James Potenza, ABR
TEXAS HOME-BUY REALTY
8323726388
  
200 East Edgewood Dr, Friendswood, TX 77546     Phone: (832) 372-6388    Fax: (281) 692-0817   
MARCH 2009 Newsletter
 
Housing Trends eNewsletter is filled with local and national real estate sales and price activity provided by MLSs and the National Association of Realtors, U.S. Census Bureau key market indicators, housing market video reports, blogs, real estate glossary, maps, mortgage rates and calculators, consumer articles, and information on 50,000 neighborhoods.
Daily Real Estate Market Outlook
Economists' Commentaries provide an in-depth look at trends and current news related to housing and the real estate market.   Click here
What’s New
National Real Estate Market
Housing Stimulus and Stabilization Will Help Economic Recovery
WASHINGTON, February 12, 2009 - The following is a statement by National Association of Realtors® President Charles McMillan:

"The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is important for the U.S. economy and contains some important housing provisions. Eliminating the repayment provision in the $7,500 first-time home buyer tax credit will help bring buyers to the market and reduce housing inventory. More...
4th Quarter Metro Area Home Prices Down as Buyers Purchase Distressed Property
WASHINGTON, February 12, 2009 - Most metropolitan area median home prices, impacted by distressed sales, trended down in the fourth quarter from a year earlier. At the same time, existing-home sales rose in only six states from the fourth quarter of 2007, according to the latest survey by the National Association of Realtors. More...
January Existing-Home Sales Fall, Inventory Down
WASHINGTON, February 25, 2009 - Existing-home sales declined in January with some buyers waiting to see how details of the economic stimulus package would affect them, according to the National Association of Realtors®. At the same time, inventories fell to a two-year low. More...
National Real Estate Market Articles    Source:NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.
This Month’s
Consumer Articles
Take the Stress out of Buying a Home
Which emotion surges higher when buying a home excitement or anxiety? Either or both can take significant hold during the homebuying process. Imagining the possibilities of your new house can bring great joy, while the financial implications of making such a purchase create worries for most people. You can take steps to reduce the stress, though, and focus on the enjoyable aspects of buying a new home. More...
Shop Around for Lower Insurance Rates
Does it surprise you that Texas homeowners pay more for homeowners insurance than residents of any other state in the U.S.? You may wonder why residents of Florida with all of its hurricanes and California with earthquakes, mudslides, and wildfires don’t pay more. Average Texas rates easily surpass those states, though, according to information from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. More...
Rental Propery Owned by Celebrity
$28,000 buys you a week in Steve Martin's villa on the Caribbean island of St. Barthelemy.
More...
Take Another Look at the Housing Market- This Might be Best Time to Buy
First-time Homebuyers are big winners. They're in a unique position to take advantage of the declines in housing prices and move right in. Being a buyer's market for the first time in many years, renter's impossible dream of homeownership are coming true. More...

National
Housing Indicators
Existing Home Sales
(January)
4.49 million units*
Existing Home Median Price
(January)
$170,300
Housing Starts
(January)
466,000 units*
New Home Sales
(January)
309,000 units*

*seasonally adjusted annual rate
Source NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.



National
Economic Indicators
Homeownership Rate
4th Qtr 08 4th Qtr 07
67.5% 67.8%

The homeownership rate in the fourth quarter 2008 (67.5%) was not statistically different from the fourth quarter 2007 rate (67.8%). No region showed a significant change from corresponding rates in the fourth quarter 2007.
New Home Sales
Jan 09 Dec 08
 
 
 
-10.2% -9.5%

Sales of new one-family houses in January 2009 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 309,000. This is 10.2% below the revised December 2008 estimate of 344,000.
Source U.S. CENSUS BUREAU

Real Estate Sales Statistics
January 2009 Existing Home Statistics
Source: NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.

Metropolitan Prices & State Sales
 View Prices / % Changes for 159 Cities & Metropolitan Areas
    State Home Sales |  Total Sales of Single-family and Condo/Co-ops
    Housing Affordability Index |  Click Here to view details
  Mouse over the map to view
Regional Definitions
   
   
National Home Sales
  Homes
4,490,000 		Single Family
4,050,000 		Condo/Co-op
440,000
vs. last month:  -5.3%  -4.7%  -10.2%
vs. last year:  -8.6%  -7.1%  -20.3%
Click Here to view details

National Sales Price of Homes
  Homes
$170,300		 Single Family
$169,900		 Condo/Co-op
$174,400
vs. last year:  -14.8%  -13.8%  -20.6%
Click Here to view details


Regional Home Sales
  U.S.
4,490,000 		Northeast
640,000 		Midwest
1,000,000 		South
1,640,000 		West
1,200,000
vs. last month:  -5.3%  -14.7%  -5.7%  -5.7%  0.0%
vs. last year:  -8.6%  -23.8%  -16.7%  -15.9%  29.0%
Click Here to view details

Regional Sales Price of Homes
  U.S.
$170,300		 Northeast
$228,200		 Midwest
$138,100		 South
$152,100		 West
$220,000
vs. last year:  -14.8%  -14.7%  -6.8%  -7.4%  -25.5%
Click Here to view details

Regional Single Family Home Sales
  U.S.
4,050,000 		Northeast
480,000 		Midwest
930,000 		South
1,530,000 		West
1,110,000
vs. last month:  -4.7%  -15.8%  -5.1%  -4.4%  0.9%
vs. last year:  -7.1%  -21.3%  -13.9%  -15.9%  30.6%
Click Here to view details

Regional Sales Price of Single-Family Homes
  U.S.
$169,900		 Northeast
$232,100		 Midwest
$136,400		 South
$153,000		 West
$224,200
vs. last year:  -13.8%  -15.6%  -5.5%  -6.1%  -25.6%
Click Here to view details

Regional Condo/Co-Op Sales
  U.S.
440,000 		Northeast
160,000 		Midwest
70,000 		South
110,000 		West
90,000
vs. last month:  -10.2%  -10.6%  -12.5%  -18.5%  -6.3%
vs. last year:  -20.3%  -29.5%  -39.7%  -16.7%  16.9%
Click Here to view details

Regional Sales Price of Condo/Co-ops
  U.S.
$174,400		 Northeast
$216,600		 Midwest
$160,000		 South
$139,000		 West
$168,200
vs. last year:  -20.6%  -13.9%  -15.8%  -22.6%  -30.4%
Click Here to view details

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