Consumers kept the Houston real estate market humming in April, with single-family home sales and pricing experiencing another month of gains and housing inventory reaching the highest level since last August. The strongest growth in sales activity took place among homes priced from $750,000 and above (considered the luxury market), followed by homes in the $250,000 to $499,999 range. For the luxury market, which took the brunt of the energy slump, April marked a sixth consecutive month of rising sales.

A total of 6,583 single-family homes sold in April versus 6,387 a year earlier, according to the latest monthly report produced by the Houston Association of REALTORS® (HAR). That represents a 3.1 percent increase. New listings buoyed inventory levels from a 3.6-months supply to 4.0 months.

“The Houston real estate market had another strong showing in April among sales and rental properties alike, and as we had hoped, inventory levels got a healthy boost,” said HAR Chair Cindy Hamann with Heritage Texas Properties. “The latest Texas Workforce Commission employment update states that 13,300 jobs were created throughout greater Houston in March, the most since September 2015, so we remain optimistic about the local economy.”

The single-family home median price (the figure at which half of the homes sold for more and half sold for less) climbed 4.6 percent to $228,000. That marks the highest median price ever for an April. The average price rose 4.7 percent to $291,770, which also represents an April high.

April sales of all property types in Houston totaled 8,014, up 4.2 percent from the same month last year. Total dollar volume for properties sold in April increased 8.1 percent to $2.2 billion.

April Monthly Market Comparison
The Houston real estate market saw across-the-board gains in all measurements during the month of April, with single-family home sales, total property sales, total dollar volume, inventory and pricing all up compared to April 2016.

Month-end pending sales for single-family homes totaled 8,381, up 15.0 percent compared to last year. Total active listings, or the total number of available properties, jumped 13.5 percent from April 2016 to 39,567.

Single-family homes inventory grew from a 3.6-months supply to 4.0 months. For perspective, housing inventory across the U.S. also currently stands at a 3.8-months supply, according to the latest report from the National Association of Realtors® (NAR).

Single-Family Homes Update
Single-family home sales totaled 6,583, up 3.1 percent from April 2016, when it was 6,387. The median price rose 4.6 percent to an April high of $228,000. The average price climbed 4.7 percent to $291,770, also a record high for an April.

Days on Market (DOM), or the number of days it took the average home to sell, declined slightly to 55 days versus 56 last year. Inventory rose from a 3.6-months supply to 4.0 months, matching a level not seen since August 2016.

Broken out by housing segment, April sales performed as follows:

  • $1 – $99,999: decreased 34.5 percent
  • $100,000 – $149,999: decreased 11.4 percent
  • $150,000 – $249,999: increased 4.8 percent
  • $250,000 – $499,999: increased 11.3 percent
  • $500,000 – $749,999: increased 3.5 percent
  • $750,000 and above: increased 15.8 percent

HAR also breaks out the sales figures for existing single-family homes. Existing home sales totaled 5,507 in April, up 2.4 percent versus the same month last year. The average sales price increased 6.3 percent to $275,103 while the median sales price jumped 7.0 percent to $213,850.

Townhouse/Condominium Update
Townhome and condominium sales were up again in April, with 599 units selling versus 577 a year earlier. That represents an increase of 3.8 percent. The average price declined 0.6 percent to $207,527, while the median price rose 8.5 percent to $171,500. Inventory grew from a 3.5-months supply to 4.1 months.

Lease Property Update
The lease market experienced another strong month in April, with solid consumer demand among both single-family and townhome/condominium properties. Single-family home leases jumped 14.6 percent while townhome/condominium leases rose 5.9 percent. The average rent for single-family homes declined 4.9 percent to $1,715, while the average rent for townhomes/condominiums dropped 1.1 percent to $1,557.

Houston Real Estate Highlights in April

  • Single-family home sales rose 3.1 percent year-over-year with 6,583 units sold;
  • Total property sales increased 4.2 percent with 8,014 units sold;
    Total dollar volume jumped 8.1 percent to $2.2 billion;
  • At $228,000, the single-family home median price rose 4.6 percent to an April high;
  • The single-family home average price climbed 4.7 percent to $291,770, which was also the highest level for an April;
  • Single-family homes months of inventory grew to a 4.0-months supply, the highest level since August 2016;
  • Townhome/condominium sales increased 3.8 percent, with the average price down 0.6 percent to $207,527 and the median price up 8.5 percent to $171,500;
  • Leases of single-family homes soared 14.6 percent with average rent down 4.9 percent to $1,715;
  • Volume of townhome/condominium leases rose 5.9 percent with average rent down 1.1 percent to $1,557.