Local January home sales continued downward

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Following a year in which home sales saw a steep decline around local neighborhoods, the early trends saw that continue last month as the calendar flipped to 2023.

All but one of The Leader’s six zip codes saw a year-overyear-January sales dip, just as they had the previous January.

Only the Acres Homes/Greater Inwood area (77091) experienced a year-over-year rise from January 2022 to January 2023 according to the most recent data from the Houston Association of Realtors.

On the pricing front, many areas saw average home prices continue to rise as well as rising median home prices compared to January 2022, mirroring the Houston area as a whole according to the HAR report – though HAR Chair Cathy Treviño with Side, Inc. said it is not necessarily a trend to be alarmed about.

“January was a continuation of the slowdown that began last year with an onslaught of challenging economic conditions,” Treviño said. “I think what’s happening now reflects more of a return to seasonal home sales trending – slower volume during the holidays and new year – than a market in distress. Certainly consumers want assurances that inflation is subsiding, so if mortgage rates stabilize and homes continue hitting the market at more affordable price points, we could expect an upswing in sales later this year.”

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In the Garden Oaks/Oak Forest and Central Northwest area, realtors saw 32 homes come of the market last month, a sharp 34.7 percent downturn compared to January 2022

– though it was very much in line with the dip seen around the Houston region (down 29.9 percent year-over-year) as a whole.

On a pricing front, the average home price shot up 28.9 percent to $681,789. Median home price also spiked more than 16 percent, rising from $425,000 in January 2022 to $493,250 by the end of last month.

77091

Just to the north, the zip code encompassing much of Greater Inwood, Acres Homes, and Independence Heights was the only local area to experience a year-over-year January sales increase. There were 18 homes sold in this zip code last month, a 63.6 percent increase from the 11 houses sold here in January 2022.

Pricing-wise, the average price increase of 9 percent

(up to $335,721) compared to January 2022 was the smallest increase among local markets. Additionally, this market was one of only two local zip codes to see its January median home price dip year-over-year, dropping 7.7 percent down to $319,495 by month’s end.

77092

On the western edge of the Leader area, the zip code which includes part of Central Northwest as well as Langwood and Kempwood saw the largest year-over-year percentage drop among local neighborhoods. There were just seven homes to come off the market in this area last month, down 58.8 percent from the 17 homes sold in the zip code in January 2022.

The average buyer paid 10.2 percent more for a home in this area last month ($346,914), while the median price for the area was down 10 percent –the biggest dip among local zip codes – compared to January 2022 at $288,000.

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Down in the Greater Heights, the 32 homes sold in this zip code matched the highest of any local zip code for January. However, the total still represented a 51.5 percent downturn from the 66 homes that came off the market during the same month last year.

Average price for a home in this area was up 19.5 percent year-over-year to $672,368, while the median home price experienced the local area’s largest year-over-year percentage jump (25.9 percent) up to $586,250 by the end of the month.

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On the eastern edge of the Heights, the area including Sunset Heights and the Wood- land Heights along with Near Northside saw 20 homes come off the market through the end of the month – a 41.2 percent downturn compared to the same month in 2022.

Accompanying the falling sales, however, was the largest January year-over-year average price spike (35.3 percent) among local zip codes, as it went up to $612,820. Median home price in this zip code was the second largest yearover-year January riser (18.8 percent) as it ended the month at $486,250.

77007

In the southernmost portion of The Leader’s coverage area, the zip code including Rice Military and Washington Avenue saw 24 sales last month – a stark 47.8 year-over-year decrease from the 46 homes sold in the area during the same month last year.

This was the only area to see the average buyer pay less compared to January 2022, with average price falling 10.7 percent down to $573,844. Median home price in this zip code ended the month up 9.9 percent ($522,180) compared to January 2022.

By Corey Turner For The Leader

Most people would say it’s always grilling season in Texas. But there is certainly an increase in outdoor gettogethers and other events, which means grills get more action in the spring and into the summer and fall.

Preparing for grill season largely depends on how much the grill has been used and how it is stored. This article will look at some of the common and not-socommon things to consider for an enjoyable spring and summer.

Cleaning the grill

Hopefully you did a thorough cleaning of your grill at the end of last season. If not, this will be one of the most important things you can do to prep. And remember the cleaning process, to motivate you to always clean the grill at the end of each season. The level of cleaning will also depend on rust or other debris environmental factors and how you store your grill. Since we’re in Texas, you should also proceed cautiously in case a snake, birds or other critters have decided to make your grill a home.

Here is the primary checklist for cleaning the grill. This may vary based on the type of grill. And if you kept the owner’s manual, it’s always a good idea to dust it off ahead of cleaning. Clean the outside of the grill – As convenient as it may be to focus on the inside of the grill, cleaning the outside will prolong the life of your grill. Using warm soapy water will do the trick.

Inspect and clean the grill manifold – If you have a gas grill, this will keep the gas flowing properly when the grill is in use. Regardless of what kind of grill you have, it’s a good time to take it apart and do a thorough cleaning that may not happen during grilling season and heavy usage.

Clean cooking grates –Use a quality grill degreaser or stainless cleaner to do a deep clean of the cooking grates. Things build up quickly and starting the season with clean grates can save time and energy as the season goes on.

Clean your grill burners and their housings – This is important if you have a gas grill. Use a strong toothpick or paper clip to clean the small holes that surround the burner.

Don’t forget the guts –While it is easy to focus on and dry grill, the last step is a good seasoning. Whether it’s a brand-new grill or an old one, the goal is to protect your cooking grate from rust and wearand-tear that can be avoided. It also creates a layer and setting that will infuse your food with better flavor. As a bonus, a seasoned grill will be much easier to clean throughout the grilling season. the cooking grates, this is a prime time to clean throughout the inside of the grill. Thoroughly clean the underside of the lid and the bottom of the firebox.

You can use a variety of oils, but many grill experts agree that canola oil is a safe way to go.

Use a cooking brush or a paper towel to apply a light coating of the oil to the cooking grates and the inside of the grill. The goal is to have a thin coating of oil and wipe off any excess.

Light up grill high heat and let burn for about 30 minutes. Be sure not to have too much oil or you can cause a flare up.

Once the grill has burned and smoked, you have a nicely seasoned grill.

Now you are ready for the grilling season ahead. You have enhanced the flavor of your grilling, prolonged the life of your grill and taken measures to ensure your safety. It’s the best practice to clean the grill after each session going forward.

Season the grill

When you have a clean