HOUSTON — (November 8, 2017) — The Houston real estate market showed continued resiliency in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, with home sales and rentals in positive territory for a second consecutive month in October. However, the strong demand combined with flood-damaged homes previously pulled off the market, constrained housing inventory which had finally reached more balanced levels before the storm struck in late August.
According to the latest monthly report prepared by the Houston Association of Realtors (HAR), single-family home sales rose 7.5 percent, marking a further recovery since Harvey’s assault. All segments of the housing market experienced gains except for homes priced below $150,000. The greatest sales volume was observed among homes priced at $750,000 and above. On a year-to-date basis, home sales remain 2.8 percent ahead of 2016’s volume even as some flood-ravaged neighborhoods continue to rebuild.
Housing inventory edged up from a 3.8-months supply in October 2016 to 3.9 months this October. However, that is down from the 4.3-months peak reached in the weeks immediately preceding Harvey.
The single-family home median price (the figure at which half of the homes sold for more and half sold for less) increased 3.9 percent to $226,491. The average price rose 2.7 percent to $285,858. Both figures represent records highs for an October.
"The overall Houston real estate market wasted little time recovering from Hurricane Harvey's devastation, but we’d like to see supply grow to meet ongoing consumer demand for housing," said HAR Chair Cindy Hamann with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Anderson Properties. "Hopefully, more balanced inventory levels can be restored by early in the new year."
October sales of all property types in Houston totaled 7,614, an increase of 6.6 percent versus the same month last year. Total dollar volume climbed 10.8 percent to $2.1 billion.
Lease Property Update
Still propelled largely by consumers displaced from housing as a result of Harvey’s destruction, demand for lease properties across Houston remained strong in October. Single-family home leases rose 13.6 percent while townhome/condominium leases shot up 34.8 percent. The average rent for single-family homes was up 2.8 percent to $1,776 while the average rent for townhomes/condominiums increased 2.9 percent to $1,533.
October Monthly Market Comparison
Houston's monthly housing market indicators yielded positive readings across the board in October, with single-family home sales, total property sales, median and average pricing and total dollar volume all up versus October 2016.
Month-end pending sales for single-family homes totaled 7,201, up 20.0 percent compared to last year. Total active listings, or the total number of available properties, increased 6.7 percent from October 2016 to 39,692.
Single-family homes inventory edged up from a 3.8-months supply to 3.9 months, but is down from a pre-Harvey (July-August) peak of 4.3-months that dwindled as demand for undamaged and repaired homes outpaced supply. For perspective, housing inventory across the U.S. currently stands at a 4.2-months supply, according to the latest report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR).