1. Voter Registration Deadline Fast Approaching
• If you’ve moved recently or are not sure whether you’re
registered to vote, confirm your registration today or register
online at http://www.votetexas.gov/.
• You may also look for a handy pull-out voter registration card
inside the April issue of Houston REALTOR® magazine.
• For the May 12 local municipal elections, you must have your
application postmarked by April 12 — that’s this Thursday.
• For the May 29 state and federal primary elections, you must
have your application postmarked by April 30.
• If you are registered to vote but still have not received your
card, don’t worry. The issuing of new cards was delayed due to
redistricting.
• A new federal court order has been issued and the counties
are instructed to issue the new certificates no later than April
25.

2. Texas Ranks as Second Most Populous State
• A new analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data predicted that
Texas would hit a population milestone on April 3.
• A state reaches a milestone when its population ends in at
least four zeros, and Texas was expected to have 26,030,000
residents as of April 3, the Houston Business Journals' “On
Numbers” reports.
• Texas' estimated population as of April 1 is 26.027 million, up
881,500 from the official Census Bureau count of 25.146
million in 2010. However, the state remains No. 2 in population
size, second only to California with its 37.955 million residents.
• California added 701,337 residents since 2010. Of the other
top 10 states ranked by total population — including New
York, Florida, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Georgia, Michigan
and North Carolina — none grew by more than 400,000
people. Michigan lost 220,000 residents.

3. Weekly HAR Market Stat
The weekly scorecard shows that home buyers were more active compared
to the same week last year. Buyers have been taking advantage of an
affordable market, but sellers in many areas have been lazing in the tall
grass like lions as the herd moves past. Watch for a changing landscape this
spring and summer. Even skeptical sellers are sensing a need to get back
into the hunt.
In the Houston region, for the week ending April 1:
• New Listings decreased 9.2% to 2,464
• Pending Sales increased 45.5% to 1,942
• Closed Sales increased 7.6% to 1,692

4. Designate Yourself for Success
Graduate REALTOR® Institute
GRI-1 Finance
The GRI designation is the most widely recognized of the National Real
Estate Designations. Consisting of three course, each is taught by experts in
their respective fields. This module consists of Contract Forms, Contract
Procedures, Residential Finance and Cultural Diversity & Fair Housing.
Dates: April 12, 13, 17 & 18
Time: 8:15 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Location: HAR Montgomery & Central
Investment: $295
Register Online at www.har.com/edu Questions? 713-629-1900 ext. 6