When I opened the doors of Energy Realty 4 years ago, I stated that I wanted to see a sea of orange in the Energy Corridor. Look around today, and I think our orange Energy Realty signs are beginning to dominate the market in the Energy Corridor.

With 24 agents at Energy Realty, we currently have 41 listings, of which 13 are under contract. Our agents sell homes faster, not only because we understand the market better, but we also provide professional marketing to sell or lease your home.

While any Realtor can access the tools necessary to determine pricing based on comparisons, there are often other details in a market that will affect the pricing and marketibility of a home. Potential clients often ask me if I sell in other markets in Houston, and I usually state that I sell within a 20 mile radius of my office. I have learned through experience that I cannot effectively market or sell in every market in the Houston metropolitan area. I am most effective when I learn everything there is to know about specific areas of Houston.

Houston’s current real estate market is what I call a “finicky” buyer’s market. Homes are taking longer to sell, so buyers are selecting from the cream of the crop. That means that the homes with the most updates, better locations, or better prices are selling fast, while others may sit on the market. A professional Realtor is able to see through the buyers’ eyes and guide sellers on correct pricing and how to cost effectively address the details that will make their house stand out on the market.

Despite the slump in oil prices, we have seen an uptick in activity on the homes priced above $500,000 over the last 45 days. The word on the street is that many of the oil companies are consolidating their business in Houston and bringing employees in at the same time that they are downsizing (I wanted to avoid the word “lay off”). As we enter the Summer season, I feel that prices will moderate, but not drop drastically, and the homes that are priced well and show well will continue to go under contract within 30-45 days.