2008 Investing Trends Report

In an effort to provide a more in-depth look into the housing market in Houston, the 2008 Houston Real Estate Investing Trends report analyzed over 10,000 single family home sales in the Central Houston area since 2002.

Highlights of the report includes:

1. Houston Association of Realtors (HAR) reported that 2007 was Houston’s second best real estate year ever.
2. Local real estate markets are closely tied to the region’s economy and job growth.  Houston’s economy has been recognized for continued expansion:
• #1 Job Growth (source US Bureau of Labor Statistics – March 2007)
• #1 Lowest Cost of Living among 24 MSAs with population greater than 2M (source ACCRA Cost of Living Index 2006)

3. Specifically, within the 610 Loop & the Memorial area of Houston, neighborhoods with the highest appreciation include:
• From 2002 – 2007
• Collegeview / College Court (72% appreciation)
• Braeswood (68% appreciation)
• Rice Military (63% appreciation)
• Tanglewood (59% appreciation)
• The average single family home price in the seventeen areas that were reviewed grew 43%.

• From 2004 – 2007
• Tanglewood (53% appreciation)
• Braeswood (46% appreciation)
• Collegeview/ College Court (41% appreciation)
• The average single family home price in the seventeen areas that were reviewed grew 28%.