Houston Real Estate Highlights for December and Full-Year 2020

Houston Real Estate Highlights for December and Full-Year 2020

Real Estate Agent · Houston, TX · Member since 2016 · 79 posts · 69 votes
    • Despite a devastating global pandemic, 2020 proved to be a record year for Houston real estate with 96,151 single-family homes sold versus 86,996 in 2019, the last record-setting year. That represents an increase of 10.5 percent;
    • Total dollar volume for full-year 2020 rose 18.1 percent to a record-setting $35.3 billion;
    • December single-family home sales jumped 25.5 percent year-over-year with 9,652 units sold;
    • Total December property sales increased 27.2 percent to 11,572 units;
    • Total dollar volume for December soared 39.3 percent to $3.9 billion;
    • At $273,443, the single-family home median price rose 8.7 percent, establishing a new record high;
    • The single-family home average price climbed 11.4 percent to an all-time high of $347,164;
    • Single-family homes months of inventory narrowed sharply to a record low 1.9-months supply;
    • Townhome/condominium sales rose 10.9 percent year-over-year with the average price unchanged at $227,856 and the median price down 2.7 percent to $180,000;
    • Leases of single-family homes fell 14.5 percent with average rent up 7.5 percent to $1,899;
    • Leases of townhomes/condominiums climbed 13.1 percent with average rent up 3.6 percent to $1,641.
  • rage rent up 7.5 percent to $1,899;
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Contractor · Webster, TX · Member since 2016 · 94 posts · 75 votes
5y

It's not quite all roses. Buried in the report is this little table:

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

  • $1 - $99,999: decreased 15.7 percent
  • $100,000 - $149,999: decreased 20.2 percent
  • $150,000 - $249,999: increased 13.2 percent
  • $250,000 - $499,999: increased 44.6 percent
  • $500,000 - $749,999: increased 80.8 percent
  • $750,000 and above: increased 54.0 percent

So homes at the low end of the market saw a *decrease* in the number of homes sold.  Any idea what to make of this?  

My guess is Covid has dramatically hit people harder in the lower incomes, and so those people aren't moving. With no jobs, they can't afford to move or qualify for a mortgage.  With the foreclosure moratorium, they don't have to leave. At some point, when the foreclosure moratorium goes away, I bet we will see a lot of distressed homes coming onto the market.

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  • Member since 2020 · 3 posts · 0 votes
    5y

    Jhoana, thank you for sharing these numbers. It is pretty interesting to see how strong the houston market is. I'm currently looking to buy a rental property in Houston but It seems this is a seller's market at the moment and I'm concerned it will be very difficult to find a great deal.   

  • Real Estate Agent · Houston, TX · Member since 2019 · 42 posts · 20 votes
    5y

    @Alex Agreda

    @Jhoana Olarte

    Hi Alex, I share your concerns - Houston is such a hot market!  

    Jhoana, any advice for newbies looking to cash flow in Houston?  I am looking west of the beltway in 770 and 774 but there certainly is not much multifamily out west.  We did 1 flip so far but it seems like making a profit on flips is also hard in this market....

  • Contractor · Webster, TX · Member since 2016 · 94 posts · 75 votes
    5y

    It's not quite all roses. Buried in the report is this little table:

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

    • $1 - $99,999: decreased 15.7 percent
    • $100,000 - $149,999: decreased 20.2 percent
    • $150,000 - $249,999: increased 13.2 percent
    • $250,000 - $499,999: increased 44.6 percent
    • $500,000 - $749,999: increased 80.8 percent
    • $750,000 and above: increased 54.0 percent

    So homes at the low end of the market saw a *decrease* in the number of homes sold.  Any idea what to make of this?  

    My guess is Covid has dramatically hit people harder in the lower incomes, and so those people aren't moving. With no jobs, they can't afford to move or qualify for a mortgage.  With the foreclosure moratorium, they don't have to leave. At some point, when the foreclosure moratorium goes away, I bet we will see a lot of distressed homes coming onto the market.

  • Member since 2020 · 3 posts · 0 votes
    5y

    @Mark Brown Great point. I can imagine how the pandemic crisis affects differently each segment/class. It makes sense. As a property manager are you seeing a wave of rent defaults? What about rentals? are you properties renting?

  • Member since 2018 · 1 post · 0 votes
    5y

    @alex agreda.  so I own 13 rentals and 3 out 13 tenants are having a hard time keeping up with rent, one has been evicted however new tenant quickly took its palce. though it's a tough economy at the moment tenants are still seeking vacant properties to rent. Overall the situation does not deter me from seeking new properties for fix and hold. As a matter of fact I purchased and closed on 2 properties last month and able to find a tenant in 1 week.  Good luck to ya

  • Wale LawalBusiness Member
    Real Estate Broker · Houston | Dallas | Austin, TX · Member since 2018 · 5k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    5y

    @Jhoana Olarte Thank you for the information.

  • Cameron TopePro Member
    Property Manager · Katy, TX · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    5y
    Originally posted by @Mark Brown:

    It's not quite all roses. Buried in the report is this little table:

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

    • $1 - $99,999: decreased 15.7 percent
    • $100,000 - $149,999: decreased 20.2 percent
    • $150,000 - $249,999: increased 13.2 percent
    • $250,000 - $499,999: increased 44.6 percent
    • $500,000 - $749,999: increased 80.8 percent
    • $750,000 and above: increased 54.0 percent

    So homes at the low end of the market saw a *decrease* in the number of homes sold.  Any idea what to make of this?  

    My guess is Covid has dramatically hit people harder in the lower incomes, and so those people aren't moving. With no jobs, they can't afford to move or qualify for a mortgage.  With the foreclosure moratorium, they don't have to leave. At some point, when the foreclosure moratorium goes away, I bet we will see a lot of distressed homes coming onto the market.

    Mark, 

    We're seeing home values increase substantially, therefore pricing out of the sub 150k market - not necessarily people not being able to afford to move.  

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