Local Real Estate News
If only there were a system of grand, colorful lights for tracking residential real estate. Green for rising market, yellow for a transitional market and red for declining market. Let's see if we can try to determine today's market without the ease of well-known signals. Prices are bottoming and starting to rise. Buyer activity is showing year-over-year gains. Homes are selling faster and closer to list price. Multiple offers are becoming commonplace. Inventory levels are leaning toward the seller. Green means go.
In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending May 5:
- New Listings decreased 6.6% to 1,643
- Pending Sales increased 41.9% to 1,232
- Inventory decreased 28.3% to 17,579
For the month of April:
- Median Sales Price increased 12.1% to $162,500
- Days on Market decreased 15.1% to 135
- Percent of Original List Price Received increased 3.6% to 93.4%
- Months Supply of Inventory decreased 43.1% to 4.7
Job growth, low mortgage rates, rising rents and a relatively inexpensive housing stock. These are just some of the playful teases in the burlesque revue that is today's market recovery. Another week passed with buyers displaying no signs of slowing down. In general, sellers are discovering a less-intimidating scene, and buyers are reveling in the showy marketplace. As expected, spring's warming glow continues to fuel optimism and consumer activity. But that won't necessarily be the case in every area or segment, so do your research before making that move.
In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending April 14:
- New Listings decreased 9.5% to 1,637
- Pending Sales increased 25.5% to 1,170
- Inventory decreased 27.8% to 17,384
For the month of March:
- Median Sales Price increased 7.1% to $149,900
- Days on Market decreased 9.6% to 145
- Percent of Original List Price Received increased 3.8% to 92.1%
- Months Supply of Inventory decreased 38.0% to 4.7
The weekly scorecard showcases 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 Twin Cities region, for the week ending March 31:
- New Listings decreased 12.1% to 1,532
- Pending Sales increased 25.2% to 1,113
- Inventory decreased 27.2% to 17,274
For the month of March:
- Median Sales Price increased 6.4% to $149,000
- Days on Market decreased 10.0% to 144
- Percent of Original List Price Received increased 3.7% to 92.1%
- Months Supply of Inventory decreased 39.2% to 4.6
The last time you were at the doctor, your vital signs were checked – heart rate, pulse, temperature and blood pressure. Progress was documented and valuable insights were gained, whether it was a routine visit or one of many checks during an extended hospital stay. The housing market has been in and out of intensive care for the past several years. Monitoring vitals matters, and that's what you'll find on the following pages. The pulse of today's market indicates that we may be getting ready to leave the ICU. So if you could just please pull up your sleeve, let's check your blood pressure.
In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending March 24:
- New Listings increased 2.2% to 1,414
- Pending Sales increased 30.2% to 1,052
- Inventory decreased 27.3% to 17,193
For the month of February:
- Median Sales Price decreased 1.4% to $138,000
- Days on Market decreased 9.0% to 145
- Percent of Original List Price Received increased 2.5% to 90.6%
- Months Supply of Inventory decreased 34.8% to 4.7
In another sign that the six-year long housing slump could be coming to an end, the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) reached 28. To put that in perspective, it went from above 70 in 2005 to below 10 in 2009. The HMI has not seen 28 since June 2007. This and other landmark data points are coalescing to signal calmer waters ahead. That's not to say you should expect double-digit annualized appreciation, but both buyers and sellers are displaying the sort of confidence that is fluttering through the rest of the economy.
In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending March 17:
- New Listings decreased 1.3% to 1,406
- Pending Sales increased 23.1% to 1,029
- Inventory decreased 27.5% to 17,088
For the month of February:
- Median Sales Price decreased 1.4% to $138,000
- Days on Market decreased 9.0% to 145
- Percent of Original List Price Received increased 2.5% to 90.6%
- Months Supply of Inventory decreased 35.2% to 4.
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 Twin Cities region, for the week ending March 10:
- New Listings decreased 0.3% to 1,450
- Pending Sales increased 20.9% to 995
- Inventory decreased 24.3% to 17,899
For the month of February:
- Median Sales Price decreased 1.4% to $138,500
- Days on Market decreased 9.1% to 145
- Percent of Original List Price Received increased 2.6% to 90.6%
- Months Supply of Inventory decreased 35.8% to 4.7
The last six years or so have been tough on home prices, and even the most optimistic prognosticators say it will take another six years for median sales prices to approach the halcyon days of assured annual value increases for home sellers. Generations of stable home price increases gave way to a boom-and-bust cycle that would have made the Pets.com sock puppet blush. As we enter what should be an active spring market, our communities would do well to focus effort toward creating healthy, happy homes. With those in place, prices will rise again.
In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending March 3:
- New Listings decreased 23.2% to 1,402
- Pending Sales increased 29.7% to 940
- Inventory decreased 22.9% to 17,818
For the month of February:
- Median Sales Price decreased 1.1% to $138,500
- Days on Market decreased 9.0% to 145
- Percent of Original List Price Received increased 2.6% to 90.6%
- Months Supply of Inventory decreased 36.5% to 4.6
The National Association of Homebuilders index recently rose to levels not seen since 2007. Historically, it's been a great leading indicator of housing starts. We lead with this information because it is just the latest in a series of testimonials toward a market with some wind in its sails. In as few as four months, the residential real estate scene could look quite different than it has in recent years. That's not to say that we're wave riding our way to a national housing boom, but market fundamentals could be steering the rudder in the direction of calmer waters. For sellers eager to get out but unwilling to take capital losses, that's more relieving than the usual threat of hull breach.
In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending February 11:
- New Listings decreased 0.4% to 1,313
- Pending Sales increased 28.9% to 928
- Inventory decreased 23.5% to 17,690
For the month of January:
- Median Sales Price decreased 3.4% to $140,000
- Days on Market decreased 8.5% to 142
- Percent of Original List Price Received increased 3.4% to 91.2%
- Months Supply of Inventory decreased 34.6% to 4.7
