The Houston real estate market continues to win in March 2017. Single-family home sales and pricing rose as housing inventory grew. The strongest sales activity took place among homes in the $250,000 to $499,999 range, followed by the luxury market ($750,000 and above). This is its fifth consecutive month of sales gains. Inventory levels expanded from a 3.5-months supply to 3.8 months.

There was total of 7,013 single-family homes sold in March compared to the 6,278 sold a year prior according to the Houston Association of Realtors (HAR). That shows an increase of 11.7 percent, However, his gain compares to a March 2016 housing market that was facing uncertainty about the possible effects of falling oil prices.

You can click the link HERE to hear form HAR Chair Cindy Hamann with Heritage Texas Properties.

The single-family home median price climbed 5.8 percent to $227,530. This is the highest median price ever for a March. The average price rose 4.6 percent to $284,279, which is also a representation of a March high.

March sales of all property types in Houston totaled 8,495, up 10.5 percent from the last year. Total dollar volume for properties sold in March rocketed 15.6 percent to $2.3 billion.

March Monthly Market Comparison

The Houston real estate market enjoyed across-the-board gains in all statistical indicators during the month of March, with single-family home sales, total property sales, total dollar volume and pricing all up compared to March of 2016.

Month-end pending sales for single-family homes totaled 8,311, an increase of 16.7 percent compared to last year. Total active listings, or the total number of available properties, jumped 9.9 percent from March 2016 to 37,926.

Single-family homes inventory grew from a 3.5-months supply to 3.8 months. For perspective, housing inventory across the U.S. also currently stands at a 3.8-months supply, according to the latest report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR).

* 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

Single-family home sales totaled 7,013, up 11.7 percent from 6,278 in March 2016, when the market was on edge about weakness in the energy industry. The median price rose 5.8 percent to a March high of $227,530. The average price climbed 4.6 percent to $284,279, also a record high for a March. Days on Market (DOM), or the number of days it took the average home to sell, rose slightly to 60 days versus 58 last year.

• Broken out by housing segment, March sales performed as follows:
• $1 – $99,999: decreased 14.8 percent
• $100,000 – $149,999: decreased 8.1 percent
• $150,000 – $249,999: increased 11.8 percent
• $250,000 – $499,999: increased 23.1 percent
• $500,000 – $749,999: increased 11.0 percent
• $750,000 and above: increased 19.0 percent

HAR also breaks out the sales figures for existing single-family homes. Existing home sales totaled 5,839 in March, up 13.3 percent versus the same month last year. The average sales price increased 7.6 percent to $270,122 while the median sales price jumped 8.2 percent to $211,000.

Townhouse/Condominium Update

Townhome and condominium sales were up again in March, with 652 units selling versus 607 a year earlier. That represents an increase of 7.4 percent. The average price rose 3.4 percent to $200,556, while the median price was flat at $154,250. Inventory grew from a 3.5-months supply to 4.0 months.

Lease Property Update

The lease market exploded in March, with strong consumer demand among both single-family and townhome/condominium properties. Single-family home leases surged 36.6 percent while townhome/condominium leases leapt 37.8 percent. The average rent for single-family homes declined 4.9 percent to $1,647, while the average rent for townhomes/condominiums dropped 5.6 percent to $1,487.

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Filed under: Blog by AshleyS
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