Houston housing market

November Monthly Market Comparison-HAR Report

November marked the first time in 19 months that single-family homes sales were in positive territory with sales rising 4.9 percent year-over-year. When compared to pre-pandemic November 2019, sales were down 3.2 percent and when stacked up against the sales volume in November 2018, five years ago, sales were statistically flat. 

In addition to the increase in single-family sales volume, total property sales rose 3.7 percent and total dollar volume climbed 7.5 percent from $2.7 billion to $2.9 billion. Single-family pending sales rose 11.9 percent. Active listings, or the total number of available properties, were 13.5 percent ahead of the 2022 level.

Months of inventory expanded from a 2.8-months supply last November to 3.5 months, matching its October 2023 level. It is the greatest supply of homes since November 2019. Housing inventory nationally is at a 3.6-months supply, according to the latest report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR). A 4.0- to 6.0-month supply is generally considered a “balanced market” in which neither buyer nor seller has an advantage.

Houston housing market

HOUSTON — (December 13, 2023) /HAR Report— Just in time for the holidays, the Houston real estate market received a gift in November in the form of positive sales for the first time in 19 months. There are even more healthy indicators layered throughout the latest housing market report as 2023 draws to a close.

According to the Houston Association of Realtors’ (HAR) November 2023 Market Update, single-family home sales across Greater Houston rose 4.9 percent, the first increase since March 2022. The Houston Multiple Listing Service (MLS) recorded sales of 6,154 units compared to 5,864 in November 2022. Months supply of homes climbed from 2.8 to 3.5. Compared to pre-pandemic November 2019, when volume totaled 6,359, home sales were down 3.2 percent. 

Only homes priced below $150,000 saw declines during the month. That segment comprises just 3.5 percent of the overall market. The best performing segment consisted of homes priced between $250,000 and $500,000, which rose 8.0 percent year-over-year. That segment is the largest, comprising 59.8 percent of the market. Rentals of single-family homes and townhomes/condominiums registered another strong month. HAR will publish its November 2023 Rental Home Update next Wednesday, December 20. 

“I couldn’t think of a better way to wrap up 2023 than to see positive sales trends after nearly two years of negative trending,” said HAR Chair Cathy Treviño with LPT, Realty. “Home sales hinge heavily on interest rates, so hopefully consumer confidence will be restored as we begin the new year, especially since inventory has steadily improved and prices have moderated, creating more favorable conditions for buyers.”

The average price of a single-family home throughout Greater Houston edged up 1.0 percent to $404,597 while the median price notched downward 1.2 percent to $326,000. Those figures are well below the record highs of $438,350 (average) in May 2022 and $354,000 (median) in June 2022.

Houston housing market

Houston Real Estate Highlights in October-HAR Report

• Single-family home sales fell 3.4 percent year-over-year, the smallest one-month sales drop of 2023 and the 19th consecutive month of declines;

• Compared to October 2019, before the pandemic, sales were down 11.3 percent, and compared to October 2018, five years back, they were down 4.6 percent;

• Days on Market (DOM) for single-family homes rose from 43 to 47 days;

• Total property sales fell 4.3 percent with 7,825 units sold;

• Total dollar volume dropped 2.6 percent to $2.98 billion;

• The single-family median price fell a fractional 0.9 percent to $327,000;

• The single-family average price rose a fractional 0.4 percent to $403,556; 

• Single-family home months of inventory registered a 3.6-months supply, up from 2.8 months a year earlier – the highest level since November 2019 when it also was 3.6 months;

• Townhome/condominium sales experienced their 17th straight monthly decline, falling 16.4 percent, with the median price up 6.6 percent to $239,900 and the average price up 1.2 percent to $272,597;

• Compared to pre-pandemic 2019, townhome and condominium sales were down 10.5 percent.

Townhouse/condominium for sale/rent in Houston

Townhouse/Condominium Update-HAR Report

The townhouse and condominium market continues to struggle, experiencing its 17th consecutive monthly decline in October. Sales volume fell 16.4 percent year-over-year with 453 closed sales versus 542 a year earlier. The average price edged up 1.2 percent to $272,597 and the median price rose 6.6 percent to $239,900. Inventory grew from a 2.0-months supply to 3.7 months, the highest level since November 2020. 

Houston housing market

HAR Report: Days on Market, or the actual time it took to sell a home, increased from 43 to 47 days. Months of inventory registered a 3.6-months supply compared to 2.8 months a year earlier. That is the greatest months supply in four years. The current national supply stands at 3.4 months, as reported by NAR.

Broken out by housing segment, October sales performed as follows:

• $1 - $99,999: increased 12.7 percen

• $100,000 - $149,999: increased 3.1 percent

• $150,000 - $249,999: decreased 4.3 percent

• $250,000 - $499,999: decreased 4.5 percent

• $500,000 - $999,999: decreased 8.5 percent

• $1M and above: increased 21.3 percent

HAR also breaks out sales figures for existing single-family homes. Existing home sales totaled 4,610 in October, down 6.5 percent from the same month last year. The average price rose 3.0 percent to $406,277 and the median sales price rose a fractional 0.9 percent to $318,000.

Houston housing market

HAR Report: For a pre-pandemic perspective, October closings were 11.3 percent below October 2019’s total of 7,187. The October 2023 median price of $327,000 is 36.3 percent above its 2019 level ($240,000), and today’s average price of $403,556 is 35.3 percent higher than it was then ($298,158). Sales are 4.6 percent below where they were five years ago, in October 2018, when volume totaled 6,687. Back then, the median price was $235,000 and the average price was $294,572.

Houston housing market

HAR Report: Days on Market, or the actual time it took to sell a home, increased from 43 to 47 days. Months of inventory registered a 3.6-months supply compared to 2.8 months a year earlier. That is the greatest months supply in four years. The current national supply stands at 3.4 months, as reported by NAR.

Broken out by housing segment, October sales performed as follows:

• $1 - $99,999: increased 12.7 percen

• $100,000 - $149,999: increased 3.1 percent

• $150,000 - $249,999: decreased 4.3 percent

• $250,000 - $499,999: decreased 4.5 percent

• $500,000 - $999,999: decreased 8.5 percent

• $1M and above: increased 21.3 percent

HAR also breaks out sales figures for existing single-family homes. Existing home sales totaled 4,610 in October, down 6.5 percent from the same month last year. The average price rose 3.0 percent to $406,277 and the median sales price rose a fractional 0.9 percent to $318,000.

Houston housing market

HAR Report: For a pre-pandemic perspective, October closings were 11.3 percent below October 2019’s total of 7,187. The October 2023 median price of $327,000 is 36.3 percent above its 2019 level ($240,000), and today’s average price of $403,556 is 35.3 percent higher than it was then ($298,158). Sales are 4.6 percent below where they were five years ago, in October 2018, when volume totaled 6,687. Back then, the median price was $235,000 and the average price was $294,572.

Single family home for sale/rent in Houston

Single-Family Homes Update-HAR Report

Single-family home sales declined 3.4 percent year-over-year in October with 6,377 units sold across the Greater Houston area compared to 6,603 in 2022. Pricing continues to ease after reaching record highs last spring. The October average price rose a fractional 0.4 percent to $403,556 while the median price fell a fractional 0.9 percent to $327,000.

Houston housing market

October Monthly Market Comparison-HAR Report

October marked the 19th consecutive month of negative sales activity with year-over-year single-family home sales down 3.4 percent. That is the smallest monthly volume decline of 2023. When compared to pre-pandemic October 2019, sales were down 11.3 percent and when stacked against the sales volume in October 2018, five years ago, sales were down 4.6 percent. 

In addition to the decline in single-family sales volume, total property sales and total dollar volume also fell below last year’s levels. Total dollar volume was $2.98 billion, down from $3.06 billion a year earlier. Single-family pending sales rose 11.0 percent. Active listings, or the total number of available properties, were 12.5 percent ahead of the 2022 level.

Months of inventory expanded in October to a 3.6-months supply, matching a level not seen since November 2019. Housing inventory nationally is at a 3.4-months supply, according to the latest report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR). A 4.0- to 6.0-months supply is generally considered a “balanced market” in which neither buyer nor seller has an advantage.