Save your seat on the bus! The Texas Legislative session is underway, and you can make your voice heard in Austin. Join us for REALTOR® Day at the Texas Capitol on March 26 by riding one of the six buses we have across the Greater Houston area. You will get to meet with state lawmakers to discuss important issues impacting real estate. It’s a day filled with meetings, advocacy and fun with your fellow REALTORS®. Seats are filling up fast! You can find more information about how to register on pages 26-27.
Even a rare snowstorm couldn’t chill the Houston housing market in January. The market started the year with sustained growth. You may read more about it on pages 8-12. In comparison, the national housing market started the year with sales down nearly five percent compared to last year. This is the prime example of why we always remind people that real estate is local.
The hottest places for home sales last year—the suburbs. HAR’s report on the Most Loved Communities in 2024 shows that homebuyers are flocking to communities farther from the heart of the city for affordable housing options. You may check out the communities on the list on pages 20-21.
Houston is one of the most diverse cities in the country. Forty percent of Houston residents speak Spanish as their primary language at home. Need to brush up on your Spanish-language skills? HAR is offering a great course to help you better assist Spanish-speaking clients through the home buying process. You may learn more about “Hola: Conversational Spanish for REALTORS®” on page 47.
Time is running out to apply for the Texas REALTORS® Leadership Program (TRLP). This is your chance to grow professionally and personally and to connect with other REALTORS®. It’s an incredible experience that changed my career (shoutout to the TRLP Class of 2018!). The deadline to apply is March 10. You may find application information on pages 36-37.
