Mortgage rates dropped for the fifth consecutive week, with the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage declining to 7.22% the week ending November 30, 2023, the lowest level since September, according to Freddie Mac. As a result, mortgage applications increased 2.8% on a seasonally adjusted basis from the previous week, and were up 43% on an unadjusted basis, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association. Refinance activity also improved, rising 14% from the previous week, marking the strongest week in two months.

IN THE TWIN CITIES REGION, FOR THE WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 2:

• New Listings increased 6.0% to 772
• Pending Sales decreased 2.6% to 648
• Inventory decreased 4.3% to 8,036

FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER:

• Median Sales Price increased 2.4% to $365,000
• Days on Market increased 2.8% to 37
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.2% to 98.4%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale increased 20.0% to 2.4

All comparisons are to 2022

Click here for the full Weekly Market Activity Report. From MAAR Market Data News.

Down payments reached a new high recently, as rising interest rates, elevated sales prices, and increased competition have led homebuyers to put more money down when purchasing a home. According to Realtor.com, buyers made an average down payment of 14.7% of the purchase price and a median down payment of $30,400 on primary residences in the third quarter of the year, surpassing the previous high of 14.1% in Q2 2022. In doing so, buyers paid 78.2% more as a down payment in Q3 2023 compared to Q1 2020, when the median down payment was $17,000.

IN THE TWIN CITIES REGION, FOR THE WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 25:

• New Listings increased 5.6% to 490
• Pending Sales increased 4.4% to 540
• Inventory decreased 4.6% to 8,323

FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER:

• Median Sales Price increased 2.4% to $365,000
• Days on Market increased 2.8% to 37
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.2% to 98.4%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale increased 20.0% to 2.4

All comparisons are to 2022

Click here for the full Weekly Market Activity Report. From MAAR Market Data News.

U.S. home seller profits continue to rise, with profit margins on median-priced single-family home and condo sales climbing to 59% in the third quarter of the year, up from 56.6% in the second quarter of 2023, according to ATTOM’s Q3 2023 U.S. Home Sales Report. Typical profit margins increased from the second quarter to the third quarter of 2023 in 85 of 155 metropolitan statistical areas analyzed, although profits were down year-over-year in 103, or 66%, of those metro areas.

IN THE TWIN CITIES REGION, FOR THE WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 18:

• New Listings decreased 5.9% to 934
• Pending Sales increased 3.6% to 711
• Inventory decreased 5.4% to 8,543

FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER:

• Median Sales Price increased 2.4% to $365,000
• Days on Market increased 2.8% to 37
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.2% to 98.4%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale increased 20.0% to 2.4

All comparisons are to 2022

Click here for the full Weekly Market Activity Report. From MAAR Market Data News.

Despite sluggish home sales, US home prices have continued to increase, further impacting affordability for many prospective buyers. According to the latest S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Index, home prices were up 2.6% year-over-year and 0.4% month-over-month as of last measure, marking the seventh consecutive monthly increase. Additionally, the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s index found home prices increased 5.6% year-over-year and 0.6% month-over-month as of last measure.

IN THE TWIN CITIES REGION, FOR THE WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 11:

• New Listings increased 12.0% to 981
• Pending Sales decreased 13.1% to 615
• Inventory decreased 5.3% to 8,711

FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER:

• Median Sales Price increased 2.4% to $365,000
• Days on Market increased 2.8% to 37
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.2% to 98.4%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale increased 20.0% to 2.4

All comparisons are to 2022

Click here for the full Weekly Market Activity Report. From MAAR Market Data News.