Over the past year, the media has sensationalized the fall of the national real estate
market with headlines like “Housing Crash Continues,” “Home Prices Plummet” and the
“Housing Boom Bursts.”

With all of they hype, many are wondering what it all means for Houston & how the
Bayou City’s real estate market is performing.

Despite the “bad news” that has plagued the headlines, data indicates that while much
of the nation wrestles with the effects of the real estate market drop, the Houston real
estate market is holding its own. California real estate is on the upswing as well, visit
Santa Cruz local event for more info.

In an effort to provide a more in-depth look into certain market segments of Houston,
this report analyzes over 17,000 single family home sales in the Houston area since
2002. Specifically, this study encompasses much of Houston’s Inner Loop, as well as
parts inside the Beltway, such as Tanglewood, Memorial & the Memorial Villages.
As any investment advisor will tell you, past data is no guarantee of future results.
However the information provides some interesting statistics for people looking to
purchase real estate in the most sought-after areas of Houston, Texas.

Findings of this report include:
How is the Houston real estate market faring to the rest of the country?
o Houston Association of Realtors (HAR) has reported that 2010 was one of
Houston’s best real estate year ever;

• Local real estate markets are closely tied to the region’s economy and job

growth. Houston’s economy has been & is being recognized for growth:

• #1 Job Growth (source US Bureau of Labor Statistics)

• #1 Lowest Cost of Living among 24 MSAs with population greater than 2M

(source ACCRA Cost of Living Index)
Houston Association of Realtors is still reporting single family homes and
townhomes/ condos are still in a Seller’s Market – signaling continued growth.
How are people making money in Houston real estate?

Location, location, location.

Neighborhoods with the highest appreciation include1:
From 2002 – 2010
Rice Military (71% appreciation)
Braeswood (70% appreciation)
Midtown Houston (70% appreciation)
Collegeview / College Court (65% appreciation)
1 Based on data from HAR MLS system for single family homes sold from 2002-2010 based on median sales price per square foot from data compiled from seventeen Houston market areas.

What are some of the best things we can do to improve the value of our homes?
Top renovation projects (and the expected “cost recouped” at sale) for Houston
and the southwest region include:

Fiber-cement siding replacement (93%)
Bathroom remodeling (91%)
Minor kitchen remodeling (88%)

For people looking to sell their home, quality Home Staging can shorten the
average time to sell a home and often provide an opportunity for an increase in
the sales price.