It was a topsy-turvy second half of 2018. Thankfully, December ended with more total property sales than the previous month. On a yearly basis, 2018 showed a 3.7% increase in total property sales compared to 2107. Sales in most price ranges rose in December, while the number of active listings and months of inventory decreased.
Per HAR / MLS:
| Category | Jan. 2019 | Feb. 2019 | Mar. 2019 | Apr. 2019 | May 2019 | June 2019 | July 2019 | Aug. 2019 | Sept. 2019 | Oct. 2019 | Nov. 2019 | Dec. 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Property Sales | 5,011 | 6,388 | 8,475 | 9,063 | 9,948 | 9,461 | 10,478 | 10,375 | 8,430 | 8,579 | 7,577 | 8,879 |
| Total Active Listings | 38,872 | 39,304 | 41,127 | 42,086 | 43,624 | 45,262 | 45,498 | 45,062 | 44,172 | 43,468 | 42,139 | 38,504 |
| Single-Family Home Sales | 4,100 | 5,280 | 7,072 | 7,586 | 8,346 | 8,097 | 8,953 | 8,679 | 7,035 | 7,231 | 6,395 | 7,505 |
| Townhome/Condominium Sales | 329 | 429 | 542 | 586 | 661 | 587 | 687 | 638 | 531 | 501 | 447 | 575 |
| Single-Family Months of Inventory | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.9 | 4.0 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 4.0 | 3.8 | 3.4 |
| Single-Family Pending Sales | 6,528 | 7,310 | 8,740 | 9,467 | 9,169 | 8,796 | 9,207 | 8,547 | 7,285 | 7,682 | 6,925 | 5,796 |
| Days on Market | 65 | 68 | 64 | 57 | 53 | 49 | 50 | 52 | 55 | 59 | 59 | 63 |
| Price Range | Jan. 2019 | Feb. 2019 | Mar. 2019 | Apr. 2019 | May 2019 | June 2019 | July 2019 | Aug. 2019 | Sept. 2019 | Oct. 2019 | Nov. 2019 | Dec. 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1 - $99,999 | 155 | 153 | 188 | 135 | 171 | 132 | 141 | 147 | 134 | 129 | 133 | 216 |
| $100,000 - $149,999 | 340 | 392 | 461 | 438 | 445 | 377 | 490 | 423 | 371 | 414 | 382 | 487 |
| $150,000 - $249,999 | 1,496 | 1,905 | 2,428 | 2,653 | 2,982 | 2,794 | 3,100 | 3,019 | 2,497 | 2,632 | 2,197 | 2,948 |
| $250,000 - $499,999 | 1,164 | 1,647 | 2,275 | 2,543 | 3,009 | 2,846 | 3,089 | 2,991 | 2,315 | 2,311 | 2,043 | 3,074 |
| $500,000 - $749,999 | 169 | 239 | 345 | 400 | 517 | 497 | 541 | 465 | 381 | 347 | 294 | 427 |
| $750,000 and above | 107 | 142 | 238 | 284 | 372 | 334 | 315 | 296 | 210 | 224 | 180 | 309 |
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If you purchased a property prior to January 1, 2020; (2) you occupied it as your principal residence on January 1st; and (3) you and your spouse do not claim a residence homestead exemption on any other property, you could be eligible for a property tax exemption. Make sure you file by April 30, 2019.
Harris County:
Application for Residence Homestead Exemption (Fillable)
Harris County Appraisal District iPhone App
Harris County Appraisal District Google Play App
Fort Bend, Montgomery and Brazoria Counties:
Application for Residence Homestead Exemption
Waller County:
Application for Residence Homestead Exemption
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has issued the maximum loan limits that will apply to conventional loans to be acquired by Fannie Mae in 2019. The new base loan limit in all Texas counties is now$484,350.This is a 6.9% increase over the 2018 limit.
Ex: A buyer purchasing a home for $535,000 can get a conventional loan (not jumbo) for approximately 10% down.
