(HAR report)Sales of all property types jumped 9.5 percent in September, totaling 8,430 units. This comes on the heels of two consecutive months of record-high total sales that broke the 10,000 mark for the first time – the highest being July with 10,444 units sold. Total dollar volume for the month of September climbed 10.8 percent to $2.4 billion.
“I cannot recall a fall in Houston when home sales and rentals were quite this brisk,” said HAR Chair Shannon Cobb Evans with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Gary Greene. “Historically low interest rates and a strong overall local economy have drawn more buyers than usual to the market and kept Realtors like myself extremely busy. We remain on track for another record year.”
Freddie Mac this week reported an average 3.64 percent rate on 30-year, fixed-rate loans – down more than one percent from a year ago. Freddie Mac economists predict the fourth quarter of 2019 will average a 3.7 percent interest rate on 30-year, fixed-rate loans, with 2019 claiming a 4.0 percent average overall. Fannie Mae expects the year to average out at 3.9 percent, while the Mortgage Bankers Association predicts 3.8 percent.