Last year at this time, we were commenting how quickly real estate sales rebounded following the impact of Hurricane Harvey. This year, that has become evident in a drop in home sales, most likely because of August 2017 sales that were pushed into September 2017, making this a more difficult comparison period. We are still on pace for a record year overall though, and you can read about all the latest sales statistics here.

Anyone doing business has to go through the Members Only Portal (MOP) to get to Matrix. There is a new design that is launching in beta version at the beginning of November. This is an effort to make searching for the tools you need more intuitive and easier to find. It will also be more mobile friendly since so many members are accessing the site on their mobile devices. Read all about the improvements coming on here.

We also have a new custom branded open house feature for MLS Platinum subscribers. (If you aren’t a current subscriber, you may visit www.har.com/mls for more information.) This new open house feature will be branded to the agent and provides another way to generate leads for you. The open house results are shareable via email, text, social media, etc. You may read all about this great new feature on here.

On the cover of this month’s magazine is the group photo of the amazing HAR 20 Under 40 Rising Stars in Real Estate honorees. If you missed the event with Mattress Mack interviewed on stage by YPN Chair Nicole Lopez, then you likely missed the liveliest HAR event of the year. (I will just say that there was some dancing down the red carpet and maybe one honoree who was so overcome with excitement that he took off his jacket, swung it around, and threw it to the crowd.) There was no lack of personality with this group. You may read all about these great examples of being true rising stars in our industry here.

If you click here, you might think that TREPAC has been taken over by a motorcycle gang. What it has been taken over by is pride. Half of all HAR members invested in TREPAC in the most recent fiscal year, which ended on September 30, 2018. HAR was the first local association in the country to raise $1 million for the PAC in a single year, and we just made it a three-peat, as we raised more than $1 million for the third year in a row. These funds go to support our political advocacy efforts and candidates who support REALTOR® and homeowner issues.

Speaking of political issues, we have the midterm elections with a slew of candidates and issues on the ballot. You may see the HAR-recommended candidates here. For those voters in the City of Houston, there are two propositions on the ballot. The first is Prop. A, which would require the drainage fee that previously passed to be used on drainage projects. HAR is proud to join the Greater Houston Partnership, Houston Apartment Association, Houston Contractors Association, American Council of Engineering Companies, and other business leaders in support of Prop. A. You may read more about Prop. A here. Just get out and vote!

Lastly, you have until November 26, 2018, to apply for the various HAR advisory groups and area networking groups. You may see a complete list here. This is where the rubber meets the road. Also, these are great training grounds for someone interested in moving up in HAR leadership. You may go to www.har.com/getinvolved to apply today.

Until Next Month,

Kenya Burrell-VanWormer
2018 HAR Chair