1. First Real Estate Snapshot of Houston (FRESH) Here is HAR’s snap- shot of the Houston housing market as of September 30, 2014. The complete September MLS report comes out this Wednesday, October 8. As always, we will provide you with an update in The EDGE.

2. Houston’s Building Boom is Going Strong City of Houston construction permits set a record in August, the sixth consecutive month to do so. The Greater Houston Partnership reports that the 12-month total topped $7.8 billion, a 39.2 percent increase from $5.6 billion in permits issued over the 12-months ending August 2013. Residential permits rose from $2.1 billion to $2.8 billion, a 34.1 percent increase. Nonresidential permits grew from $3.5 billion to $5.0 billion, a 42.2 percent increase. Permitting activity for the month of August totaled $696.0 million, a 64.6 percent increase from the $422.8 million in permits issued in August 2013. Residential permits increased 88.4 percent from $172.7 million in August 2013 to $325.4 million in August 2014. Permits for non-residential buildings grew 48.2 percent from $250.0 million in August 2013 to $370.6 million in August 2014.

3. Weekly HAR Market Stat Temperatures aren’t the only thing dropping around here. In its latest jobs update, the Greater Houston Partnership reports that Houston's August unemployment rate was 5.4 percent, down from 5.5 percent in July, and down from 6.3 percent in August 2013. Meanwhile, the national unemployment rate has dropped below 6.0 percent to 5.9 percent for the first time since 2008. The Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown Metro Area leads the state in employment growth, creating 107,400 jobs in the 12 months ending August 2014, according to the Texas Workforce Commission. In the Houston region, for the week ending September 28: New Listings increased 1.9% to 1,992 Pending Sales increased 31.9% to 1,779 Closed Sales decreased 10.3% to 1,608

4. Questions? 713-629-1900 ext. 6 HAR Consumer Webinar Series Buyers’ Expectations: How to Give Them What They Want Whether you represent the buyer, seller or just need some extra tools to sharpen your real estate skills, this is the webinar series for you! Join real estate consumer training experts Katrina Barnes and Tara Whitting as they guide you through a series of one-hour webinars based on real feedback and statistics from local home buyers and sellers. This course will help you understanding what the consumer wants from a REALTOR ® before, during and after a transaction. This is the key to creating a lasting relationship in today’s hot market. This webinar will provide you with tips and tools to enhance your clients experience throughout the buying process. Date: Wednesday, Oct. 8 Time: 9-10 a.m. or 12-1 p.m. Location: Online Investment: $10 Register online today at http://www.har.com/edu/dispCourseClasses.cfm?course_id=863. http://www.har.com/edu/dispCourseClasses.cfm?course_id=863