margie dorrance speaks to 290 area networking group
TRANSCRIPT
Margie DorranceHouston Association of REALTORS®
2010 Chair of the Board
290 Area Networking Group
• HAR is the largest individual membership association in Houston with about 24,000 members.
• It is also the largest local REALTOR® association in the country (overtook the Long Island Board of REALTORS® in August 2009)—and we haven’t looked back since…
• Its Web site, HAR.com, generates an average of about 1.5 billion hits from more than one million unique visitors every month.
• It is the only Web site that is local in scope that regularly ranks among the top 25 real estate Web sites in the country.
What is HAR?
You’re a Member of the Largest Local REALTOR® Association in the
U.S.
What Does HAR Do?
• HAR educates the public about the real estate market and
promotes the value of using the services of a REALTOR® in a
property transaction.
• HAR also advocates on behalf of property owners and REALTOR® members by representing their interests when communicating with our elected officials.
• It also develops new tools and services that our members may use to help them be more efficient and effective in their jobs.
Houston Sales Have Held Up Better than U.S.
Houston Home Sales Have Picked Back Up
Steady as She Goes in Houston
Sales Began Dropping in Early 2007
Months Inventory Continues to Show a More Balanced Market
Active Listings Stumbled…But Are Heading Up Nicely
Prices Tapered Off, But Have Begun Rising Again
New Homes Sales Through MLS Peaked in 2006 But Still Strong
Permits Peaked in Summer 2006 But Are Coming Off Their Lows
The Houston market has withstood the national pressures
We are only about 10% below the historical norm
Houston has benefitted from the federal income tax credits
The greater Houston market lost about 90,000 jobs last year, but our unemployment rate remains below the national average—AND we are gaining jobs so far this year.
Prices have held up, with a dip early in 2009 largely attributable to the tax credit.
Most economists say to expect weak Houston job growth in 2010
Home sales are increasing—and prices are currently rising.
Interest rates rising during the year to as much as 7 percent by the end of 2010 according to both Dr. Ted Jones and Dr. Barton Smith
Houston will continue to outperform the U.S.
We may see a 10 percent increase from the 2009 level in new construction—total construction will still be half that of recent years.
Haiti ResponseHAR donated $10,000 toward relief efforts in Haiti following the devastating earthquake that struck the Caribbean nation on January 12.
The HAR board of directors approved the allocation by unanimous vote at its January board meeting. At the request of HAR Chair Margie Dorrance, board members wore a ribbon during the meeting and after adjournment as a symbol of their support for the people of Haiti.
HAR Digital Media Spring Training
HAR Continues to be on the National Forefront for You!
One of the biggest issues in the industry right now is the proposed REALTORS® Property Resource (RPR)
HAR is investigating the ramifications of providing HARMLS listing information to the RPR,
In the meantime, HAR hosted a national forum called Real Estate Information Symposium (REIS) in late March with leaders from Google, Zillow, First American CoreLogic, Move Inc., REALTOR®.com, REALTOR® Property Resource (RPR), MRIS, SoCal MLS, as well as the CEO of NAR. There was informative discussion about all of the options, and an HAR task force is helping decide what is ultimately best for our members.
Commercial EXPO
Tax Credit Advertising
740AM or 790AM’s radio broadcast of the Super Bowl included HAR spots touting that there’s no time like now to buy a home. They even threw in five live “brought to you by the 25,000 members of the Houston Association of REALTORS®” mentions throughout the preceding week…and a billboard promoting the radio broadcast and sponsors.
Comcast Newsmakers ran throughout the month of January about the tax credit.
Numerous TV interviews with Channel 11, 13 and 26.
Houston Chronicle chair’s columns about the tax credits.
Newly redesigned, improved Member Sign-in Page
Newly designed online Houston REALTOR® magazine
More intuitive Find a REALTOR® feature based on activity within a specific area.
iPhone app for both consumers and members
Online advertising campaign promoting the use of a REALTOR® and the positive image of the Houston real estate market
