National Home Sales Unexpectedly Rise Prices Decline

1
National Home Sales Unexpectedly Rise Prices
Decline

• Total existing home sales rose 6.5 percent in
  December on a national basis, according to the
  National Association of REALTORS
• For 2008 as a whole, sales fell 13.1 percent to
  4.91 million units
• The median sales price fell to 175,400 in
  December, down a record 15.3 compared with a
  year earlier. For all of 2008, median prices
  dropped 9.3 to 198,600, the lowest level since
  2004.
• About 45 of the transactions in December were
  considered distress sales, either a short sale or
  a home in foreclosure
• According to Freddie Mac, the national average
  commitment rate for a 30-year, conventional,
  fixed-rate mortgage fell to 5.29 percent in
  December from 6.09 percent in November the rate
  was 6.10 percent in December 2007. Last week,
  Freddie Mac reported the 30-year rate was 5.12
  percent.

2
Kudos Abound for Houston

• The Association of Foreign Investors in Real
  Estate just ranked Houston as the 8th best
  investment market in the world!
• Texas has taken its place as the No. 1
  destination state for residential relocations for
  the fourth year in a row, according to Allied Van
  Lines 41st Annual Magnet States Report.
• Even as more corporations announce coming
  layoffs, including Home Depot, BBVA Compass Bank,
  Caterpillar and others, the Texas Workforce
  Commission reported that Houston added 57,300
  jobs in 2008, a gain of 2.2 percent

3
HAR.comThe Number 1 Real Estate Web site

• If there was any doubt about the value
• that HAR.com provides to you and your
• listings, just look at last years Web site
• traffic statistics.
• HAR.com generated more than 16
• BILLION hits during 2008. That is
• A LOT of exposure for YOUR listings.
• There were also an average of just under
• 1 million unique visitors per month
• (961,859 people)

4
The Client Experience Rating is Coming
Launching on HAR.com on February 14, 2009
(Valentines Day) Show your REALTOR some
love! Look for more information as the launch
date nears.