The Advantages of Woodlands Real Estate

Do you want to move after college? Are you looking for a new job? Regardless of
what your plans are when it comes to looking for a new place to settle down,
you will need to take several things into consideration. Woodlands real estate,
for example, would be a good choice for anyone since the weather is great there
all year round. Aside from that, you will always get great value for the homes
there since they won’t experience any wear and tear from the weather.

Now, it is true that it can get a little humid in the Woodlands sometimes, but if
you don’t mind a bit of humidity, then you won’t experience any huge problems
with Woodlands real estate, either. Besides, many people in different cities in
America still experience the winter blues, so if you would rather avoid getting
too cold this time around, then you will definitely be much happier living in
the Woodlands from now on.

And, because of this warm weather all year round, the usual kinds of wear and tear

that happen outside a house will be very slow compared to the way they go in
other states. Woodlands real estate roofs, for example, will never get damaged
from snow because snow never falls there in the winter. This, in turn, means
that the inside of the house won’t suffer from water damage form snow leaks,
either.

Another thing you should know is that the Woodlands doesn’t come with any state  income tax,
so you will be able to live there for much cheaper than in other places in the
country, too. Basically, without any state  income tax, you won’t have to pay any
taxes from your work  wages for to the state of Texas. How great is that?

Aside from that, many national magazine articles and rankings have already showed up,
stating which cities are completely immune to recession and which ones are
still growing despite of it. Well, most of these cities can be found in Texas,
and the Woodlands is one of them. This just goes to show that there will always
be many jobs available in the Woodlands. Plus, you can get great home values
there because they continue to grow with time.

These are just some of the reasons why you should look into Woodlands real estate
when looking for a new place to settle down, but they are also some of the most
vital ones that you need to think about, as well. Good luck on your search!

January Sales of Homes are up in Houston !!!!

HOUSTON — (February 15, 2011) — Despite the bone-chilling winter weather, Houston’s housing market heated up in January, recording the first increase in property sales since June 2010. Pricing also heated up in the first month of the new year, with the average price of single-family homes reaching the highest level ever for a January in Houston.

Ja nuary sales of single-family homes throughout the Houston market rose 7.5 percent when compared to January 2010. Positive activity was recorded in all segments of the housing market, with the sharpest increases in sales volume taking place at opposite ends of the pricing spectrum.

Luxury home sales helped propel the average price of a single-family home, which increased 2.2 percent from January to $196,879. The January single-family home median price—the figure at which half of the homes sold for more and half sold for less—dipped 3.2 percent from one year earlier to $139,000, due to hefty sales volume among homes priced at $80,000 and below.

Foreclosure property sales reported in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) declined 4.7 percent in January compared to one year earlier. Foreclosures comprised 24.7 percent of all property sales in January, down from the 26.7 percent share they held at the beginning of 2010. The median price of January foreclosures fell 4.0 percent to $80,600 on a year-over-year basis.

January sales of all property types in Houston totaled 3,413, up 9.5 percent compared to January 2010. Total dollar volume for properties sold during the month was $643 million versus $574 million one year earlier, representing an 11.9 percent gain.

“Houston’s residential real estate market has definitely gotten the new year off to a healthy start,” said Carlos P. Bujosa, HAR chairman and VP at Transwestern. “Housing inventory appears to be balancing out, but the economy as a whole remains somewhat fragile, so I believe we need to see how home sales perform in the next month or two before being able to accurately predict what 2011 has in store for us.”"

January Monthly Market Comparison

The month of January brought Houston’s overall housing market positive results when all listing categories are compared to January of 2010. Total property sales, total dollar volume and average price all rose on a year-over-year basis while the median single-family home sales prices dropped slightly.

Month-end pending sales for January totaled 2,478, up 7.7 percent from last year. That suggests the likelihood of further strengthening in demand when the February figures are tallied. The number of available properties, or active listings, at the end of January rose 13.7 percent from January 2010 to 31,232. Despite the increase in sales volume, growth in available housing pushed the January inventory of single-family homes to 7.3 months compared to 6.1 months one year earlier. The figure still compares favorably to the national inventory of single-family homes of 8.1 months reported by the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR).

CATEGORIES	JANUARY 2010	JANUARY 2011	PERCENT CHANGE
Total property sales	3,118	3,413	9.5%
Total dollar volume	$574,282,523	$642,901,862	11.9%
Total active listings	27,465	31,232	13.7%
Total pending sales	2,301	2,478	7.7%
Single-family home sales	2,572	2,766	7.5%
Single-family average sales price	$192,617	$196,879	2.2%
Single-family median sales price	$143,560	$139,000	-3.2%
Months inventory*	6.1	7.3	19.5%

* Months inventory estimates the number of months it will take to deplete current active inventory based on the prior 12 months sales activity. This figure is representative of the single-family homes market.

Single-Family Homes Update

January sales of single-family homes in Houston totaled 2,766, up 7.5 percent from January 2010. This marks the first increase in sales volume since June 2010, when the beneficial effects of the last homebuyer tax credit tapered.

Broken out by segment, January sales of homes priced below $80,000 surged 26.3 percent; sales of homes in the $80,000-$150,000 range climbed 9.0 percent; sales of homes between $150,000 and $250,000 edged up 2.5 percent; sales of homes ranging from $250,000-$500,000 rose 3.9 percent; and sales of homes that make up the luxury market—priced from $500,000 and up—increased 17.6 percent.

The average price of single-family homes in January was $196,879, up 2.2 percent compared to one year earlier. That is the highest level recorded for a January in Houston. At $139,000, the median sales price for single-family homes dipped 3.2 percent versus January 2010. The national single-family median price reported by NAR is $169,300, illustrating the continued higher value and lower cost of living available to consumers in Houston.

HAR also breaks out the sales performance of existing single-family homes throughout the Houston market. In January 2011, existing home sales totaled 2,423, a 16.2 percent increase from January 2010. The average sales price rose 4.0 percent to $185,258 compared to last year, while the median sales price of $128,500 slid 2.7 percent.

Townhouse/Condominium Update

The number of townhouses and condominiums that sold in January increased 10.7 percent compared to one year earlier—the first sales volume increase recorded since June 2010. In the greater Houston area, 279 units were sold last month versus 252 properties in January 2010.

The average price dropped 3.5 percent to $142,164 from January 2010 to January 2011. The median price of a townhouse/condominium declined 8.9 percent to $104,000.

Lease Property Update

Demand for single-family home rentals soared 27.5 percent in January compared to one year earlier. Year-over-year townhouse/condominium rentals increased 24.0 percent.

Houston Real Estate Milestones in January

Single-family home sales increased for the first time since June 2010, rising 7.5 percent;

At $196,879, the average price of a single-family home reached the highest level ever recorded for a January in Houston;

Sales of townhouses and condominiums saw their first increase since June 2010, climbing 10.7 percent;

Single-family home rentals rose 27.5 percent;

Townhouse/condominium rentals increased 24.0 percent;

7.3 months inventory of single-family homes compares favorably to the national average of 8.1 months.

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The computerized Multiple Listing Service of the Houston Association of REALTORS® includes residential properties and new homes listed by 26,000 REALTORS® throughout Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery counties, as well as parts of Brazoria, Galveston, Waller and Wharton counties. Residential home sales statistics as well as listing information for more than 50,000 properties may be found on the Internet at http://www.har.com.

The information published and disseminated to the HAR Multiple Listing Services is communicated verbatim, without change by Multiple Listing Services, as filed by MLS participants.

The MLS does not verify the information provided and disclaims any responsibility for its accuracy. All data is preliminary and subject to change. Monthly sales figures reported since November 1998 includes a statistical estimation to account for late entries. Twelve-month totals may vary from actual end-of-year figures. (Single-family detached homes were broken out separately in monthly figures beginning February 1988.)

Founded in 1918, the Houston Association of REALTORS® (HAR) is a 26,000-member organization of real estate professionals engaged in every aspect of the industry, including residential and commercial sales and leasing, appraisal, property management and counseling. It is the largest individual dues-paying membership trade association in Houston as well as the second largest local association/board of REALTORS® in the United States.

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Why Homes in the Woodlands are Great Choices to Live in

Why Homes in the Woodlands are Great Choices to Live in

If you are looking to move to Houston, Texas to make it your home, you should really take a look at a homes in the Woodlands first. This city happens to provide a ton of opportunities to its residents and is, in general, a wonderful place to live in. The community is tight and the environment is absolutely stunning. Filled with trees that tower above you, this city offers up the peace and quiet that you will need away from retail stores, prominent buildings and freeways otherwise found in other cities. Plus, living in the Woodlands would be a much easier thing to do overall.

Here are several other reasons as to why you should take homes in the Woodlands into consideration:

The Nice Shopping Areas

The malls in the Woodlands happen to boast several nice retail stores and boutiques to cater to your wants and needs. Located not far from Interstate 45, you will be able to get all of your shopping done in no time at all. If you still cannot decide, there are several other stores that can be found nearby, as well, that should satisfy your every demand.

The Low Crime Rate

Practically everybody is worried about crime. However, if you live in a community where the people are close, you will feel much safer; thus is the case in the Woodlands. A lot of statistics prove that crime is very low in the Woodlands compared to anywhere else in the country. Yes, the Woodlands can offer you the security that you need.

The Activities

If you love leaving the house to enjoy what the city has to offer, this would definitely be the place for you. In fact, there are a lot of options available in the Woodlands. For one, there is the open-air amphitheater where a lot of live events and concerts are held. And, if you like to golf, go canoeing, or hike, you an do all of this mere minutes from home.

The Growth in School and at Work

Texas has a good economy, in general, thanks partly to the Woodlands. Both health care and education have shown job strength as of late, as well. Also, you will love to learn that a lot of great award-winning schools and fine institutions exist within the area for your children to go to.

So what are you waiting for? Look into homes in the Woodlands today!

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