1. Houston Earns Another Top Ranking
• Site Selection magazine has ranked Houston as the No. 1 metropolitan area in
the U.S. for corporate facility expansions and relocations in 2011.
• Local experts, including Craig Richard, chief economic development officer with
the Greater Houston Partnership (GHP), say the ranking could lead to even more
regional economic development.
• Last year, the GHP counted 195 relocations and expansions in the 10-county
Houston region. Out of these relocations and expansions, the 34 that GHP
helped to coordinate created more than 4,720 jobs.
• Site Selection magazine ranked Houston as the No. 2 area in the U.S. for
expansions and relocations in 2010. This year, Houston beat out the former No.
1 competitor, Chicago.
• To qualify in the expansion and relocation category, all facilities must be at least
20,000 square feet, have a capital investment of at least $1 million and create at
least 50 new jobs.
• For more information about the ranking, please see http://bit.ly/zN9sjz.

2. Mortgage Rate Again Falls to Near-Record Lows
• The average rate on the 30-year mortgage has edged down to
hover again above record lows.
• Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said last Thursday that the rate
on the 30-year home loan fell to 3.90 percent from 3.95
percent the previous week. That's slightly above the 3.87
percent average rate hit two weeks ago, which was the lowest
since long-term mortgages began in the 1950s.
• The average on the 15-year fixed mortgage fell to 3.17 percent
from 3.19 percent a week ago. It hit a record 3.14 percent four
weeks ago.
• Mortgage rates have been below 4 percent for more than three
months, making home-buying and refinancing more attractive
for consumers who can qualify.

3. Weekly HAR Market Stat
2012 is shaping up to be a year of encouraging change in the market. Since all real
estate is local, recovery won't occur evenly across all areas or segments. Fewer For
Sale signs is a good tip-off, as is an improving jobs picture. Absorption rates heading
back down toward the four-to-seven-month range is also a welcome omen. Slowly but
surely, sellers will start to see more of their asking price as they face less competition,
particularly from banks. Low interest rates should prevail through 2014, but high-
quality inventory may not.
In the Houston region, for the week ending February 26:
• New Listings decreased 5.9% to 2,063
• Pending Sales increased 30.7% to 1,444
• Closed Sales decreased 21.9% to 846

4. Become a Leader Today
2012 Texas REALTORS® Leadership Program (TRLP)
Application Deadline is Friday, March 23
Become a leader today! Due to its overwhelming success, HAR will once again
offer 30 members the opportunity to take part in an extensive eight-month 2012
Texas REALTORS® Leadership Program (TRLP) . Each session equips
REALTOR® members with the tools necessary to grow both personally and
professionally.
Topics Include:
Business Planning ∙ Time Management & Life Balance ∙ Spokesperson Training ∙
Leading Across Difference ∙ Understanding Your Leadership Style ∙ H-Town Day ∙
Team Building (Overnight Retreat) ∙ Law, Legislature & Leadership (Austin bus trip)
Applications for the 2012 TRLP are now available.
Contact the HAR Professional Development department at (713) 629-1900 ext. 6
or via email at education@har.com to receive an application.