1. In This Week’s “The EDGE”
• Consumers Keep Houston Home Sales Blooming in May
• Houston Market Movements
• Seeking Real Estate’s Young Rising Stars
• Earn the Prestigious GRI Designation
“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. Consumers Keep Houston Home Sales Blooming in May
HAR will release May 2018 MLS statistics this Wednesday. Here is an advance look at some of the key take-aways:
The Houston real estate market held to positive territory in May as 8,157 single-family homes sold versus 8,078 a year earlier. That represents a one percent increase.
Single-family home prices set new records with median price up 3.4 percent to $243,000 and average price up 1.3 percent to $305,511.
Inventory reached a 4.0-months supply, the highest level since last August and the same as the national level reported by NAR.
Leasing activity slowed as single-family home rentals fell 1.8 percent year-over-year while rentals of townhomes and condominiums dropped 22.6 percent.
For more detailed information, please visit the HAR Online Newsroom for this and all other HAR news releases.

3. Houston Market Movements In the Houston region, for the week
At this time last year, there were two universal truths in residential real estate across the country. Whether or not sales were up in year-over-year comparisons, the market was assuredly active, and, thus, overall inventory was trending downward compared to the year before. That remained the case for the entirety of 2017, and that refrain sounds entirely familiar for the duration of 2018.
In the Houston region, for the week
Ending June 3:
• New Listings decreased 1.8% to 2,921
• Pending Sales increased 19.5% to 2,180
• Closed Sales increased 9.0% to 2,524

4. Seeking Real Estate’s Young Rising Stars
Are you a young rising real estate star or do you have one in your ranks?
2018 marks the 9th Annual YPN 20 under 40 Rising Stars in Real Estate awards.
This prestigious honor is presented to 20 HAR members 40 years of age or younger who demonstrate excellence in the areas of sales, leadership and community involvement.
You will find more information and an application HERE.
The deadline to apply is Wednesday, August 1, 2018.
You may only receive this honor once.
Awards will be presented at a red carpet-style luncheon on Thursday, October 4 at Bayou City Event Center.

5. Earn the Prestigious GRI Designation
Graduate REALTOR® Institute (GRI) Brokerage
HAR presents the Graduate REALTOR® Institute (GRI) Brokerage class. GRI is the most widely recognized of the national real estate designations*. The topics for GRI Brokerage include business development, brokerage and agency relationships, policies and procedures and professional standards. Please confirm your eligibility and review the requirements necessary to earn this designation by visiting the designation holder’s site or contacting the HAR Professional Development department.
Dates: June 19, 20, 26 & 27 OR June 21, 22, 25 & 26
Time: 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day
Locations: Design Center at Woodway OR HAR Montgomery
Investment: $295 for HAR members
*In order to earn the GRI designation, the GRI Law, GRI Marketing and GRI Brokerage classes must be taken. These courses may be taken in an order. This GRI is approved for 10 hours of CE or 30 hours of SAE (Provider Number 0001).
Register HERE today! Questions? Please call ext. 6