With most consumers still in holiday mode during the final week of 2021, new Houston listings fell short of last year’s numbers for a second consecutive week.

The low number of active single-family home listings in December was yet another reflection of the record-setting pace of home-buying in Houston leading up to the holidays.

At the same time, the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rose to 3.33%, its highest level since April 2021, the Mortgage Bankers Association said.

Inflation concerns are influencing plans for homebuyers and sellers, according to a recent Redfin survey.

Housing affordability fell to its lowest level since 2008 in October as home prices rose 19.6% from last year.

Phoenix, followed by Tampa, Fla., and Miami, claimed the largest price gains among the 20 metro areas in the index. according to the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price NSA Index. 

Texas gained more residents than any other state between July 2020 and July 2021, according to recent U.S. Census Bureau data. 

“There was less pending home sales action this time around, which I would ascribe to low housing supply, but also to buyers being hesitant about home prices,” National Association of REALTORS® chief economist Lawrence Yun said.

“Fewer homes are selling because of a lack of supply, while demand remains strong.” — Redfin chief economist Daryl Fairweather

The median sales price of new homes hit a new high of $416,900.

HomeAdvisor recently analyzed real estate listings in 10 of the hottest housing markets in 2021 to determine the top five cities that saw the highest return on investment (ROI) from home renovations.

More Texans are opting for luxurious living spaces compared to last year, according to the 2021 Texas Luxury Home Sales Report by Texas REALTORS®. The annual report examining housing statistics for homes that sold for $1 million or higher across the state showed total sales dollar volume reached $19.9 billion, a 93.3% increase from the previous year.

The median existing-home sales price for all housing types rose again on an annual basis, marking 117 consecutive months of gains.

The number of new listings in the Houston real estate market continue to trail 2020 levels as they closed out their sixth consecutive week of declines on Dec. 20, according to the Houston Association of Realtors (HAR) weekly activity snapshot. 

“The market is roaring along, with only half the seasonal slowdown we typically see from October to November.” — RE/MAX LLC President Nick Bailey

New Houston listings have fallen behind 2020 by 17%, down for the fifth straight week, according to the Houston Association of Realtors weekly activity snapshot.