Houston area residents have not let Covid-19 interrupt summertime home buying. Total property sales rose in June, while inventory and days on market decreased. Sales were 15.7% higher last month than June 2019. Homes priced $250,000 – $500,000 showed the largest gain in sales last month.

>>>Click here for 2019 sales data.

Per HAR / MLS:

Category	Jan. 2020	Feb. 2020	Mar. 2020	Apr. 2020	May 2020	June 2020	July 2020	Aug. 2020	Sept. 2020	Oct. 2020	Nov. 2020	Dec. 2020
Total Property Sales	5,800	7,393	8,965	7,192	7,917	11,153	13,043	11,121	11,137	11,232	9,660	11,572
Total Active Listings	39,699	40,091	40,932	41,151	39,516	36,901	36,055	34,181	32,047	31,384	29,948	26,821
Single-Family Home Sales	4,699	6,044	7,566	6,199	6,671	9,328	10,917	9,195	9,101	9,287	7,990	9,652
Townhome/Condominium Sales	398	465	533	373	405	577	685	639	652	636	580	662
Single-Family Months of Inventory	3.5	3.5	3.5	3.6	3.5	3.2	3.0	2.8	2.5	2.4	2.2	1.9
Single-Family Pending Sales	7,212	8,547	7,885	7,125	10,559	11,610	11,185	10,598	9,507	9,680	8,265	7,469
Days on Market	68	68	65	58	58	56	56	51	51	47	46	46

Price Range	Jan. 2020	Feb. 2020	Mar. 2020	Apr. 2020	May 2020	June 2020	July 2020	Aug. 2020	Sept. 2020	Oct. 2020	Nov. 2020	Dec. 2020
$1 - $99,999	109	107	97	82	98	92	100	79	70	85	60	85
$100,000 - $149,999	277	328	361	258	301	346	316	253	294	278	221	268
$150,000 - $249,999	1,757	2,131	2,688	2,180	2,309	2,927	3,406	2,845	2,932	2,907	2,397	2,925
$250,000 - $499,999	1,461	2,056	2,547	2,200	2,278	3,403	4,157	3,464	3,416	3,472	3,216	3,887
$500,000 - $749,999	226	277	402	324	342	548	766	613	580	611	515	650
$750,000 and above	124	161	258	191	157	282	424	398	355	393	335	443

Sitting at home wondering what you can do next? If you are getting tired of your paint colors or just need a fresh coat of paint, these painting hacks can make the process a little more bearable.

 
Soak Brushes in Fabric Softener to Keep Brushes Soft
To keep brushes soft:

1. Rinse thoroughly (no soap).
2. Mix half a cup of fabric softener with a gallon of warm water
3. Swish brushes in the mixture for 10 seconds or so.
4. Lay them flat or hang them on a peg for overnight storage.

There’s no need to rinse before using. The softener actually helps distribute paint more smoothly.

Use Plastic Wrap to Prevent Mishaps
When painting around a large item you want to keep clean, like a toilet or a stand-alone sink, surround it with plastic wrap to keep drips from destroying its finish.

For an extra tight wrap, choose a wrap with an adhesive backing. If you want to be extra careful, pick up some painter’s plastic wrap at the hardware store. It will help it stick to the surface and prevent paint drops from inching its way in. Once you’ve finished the job, just unwrap for a paint-free finish.

Use Vanilla and Lemon Extracts to Reduce Paint Odor
Although there are vanilla-scented products specifically designed to use with paint, you can get the same effect with what’s in your kitchen cabinet.

For darker paints, add a couple drops of vanilla extract (artificial is fine) per gallon to reduce the nasty smell and keep your room smelling sweet for weeks to come.

Because you don’t want the tint of vanilla to ruin the color of your paint, swap it with lemon extract for light-colored paints.

Repurpose Old T-Shirts as Rags to Reduce Waste
Cut up old t-shirts to users rags. Always have a rag in your pocket so you and your brush or roller stay clean.

Keep Q-tips Handy for Mistakes
Have a stash of Q-tips in your pocket to quickly clean-up a splash of another color paint. Q-tips can also be used to touch up imperfections on newly-painted walls without dirtying an entire paintbrush.

Put Petroleum Jelly on Small Spots You Don’t Want Painted
Using a Q-tip, go over all the places you don’t want painted, like screws or hinges. With the petroleum jelly applied, even an accidental slip won’t leave you heartbroken.

Running petroleum jelly along the seals of your doors and windows will prevent them from sticking.

Use a Hair Dryer on Painter’s Tape for Easy Removal
To help remove stubborn painter’s tape, turn a hair dryer (low heat only) toward your handiwork.

Holding it about three inches from the wall will help soften the adhesive and ensure an even line, making removal stress-free.

Adapted from 7 Painting Hacks to Get the Look of a Pro, HouseLogic.