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 March 2013 MLS news release, reporting a 22nd consecutive month of positive sales that squeezed housing inventory to 3.5 months while pushing the median price to a record high, generated coverage from mid- to late April in the following media outlets:
- CultureMap Houston
- Examiner Newspapers
- Houston Business Journal (online and print editions)
- Houston Chronicle (online and print editions as well as Prime Property real estate blog)
- Houston Community Newspapers
- KHOU-TV (11 News)
- KPRC-TV (Local 2)
- KRIV-TV (Fox 26 News)
- KROI-FM (News 92 FM)
- KTRH (NewsRadio 740)
- KTRK-TV (13 Eyewitness News)
- KUHF (Houston Public Radio)
HAR President and CEO Bob Hale was quoted extensively in a May 16 Inman News story about NAR’s Multiple Listing Issues and Policies Committee endorsing public-facing MLS sites as a “basic service.” Bob was the lead-off speaker at the committee meeting, which took place during NAR’s annual Mid-Year Conference in Washington. He noted that our Association’s brokers “benefit greatly” from HAR.com in terms of click-thrus and leads, and provide a defense against the dominance of third-party websites such as Trulia and Zillow.
HAR Chairman Danny Frank served on a real estate panel for the Mother’s Day (May 12) edition of the weekly KPRC-TV/Local 2 “Houston Newsmakers” program with host Khambrel Marshall. Danny explained the factors that have contributed to one of the hottest homebuying periods the Houston market has ever seen. He was joined by guests who also talked about new home construction, commercial real estate and mortgage lending.
For a story that aired in the 10 p.m. news on Sunday, May 5, KPRC-TV/Local 2 asked HAR for a rundown of the 25 hottest-selling Houston neighborhoods based on the most recent home sales data. The MLS team quickly swung into action and crunched the numbers, determining that the Top 5 neighborhoods are, in this order: Timbergrove/Lazybrook, Katy-Southwest, West University/Southside, Rice Military/Washington Corridor and Cottage Grove. HAR Chairman Danny Frank explained the buying frenzy in an interview with anchor/reporter Owen Conflenti, whose story also featured interviews with REALTORS® and consumers who are doing business in those “hotter” parts of town.
KTRK-TV/13 Eyewitness News consumer reporter Jeff Ehling spotlighted HAR.com’s hugely popular smartphone apps in a story that ran in the 10 p.m. newscast on Friday, May 3. The report, featuring an interview with HAR Chair-elect Chaille Ralph, explained how useful the easy-to-use apps are in a market as active as Houston’s, where the need for buyers to find property listing information as quickly as possible makes the difference between securing a home and missing out.
HAR Chairman Danny Frank was a guest on KUHF/Houston Public Radio’s new weekly talk show, “Houston Matters,” on Friday, May 3. He participated in a 15-minute real estate segment that examined ongoing home buying opportunities in this distinctly seller’s market. A mortgage lender and apartment management specialist also offered their market perspectives. Reporter Edel Howlin also produced a stand-alone news story based on the show.
On Thursday, May 2, HAR Chairman Danny Frank talked to KTRK-TV/13 Eyewitness News reporter Jessica Willey about the latest Craigslist scam in which, as we have seen many times before, a home listed for sale on HAR.com has been fraudulently listed as a rental property on Craigslist. Danny’s main advice to consumers: “If a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”
KHOU/11 News reporter Jeremy Desel helped get the word out about a Craigslist scam that actually victimized an HAR member REALTOR®. His May 1 story explained how a Woodlands home listed for sale on HAR.com was fraudulently advertised as a rental property on Craigslist. Fortunately, the scam was exposed before anyone lost money.
