MLS Report for September 2014

MLS Report for September 2014

HOUSTON HOME SALES SHOW NO SIGN OF LET-UP IN SEPTEMBER

Inventory shrinks slightly and prices climb as the home buying frenzy continues

HOUSTON — (October 8, 2014) — The fall home buying season began with gusto in Houston as sales and prices did in September what they have done for months – rose. The continued buying frenzy caused housing inventory to shrink very slightly after holding steady for two consecutive months. And in another scenario that has become all too familiar in this market, prices reached record one-month highs.
According to the latest monthly report prepared by the Houston Association of Realtors (HAR), single-family home sales totaled 6,490 units, an increase of 7.0 percent compared to September 2013. Months of inventory, an estimate of the time required to deplete the current active housing inventory based on the previous 12 months of sales activity, dipped to a 2.9-months supply from a 3.2-months supply last September. It remains well below the current national supply of 5.5 months of inventory.
The average price of a single-family home jumped 8.2 percent year-over-year to $269,440. The median price—the figure at which half the homes sold for more and half for less—rose 7.7 percent to $196,000.
September sales of all property types totaled 7,879 units, a 7.0-percent increase compared to the same month last year. Total dollar volume for properties sold soared 15.7 percent to $2 billion versus $1.7 billion a year earlier.
“As long as consumers continue to snap up homes at the current pace, replenishing our housing inventory will be a slow process,” said HAR Chair Chaille Ralph with Heritage Texas Properties. “Rental numbers were strong in September, suggesting that many would-be home buyers are continuing to go the lease route until the market bears the homes they’re looking for at the price point that suits them.”

September Monthly Market Comparison

The Houston housing market experienced across-the-board gains in September, with total property sales, total dollar volume and average and median pricing all up when compared to September 2013.
Month-end pending sales for all property types totaled 4,143. That is up 17.2 percent compared to last year and is considered a bellwether of continued positive sales activity next month. Active listings, or the number of available properties, at the end of September was 28,946 and is 10.8 percent below last year.
Houston’s housing inventory, after holding steady at a 3.0-months supply in July and August, shrank in September to a 2.9-months supply versus 3.2 months a year earlier. That compares to a 5.5-months supply of inventory across the U.S. recently reported by the National Association of Realtors.

CATEGORIES	SEPTEMBER 2013	SEPTEMBER 2014	CHANGE
Total property sales	7,362	7,879	7.0%
Total dollar volume	$1,733,076,889	$2,005,556,946	15.7%
Total active listings	32,457	28,946	-10.8%
Total pending sales	3,536	4,143	17.2%
Single-family home sales	6,064	6,490	7.0%
Single-family average sales price	$248,948	$269,440	8.2%
Single-family median sales price	$182,000	$196,000	7.7%
Single-family months inventory*	3.2	2.9	-10.0%

* 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.

Single-Family Homes Update

September single-family home sales totaled 6,490, up 7.0 percent from September 2013.

Home prices reached record highs for a September in Houston. The single-family average price increased 8.2 percent from last year to $269,440 and the median price climbed 7.7 percent year-over-year to $196,000. Transactions continued to close at a near-record pace. The number of days a home took to sell¬, or Days on Market, was 47. In July it reached a record low of 45 days.

Broken out by housing segment, September sales performed as follows:

$1 - $79,999: decreased 20.7 percent

$80,000 - $149,999: decreased 8.8 percent

$150,000 - $249,999: increased 10.2 percent

$250,000 - $499,999: increased 16.5 percent

$500,000 - $1 million and above: increased 26.7 percent

HAR also breaks out the sales figures for existing single-family homes. In September, existing home sales totaled 5,715. That is up 10.2 percent from the same month last year. The average sales price increased 6.8 percent year-over-year to $250,966 while the median sales price jumped 7.5 percent to $182,800.

Townhouse/Condominium Update

After two months of declines, sales of townhouses and condominiums rose 7.4 percent in September versus one year earlier. A total of 625 units sold last month compared to 582 properties in September 2013. The average price increased 7.5 percent to $195,064 and the median price shot up 10.7 percent to $150,500. Inventory reached to a 2.5-months supply versus a 3.1-months supply a year earlier.

Lease Property Update

Lease properties showed strong demand in September as inventory of for-sale properties remained tight. Single-family home rentals soared 13.2 percent compared to September 2013, while year-over-year townhouse/condominium rentals increased 8.8 percent. The average rent for a single-family home was up 2.7 percent to $1,749 and the average rent for a townhouse/condominium was flat at $1,533.

Houston Real Estate Milestones in September

• Single-family home sales rose 7.0 percent versus September 2013;
• Total property sales were up 7.0 percent year-over year;
• Total dollar volume climbed 15.7 percent, increasing from $1.7 billion to $2 billion on a year-over-year basis;
• At $196,000, the single-family home median price achieved a record high for an September;
• At $269,440, the single-family home average price also reached an September high;
• Days on Market for single-family homes was 47, slightly above July’s record low of 45 days;
• Rentals of single-family homes shot up 13.2 percent year-over-year and the cost of renting those homes increased 2.7 percent to $1,749.
• Townhouse/condominium rentals rose 8.8 percent, with rents flat at $1,533.

The computerized Multiple Listing Service of the Houston Association of REALTORS® includes residential properties and new homes listed by 29,000 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 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 29,000-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 dues-paying membership trade association in Houston as well as the second largest local association/board of REALTORS® in the United States. 

http://www.jaredanthonycox.com

'Summer-ize' Your Home to Look and Smell Wonderful in Warmer Weather

(BPT) - The three R's aren't just reading, 'riting and 'rithmatic. In the summer, they refer to "reorganizing," "restyling" and "reviving" your home. It's the perfect time to bring a summery, comfortable feeling to your home's interior. Luckily, you don't need to redo every room or throw out all your furniture to get a wonderful seasonal change. Spend a weekend giving your living spaces a lighter, fresher feel. At the end, you might even think you're on a summer vacation.

Home and lifestyle expert Evette Rios has some simple suggestions that can make powerful impressions throughout your house.

Reorganize

Boost the excitement and va-va-voom in your rooms by moving just a few things around. You'll be amazed at the new looks you can create. Something as simple as changing the angle of your couch and voila - new room! Try this scuff-proof method for moving heavy pieces: Fold two clean towels (dirty ones can scratch floors), place one under each end of the furniture piece, and then slide it across the floor. This might also be the time to incorporate a few white wicker pieces, which will add a summery touch.

Take some time to sort through your linen closet and remove unwanted items. Put old or unused linens into a "giveaway" bag. Store bed linen sets inside one of the pillowcases, and you'll never have to hunt through piles looking for a match. All you'll have to do is grab and go. Want a closet full of freshness? Place a few Gain dryer sheets in with your folded sheets to keep them smelling great.

Restyle

Fresh new accessories can help to brighten up each room in your home. Turn plain lampshades into fabulous ones by adding bright or printed linings that come to life when you flip the switch. You might even want to swap out the art on your walls, adding more colorful pieces that are floral or botanical. If you're feeling really ambitious, consider painting a few walls to add a clean, fresh look to your rooms. Try bold colors you've never had before to really change up the look.

Want to get the kids involved? Turn some drab kitchen aprons into fun "cleaning armor." Give each child his or her own apron to decorate with markers or stickers to wear, and send the kids on their mission to dust, clean windows, organize, etc. They'll love wearing something they decorated themselves. Don't forget to ask their opinions on the changes you're making - you might be surprised at their great suggestions.

Revive

If you're packing away heavy clothes or quilts for the season, ensure they maintain a fresh scent by using new Gain Original Fireworks In-Wash Scent Booster in the wash before you store them. It's safe for use on all colors and fabrics and the freshness lasts up to 12 weeks in storage (just in time to take them out for the fall).

Make your laundry room a place you're not afraid to enter. De-clutter the room by installing a tension rod to hang spray bottles, cleaning supplies and more. You can also decorate the room with your kids' artwork to make it a fun space.

Your summer home makeover doesn't need to be expensive or time-consuming. Ambitious projects might take a little longer, but you'll be pleased at how simple it is to transform some of your rooms from drab to wonderfully fresh. Just don't wait too long - summer doesn't last forever! For more inspiration, visit ILoveGain.com or facebook.com/gain.

http://www.jaredanthonycox.com

#Houston #Galveston #Realestate #Home #Summer #Fun #Homes

6 simple steps for you to follow for a clean and organized garage

Your garage's main function is usually to safeguard and store your car, truck or motorcycles. That can't take place if your garage has turned into a glorified storage unit, stuffed to the rafters with boxes, toys, tools, bikes, strollers and everything else you either don't have room for or just don't want in the house.

Below are 6 easy to follow steps that will help you clean and organize your garage and seize control once again.

Step 1 - get everything out of the garage and sort it all into groups. Categorize it all and put everything into groups with like items. For example, toys with toys, carpentry tools with carpentry tools, yard tools with yard tools etc. Make a pile for trash, anything you don't want that you can sell in a garage sale and items to give away.

Step 2 - Get the appropriate organizational tools and supplies. After you've grouped everything, decide on exactly what tools and resources will help you organize these items better.

For example,do you need shelves? If so what kind... a free standing shelving system or shelves mounted to the wall? Do you need storage bins, cabinet systems, tool chests, peg boards, hanging roof systems, hanging bike racks, hooks etc.

Step 3 - Clean garage. As soon as you empty your garage it's important to take time to sweep out all the loose debris and remove cobwebs. You'll appreciate your garage much more if it's clean so make sure to sweep and dust routinely.

Step 4 - Decor. This does not mean you need to remodel your garage into pseudo-living room, however you could think about a fresh coat of paint on the walls. Next think about the floor?

Lots of people prefer to paint and seal the floor of their garage to protect it from stains and also makes cleaning easy. Transforming your wall and floor surfaces will have a enormous effect on the appearance of your garage.

Step 5 - Arrange Items For Storage. As soon as you are done with cleaning the garage (floor and walls) now's the time for you to put everything back. Place those items that you use on regularly within easy reach.

Put items less frequently used further back in the garage or higher up on shelves or in cabinets. Putting labels on shelves, bins and boxes will make it a lot easier for you to find what you're looking for.

Step 6 - Lastly, make some rules for yourself and family members and implement them. Rules along the lines of, "Always return the items you used back to where you got them," needs to be put into practice at all times if you plan on keeping your garage clean and organized.

If you follow these 6 simple steps, in no time you will have a clean and well organized garage. Not only will you be able to park your car in your garage but you'll also be able to find anything want when you need it. One more thing, don't forget to have a garage sale to help get rid of all those unwanted items and put some cash in your pockets!

by: Walter Jensen

http://www.articlecity.com/articles/home_improvement/article_7210.shtml

http://www.jaredanthonycox.com

Moving this Summer? Navigate the Peak Season Like a Pro

(BPT) - Summer is busiest time of the year for home and business moves. In fact, an estimated 65 percent of the 43 million Americans who are moving this year will do so in the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

What does that mean for those with a move in the immediate future? Considering the fact that moving is ranked just behind death and divorce in terms of life's most stressful events, a summer move might mean stocking up on extra stress balls and taking a few extra deep breaths along the way.

"Whether you are hiring help or doing it yourself, you can expect a fair amount of anxiety," says Sean E. Burns, a psychologist with Counseling Associates of West Michigan. "It's helpful to simply recognize that it's normal that your life is out of order during this period. Once moved, it's important to resume life's routines as soon as possible. Don't worry about getting everything in place right away; put a priority on resuming your workouts and family trips to the park, and the rest will take care of itself over time."

A summer move also means that you need to plan further in advance and be more flexible with your move dates.

"We moved 1.3 homes or businesses per minute last summer," says Randy Shacka, president of Two Men And A Truck, the nation's largest franchised moving company, "In fact, we moved 2,851 homes and businesses in the two days between June 28 and June 29. Based on year-over-year trend analysis of every move within our 260 store system, we believe that same weekend will likely be our busiest again this summer."

So, beyond avoiding a late June move, how do you begin to navigate the waters of the busiest moving season?

"In a perfect world we'd all plan ahead, but the reality is we're busy with work and life and next thing you know you have seven days to get moved," Shacka says. "So while it's important to be flexible, box things in advance, etc., you might just consider doing a few simple things to make your life a bit easier on move day."

Shacka suggests the following:

Kids rule: If hiring a sitter isn't an option on move day, get the kids involved as "supervisors." Help them with a simple checklist or turn a box into a "treasure chest" of their own belongings so the move becomes a positive experience for them. For more kid-friendly move-day ideas, visit www.twomenandatruck.com/moving-with-kids.

Free Fido: If watching the kids weren't enough, try managing the dog as she tries to skirt through every open door. Ask a family friend to watch the animals, or consider boarding them for the day. The money spent is a good investment in reducing your overall stress.

Space it out: Often homeowners will move all their furniture into one room to save time for their movers. This can be a cost savings for boxes, but when it comes to furniture it can slow the move down. A good moving company will use stretch wrap to protect furniture, so when packed tightly together into one room the pieces have to be moved twice to properly prepare for the move. Go ahead and consolidate boxes, but save yourself the hassle and leave furniture where it lives.

Picture this: Photos are often the last thing to be packed because it seems safer to just leave them hanging until they are ready to be moved. In truth, they often delay a move because movers have to remove them to get furniture past. This time ask your movers to provide you with-the appropriate packing materials in advance and pack your photos yourself. It's often light lifting, and it's a fun way to relive memories while thinking about life's next great adventure.

For more moving advice, visit www.twomenandatruck.com.

http://www.jaredanthonycox.com

#moving #realestate #Houston #Galveston #Texas #Property

Go-big Upgrades That Can Help a Lingering Home Sell at Last

(BPT) - Everyone knows spring and summer are the best months in which to sell a home. If your house has lingered on the market, you may be eager to find ways to freshen its appeal for potential buyers. Perhaps you're even ready to go big and invest in upgrades that will improve the home's value, curb appeal and interior allure so much that potential buyers just won't be able to walk away from it.

If you're at that point, first figure out how much you can reasonably invest. Will the improvement increase your home value enough to allow you to recoup its cost? Maybe not, but if your priority is a faster sale, return on investment might have a different meaning for you.

Next, look at areas of your home where improvements will have the biggest impact - spots that are the least appealing or those that have the most appeal. Upgrading a less-than-great room can bring it up to snuff, but upgrading a good room could make it absolutely smashing. For example, painting a small bathroom in a bright color could make that cramped space feel bigger. Adding a skylight to your kitchen, bath, or other area in your home however, will really make a splash with abundant natural light and fresh air.

Here's a room-by-room game plan for high-impact upgrades that could make buyers fall in love with your home:

Anywhere

Buyers are, universally, looking for beauty and value. Any improvement that gives both can directly impact your ability to sell your home. Adding a skylight is a great way to enhance a home's visual appeal, livability and energy efficiency while improving indoor air quality by introducing much needed fresh air into the home.

Natural light can make a small room look bigger and brighter, and create a more healthful environment. Adding a traditional or tubular skylight to any room in the house brings more natural light into your home. Plus, Energy Star-qualified, solar-powered fresh-air skylights, like those made by Velux America, can provide fresh air through cost-efficient passive ventilation to reduce humidity and stale air, and heating, cooling and lighting costs. Add remote-controlled, solar powered blinds, and you can boost a skylight's energy efficiency by 39 percent, Velux states.

Finally, this is one high impact investment that can actually put cash back in your pocket. Installation of energy-efficient no leak solar powered fresh air skylights and blinds can qualify you for up to a 30 percent federal tax credit on the -products and installation costs. Visit www.veluxusa.com to learn more and calculate your tax credit for new or replacement skylights.

Kitchen and bathroom

Any Realtor will tell you great kitchens and bathrooms can sell a house. If yours are only so-so, they could be what's standing in the way of getting an offer. If you've already done the basics - cleaning and decluttering, repainting and replacing dated cabinet hardware - it may be time to pull out the big guns.

New appliances and fixtures will cost you a few thousand, but can go a long way toward wooing buyers. New appliances look great, are more energy-efficient, and provide buyers the peace of mind knowing they won't face repair or replacement costs any time soon. New fixtures such as rainfall shower heads and touch-free faucets add an element of luxury to the most common bathroom.

Adding a tile backsplash or new wood-look laminate flooring in the kitchen, and new tile floor in the bath can also create a big impact - and for less money if you do the work yourself. Replacing lower-quality or older countertops is also an eye-catching upgrade. The trick is to find the improvement that will have the biggest visual impact in your space.

Living room/family

When buyers enter your home, chances are the living room or family room will be one of the first rooms they see. Their impression of that room can set the tone for how they perceive the rest of the house. Again, assuming you've done the basics - painting, window treatments and accessories - a major upgrade in this room can have a winning impact.

If your home already has a fireplace, take a close look at it. What can you do to make it more appealing? Does it need a new facade? Larger gas logs or a better blower? Can you upgrade the mantel? If your home lacks a fireplace, adding one can be a great selling point. It's possible to add a gas fireplace for less than $5,000 in most homes. Adding a gas insert to a wood-burning fireplace is even cheaper.

http://www.jaredanthonycox.com