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”
• Mortgage Rates Are On The Rise
• Register for REALTOR® Day at the Capitol
• Houston Market Movements
• New Hope For Those in Need of Housing
“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. Mortgage Rates Are On The Rise
The EDGE Information and news that gives you an edge in the real estate business
Mortgage Rates Are On The Rise
New data from Freddie Mac shows that the average interest rate for a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage is currently sitting at around 4.15%, however analysts from Goldman Sachs predict that interest rates will increase by a significant margin over the next few years.
A new report states that Goldman Sachs’ analysts anticipate the 30-year mortgage rate will rise to 5.5% by 2019, representing an increase of roughly 150 basis points, or 1.5%, over the next couple of years.
This would be in step with an increase in benchmark Treasury yields and investors demanding higher compensation to own mortgage-backed securities.
Read more about this story HERE.

3. Register for REALTOR® Day at the Capitol
The EDGE Information and news that gives you an edge in the real estate business
Register for REALTOR® Day at the Capitol
The HAR Governmental Affairs department invites you to join your fellow Texas REALTORS® to attend REALTOR® Day at the Texas Capitol in Austin, on Tuesday, April 4.
It will be an informative and fun day in Austin, as you network with fellow REALTORS® from across the state and meet with your state lawmakers to discuss matters of concern to the real estate industry.
Buses will depart from six convenient locations.
Click HERE to register for REALTOR® Day at the Texas Capitol!

4. Houston Market Movements
The EDGE Information and news that gives you an edge in the real estate business
Houston Market Movements
The total supply of homes for sale at this early juncture of 2017, coupled with the relative low affordability of those homes have made the market interesting to watch. The combination of broad personal financial situations is particularly pronounced among millennials in their prime home-buying years. While some individuals may have money set aside for a home purchase, others face educational debt, lowering their maximum affordability level. Being aware of this situational variety will help both lenders and agents.
In the Houston region, for the week ending February 12:
• New Listings increased 4.4% to 2,712
• Pending Sales increased 18.4% to 1,876
• Closed Sales decreased 1.6% to 995

5. New Hope For Those in Need of Housing The 2017 Dog House Extravanganza
The EDGE Information and news that gives you an edge in the real estate business
New Hope For Those in Need of Housing
The 2017 Dog House Extravanganza
The 2017 Houston Association of REALTORS®’ TRLP class presents the Dog House Extravaganza. The purpose of this event is to raise awareness of and donations for New Hope Housing of Houston.  New Hope Housing helps build lives by building beautiful, safe housing at affordable rates. Join us for a night to delight! View custom-made dog houses provided by local Houston donors and judged by celebrity judges! Enjoy complimentary hours d’oeuvres and a silent auction. This year’s TRLP class is excited to partner with New Hope Housing because we believe everyone needs a "woof" over their head.
Date: Thursday, March 30
Promo Video:
Event Website:
Questions? Call ext. 6