1. In This Week’s “The EDGE”
The EDGE Information and news that gives you an edge in the real estate business
In This Week’s “The EDGE”
• Houston Among Top Cities for Millennials
• Should Buyers Purchase Now or Save More?
• Houston Market Movements
• Save The Date for Matrix Essentials
“The Edge” is a weekly tool for managers to use to inform their agents and stay current and up-to-date with important real estate industry issues.
Brought to you by the HAR Communications Department.

2. Houston Among Top Cities for Millennials
The EDGE Information and news that gives you an edge in the real estate business
Houston Among Top Cities for Millennials
A new survey by moving company Mayflower tracked the nation’s top 10 cities for attracting millennials (18- to 35-year-olds), and Houston ranks ninth, just in front of Atlanta. San Francisco came in at No. 1.
However, the 2017 Mayflower Mover Insights Study shows that two in five millennials have moved to a new city without the intention of staying there permanently.
According to the survey, 41 percent of millennials are “vacation movers.” That is, they have moved to a new city without intending to settle down there permanently. Furthermore, 53 percent of millennials say they’re likely to make a temporary, or “vacation,” move in the next five years.
The study also found that 74 percent of millennial movers relocated to a new city with a timeline in mind, meaning they had a plan to leave their vacation city in a certain timeframe. The top reasons for making a vacation move are both practical and adventure-seeking: to work at a new job (40 percent), for a new lifestyle or experience (30 percent) and to find a new job (26 percent).
Please read the complete survey HERE.

3. Should Home Buyers Purchase Now
The EDGE Information and news that gives you an edge in the real estate business
Should Home Buyers Purchase Now
or Save More?
While nearly 40 percent of aspiring homeowners believe they need to put down 20 percent on a home purchase, the truth is the average down payment was just 11 percent in 2016, according to the National Association of REALTORS®.
To help your clients understand the strength of their current financial profile when it comes to buying a home, mortgage industry blog MGIC Connects has created a Buy Now vs. Wait calculator that can show them whether they're better off waiting and continuing to save for a bigger down payment or buying now with less money upfront.
The calculator factors in information such as the current rent your clients are paying, amount of their monthly savings, and creditworthiness. Users can submit other information such as desired home price, current amount of savings for a down payment, and an estimated interest rate.
Please read more about this HERE.

4. Houston Market Movements
The EDGE Information and news that gives you an edge in the real estate business
Houston Market Movements
With both inventory and months of supply struggling to keep up with demand around the country, it is not unusual to see some weeks in which pending sales post a year-over-year decline, especially if new listings drop below the standards set during the prior year. Meanwhile, we can continue to expect to see sales prices forge their way upward as affordability declines in what is expected to be a pleasant spring and summer for sellers.
In the Houston region, for the week ending April 9:
• New Listings increased 7.7% to 3,356
• Pending Sales increased 17.7% to 2,273
• Closed Sales increased 2.0% to 1,296

5. The EDGE Information and news that gives you an edge in the real estate business
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