Real Estate Market News for May – Leslie Lerner Properties – Houston Realtor

[wpcol_2third id=”” class=”” style=””]MAY NEWS YOU CAN USE
Housing Stats ∙ Protesting Taxes ∙ Memorial Day Sales Tax Holiday

HOUSTON HOME SALES DECLINE IN APRIL, BUT BETTER THAN APRIL 2016

Houston home sales increased slightly in April 2017 versus a year earlier. A total of 6,583 single family homes sold compared to 6,387 in April 2016. Sales activity slightly decreased compared to March 2017. This April, the strongest sales activity was among homes priced in the $750,000 and above range.

Single-family homes inventory rose from 3.8-months supply in March to 4.0 months in April. Across the U.S., inventory is at a 3.8-months supply. The average days on the market fell to 55 days.

According to the latest monthly report prepared by the Houston Association of REALTORS® (HAR):

Month-to-Month Comparison:

Category	Jan. 2017	Feb. 2017	Mar. 2017	Apr. 2017	May 2017	June 2017	July 2017	Aug. 2017	Sept. 2017	Oct. 2017	Nov. 2017	Dec. 2017
Total Property Sales	4,997	6,111	8,495	8,014	9,744	9,993	8,821	7,077	8,150	7,614	7,270	8,125
Total Active Listings	34,958	35,685	37,926	39,567	41,257	43,326	44,299	42,822	40,848	39,692	37,914	33,432
Single-Family Home Sales	4,080	4,933	7,013	6,583	8,156	8,414	7,440	5,917	6,913	6,381	6,184	6,875
Townhome/Condominium Sales	379	495	652	594	715	665	572	399	470	536	481	535
Single_Family Months of Inventory	3.5	3.5	3.8	4.0	4.1	4.4	4.5	4.4	4.1	3.9	3.7	3.2
Single-Family Pending Sales	6,286	6,908	8,311	8,382	8,808	8,363	7,940	6,295	6,606	7,201	6,218	5,413
Days on Market	64	66	60	55	51	50	48	50	54	61	61	62

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

Price Range	Jan. 2017	Feb. 2017	Mar. 2017	Apr. 2017	May 2017	June 2017	July 2017	Aug. 2017	Sept. 2017	Oct. 2017	Nov. 2017	Dec. 2017
$1 - $99,999	167	203	217	193	227	206	202	160	192	212	242	247
$100,000 - $149,999	575	565	732	657	776	720	666	550	587	595	595	647
$150,000 - $249,999	1,362	1,684	2,386	2,253	2,705	2,761	2,549	2,166	2,526	2,390	2,269	2,298
$250,000 - $499,999	1,108	1,539	2,173	2,055	2,569	2,652	2,210	1,869	2,150	1,902	1,849	2,134
$500,000 - $749,999	210	225	368	309	439	521	396	304	358	293	306	369
$750,000 and above	132	162	226	253	273	335	301	222	204	206	188	216

Year-to-Year Comparison:

• Single-family home sales rose 3.1 percent year-over-year with 6,583 units sold;
• Single-family home sales broken out by price range:
  • $1 – $99,999: decreased 34.5 percent
  • $100,000 – $149,999: decreased 11.4 percent
  • $150,000 – $249,999: increased 4.8 percent
  • $250,000 – $499,999: increased 11.3 percent
  • $500,000 – $749,999: increased 3.5 percent
  • $750,000 and above: increased 15.8 percent
• Total property sales increased 4.2 percent with 8,014 units sold;
• Total dollar volume jumped 8.1 percent to $2.2 billion;
• Single-family homes months of inventory grew to a 4.0-months supply, the highest level since August 2016;
• Days on Market for single-family homes declined slightly to 55 days versus 56 last year;
• Townhome/condominium sales increased 3.8 percent;
• Leases of single-family homes soared 14.6 percent with average rent down 4.9 percent to $1,715;
• Volume of townhome/condominium leases rose 5.9 percent with average rent down 1.1 percent to $1,557.

>>>Read the entire release.

HARRIS COUNTY PROPERTY TAX DEADLINE IS MAY 31st
Per Harris County Appraisal District:

Harris County property owners who believe there is an error in the market value set by the appraisal district have until Tuesday, May 31st to protest the value of their property.

A green protest form was included in the property value notice the Harris County Appraisal District (HCAD) sent to each property owner in April, however, a Notice of Protest form may be downloaded from the district’s web site at www.hcad.org. Protests may be filed online, brought to HCAD’s office at 13013 Northwest Freeway, or mailed to P.O. Box 922004, Houston, TX 77292-2004, but must be postmarked by May 31st.

Chief Appraiser Sands Stiefer encouraged property owners to use HCAD’s online iFile system to submit their protest. Homeowners who file their protest through the Internet using iFile may also have an opportunity to settle their value online with HCAD’s iSettle system. If a settlement through the online system isn’t possible, the homeowner will be scheduled for a hearing with the Appraisal Review Board.

ENERGY STAR & WATER EFFICIENT PRODUCTS SALES TAX HOLIDAY MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

Memorial Day weekend, May 27 – 29, 2017, is an excellent time to buy certain Energy Star energy-efficient products, as well as water efficient products, tax free. During this time, Texas shoppers can buy refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines, soaker hoses, mulch and more without paying state and local sales and use taxes. Many retailers also have sales during this time. Some will even hold your items until you are ready for them to be delivered.

The Texas Energy Star Sales Tax Holiday 2017 starts at 12:01 AM on Saturday, May 27th, and ends at 11:59 PM on Monday, May 29th. The Energy Star Products that qualify for the tax exemption are:

• Air conditioners priced at $6,000 or less
• Refrigerators priced at $2,000 or less
• Ceiling fans
• Incandescent and fluorescent light bulbs
• Clothes washers
• Dishwashers
• Dehumidifiers

Qualifying products will display the ENERGY STAR logo, which may appear on the appliance, the packaging or the Energy Guide label. There is no limit on the number of qualifying items one can purchase during this sales tax holiday, and an exemption certificate is not required.

>>>Learn More

The qualifying water-efficient products are:

• Air conditioners priced at $6,000 or less
• a moisture control for a sprinkler or irrigation system
• mulch
• a rain barrel or an alternative rain and moisture collection system
• a permiable ground cover surface that allows water to reach underground basins, aquifiers or water collection points
• plant, trees and grasses
• water-saving surfactants
• soil and compost

You can also buy any product tax free that displays a WaterSense label or logo. These items can be bought for either personal or business purposes.

>>>Learn More

[/wpcol_2third][wpcol_1third_end id=”” class=”” style=””]All of the service, for less money!

 

 

 

 

LESLIE LERNER PROPERTIES WILL:

• List Homes $300,000 – $799,999 for $4,500
• List Homes $800,000 – $1,499,999 for $12,000
• List Homes $1,500,000 – $1,999,999 for $25,000
• List Homes above $2,000,000 for $30,000
• $200,000 – $299,999 for $1.5%
  >>Read More

• We will rebate 1.5% of the Buyer’s Agent’s Commission if we show you 1 – 3 homes.
• We will rebate 1% if we show you 4 – 6 homes.
  >>Read More

>>>SEE WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT LESLIE LERNER PROPERTIES

If you think it is time to buy or sell a home, remember to call Leslie Lerner Properties at 713.489.9900.  Leslie Lerner Properties is the Home of Flat Fee Listings and Rebated Commissions.  A great amount of information can be found at www.LeslieLernerProperties.com.  Leslie Lerner Properties offers all of the service for less money, when buying or selling a home.

 

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