2010 HAR Chair Margie Dorrance spoke at the February Pearland-Alvin-Friendswood networking luncheon.

1. Margie Dorrance Houston Association of REALTORS® 2010 Chair of the Board Pearland-Alvin-Friendswood

2. Sales Have Declined…But We’re Still Only 10% Below the Norm

3. Houston Home Sales Have Picked Back Up

4. Steady as She Goes in Houston

5. Sales Began Dropping in Early 2007

6. Months Inventory Continues to Improve, Resulting in a More Balanced Market

7. Active Listings Have Decreased…But Still Plenty of Options

8. Prices Tapered Off, But Have Begun Rising Again

9. New Homes Sales Through MLS Peaked in 2006 But Still Strong

10. Permits Peaked in Summer 2006 But Are Coming Off Their Lows

11. Rising Foreclosure Postings…But Still Low Compared to the Peak

12. Don’t Stick Your Head in the Sand

13. Where is Houston coming from? The Houston market has withstood the national pressures that other markets have succumbed to. We are only about 10% below the historical norm of where we should be according to Dr. Ted Jones, Chief Economist of Stewart Title. Houston has benefitted from the federal income tax credits, which have allowed many first-time homebuyers to purchase, which has a trickle up effect for move-up buyers. The greater Houston market lost about 90,000 jobs last year, but our unemployment rate remains below the national average. Prices have held up, with a dip early in 2009 largely attributable to the tax credit. Houston’s prices are only 5% below their peak, compared to Las Vegas homes down 55 percent from the peak price, Phoenix off 51 percent and Miami down 47 percent.

14. Where is Houston going? Weak Houston job growth in 2010—possibly 12,000 new jobs in coming year. Home sales are increasing—and prices currently stable. Interest rates rising during the year from the current 5 percent level to as much as 7 percent by the end of 2010 Houston will continue to outperform the U.S. When the U.S. is down, Houston will not be down by much, and when the U.S. does slowly recover in 2010, Houston will outperform it. We may see a 10 percent increase from the 2009 level in new construction—total construction will still be half that of recent years.

15. What’s been going on at HAR and what’s coming up?

16. Haiti Response HAR 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 18 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.

17. HAR Blood Drive Feb. 15

18. REALTOR® Open House for the Homeless To tie in with NAR’s Nationwide Open House that is scheduled for April 10-11, local participating REALTORS® will provide a receptacle to collect items for SEARCH Homeless Services. NAR will be promoting the Nationwide Open House as a way to educate the public about the federal tax credits and the strengthening housing market. We will piggyback on that effort to help the less fortunate in the greater Houston area. We will utilize our member communications channels in the magazine and enewsletter to get people to participate and will use our Houston Chronicle ads and HAR.com to inform the public about the donation drive.

19. Texas REALTORS® Leadership Program HAR Wants You to Become a Leader in 2010! The mission of the Texas REALTORS® Leadership Program is to develop community and organizational leaders to become contributors to their community and their businesses and enrich their personal and professional lives. The program costs $495 and is limited to 24 participants. You must fill out an application, which is available by contacting the HAR Training and Member Profitability Department at (713) 629-1900 ext. 263.

20. You’re a Member of the Largest Local REALTOR® Association in the U.S.

21. Tax Credit Advertising

22. Other Tax Credit Promotion Listen to 740AM or 790AM’s broadcast of the Super Bowl this Sunday to hear the 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.

23. HAR Digital Media Spring Training Register Online at www.har.com/digitalmedia

25. Determine which of this information and these services HAR can provide its members

26. Determine the optimum manner to distribute this information and make available these services to HAR members in 2010.

27. Finally, to ensure that the Houston area REALTOR® (1) is aware of the information readily available to the consumer and (2) is trained and prepared to use HAR information and services to position themselves in the eyes of the consumer as the expert who can provide, interpret and use the information and services to the consumer’s benefit.“How will what HAR is doing give our members an ‘Edge’ to be successful in 2010/2011?”

29. Look for the HAR-recommended candidates list in upcoming editions of the Five Minute REALTOR®

31. Thank you! margie@har.com http://www.slideshare.net/HARCommunications