The EDGE Information and news that gives you an edge in the real estate business In This Week’s “The EDGE” HAR Safety Alert Home Sales Decline in July Congratulations to the 2017 HAR Board Houston Market Movements Open Your Mind to Learning “The Edge” is a weekly tool for managers to use to inform their agents and stay current and up-to-date with important real estate industry issues. Brought to you by the HAR Communications Department.

The EDGE Information and news that gives you an edge in the real estate business BEWARE OF SCAMS HAR warns all members that scammers are at it again. We’ve been informed that several REALTORS® have had listings of homes for sale hacked and posted as available for lease on a site called Backpage. As a result, calls are coming in from would-be renters who have seen the bogus listings. A suspicious vehicle was been seen near at least one of the properties and HPD was notified. If you believe a listing has been hacked, contact the website manager immediately and ask to have it removed. OPEN HOUSE WARNING Make safety your top priority when staffing an open house! HAR has been alerted that a guest at a recent open house in Briargrove was caught going through the medicine cabinet in search of prescription drugs. He is described as a white male, about 6’1” in his mid- to late-30s, with a crew cut and thick beard, driving a black SUV with NY plates. A girl, about 7 or 8 years old, was with him. Always exercise caution during open houses. Use the buddy system. Report suspicious activity to police. HAR Safety Alert

The EDGE Information and news that gives you an edge in the real estate business HAR will release July 2016 MLS statistics this Wednesday, August 10, and here are some highlights of the monthly report: Houston home sales fell 8.8 percent year-over-year, with a total of 7,204 single-family units sold. The single-family home median price rose 4.1 percent to a July high of $230,000 while the average price declined 0.5 percent to $292,316. Months of inventory grew to a 4.0-months supply compared to a 3.5-months supply in July Housing inventory nationally stands at a 4.6-months supply, according to NAR. July rentals of single-family homes rose 2.3 percent year-over-year and the cost of renting those homes edged up slightly to $1,879. For more detailed information, please visit the HAR Online Newsroom for this and all other HAR news releases.HAR Online Newsroom Home Sales Decline in July

The EDGE Information and news that gives you an edge in the real estate business After weeks of campaigning, the 2017 HAR Board of Directors election concluded last week. Among a field of 22 candidates, the following eight members have been newly elected to the 2017 Board: Mike Mahlstedt, Shannon Register, Linda Cottar, Diana Ayers, Deborah Spangler, Ignacio Osorio, Thomas Mouton and Christi Borden. CONGRATULATIONS! We understand how much of a time commitment every candidate gave to campaigning for the board and want each candidate to know how much their passion is appreciated. It is only with the leadership and input from members that HAR will continue to be the most transparent, progressive and responsive REALTOR ® association in the nation. Thank you to all the HAR members who took time out to vote! Complete election results are available at Congratulations to the 2017 HAR Board

The EDGE Information and news that gives you an edge in the real estate business It's only August, but this time during summer usually means making plans for changes ahead, especially the start of a new school year. For potential home buyers around the country with school-aged children, these are the pivotal days for deciding whether to purchase or wait. Let’s take a look at the local trends. In the Houston region, for the week ending July 31: New Listings decreased 5.9% to 2,742 Pending Sales increased 15.0% to 2,069 Closed Sales decreased 7.6% to 2,368 Houston Market Movements

The EDGE Information and news that gives you an edge in the real estate business Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) NAR’s Certified International Property Specialists (CIPS) designation is a great resource if you are looking to expand your global reach. After you complete the CIPS coursework and apply for the designation, you become part of the CIPS referral network, comprised of over 2,800 agents from 50 different countries. Designees are profiled in the CIPS directory where consumers and other agents can search to find experienced international practitioners. Additionally, CIPS designees are invited to join a private Facebook group where agents network and exchange referrals. These can be extraordinary tools to help you grow your business, both inbound and outbound. Date: August 25, 26, 29, 30 & 31 Location: HAR Central Time: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Investment: $749 Register at Questions? Call ext. 6www.har.com/edu Open Your Mind to Learning