Survey Finds New Homes Cost Less to Maintain Homes that are four years old or newer can be less expensive to maintain than older homes, according to research from the American Housing Survey. Twenty-six percent of home owners spend $100 or more a month on various routine maintenance expenses for their home. However, the study shows that 73 percent of new home owners spend less than $25 a month on routine maintenance costs. Home owners of new homes tend to spend less on energy costs, too. Home owners on average spend 81 cents per square foot per year on electricity. In comparison, home owners of new homes tend to spend 68 cents per square foot per year. Utilities tend to be cheaper, too. All home owners spend, on average, 28 cents per square foot per year on water bills. But on new homes, home owners tend to average 22 cents. The studies also suggest that owners of new homes also tend to face lower insurance costs: The median cost of all home owners for property insurance is 39 cents per square foot compared to 31 cents per square foot for new homes. See for more information.

Google Maps Offers New ‘Time Machine’ Feature Google Maps has a new “time machine” feature that makes it easy to track recent construction and other real estate development. The new feature allows users to scroll back to the very first street view photos taken by Google Maps back in 2007 to see just how an area has changed in the last seven years. A quick tour of downtown Houston reveals new park areas, high-rise hotels and office blocks and surrounding all that, new residential buildings to go with them. Areas consisting of open land now house high-end grocery stores and loft style apartment buildings. Perhaps most significant on the downtown Houston skyline is the arrival of the BG Group Tower at Rusk and Main. Then, a little east of that, Discovery Green forms the center of new arrivals including the BBVA Compass stadium the Embassy Suites and the soon-to-be Marriot Marquis, a second hotel for the George R. Brown Convention Center. The time machine feature also works for international landmarks.

Weekly HAR Market Stat Science fairs, book swaps and spring sports have kept winter-weary minds off of what superficially appears to be a mixed beginning to the typically cheery second quarter. Most economists, however, believe that the coalescence of market normalization, an improving sales mix and good housing starts are all working behind the scenes to alleviate the growing pains of a market in recovery. Housing is already starting to see signs of upward price pressure, rising consumer confidence and some inventory relief. In the Houston region, for the week ending April 20: New Listings decreased 6.6% to 2,341 Pending Sales increased 7.5% to 2,040 Closed Sales decreased 20.7% to 1,327

Questions? ext. 6 Open Your Mind to Learning Register at Leveraging Consumer Expectations for Real Estate Success This course will help real estate agents understand today's consumer and what they want and need during the home buying/selling process. It will also identify the key areas that agents need to focus on to stay relevant before, during and after the transaction. Agents will learn what tools they can use to create a successful business practice and positive consumer experience. Date: Tuesday, April 29 Time: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Location: HAR Central Investment: $35