Monday, August 20th, 2018

For Week Ending August 11, 2018

The U.S. housing market is becoming a tale of regions. Consumers in high-priced markets in the West are pushing back with fewer showings and sales. The Midwest is marked mostly by stability of new listings and sales with gently improving inventory. Many Northeast markets have routinely struggled to keep pace with the overall U.S. economic recovery. And the South is enjoying more showings and sales than the rest of the nation. Here’s what’s happening in the local market.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending August 11:

  • New Listings increased 7.5% to 1,825
  • Pending Sales decreased 2.5% to 1,242
  • Inventory decreased 10.7% to 12,095

For the month of July:

  • Median Sales Price increased 6.6% to $268,000
  • Days on Market decreased 17.4% to 38
  • Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.7% to 99.8%
  • Months Supply of Inventory decreased 11.1% to 2.4

All comparisons are to 2017

Click here for the full Weekly Market Activity Report. From The Skinny Blog.

Posted in Weekly Report |
Monday, August 20th, 2018

By David Arbit on Thursday, August 16th, 2018

New listings increased this July compared to last year, which could hint at a flurry of sellers looking to take advantage of this strong market. July marked the second increase in seller activity since November 2017. Meanwhile, buyer activity flattened out after seven months of year-over-year declines. This trend of rising seller activity and moderating buyer activity could mean more inventory coming down the pipeline. Increasing seller activity combined with a cool-down in demand is consistent with a loosening marketplace. That said, buyers shopping this summer and fall will still face stiff competition. Cooling buyer activity is likely a reflection of the shortage of homes for sale. Sellers yielded an average of 99.8 percent of their original list price and 100.6 percent of their current list price, illustrating how undersupplied markets tend to favor those with something to sell. The shortage is especially noticeable at the entry-level prices, where multiple offers and homes selling for over list price have become increasingly common. The move-up and upper-bracket segments are less competitive and better supplied. The market remains relatively tight, but there are some early signs that things could be loosening up to provide relief to buyers.

July 2018 by the Numbers (compared to a year ago)

Sellers listed 7,671 properties on the market, a 4.1 percent increase
Buyers closed on 6,242 homes, almost dead-even with last July
Inventory levels for July fell 13.5 percent compared to 2017 to 11,709 units
Months Supply of Inventory was down 11.1 percent to 2.4 months
The Median Sales Price rose 6.6 percent to $268,000, a record high for July
Cumulative Days on Market declined 17.4 percent to 38 days, on average (median of 18)
Changes in Sales activity varied by market segment

Single family sales fell 1.8 percent; condo sales rose 13.4 percent; townhome sales increased 5.2 percent
Traditional sales rose 1.2 percent; foreclosure sales sank 39.3 percent; short sales dropped 23.3 percent
Previously-owned sales were even with last year; new construction sales increased 14.0 percent

From The Skinny Blog.

Posted in The Skinny |
Monday, August 13th, 2018

For Week Ending August 4, 2018

Competitive buyers vying for a somewhat limited number of homes for sale have helped prices continue to climb, frequently over the asking price. The latest recorded national unemployment rate of 3.9 percent is historically low and has served as a general indicator of a strong economy. To give a better idea of how good the unemployment situation is right now, we were looking at a historically low rate of 4.3 percent last year at this time.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending August 4:

  • New Listings increased 1.8% to 1,844
  • Pending Sales decreased 10.7% to 1,269
  • Inventory decreased 11.4% to 11,989

For the month of June:

  • Median Sales Price increased 5.3% to $271,000
  • Days on Market decreased 16.7% to 40
  • Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.8% to 100.3%
  • Months Supply of Inventory decreased 11.1% to 2.4

All comparisons are to 2017

Click here for the full Weekly Market Activity Report. From The Skinny Blog.

Posted in Weekly Report |
Monday, August 6th, 2018

For Week Ending July 28, 2018

The U.S. Labor Department reported that the economy added 157,000 jobs in July, marking 93 months in a row of job additions. Beginning in October 2010, that is the longest streak of monthly employment growth on record. The unemployment rate dropped to a historically low 3.9 percent, and wage growth remained at an annual rate of 2.7 percent. Meanwhile, escalating tariff conflicts with U.S. trade partners have not yet impacted the day-to-day housing market, but builders have indicated that lumber tariffs are increasing prices for new homes.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending July 28:

  • New Listings increased 6.1% to 1,814
  • Pending Sales increased 2.0% to 1,401
  • Inventory decreased 12.5% to 11,959

For the month of June:

  • Median Sales Price increased 5.3% to $271,000
  • Days on Market decreased 16.7% to 40
  • Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.8% to 100.3%
  • Months Supply of Inventory decreased 11.1% to 2.4

All comparisons are to 2017

Click here for the full Weekly Market Activity Report. From The Skinny Blog.

Posted in Weekly Report |
Monday, July 30th, 2018

For Week Ending July 21, 2018

Although talk of another real estate pricing bubble poised to burst is premature, pundits are nevertheless beginning to point toward the common markers that caused the last housing market downturn. As prices continue to rise while wages don’t rise as quickly, a new situation could be an eventuality. Yet today’s market is quite different than the last recession. The economy is growing, lending practices are more in line with economic fundamentals and inventory appears to be improving in many markets, which would help alleviate price pressure.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending July 21:

  • New Listings increased 2.2% to 1,927
  • Pending Sales decreased 3.1% to 1,336
  • Inventory decreased 13.6% to 11,728

For the month of June:

  • Median Sales Price increased 5.3% to $271,000
  • Days on Market decreased 16.7% to 40
  • Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.8% to 100.3%
  • Months Supply of Inventory decreased 11.1% to 2.4

All comparisons are to 2017

Click here for the full Weekly Market Activity Report. From The Skinny Blog.

Posted in Weekly Report |