A jewelry thief who was previously arrested for stealing from open houses has been spotted again at open houses in the Houston area last week and over the weekend. HAR warns real estate agents and clients to take precautions and contact law enforcement if they see the man or observe suspicious behavior. HAR has also created an online consumer research panel of over 1,900 HAR.com subscribers to survey buyers and learn what they want in a home search. The first survey found most interested in lifestyle and neighborhood factors like schools, walkability, and distance to work or school.

1. New Houston Sightings of Open House
Jewelry Thief Reported
• A man who was arrested for allegedly stealing valuables from open
houses in the Houston area and all across Texas has been
released on bond, according to Dallas NBC affiliate KXAS-TV.
• HAR has received reports that the man was spotted at Houston-
area open houses last Thursday as well as over the weekend.
• He previously had a warrant for his arrest in West University Place
in connection with a jewelry theft at an open house in our area,
after which he was seen at other local open houses.
• HAR urges you to make sure you and your clients take all
necessary precautions and contact local law enforcement if you
see this man or observe any suspicious behavior.
• For mugshots and additional information, please refer to
http://bit.ly/xnbGEH.

2. HAR Introduces ‘Consumer Research Panel’
• In an effort to equip members with important information about the what Houston
area real estate consumers want and expect as they search for a home, HAR
has created an Online Consumer Research Panel of HAR.com subscribers.
• The panel’s goal is to continually survey local consumers and gather information
that will be used to improve the services offered by HAR and inform HAR
members about better ways to serve their clients.
• The first survey, conducted in cooperation with the WAV Group, focused on
Lifestyle search preferences.
• A majority of the more than 1,900 consumers polled are very interested in the
idea of lifestyle search as an effective method for identifying a neighborhood or
location that works for their lifestyle needs.
• The most popular search factors included schools/school ratings, walkability and
distance from work/school.
• Complete results of the survey are available at http://bit.ly/FPR8So.
• Future polling topics include consumer interest in market statistics, HAR.com and
third party search preferences, Transaction Management and Mobile Search.

3. Weekly HAR Market Stat
Buyer activity: up. Seller activity: down. That could soon change if sellers begin to
increase their activity levels entering the spring market. They've understandably been
a tad shy lately, but the changing landscape is starting to register with well-informed
homeowners looking to move. Buyers have shown that they refuse to let one of the
most attractive purchase environments pass them by. As activity revs up this spring,
not all segments will benefit equally. Which is exactly why the numbers are so central
to assessing both the breadth and depth of market recovery.
In the Houston region, for the week ending March 11:
• New Listings decreased 10.2% to 2,328
• Pending Sales increased 25.3% to 1,637
• Closed Sales decreased 6.7% to 844

4. Become a Leader Today
2012 Texas REALTORS® Leadership Program (TRLP)
Application Deadline is Friday, March 23
Become a leader today! Due to its overwhelming success, HAR will once again
offer 30 members the opportunity to take part in an extensive eight-month 2012
Texas REALTORS® Leadership Program (TRLP) . Each session equips
REALTOR® members with the tools necessary to grow both personally and
professionally.
Topics Include:
Business Planning ∙ Time Management & Life Balance ∙ Spokesperson Training ∙
Leading Across Difference ∙ Understanding Your Leadership Style ∙ H-Town Day ∙
Team Building (Overnight Retreat) ∙ Law, Legislature & Leadership (Austin bus trip)
Applications for the 2012 TRLP are now available.
Contact the HAR Professional Development department at (713) 629-1900 ext. 6
or via email at education@har.com to receive an application.