April News You Can Use

Housing Stats • Houston Agent Magazine • Things You Can Put in a Washing Machine

HOUSTON AREA HOME SALES CONTINUE AN UPWARD TREND

Houston home sales started to show more progress in March. This is the second month single-family home sales have shown increases on a month-to-month basis. Year-over-year, March marked the 12th consecutive month of negative sales with single-family home sales falling 18.3 percent on a yearly basis

Months of inventory increased to 2.7 and days on market ticked down to 62. It was 38 days in March 2022.

Per HAR/MLS:

Month-to-Month Comparison:

CategoryJan.
2023
Feb.
2023
Mar.
2023
Apr.
2023
May
2023
June
2023
July
2023
Aug.
2023
Sept.
2023
Oct.
2023
Nov.
2023
Dec.
2023
Total Property Sales5,6506,9819,5898,91210,47610,3829,2239,7808,5507,8257,4727,395
Total Active Listings33,60633,10933,44233,20333,91936,43137,07938,43939,63240,63040,72438,028
Single-Family Home Sales4,5495,7237,9077,3108,6378,5827,5577,9836,8866,3776,1546,103
Townhome/Condominium Sales352441552577670687645610552497463435
Single-Family Months of Inventory2.72.62.72.72.83.13.23.33.53.63.53.3
Single-Family Pending Sales7,1677,5469,0438,9889,1468,6348,4477,8426,6766,6696,0695,723
Days on Market596362554845424245474756

Single-Family Sales by Price Range (Harris, Fort Bend, Brazoria & Montgomery Counties)

Price RangeJan.
2023
Feb.
2023
Mar.
2023
Apr.
2023
May
2023
June
2023
July
2023
Aug.
2023
Sept.
2023
Oct.
2023
Nov.
2023
Dec.
2023
$1 - $99,999252044222929352426242837
$100,000 - $149,9997889104889710694112111937983
$150,000 - $249,9997669161,1259981,0721,0078911,053892909872797
$250,000 - $499,9992,1792,4883,7883,5144,1504,1753,6673,8513,2653,0893,0783,055
$500,000 - $749,9994365548518301,0441,058908921773639648640
$750,000 and above220276466492634654544539431386352346

HOUSTON AGENT MAGAZINE HIGHLIGHTS LESLIE LERNER'S DEDICATION

Houston Agent Magazine featured Leslie Lerner in Who’s Who Wednesday. Leslie discusses her dedication to clients.

MORTGAGE MINUTE WITH ROB HANLEN

Exciting news for all the aspiring homeowners out there! Did you know that you could potentially save thousands of dollars on your mortgage with a 2-1 buydown? A 2-1 buydown is a mortgage financing strategy that allows you to pay a lower interest rate during the first two years of your loan, which gradually increases over time until it reaches a fixed rate.

This can be a great option for those who want to lower their monthly payments in the first few years of homeownership while still being able to afford their dream home. So, if you’re considering buying a home, make sure to reach out about a 2-1 mortgage buydown and see if it’s the right choice for you.

Things You Can Put in A Washing Machine

#1 Kitchen Sponges

They get grungy, and nasty, and can become a breeding ground for germs. Toss that sponge into the washing machine and run it through a sanitize cycle or use the hot water setting. You’ll destroy the germs. 

#2 Sneakers

You can clean canvas, pleather, and fabric sneakers. Wash them with a load of towels to muffle the noise they make thumping around in the drum. Use a gentle cycle and warm water and run an extra rinse cycle to remove soap residue. Use a drying rack for front loader dryers to dry sneakers.

#3 Dog Collars and Leashes

Toss yours into the washer to get them clean and fresh. Be sure to put them into a mesh laundry bag made for lingerie so that the metal buckles and clips on the leashes and collars don’t break the glass on a front loading washer or ding the drum walls of a top loader. Run them on a short cycle and air dry them. Be sure to remove all metal tags or you could break the glass on the machine. 

#4 Stuffed Animals

Your kids’ lovies can get dirty and germy from all the hugging and cuddling. Put them in washbags and use a gentle cycle. Check their label to make sure they can be washed. You can wash your dog’s fuzzy squeaky toys this way, too.

#5 Dog and Kid Toys

You can put small plastic and rubber toys that belong to your kids or your fur kids in the wash. Use a washbag, and you can wash everything from your child’s plastic dinosaur set to your dog’s Kong. Run them on a sanitize cycle or use the hot water setting to blast the germs.

#6 Car Floor Mats

Vacuum them for pet hair and dust, spot treat stains, and toss them in the washer. Wash them in warm water on a gentle cycle, then put them in the sun to dry. A couple of tips: This advice is for rubber and upholstered mats. Make sure your machine is large enough to accommodate the mats. Wash the mats in small batches if necessary rather than overstuffing the machine.

#7 Dog Beds (but Proceed With Caution)

You can throw the entire bed into the washer if it’s for a small dog or you have a big washer. For larger dog beds, take the cover off and wash it alone. Be sure there are no small tears in the bed before you wash it or you’ll end up with a ripped up dog bed and a washer full of stuffing.

#8 Comforters

You can wash both down and down-alternative comforters in your washer, but just make sure your machine is large enough to handle the heft. Front-load washers work best. Spot clean stains, use a mild detergent, and wash on the delicate cycle. Run through two rinse cycles to get all the soap out. 

#9 Shower Curtains and Liners

They get slimy and mildewy, and your washer can make them clean again. Use warm water and a gentle cycle. And don’t put them in the dryer. Air dry liners and shower curtains.

#10 Yoga Mats

If your yoga mat is getting a little too grungy for your liking, wash it in warm water on a gentle cycle so it won’t tear. Use a regular detergent, skip the spin cycle, and air dry the mat.

Adapted from Leanne Potts for HouseLogic.