Following two years of declining sales, the Houston housing market achieved modest growth in 2024. Despite fluctuating mortgage rates and elevated home prices, homebuyers sustained activity in both the resale and rental markets.
According to HAR’s December/Full-Year 2024 Housing Market Update, total property sales remained nearly unchanged compared to 2023, while single-family home sales increased by 1.3%. In December, single-family home sales surged 16.3% year-over-year and grew 9.9% month-over-month. At the beginning of 2024, inventory stood at a 3.2-month supply. Between August and November, it expanded to 4.4 months, marking the highest level since September 2012, when the supply reached 4.7 months. By December, inventory settled at a 4.0-month supply, which aligns with the traditionally “balanced market” range of 4.0 to 6.0 months, where neither buyers nor sellers hold a distinct advantage.
May recorded the highest sales volume of the year, with 8,482 single-family homes sold. By year’s end, a total of 85,163 single-family homes were sold across the Greater Houston area, reflecting a 1.3% increase from the 84,038 homes sold in 2023. Active listings, representing the total available properties, rose by 21.6% compared to 2023, reaching 45,714 units.
Per HAR / MLS:
| Category | Jan. 2024 | Feb. 2024 | Mar. 2024 | Apr. 2024 | May 2024 | June 2024 | July 2024 | Aug. 2024 | Sept. 2024 | Oct. 2024 | Nov. 2024 | Dec. 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Property Sales | 6,098 | 7,541 | 8,939 | 9,611 | 10,175 | 9,133 | 8,969 | 8,730 | 8,228 | 8,627 | 7,750 | 8,478 |
| Total Active Listings | 38,410 | 39,757 | 41,070 | 43,044 | 45,692 | 47,563 | 47,348 | 48,774 | 48,749 | 49,423 | 49,121 | 45,714 |
| Single-Family Home Sales | 5,009 | 6,221 | 7,334 | 7,926 | 8,538 | 7,718 | 7,635 | 7,340 | 6,973 | 7,185 | 6,559 | 7,162 |
| Townhome/Condominium Sales | 361 | 440 | 541 | 584 | 601 | 541 | 501 | 499 | 431 | 517 | 395 | 616 |
| Single-Family Months of Inventory | 3.3 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 3.7 | 4.0 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.0 |
| Single-Family Pending Sales | 6,934 | 7,763 | 8,741 | 9,110 | 8,484 | 8,478 | 7,180 | 8,092 | 7,489 | 7,551 | 6,816 | 5,910 |
| Days on Market | 58 | 57 | 55 | 49 | 45 | 46 | 44 | 47 | 51 | 51 | 52 | 59 |
| Price Range | Jan. 2024 | Feb. 2024 | Mar. 2024 | Apr. 2024 | May 2024 | June 2024 | July 2024 | Aug. 2024 | Sept. 2024 | Oct. 2024 | Nov. 2024 | Dec. 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1 - $99,999 | 32 | 35 | 35 | 32 | 34 | 30 | 26 | 37 | 49 | 33 | 37 | 40 |
| $100,000 - $149,999 | 70 | 99 | 94 | 115 | 93 | 100 | 81 | 96 | 83 | 97 | 84 | 97 |
| $150,000 - $249,999 | 757 | 880 | 992 | 1,005 | 1,058 | 958 | 864 | 918 | 944 | 1,062 | 949 | 938 |
| $250,000 - $499,999 | 2,475 | 3,066 | 3,530 | 3,703 | 4,036 | 3,615 | 3,617 | 3,537 | 3,412 | 3,319 | 3,096 | 3,488 |
| $500,000 - $749,999 | 491 | 681 | 740 | 978 | 1,053 | 942 | 987 | 814 | 721 | 837 | 712 | 743 |
| $750,000 and above | 269 | 364 | 473 | 634 | 697 | 591 | 634 | 515 | 445 | 497 | 419 | 510 |
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Winter weather is upon us. Have you properly protected your plants and pipes? Texas AgriLife Extension Service published some tips on how to protect your plants and pipes from the cold.
Protecting Plants From Freeze Damage
Frosts and freeze can damage or kill exposed plants, especially those in containers, said Lisa Whittlesey, AgriLife Extension program specialist and international coordinator of the Junior Master Gardener program, Bryan-College Station. Damage can vary greatly among plant varieties, and cold-sensitive plants will require more protection than hardier plants.
Watering plants and making sure they are not drought-stressed before freezing temperatures arrive can help, Whittlesey said. Watering just before the freeze can also help because water creates warmth and loses heat slowly.
“Drought-stressed plants are more susceptible to the cold,” she said. “And if you can’t bring a plant inside, the best option is to cover them, remember to place them in a location that gets ample sunlight and to water them.”
Plants in containers should be moved inside the home or garage — any space where temperatures will stay above freezing.
If container plants can’t be moved indoors, put them on the south side of the house, water them well and pile on mulch, leaves or hay to protect the roots and/or cover them with a frost blanket. Cold-sensitive landscape plants can also be covered with similar protection.
When covering plants, drape them with cardboard or cloth material to the ground and secure it, she said. The idea is to trap enough warmer air escaping from the soil to protect plants from a killing freeze.
Stringing holiday lights around sensitive plants and covering them with a tarp can provide protection from light freezes, she said.
Keep Pipes From Freezing
When it comes to freeze damage to homes, protecting exposed pipes is critical when temperatures dip below freezing.
Joel Pigg, AgriLife Extension program specialist and Texas Well Owner Network coordinator, Bryan-College Station, said homeowners should protect pipes around the house or in wellhouses now while the weather is good.
Water pipes can freeze and burst when the outside temperature reaches 20 degrees or below, but Pigg said take precautions anytime temperatures dip below freezing. Pipes with northern exposure face an increased risk of freeze.
“It’s best to act early, rather than when the storm is coming in,” he said. “Prepare now because supplies of insulation and parts might be limited during a rush for items needed to protect pipes just before freezing temperatures arrive.”
Exposed pipes, including outdoor faucets, water sprinklers, water pipes in basements, crawl spaces, attics or garages, pipes that run along exterior walls, swimming pool supply lines and well houses are especially susceptible to freezing temperatures.
Leaving water running slightly does help during prolonged freezing temperatures, and heat lamps to raise temperatures in lesser-insulated spaces with pipes like well houses or basements can help prevent breaks, he said.
Outdoor water systems should be drained and covered or allowed to drip slowly to help protect from damage, he said.
Many protective products to insulate water pipes like sleeves, insulation or heat tape are available at local plumbing supply retailers. Newspapers can also provide some protection to exposed pipes, as long as exposure is not prolonged.
Foam faucet covers also add protection to an area susceptible to freezing, he said.
“Covers are around $4, and insulation or heat tape are very inexpensive relative to paying for repairs,” he said. “Adding protective elements to any weak points is a good investment against short-term freezes.”
Learn More on the Texas A&M Today website.
