1. Mortgage Rates Fall to Yet New Record Lows Freddie Mac recently released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey showing mortgage rates easing to new all-time record lows for all products covered in the survey, helping to keep homebuyer affordability high. The average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage fell to a record low of 3.89% for the week ending January 12, down from the previous week when it averaged 3.91%. A year ago, the 30-year rate was at 4.71%. The average for the 30-year fixed mortgage rate has been below 4.0% for six consecutive weeks. The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage fell to a record low of 3.16% last week versus 3.23% a week earlier.

2. December and Full-Year 2011 Sales Statistics The December and full-year 2011 MLS statistics will be released on Tuesday morning, and here are some quick takeaways: After several months in which home sales figures were skewed by the effects of the 2010 homebuyer tax credit, the Houston real estate market concluded 2011 solidly in the black. December sales of single-family homes climbed 7.2 percent versus one year earlier, marking the seventh consecutive monthly increase. Positive sales activity was recorded in every segment of the housing market except the luxury segment, which was unchanged year-over-year. The average price of a single-family home was statistically flat at $219,791 compared to December 2010 while the median price rose 1.9 percent from one year earlier to $160,000, an all-time high for a December in Houston. For more detailed information, please visit www.har.com/newsroom/ for this report and all other news releases.www.har.com/newsroom/

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