HAR in the News
The Houston Association of REALTORS® is making headlines! Here’s a look at some of the media coverage our organization has received over the past few weeks.
HAR’s proactive response to the COVID-19 outbreak garnered extensive news coverage in broadcast, print and online from national media outlets as well as local and regional ones.
Inman News deputy editor Andrea Brambila and reporter Lillian Dickerson published stories about HAR.com proactively removing (in-person) open house listings from the MLS on March 20; waiving Q3 MLS fees; creating a dedicated COVID-19 FAQ for members to get the most updated information about the pandemic’s effect on the marketplace and to access forms and other valuable resources; and a story about COVID-19 not delaying HAR or other MLSs around the country in the scheduled rollout of NAR’s new Clear Cooperation Policy on May 1. The coverage included March HAR MLS data in a roundup of how the pandemic was affecting home sales across Texas.
HAR Chairman John Nugent spoke with Houston Chronicle real estate columnist Michelle Sandlin about rapidly evolving marketing conditions in a story that published on April 19. He also interviewed with KTRH /Newsradio 740 anchor/reporter Scott Crowder about HAR’s promotion of virtual open houses, virtual showings and other electronic means of conducting real estate business.
MLS Board Vice Chair Chaille Ralph interviewed with KPRC / Local 2 and the Texas Tribune about the pandemic’s earliest effects on the greater Houston real estate market.
HAR Technology Advisory Group Chairman Thai Klam gave interviews with KRIV-TV / FOX 26 News as well as KTRH / Newsradio 740 reporter Sally Adams about the use of online technology by HAR members in an effort to serve their real estate clients in the most healthful manner possible.
HAR’s February 2020 MLS Market Update – reporting on the eighth straight month of positive home sales with strongest activity among the $250K-$500K range – generated coverage from mid- to late March in the following media outlets:
- Bellaire Essentials
- Community Impact Newspaper
- CultureMap Houston
- Examiner Newspapers
- Houston Agent Magazine
- Houston Business Journal (online and print editions)
- Houston Chronicle (online and print editions)
- Houston Community Newspapers
- Houston Public Media / KUHF 88.7 FM
- KHOU-TV / 11 News
- KPRC-TV / Local 2
- KRIV-TV / FOX 26 News
- KTRH / NewsRadio 740
- KTRK-TV / ABC 13 Eyewitness News
- Realty News Report (RNR)
Houston Chronicle online Community News producer Rebecca Hennes published her monthly “Most Expensive Single-Family Home Sales” feature for March using MLS data supplied by HAR. Her story, featuring full-color photos of the properties, published on April 8.
Also on April 8, Houston Chronicle real estate reporter Darla Guillen Gilthorpe cited HAR’s March home sales data and quoted HAR Chairman John Nugent in a market roundup that included some speculation about COVID-19’s possible effects on foreclosures, particularly in suburban neighborhoods.
These stories and more are available in the HAR Online Newsroom as well as in HAR Connect.
