1. Well-Deserved Honors for Two HAR Members
HAR extends congratulations to members Christi Borden with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Gary Greene and Mike Mahlstedt with Heritage Texas Properties, for going above and beyond in the real estate industry and their communities. They are the 2013 recipients of HAR's two prestigious awards, the REALTOR® of the Year Award (Christi) and the John E. Wolf Community Service Award (Mike). Both will be honored at the annual REALTOR® Celebration on Thursday, December 12. We are so proud of each of you and look forward to celebrating your achievements!

2. Houston Leads in the Luxury Market
Houston edged out Dallas and Austin based on the share of home listings with high-end finishes such as granite countertops, swimming pools and solar panels, according to a new study by Redfin (
Redfin examined home sales and listings in the three cities in Texas, which has seen an influx of about 2.5 million Americans between 2008 and 2013.
Redfin found that people moving here for high-paying jobs and a low-cost of living are affecting the real estate market. Here’s how:
Going High-End: 47.8% of Houston-area home listings highlight high-end finishes in 2013, up from 37.2% in 2008.
Smaller Homes: Home sizes across all three cities have been falling steadily since 2011, suggesting that new residents may prefer homes in urban areas. Homes are the largest in Houston, with a median size of 2,184 square feet.
Double-Digit Gains: Houston appreciated the most, growing 14.5% over the past year through October. Home prices in Austin and Dallas grew 10.1% and 10.0%, respectively.

3. Weekly HAR Market Stat
As the end of the year approaches, market futurists will either put on their overly cheery, poinsettia-colored glasses or turn into a bunch of dreary Nostradamus Nellies. The wise analyst will tune out extremes and embrace seasonally appropriate slowdowns as a sign of normal market activity while looking with anticipation to what will likely be continued moderate recovery in Watch for light gains in inventory, quieter pending sales activity and more sedate market times.
In the Houston region, for the week ending November 24:
• New Listings increased 60.8% to 1,655
• Pending Sales increased 76.0% to 1,575
• Closed Sales increased 66.6% to 1,403

4. Put Social Media to Work for You Social Media Pro Boot Camp
This course will help REALTORS® better understand the marketing capabilities that social media can provide. Students will learn how to brand themselves and use social media to get more exposure for their listings. It will cover a broad array of different social media platforms, giving REALTORS® multiple options for marketing purposes. Upon completion of this course, students will receive their Social Media Pro certification.
Laptops are recommended for hands-on course work. Date: Tues. & Wed., Dec. 17 & 18
Time: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Location: HAR Central
Investment: $149
Questions? ext. 6
Register at