1. In This Week’s “The EDGE”
The EDGE Information and news that gives you an edge in the real estate business
In This Week’s “The EDGE”
• Houston Home Sales See Gains in February
• Have You Applied for a TRLP Scholarship?
• Know Your New Lease Accounting Standards
• Houston Market Movements
• Designate Yourself for Success
“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.

2. Houston Home Sales See Gains in February
The EDGE Information and news that gives you an edge in the real estate business
Houston Home Sales See Gains in February
The February 2016 MLS statistics will be released this Wednesday, March 9, and here are some highlights of the report:
Houston home sales increased nearly seven percent year-over-year in February, with a total of 4,602 single-family units sold.
Months of inventory grew to a 3.5-months supply compared to a 2.7-months supply in February For perspective, housing inventory nationally stands at a 4.0-months supply.
The single-family home average price was $260,872 (a February high) while the median price was $200,000.
February rentals of single-family homes shot up 20.4 percent year-over-year and the cost of renting those homes rose less than one percent to $1,688.
For more detailed information, please visit the HAR Online Newsroom for this and all other HAR news releases.

3. Have You Applied for a TRLP Scholarship?
The EDGE Information and news that gives you an edge in the real estate business
Have You Applied for a TRLP Scholarship?
The Young Professionals Network (YPN) is sponsoring a new scholarship. The deadline to apply is next Friday, March 18, the same day that the Texas REALTORS® Leadership Program (TRLP) application is due, so be sure to act now! Both completed applications are required in order to be considered for the scholarship.
Scholarship Qualifications:
• Must be an active HAR member in good standing.
• Must be a YPN member (40 years of age or under)
at the time of the March 18 application deadline.
Be licensed for no less than one year at the time of the
application deadline.
• Must consider real estate your full-time profession.
You may download the scholarship application and learn more about TRLP HERE.

4. Know Your New Lease Accounting Standards
The EDGE Information and news that gives you an edge in the real estate business
Know Your New Lease Accounting Standards
The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) recently announced new standards for lease accounting which will have an impact on how businesses report leases on financial statements. Learn about the new rules, how this affects you as a broker and how it impacts your clients.
CCIM Institute is generously offering all NAR members a savings of $65 on the March 8 New Leasing Accounting Standards online class. The normal tuition rate for REALTOR® members is $115, making the cost only $50 by using the discount code.
Register for this webinar course from CCIM Institute and save $65 on the normal rate by using discount code NLASR316. The rate is specific to this course only and does not apply to any other CCIM Institute course.
REGISTER NOW:

5. Houston Market Movements
The EDGE Information and news that gives you an edge in the real estate business
Houston Market Movements
Strength in consumer spending and a towering peak in industrial Median Sales Price production are both indicators that the U.S. economy has made strides early on in the year. Despite the continuing decline in inventory nationally, the housing market should be a bright spot in the economy. As for the local landscape…
In the Houston region, for the week ending February 28:
• New Listings increased 11.6% to 2,524
• Pending Sales increased 14.3% to 1,908
• Closed Sales decreased 28.1% to 1,467

6. The EDGE Information and news that gives you an edge in the real estate business
Designate Yourself for Success
Graduate REALTOR® Institute (GRI-3): Brokerage
The GRI designation is a powerful tool to attract and build new business. You'll increase your skill level across the entire landscape of real estate with in-depth training in professional standards, policies and procedures, brokerage and agency relationships and business development. GRI courses may be taken in any order and satisfy your 9 hours of non-legal MCE requirements. TREC rules mandate that each student be on time. Please bring your license number with you on the day of class. TAR provides a one-time, $50 coupon for qualifying students The coupon may be downloaded from TAR's website. Students will pay in full and the coupon to the HAR Professional Development department to receive a credit. All other courses are full price.
Date: March 17, 18, 21, 22
Location: HAR Bay Area
Time: 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Investment:  $295
Register at Questions? Call ext. 6