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”
• Jones Remains Bullish on Houston
• Houston Market Movements
• At Home With Diversity
• Get the Industry Scoop This Week
• HAR Seeks Rising Stars
• Get Certified This Week
“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. Jones Remains Bullish on Houston
The EDGE Information and news that gives you an edge in the real estate business
Jones Remains Bullish on Houston
Former HAR Chair Ted C. Jones, Ph.D., chief economist for Stewart Title Guaranty Co., remains bullish on Houston’s housing market mid-way through 2017.
In an interview with the Houston Chronicle, Dr. Jones said, "At the end of April, the Houston area had 3.04 million jobs, and the demand for housing is purely a function of job growth.”
According to the Texas Workforce Commission, the Houston metropolitan area created 18,700 jobs in April, which marks one of the highest increases in the last 35 years.
"What we are looking at now is a much better job growth this year than almost anybody had anticipated, albeit only a little bit better than half of our normal rate," Dr. Jones said.
Dr. Jones noted that the one housing segment that hasn't shown an increase is mid- to higher-priced condos. "Other than that, we are seeing a very strong Houston real estate market.“
Read the complete story online HERE.

3. Houston Market Movements
The EDGE Information and news that gives you an edge in the real estate business
Houston Market Movements
Prospective first-time home buyers are finding that they would have to spend more of their monthly incomes to purchase. Higher prices during the busiest months of the selling season are giving some buyers pause, which is partly due to low inventory and the slow pace of new home construction. In addition, some would-be sellers are staying put instead of trying to find a replacement home in a competitive environment, which can further stall inventory growth.
In the Houston region, for the week ending June 11:
• New Listings increased 7.6% to 3,393
• Pending Sales increased 22.5% to 2,186
• Closed Sales increased 4.4% to 1,614

4. The EDGE Information and news that gives you an edge in the real estate business
At Home With Diversity
Houston is now more diverse than New York City, and HAR member REALTORS® need to be in tune with today’s home buyer.
Attendees will learn about the consumers that make up the local Houston area market, their values, customs, real estate needs and expectations of REALTORS®.
The course will help attendees develop skills in cross-cultural communication and strategic business planning.
The class is on Thursday, July 20, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at HAR’s Central Office.
Six hours of CE credit will be offered and there is a 30-minute lunch break from 12:30 to 1 p.m.
Lunch is provided, however if you have a food allergy, you may bring your own meal and store it in an on-site refrigerator.
Register online TODAY at

5. Get the Industry Scoop This Week
The EDGE Information and news that gives you an edge in the real estate business
Get the Industry Scoop This Week
Special Guest Speaker Steve Murray of REALTRENDS will brief us on the latest changes in the industry RSVP today to

6. The EDGE Information and news that gives you an edge in the real estate business
HAR Seeks Rising Stars
Are you a rising star in real estate or do you have one in your ranks?
2017 marks the 8th Annual Young Professionals Network (YPN) ‘20 under 40 Rising Stars in Real Estate’ awards.
This prestigious honor goes to 20 HAR members, aged 40 or younger, who have demonstrated excellence in sales, leadership and community involvement.
For more information and an application, please visit
The deadline to apply is Tuesday, August 8.

7. Get Certified This Week Real Estate Negotiation Expert (RENE)
The EDGE Information and news that gives you an edge in the real estate business
Get Certified This Week
Real Estate Negotiation Expert (RENE)
This two-day interactive experience will help negotiators elevate their game. The course examines all types of negotiation formats and methods so that today’s negotiators can play the game to win. A full spectrum of tips, tools, techniques and advantages will be provided so negotiators can provide effective results for their client. The second day focuses on real-world field scenarios to help negotiators apply the power tools, techniques and tactics learned on the first day. Understanding the tactics and techniques is one thing, but learning how to recognize them being done and using them effectively requires practice. These field scenarios provide the foundational experience and practice negotiators need to master so they can effectively advocate for their clients. 
Date: Wednesday & Thursday, June 21 & 22
Location: HAR Bay Area
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Investment: $125
Register at Questions? Call ext. 6