The EDGE: Real Estate Insights & News Houston - Renting Affordability, Expensive Homes, Market Movements, Matrix Classes

1. The EDGEInformation and news that gives you an edge in the real estate business • Renting is More Affordable in Houston • Houston’s Most Expensive Homes Sold in 2016 • Houston Market Movements • Dive Into Matrix In This Week’s “The EDGE” “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. Renting is More Affordable in Houston • Buying a home is more affordable than renting in 66 percent of U.S. housing markets, according ATTOM Data Solutions 2017 Rental Affordability Report. However, the report shows that the Greater Houston market offers stronger affordability on the rental side. • The analysis incorporated recently released fair market rent data for 2017 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, (HUD) wage data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics along with public record sales deed data from RealtyTrac in 540 counties with at least 900 home sales in 2016. • “While buying continues to be more affordable than renting in the majority of U.S. markets, that equation could change quickly if mortgage rates keep rising in 2017,” said Daren Blomquist, senior VP of ATTOM Data Solutions, the new parent company of RealtyTrac. • See the complete report, including methodology and a map, HERE. The EDGEInformation and news that gives you an edge in the real estate business

3. Houston’s Most Expensive Homes Sold in 2016 The EDGEInformation and news that gives you an edge in the real estate business The HAR Communications team has begun producing an annual report of the ten most expensive homes to sell across the Houston real estate market. Our first report, for 2016, went out late last week. It has already garnered coverage in three major media outlets: • ABC 13/KTRK-TV • Houston Business Journal • CultureMap You may read the complete report in the HAR Online Newsroom HERE.

4. Houston Market Movements The number of existing homes sold nationally in 2016 totaled 5.4 million, which exceeded the 5.25 million sold in the previous year and is now the highest in a decade. Declining inventory and affordability are both going to be closely surveyed this year, as a continuation of those trends could hurt sales. For now, prices are still running higher and days on market are still lower, both indicative of healthy demand. In the Houston region, for the week ending January 22: • New Listings decreased 11.2% to 2,227 • Pending Sales increased 21.6% to 1,748 • Closed Sales decreased 5.9% to 897 The EDGEInformation and news that gives you an edge in the real estate business

5. Dive Into Matrix HAR continues to offer FREE Matrix classes at all HAR locations throughout the remainder of January and into February. Click the course names below for scheduling information and to register. • Matrix OverviewThis course will show students how to navigate Matrix, how to run several different types of searches and reports, how to create maps and email listings, how to use the financial functions, how to search the roster and how to find help when you need it. Additionally, students will learn how to create custom searches and custom reports, use advanced map features and create a CMA with the Matrix CMA tool. • CMA “Price it Right” – MatrixThis lecture-style class covers the fundamentals of choosing comparables for a CMA as well as Statistics, the Matrix CMA tool, Property Archives, Months Inventory, Mapping and other tools to supplement your CMA. Learn the latest updates in Matrix and lots of tips and tricks in making the system work for you. It is recommended that you take the Matrix Overview class before taking this course. The EDGEInformation and news that gives you an edge in the real estate business