Well-Deserved Honors for Two HAR Members

1
Well-Deserved Honors for Two HAR Members

• HAR extends congratulations to members Christi
  Borden with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate
  Gary Greene and Mike Mahlstedt with Heritage
  Texas Properties, for going above and beyond in
  the real estate industry and their
  communities.They are the 2013 recipients of
  HAR's two prestigious awards, the REALTOR of the
  Year Award (Christi) and the John E. Wolf
  Community Service Award (Mike). Both will be
  honored at the annual REALTOR Celebration on
  Thursday, December 12. We are so proud of each of
  you and look forward to celebrating your
  achievements!

2
Houston Leads in the Luxury Market

• Houston edged out Dallas and Austin based on the
  share of home listings with high-end finishes
  such as granite countertops, swimming pools and
  solar panels, according to a new study by Redfin
  (http//bit.ly/18ys0T2).
• Redfin examined home sales and listings in the
  three cities in Texas, which has seen an influx
  of about 2.5 million Americans between 2008 and
  2013.
• Redfin found that people moving here for
  high-paying jobs and a low-cost of living are
  affecting the real estate market. Heres how
• Going High-End 47.8 of Houston-area home
  listings highlight high-end finishes in 2013, up
  from 37.2 in 2008.
• Smaller Homes Home sizes across all three cities
  have been falling steadily since 2011, suggesting
  that new residents may prefer homes in urban
  areas. Homes are the largest in Houston, with a
  median size of 2,184 square feet.
• Double-Digit Gains Houston appreciated the most,
  growing 14.5 over the past year through October.
  Home prices in Austin and Dallas grew 10.1 and
  10.0, respectively.

3
Weekly HAR Market Stat

• As the end of the year approaches, market
  futurists will either put on their overly cheery,
  poinsettia-colored glasses or turn into a bunch
  of dreary Nostradamus Nellies. The wise analyst
  will tune out extremes and embrace seasonally
  appropriate slowdowns as a sign of normal market
  activity while looking with anticipation to what
  will likely be continued moderate recovery in
  2014. Watch for light gains in inventory, quieter
  pending sales activity and more sedate market
  times.
• In the Houston region, for the week ending
  November 24
• New Listings increased 60.8 to 1,655
• Pending Sales increased 76.0 to 1,575
• Closed Sales increased 66.6 to 1,403

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Put Social Media to Work for You
Social Media Pro Boot Camp This course will help
REALTORS better understand the marketing
capabilities that social media can provide.
Students will learn how to brand themselves and
use social media to get more exposure for their
listings. It will cover a broad array of
different social media platforms, giving
REALTORS multiple options for marketing
purposes. Upon completion of this course,
students will receive their Social Media Pro
certification. Laptops are recommended for
hands-on course work. Date Tues. Wed.,
Dec. 17 18 Time 9 a.m. 4
p.m. Location HAR Central Investment
149

Questions? 713-629-1900 ext. 6
Register at www.har.com/edu