The pace of new-home sales slowed in Houston and other top Texas markets in December, according to a new HomesUSA.com report.
Area new-home sales totaled 1,354 in December, based on a 12-month rolling average, down from 1,481 sales in November. HomesUSA.com's monthly New Home Sales Index report is based on data from the Houston Association of Realtors and other local Multiple Listing Services using a 12-month rolling average.
"The decline in Houston new home sales last month is an aberration," Ben Caballero, owner of HomesUSA.com, said in an announcement. "The good news for Houston builders is our data shows homes sold faster last month as there were fewer Days on Market overall for new homes."
Homes in the Houston region stayed on the market an average of 132 days in December, down from 135 days in November, according to HomeUSA.com.
Dallas-Fort Worth, the state's second-largest market for new-home sales, registered 1,246 home sales in December, down from 1,367 in November. In Austin, sales of new homes reached 685 in December, down from 749 the month before. San Antonio logged 532 new home sales in December compared with 572 in November.
The median Houston area new-home price fell slightly to $352,261 in December from $352,352 in November. Sales prices were higher in the other Texas markets, reaching $376,827 in Dallas-Fort Worth, $372,750 in Austin and $298,656 in San Antonio.
Pending new home sales declined in all four markets. In Houston, the number fell to 1,241 in December from 1,332 in November.
Cabellero, CEO of HomesUSA.com, works with more than 60 homebuilders in Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Austin and San Antonio markets.
