1. In This Week’s “The EDGE”
• February Marked a Generally Positive Month for Houston Real Estate
• Houston Market Movements
• TREPAC-Supported Candidates Fared Well in Primaries
• Deadline Fast Approaching for Texas REALTORS® Leadership Program (TRLP)
“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. February Marked a Generally Positive Month for Houston Real Estate
HAR will release February 2018 MLS statistics this Wednesday. Here is an advance look at some of the key take-aways:
The Houston real estate market enjoyed the second positive month of the new year with 5,260 single-family homes sold versus 4,997 a year earlier. That represents a 5.3- percent increase in sales volume.
After three months of declines, stability returned to the luxury segment.
The single-family home median price rose 1.4 percent to a February high of $226,200 and the average price edged up 0.4 percent to $281,945, also a February high.
Local months of inventory shrank to a 3.2-months supply; housing inventory nationally stands at a 3.4-months supply, according to NAR.
February leases of single-family homes and townhomes/condos each fell 11.5 percent.
For more detailed information, please visit the HAR Online Newsroom for this and all other HAR news releases.

3. Houston Market Movements
Real estate nationally is still not seeing a big surge in new listings or sales as we enter the springtime months. Housing activity is generally lagging compared to last year at this time. Lower affordability due to higher mortgage rates and increasing prices could be the culprit for a slower start in Some regions experienced unseasonably cold and stormy weather, holding some people back from listing or buying.
In the Houston region, for the week
ending March 4:
• New Listings decreased 7.0% to 3,002
• Pending Sales increased 10.0% to 2,074
• Closed Sales increased 4.3% to 2,159

4. TREPAC-Supported Candidates Fared Well in Primaries
HAR SUCCESS RATE 96.2%!
More than 2.5 million Texans voted in last week’s Primary Elections, the most ever for a gubernatorial race, but fewer than 17% of registered voters cast ballots.
Notable wins: Sylvia Garcia for Congressional District 29, John Whitmire for Senate District 15, Joan Huffman for Senate District 17 and Sarah Davis for State Representative District 134.
Please be aware there is a runoff for Republican Congressional District 2 candidates, Democratic Congressional District 7 candidates as well as others. HAR also has two recommended candidates in runoffs in Montgomery County: Charlie Riley, Commissioner Precinct 2 and Jim Clark, Commissioner, Precinct 4. Please keep an eye out for updates.
Read a complete election wrap-up on HAR Connect!
PRIMARY RUNOFF IS TUESDAY, MAY 22 · EARLY VOTING TAKES PLACE MAY 14-18

5. Deadline Fast Approaching for Texas REALTORS® Leadership Program (TRLP)
Friday, March 23 is the deadline to apply for the Texas REALTORS® Leadership Program (TRLP).
TRLP’s mission is to help community and organizational leaders become contributors to their community and their businesses and to enrich their personal and professional lives.
TRLP offers participants and graduates an ongoing opportunity to meet other motivated leaders and to share in an intensive learning experience that focuses on community issues and leadership skills.
The program offers participants with lectures, seminars, guest speakers, group discussions and leadership exercises that address vital issues affecting Texas REALTORS®.
Learn more about TRLP and apply online today at
Have questions? Please contact Rita Blevins at ext. 263 or