According to the latest information from the Houston multiple listing service, the real estate market has experienced strong gains and the highest amount of home sales ever recorded for the month of April.

Positive job growth, continuing low interest rates, a diversified economy, and a general sense of the importance of home and hearth are contributing to record-setting spring home sales for the city where NASA is based.

In other words, Houston, we don't have a real estate problem - unless it's that home prices are rising (good if you are a seller or a recent buyer,) and homes are selling too fast in most areas.

The total sales for the month of April, consisting of single-family homes, townhomes, multifamily, country homes, high-rise properties and lots listed on the MLS, reached 5,422 for April 2002, which is a 10.2 percent increase in cumulative sales from this time last year. Total sales for April 2001 reached 4,919. When total cumulative sales figures for April 2002 are compared with March 2002, sales increased by 521 properties sold.

"Houston continued to see positive job growth," explains Realtor Don Foronda."Houston continued to see positive job growth - lower interest rates, rising apartment rentals and the remaining momentum from solid job growth earlier in the year offset other gloomy economic news."

He adds, "Existing home sales did even better, up 25 percent from November 2000."

And there are other reasons why Houston's real estate market is shooting up like a rocket.

Says Realtor Margie Kaplan, "Houston is a great place to live - close to lots of other fun cities. Take a day trip to San Antonio, Austin, or Galveston!"

Realtors don't believe that demand will abate any time soon, with demand for existing and new homes high.

" Home sales for the first quarter of this year, both new and resale, were at an all time high in Harris and Montgomery Counties," says Realtor James L. Ramey, "New home builders continue to increase their prices on a regular basis, thereby driving up the prices of resale homes as well. Production cannot keep up with the demand. Resale homes sell quickly (if priced correctly), yet the buyers are buying them at a lower price than they will be next month."

What should buyers do? "The adage "buy it today because it will cost more tomorrow" was never more true than when referring to property in Harris and Montgomery Counties," says Ramey.

Advises Realtor Rosa Jimenez, "Homes that have been well maintained and have good curb appeal are not lasting long on the market. There are many first time buyers ready to buy, but with inventory so low many are finding it difficult finding a home. The best advice I can give a buyer in today's market is not to take too much time deciding on making an offer on a home they like. If it looks good and you like it, go for it - it won't be there tomorrow."

"Also make an educated offer," says Jimenez. "What I mean by that is this is not the time to try and get a bargain. If you don't buy it, there are at least 2 or 3 other buyers waiting in the wings. By waiting you may just be spending more money in the long run because prices continue to rise. This is particularly true with builders. Some builders have an average of 10 price increases a year...by waiting you will be spending more down the line."

Published: May 21, 2002

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Blanche is a renowned author of five real estate books. Her newest, Bubbles, Booms and Busts: Make Money In Any Real Estate Market, McGraw-Hill, was rave-reviewed by The New York Times. She was also selected from hundreds of real estate experts to contribute to Donald Trump's book, Trump: The Best Real Estate Advice I Ever Received: 100 Top Experts Share Their Strategies, Rutledge Hill Press, and is featured on page 68. Order Now Review - Honors In 2006, Blanche was selected among scores of candidates to author two consumer real estate guidebooks for the National Association of Realtors: The NAR Guide to Home Buying, and The NAR Guide to Home Selling, Wiley & Sons. She is currently planning two new books for the NAR and its members.       Known for her keen insight into real estate industry issues and for her ability to make complex subjects easy to understand, Blanche is a sought-after keynote and continuing education speaker. Real estate organizations from MLSs, to brokerages, to franchisors, to associations hire her to provide up-to-the-minute analysis of real estate industry news and advice on how to improve revenues. Her passionate delivery, peppered with stinging wit, is a huge hit with audiences and fans. Don Klein, CEO Greater Nashville Association of Realtors, Blanche Evans, Richard Courtney, president 2007, GRAR "The GNAR membership meeting last week featured Blanche Evans as the keynote speaker. Her comments and insights resonated extremely well with those in attendance and we have had many requests for copies of her PowerPoint Presentation. She was a terrific part of the membership meeting and convention program!" - Don Klein, CEO Greater Nashville Association of Realtors Coverage from WSMV, Nashville - 8-14-2007 That Interview Guy - Get Inside The Head Of Today's Generation 2007 AE Institute Session - To purchase 2006 AE Institute Session - Parts 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 HouseValues Mastermind call - Parts 1 2 Blanche's fireside chat with Jeremy Conaway, HAR - Click here. For more articles by Blanche, click here.