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René Galvan was appointed the new CEO and president of the Houston Association of Realtors in February, as previously reported. Galvan succeeded Bob Hale, who retired Jan. 31. In an interview with Community Impact, Galvan discussed his background, what HAR does and the real estate market in the Greater Houston area. 

More details: Some of the questions asked by Community Impact include: 

• Broadly speaking, what does the Houston Association of Realtors do, and how do Realtors and buyers interact with HAR?
• When it comes to the housing market in the Greater Houston area, what trends are you seeing?
• What factors, economic or otherwise, do you see affecting the Houston housing market?

The Lone Star College Foundation marked 35 years since its founding at an annual fundraiser where more than $524,500 was raised to help students in need.

Something to know: The foundation was created in 1991 and has since helped 27,000 students. Designed to help students attend Lone Star College campuses despite financial obstacles, the LSCF offers scholarships, money for textbooks and emergency aid. Since its founding, the organization has raised:

• $30 million in scholarships
• $14.7 million in emergency aid

Harris County commissioners allocated an additional $19 million to the Harris County Sheriff's and Fire Marshal’s offices to support ongoing capital improvement projects across eight law enforcement facilities.

The overview: The May 14 vote increased funding from $100 million to $119.73 million for the projects, which aim to enhance resiliency and technology at facilities in the HCSO’s patrol districts, according to agenda documents.

Some context: Harris County voters approved a $100 million bond in 2022 to support improvements at public safety facilities, also known as Proposition A. In May 2024, Commissioners Court then allocated approximately $82.7 million in bond funds to HCSO’s proposed projects as well as $10 million for administrative costs and about $7.3 million for contingency—totaling $100 million—county documents show.

More details: The additional funding will help ensure the facilities meet updated safety codes and ensure operational resilience with enhancements such as generators, security infrastructure and structural remediation.

Looking forward: All projects are on track for construction by late 2026 and early 2027, with estimated completion slated for the second quarter of 2028. 

The April Housing Market Update from the Houston Association of Realtors reports an increase in inventory in the Houston market this month. Along with the increase in inventory, the average price for a single-family home decreased.

By the numbers: According to HAR, the average single-family home price decreased in April by 1.4% to $428,709—a drop from $434,925 last April. Active single-family listings grew by 6.5% year over year, allowing home buyers to have more options in a more stable market, according to the report.

This increase in property sales is in line with the HAR report released in March. As previously reported by Community Impact, the single-family home sales in March increased by 3.7% with 7,644 homes sold.

“More inventory is giving buyers room to breathe again,” HAR Chair Theresa Hill said. “Homes are still moving, but consumers have more time to make decisions and more leverage during negotiations.”