It’s (Almost) a Wrap

December 14, 2020December 15, 2020Cameron Ansari

Let’s jump right into the numbers. As we enter the final weeks of 2020, here is a snapshot of post-election activity in River Oaks real estate. What’s most striking is that there have been so many newly pending contracts since mid-November. In a typical year one would expect River Oaks buyers...

What a Difference a Year Makes

September 16, 2020September 17, 2020Cameron Ansari

When it comes to gauging market activity in real estate, measuring the number of months of available inventory* can provide intriguing insight beyond the usual statistics. Let’s start by agreeing that fewer months of available inventory = relatively more active sales. In other words, less is better. For the sake of...

Update on the High End

August 9, 2020August 9, 2020Cameron Ansari

In our recently mailed 2020 Mid-Year River Oaks Market Report we remarked that, while sales in the first half of 2020 at the high end of River Oaks – that is, properties priced $4 million or higher – did not exceed the number for the same period in 2019, they were...

Snapshot of the River Oaks Market

July 20, 2020July 20, 2020Cameron Ansari & Teresa Byrne-Dodge

We haven’t talked to anyone in the past four months without hearing some version of the same question: How is the real estate market during the COVID-19 pandemic? HAR.com issues monthly updates on the entire greater-Houston market area, as you surely know, and the real estate market varies widely from area...

(in the Time of COVID)

June 15, 2020June 15, 2020Cameron Ansari

Overview As we prepare for the biannual edition of our River Oaks Market Report (to be published in July), we have been trying to examine the extraordinary past few months from the perspective of comparison with the same period in 2019. How weird has this year truly been? Clearly, the first...

Catch Up: The River Oaks Market

May 19, 2020May 19, 2020Cameron Ansari

It is challenging to make astute comments about a real estate market that has been understandably inactive since mid-March. So, suffice it to say that River Oaks is largely in wait-and-see mode. Here are a few general observations based on the data: River Oaks Inventory The number of houses for sale...

First Quarter, Covid Style

April 17, 2020April 17, 2020Cameron Ansari

Regular readers will be relieved to know that this month’s River Oaks market update will have more pictures and fewer words than usual. And yet, looking at the graphics alone would convey a more dire message than is truly the case. There’s more to the story. Read on. Showing Activity Let’s...

Let’s Talk Inventory

February 13, 2020February 14, 2020Cameron Ansari

If you receive our twice-a-year River Oaks Market Report – the 2020 Outlook edition is set to drop this week – you can skip the next two paragraphs of explanation and get right to the meat of this blog. Otherwise, allow us to explain how we track and categorize real estate...

2019 By The Numbers

February 13, 2020February 13, 2020Cameron Ansari & Teresa Byrne-Dodge

READY, SET, GO!

January 17, 2020January 17, 2020Cameron Ansari

The market in River Oaks took off like a shot, even before the starter’s signal marked the beginning of the new year. The week between Christmas and New Year’s Day was not just busy with the usual logjam of closings ahead of the year end, but showings and negotiations were also...