MSA
Company (Rank) Revenues ($ billions) Company (Rank) Revenues ($ billions)
ConocoPhillips (4) 184.966 CenterPoint Energy (279) 8.785
Marathon Oil (29) 68.413 Kinder Morgan (294) 8.190
Sysco (67) 37.243 Enbridge Energy Partners (309) 7.736
Enterprise Products Partners (80) 33.739 Calpine (349) 6.637
Plains All American Pipeline (99) 25.893 Cameron International (375) 6.134
Halliburton (144) 17.973 EOG Resources (377) 6.099
Baker Hughes (170) 14.414 Frontier Oil (389) 5.884
Waste Management (196) 12.515 Group 1 Automotive (413) 5.509
National Oilwell Varco (202) 12.156 Targa Resources (416) 5.469
Apache (206) 12.092 Spectra Energy (441) 5.071
Anadarko Petroleum (223) 10.984 El Paso (481) 4.616
KBR (242) 10.099    
Source: Fortune, April 2011 

How lucky we are as Houstonians to have the most Fortune 500 companies in the state of Texas.  Not only do these companies provide good paying jobs but also spawn auxiliary businesses to service them.  Real estate and housing values are a benefactor of these employers and all entrepreneurs in Houston that create jobs.

Houston Housing as it stands currently.

 Now is a great time to buy real estate in Houston.  Interest rates are still low, homes are well-priced and inventory is plentiful.  These assets never stay the same for long.  What investor would buy an asset when it’s at its peak price?

 The single-family sales April YTD closed out at 15,268 or 5% fewer homes than last year. It has exceeded the 2010 April YTD in average sales price by 2% and is 10% above the number of homes on the market last year. 

Houston has experienced 11,728 contracts written year-to-date and is down 6% from this time last year when the tax incentive flurry was at its peak. Contracts written are contracts scheduled to close in the future and indicate current buyer demand.  

Houston Home Values Are Likely to Hold

Houstons’ average sales price is up 2% year-to-date; yet median sales price [where half the homes sell above and half sell below the midpoint] is down 2%. A declining median sales price is not a trend likely to continue.  Inventory has remained the same since last month and actually declined 2% from February to March.  This indicates no additional inventory has crept into the market that would inordinately hold housing values down.

Houston Real Estate Information Services [MLS]March YTD 2011 vs. March YTD 2010
 Measurement  Amount % change from 2010
# of sales 15,268 -5%
Dollar volume $3,160,533,581 -4%
Average sales price $207,004 2%
Median sales price $147,350 -2%
Contracts written 11,728 -6%
# of active listings 32,001 10%

The Price Class Spectrum Impact

 

One definitive change in the Houston real estate market over last year has been buyer demand by price class.  Homes priced $80,000 – $299,999 are selling fewer units than last year and in many cases are experiencing double-digit declines.  Yet homes below $80,000 and above $500,000 [both extreme ends of the price class sprectrum] are experiencing increases in buyer demand over last year.

At the high end of the price class spectrum, most notable of all price class sales increases is the

  • $700,000-$799,999 range which has experienced a 42% increase over last year. 
  • The second highest demand increase [23%] has been in the $900,000-$999,000 range and
  • Homes priced $1 million and over are up 10% from 2010.

 

All sales through April year-to-date priced $500,000 and above represent only 6% of the total units sold in Houston, and indeed, the hottest selling price classes in Houston listed below still reflect the most buyer demand in the mid-range spectrum price classes.

What home price classes were the hottest selling in Houston YTD through 4/ 2011? 

Top Ten Selling Price ClassesHouston Single-Family Real Estate

March YTD 2011

Price Class Sales Year to Date Active Listings Months of Inventory
1. $200,000-$249,999 1,368 3,399 8.3
2  $300,000-$399,999 1,148 2,917 9.0
3. $250,000-$299,999  1,082 2,698 8.9
4. $120,000-$129,999 765 1,517 7.1
5. $110,000-$119,999 747 1,573 7.7
6. $70,000-$79,999 683 996 6.1
7. $80,000-$89,999 681 1,269 6.7
8. $130,000-$139,999 679 1,519 7.5
9. $90,000-$99,999 652 1,452 8.1
10$140,000-$149,999 642 1,523 8.3

As you can see from the Top Ten Selling Price Classes in Houston for 2011, homes priced from $70,000-$399,000 represent the greatest amount of buyer demand even though sales are down from last year. These price classes represent 55% of all sales that have occurred in Houston year-to-date.

The Houston overall market is so large and rarely reflects the same trends as a submarket area located within its boundaries.  Some areas are shining brightly while others are not as lustrous.  For a breakdown of activity by area with a map, click here.

To see the hottest selling geographical areas in Houston, click here. To search for homes by price range, map and/or even foreclosures, click here.

Data provided by the Houston Association of Realtors® Multiple Listing Service, and The Real Estate Center for Texas A&M and written by Toni Nelson, Director of Strategic Initiatives for Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors®

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Monday, April 11th, 2011

Houston real estate lag is on its way out!

In the First Quarter of 2011, the Houston residential single-family market is 1% below the same number of sales in comparison to First Quarter last year.  It has exceeded the 2010 First Quarter in dollar volume sold, average sales price and # of homes on the market.  The First Quarter of last year had the advantage of an economic stimulus, the Homebuyers’ Tax Credit.  Lacking the same incentive, a 1% decline in number of sales for the First Quarter 2011 is a much better performance than expected.

Recent news about the economy indicates the current lag is on its way out in Houston.

·        The situation in the Middle East has raised safety concerns for energy companies with a presence there, prompting some to move employees back to Houston; according to HoustonRealEstateObserver.com.  This means many employees will be returning to Houston.

·        Houston commercial Realtors® have experienced an increase in Houston leasing activity — spurred not only by events in the Middle East, but by the recent resumption of Gulf drilling.  It has caused CBRE to rework its office vacancy projections for downtown Houston. Last year, the company projected the vacancy rate could go as high as 16 percent. “We’re optimistic that things won’t get as bad as we predicted,” Charles Gordon, executive vice president of CB Richard Ellis in Houston, said. “We are revising those numbers based on a lot of deals that are happening right now.”

·        Finally, more good news. Texas housing markets are among the healthiest for home building, according to Hanley Wood Market Intelligence. The firm’s Builder Market Health Index gives many Texas MSAs a market health indicator well above 50 out of 100 (50 being the minimum to be considered healthy). Austin-Round Rock had a score of 86.5.  Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown scored a 77.3; the second highest in Texas.

First Quarter Single-Family Houston Home Sales
Year-to-date through March, homes sales are down in Houston by 1% with 10,675 home sales; yet contracts written are equal to First Quarter 2010 and Houston has experienced 8,556 contracts written year-to-date. Contracts written are contracts scheduled to close in the future and indicate current buyer demand. Since the number of contracts written First Quarter of this year and last are the same amount, the number of closings this year could catch up or even surpass 2010.   
 

Houstons’ average sales price is up 3% year-to-date; yet median sales price [where half the homes sell above and half sell below the midpoint] is down 1%. Almost any city in the nation would envy Houston’s ability to retain home values and while this quarter is the first to experience a 1% decline in median since 2008 – it’s not a trend likely to continue.  In one months’ time, from February to March, there has been a 2% decline in active listings.  This indicates no additional inventory has crept into the market that would inordinately hold housing values down.

 

Houston Home Values Are Likely to Hold

 

 

Houston Real Estate Information Services [MLS]

March YTD 2011 vs. March YTD 2010

 

Measurement

 

Amount

% change

from 2010

# of sales

10,675

-1%

Dollar volume

$2,243,832,731

3%

Average sales price

$210,195

3%

Median sales price

$147,660

-1%

Contracts written

8,556

0%

# of active listings

31,670

10%

April, a great sales season month, will be a good indicator of whether or not more homes get absorbed at a faster rate.  It will be interesting to see which direction the median sales price moves from its current position.  Again, unrest in the Middle East and the resumption of Gulf oil drilling will likely have a great impact on Houston sales, as corporate relocations are in progress now.

 

The Price Class Spectrum Impact

 

The average sales price is higher than the median due to double-digit increases in sales in the high end.  Paradoxically, we see a 1% decline in median sales price because there has been double digit increases in sales in the first quarter in most price classes at the low end of the spectrum.  Homes priced $30,000-$79,999 have seen the largest increase in demand.  Example:

  • $30,000-$39,999 – sales increased 36%,
  • $40,000-$49,999-sales increased 20%,
  • $50,000-$59,999 – sales increased 35% and so on.   

High volume sales from the low end of the price class spectrum in comparison to last year, most assuredly will pull the median sales price down. 

At the high end of the price class spectrum, most notable of all price class sales increases is the

  • $700,000-$799,999 range which has experienced a 56% increase over last year. 
  • Homes priced $1 million and over are up 31% from 2010.
  • The third highest high-end demand increase [19%] has been in the $900,000-$999,000 range and

All sales through March year-to-date priced $500,000 and above represent only 6% of the total units sold in Houston, however their collective impact on average sales price make it appear as if there is home price appreciation in the Houston overall market. 

Median sales price tells the real story.  Median price is being pulled at both ends of the spectrum however, this year 28% of the single-family sales have occurred in homes priced below $100,000.  With double-digit increases in those price points, it is no wonder our median price shows a 1% decline.

 

What home price classes were the hottest selling in Houston YTD through 3/ 2011? 

Top Ten Selling Price Classes

Houston Single-Family Real Estate

March YTD 2011

Price Class

Sales Year to Date

Active Listings

Months of Inventory

1. $200,000-$249,999

944

3,347

7.9

2  $300,000-$399,999

805

2,830

8.7

3. $250,000-$299,999 

782

2,587

8.3

4. $120,000-$129,999

523

1,573

6.8

5. $110,000-$119,999

515

1,523

7.3

6. $70,000-$79,999

495

996

6.1

7. $80,000-$89,999

490

1,234

6.4

8. $130,000-$139,999

471

1,498

7.1

9. $100,000-$109,999

446

1,104

6.2

10$90,000-$99,999

442

1,466

8.0

 

The Houston overall market is so large and rarely reflects the same trends as a submarket area located within its boundaries.  Some areas are shining brightly while others are not as lustrous.  For a breakdown of activity by area with a map, click here.

 

To see the hottest selling geographical areas in Houston, click here.

 

To search for homes by price range, map and/or even foreclosures, click here.

Data provided by the Houston Association of Realtors® Multiple Listing Service, and The Real Estate Center for Texas A&M and written by Toni Nelson, Director of Strategic Initiatives for Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors®

 

 

 

 

 

 

 As you can see from the Top Ten Selling Price Classes in Houston for 2011, homes priced from $70,000-$399,000 represent the greatest amount of buyer demand. These price classes represent 55% of all sales that have occurred in Houston year-to-date.

 

 

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