HOUSTON SINGLE-FAMILY HOME SALES AND PRICES CLIMB IN MARCH

Strongest sales volume continues among homes priced from $250K and above

HOUSTON — (April 20, 2010) — The rapidly approaching April 30 federal homebuyer tax credit apparently inspired Houston-area consumers to house shop, as sales of single-family homes throughout the Houston market rose in March with the strongest sales volume continuing in the upper housing segments. Prices of single-family homes also continued their months-long appreciation.

Overall March sales of single-family homes across greater Houston climbed 10.8 percent compared to March 2009, according to the latest monthly data compiled by the Houston Association of Realtors® (HAR). All single-family home pricing segments except the under-$80,000 market experienced gains, with the sharpest increases in homes priced from $250,000 and above. Sales of all property types rose 14.5 percent in March on a year-over-year basis.


Source: Houston Association of Realtors

Exceptional Home in Greatwood Glen

Texas Tradeup Appliance Program. Gone in 7 hours!

Wow! The state of Texas received more than $23 million in federal stimulus funds from the U.S. Department of Energy to establish and administer an Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program — the first of its kind in Texas. The Texas Trade Up Appliance Rebate Program encourages consumers to replace old appliances with new, energy efficient qualified models to stimulate the Texas economy and increasing energy conservation efforts in Texas.
The state started taking reservations for the rebates at 7:00am yesterday and ran out of funds by 2:30pm.
But just announced on Memorial Day Weekend (May 29-31)the State has plans to do a Tax Free Weekend for Energy Efficient Products. A/c units, diswashers, washing machines, cfl light bulbs, thermostats and a few other products are included.

Waterski in Katy, Texas

Vacation-Home Sales Increased in 2009

Vacation-home sales recovered in 2009 while investment sales fell sharply, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. Half of vacation homes purchased last year were in the South.

Vacation-Home Buyers
· Only one in four vacation-home buyers plan to rent their properties to others.
· 26 percent of vacation-home buyers intend to use the property as a primary residence in the future.
· The vacation-home market share rose a percentage point to 10 percent.
· The median transaction price of a vacation home was $169,000 in 2009, compared with $150,000 in 2008.
· Three out of 10 vacation-home buyers in 2009 paid cash for their properties
· The typical vacation-home buyer in 2009 was 46 years old, had a median household income of $87,500, and purchased a property that was a median distance of 348 miles from their primary residence.