Patience is the name of the game in the 2021Houston real estate market. We currently have record low inventory, low interest rates and buyers chomping at the bit to find homes. According to the latest HAR release, single family home sales were up 13.6 percent compared to last June. On a year-to-year basis, homes sales remain 25.9 percent ahead of 2020’s pace.  Sales of all property types totaled 13,090 – the greatest volume of all time. That is up 16.9 percent from June 2020. We must remember that many people were not buying and selling as much last year due to Covid. 

Inventory is still at a historic low 1.4-months supply. Last June the Houston area had 3.2 months. The national inventory is currently at a 2.5-months supply. Days on the market remained at 34. 

Per HAR / MLS:

Category	Jan. 2021	Feb. 2021	Mar. 2021	Apr. 2021	May 2021	June 2021	July 2021	Aug. 2021	Sept. 2021	Oct. 2021	Nov. 2021	Dec. 2021
Total Property Sales	7,519	7,464	11,692	11,348	12,100	12,100	12,383	12,036	11,285	10,756	10,216	11,432
Total Active Listings	26,271	23,933	22,602	22,794	22,607	22,607	27,268	27,555	27,238	26,851	25,016	22,496
Single-Family Home Sales	6,088	6,049	9,347	9,105	9,702	9,702	10,159	9,890	9,226	8,703	8,320	9,272
Townhome/Condominium Sales	450	485	788	817	835	887	827	789	729	681	679	805
Single-Family Months of Inventory	1.8	1.6	1.4	1.4	1.4	1.4	1.8	1.9	1.8	1.8	1.6	1.4
Single-Family Pending Sales	8,809	8,288	11,182	11,140	10,909	10,909	10,368	10,431	9,540	9,492	9,069	7,527
Days on Market	48	48	45	40	34	34	26	26	29	32	35	37

Price Range	Jan. 2021	Feb. 2021	Mar. 2021	Apr. 2021	May 2021	June 2021	July 2021	Aug. 2021	Sept. 2021	Oct. 2021	Nov. 2021	Dec. 2021
$1 - $99,999	56	53	60	48	53	50	46	52	61	51	47	39
$100,000 - $149,999	213	170	215	182	179	170	175	171	158	136	150	122
$150,000 - $249,999	1,894	1,724	2,373	2,272	2,065	2,115	2,030	2,003	1,947	1,723	1,549	1,675
$250,000 - $499,999	2,343	2,432	3,930	4,153	4,264	4,836	4,712	4,562	4,395	4,178	4,065	4,617
$500,000 - $749,999	357	423	789	819	915	1,059	960	891	796	751	747	936
$750,000 and above	214	267	478	513	598	689	586	487	436	430	441	520

So much rain, so many mosquitos.  Mosquitos seem to be terrible this year. If you want to keep bugs away from your patio, yard and inside your house you may want to try the following.

#1 Install Patio Fans
Mosquitos may have a tough sting, but they’re wimps when it comes to standing up to a breeze. Patio fans can keep your outdoor entertaining space free from mosquitoes (and other little flyers) with the flip of a switch.

#2 Don’t Mulch Too Much (or Too Little)
While mulching is generally a good thing for curb appeal, overdoing it can cause problems.

It could give cockroaches and ants the ideal environment to nest and find their way into your home, says Brittany Campbell, an entomologist with the National Pest Management Association. As mulch decomposes, it generates heat while providing cover for brooding pests. It can even help mice tunnel into your home.

So keep mulch at least 12 inches away from the foundation — or use inorganic mulch, such as rock or gravel.

But don’t go in the opposite direction and forgo mulching altogether, leaving the ground essentially bare. Yellow jackets make their nests by tunneling into bare dirt.

#3 Get Rid of Standing Water
You probably know this one already. But did you know your gutters and downspouts may harbor multiple mosquito maternity wards?

Clean out gutters and downspouts regularly to prevent clogs that can trap water and give those nasty stingers a place to breed.

Also make sure to keep kiddie pools, buckets, and watering cans empty when not in use.

Even your beloved birdbath can be an issue. “Make sure you get one with running water, so you don’t inadvertently create a mosquito breeding ground,” says Kevin Esperitu, home landscaping expert and author.

#4 Keep Your Yard Trimmed, Mowed, and Tidy
Pull out that lawnmower regularly, and keep your garden shears sharpened.

“Ticks like to hide in tall grass and wait for a passing human or animal, while bushes or tree limbs touching the home can provide easy access for pests to get indoors,” says Campbell.

Plus having a tidy yard makes for good curb appeal.

#5 Add Landscaping Plants That Bugs Hate
Bugs hate strong scents of mint or citrus. Mix plants with those scents into your landscaping, especially near the porch, patio, or deck for added beauty and functionality.

Here are some pest-repelling plants and the bugs that hate them:

• Basil: flies, mosquitoes
• Catnip: mosquitoes, ticks, flies, cockroaches
• Chrysanthemums: roaches, ants, ticks, fleas, bedbugs
• Lavender: moths, fleas, flies, mosquitoes
• Citronella: mosquitoes
• Geranium, lemon scented: mosquitoes
• Lemon thyme: mosquitoes
• Marigold: mosquitoes
• Rosemary: mosquitoes

#6 Paint Your Home Lighter Colors
Studies show that bugs see dark and bright colors more easily, which is why people are often advised to wear light-colored clothing to repel them. The same principle may work for your home.

Choose lighter shades of paint color for your home’s siding, doors, trim, and other features such as fencing, patio, and decking to make it less attractive to mosquitoes.

And if pesky birds are a problem, avoid paint that is the same color as their favorite foods.

Just be sure the paint job fits into the neighborhood and enhances your home’s beauty. Bugs are a pain, but hurting your home’s value is more painful.