March 03, 2014 — Austin

Texas outpaced the U.S. in median household income growth and new-home sales in 2013, according to the 2014 Texas Homebuyers and Sellers Report released today by the Texas REALTORS®.

Dan Hatfield, chairman of the Texas REALTORS®, commented, “This year’s Texas Homebuyers and Sellers Report is showing the impact of the last few years’ strong housing market and economic growth on Texas homebuyers and sellers. Households are earning more income and new-home development continues to play an increasingly important role to meet our state’s ever-increasing housing demand.”

According to the Texas Homebuyers and Sellers Report, the median household income of Texas homebuyers increased 9.6% to $91,700 from 2012 to 2013. This is nearly double the increase in median household income among U.S. homebuyers, which increased 5.6% to $83,300 during the same time frame.

Increases in median household income for first-time and repeat homebuyers in Texas were also significant, increasing 9.3% year-over-year to $67,800 for first-time homebuyers and 4.9% year-over-year to $107,100 for repeat buyers in 2013. Nationally, these figures increased 8.3% to $67,400 for first-time homebuyers and three percent to $96,000 for repeat homebuyers.

Furthermore, 30% of all Texas homes purchased in 2013 were new homes, a four percent increase from 2012 and nearly double the share of new homes among U.S. home sales during the same time frame. Nationally, the share of new-home sales remained constant at 16% of all U.S. home purchases in 2013.

As lending standards remained tight and home prices continued to rise in 2013, the highest share of homebuyers continued to be married couples. In Texas, the number of married homebuyers increased from 69% to 71% from 2012 to 2013, compared to an increase of 65% to 66% nationally. This is the highest share for married couples since 2001.

Chairman Hatfield concluded, “This report shows the importance of Texas homebuyers having the right tools and resources to learn how to buy and own a home, something that the Texas REALTORS® is firmly committed to.”

The Texas REALTORS® recently partnered with the Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation to help promote homebuyer education as an important step in helping Texans get ready to purchase their first home. More details on this partnership will be announced later this spring.

Other key statistics from the report include the following:

• The percentage of first-time homebuyers in Texas decreased two percent to 33% of all Texas homebuyers in 2013. Nationally, the percentage of first-time homebuyers decreased one percent to 33% of all U.S. homebuyers in 2013.
• In 2013, the average Texas homebuyer was 43 years old, while the average first-time buyer was 31 years old and the average repeat buyer was 50 years old. This is on trend with the ages of homebuyers nationally.
• The tenure of owning a home in Texas decreased one year to eight years in 2013, but remained unchanged at nine years nationally.
• Ninety-four percent of Texans sold their home with a Texas REALTOR® in 2013, compared to 91% nationally.
• For Sale by Owner (FSBO) homes in Texas sold for significantly less than homes sold using a Texas REALTOR®. The average Texas FSBO home sold for $153,500, compared to $200,000 for the average REALTOR®-assisted home sale.