Weekly Market Activity Report
For the fifth consecutive week and ninth of the last twelve, there were more purchase agreements written on homes than one year previous.
For the week ending August 2, there were 820 pending sales—an increase of 2.2 percent from the same week in 2007. Over the last three months, pending sales have held relatively steady, posting an increase of 0.6 percent from the same period last year. With sales tantalizing the marketplace with slight upward jiggering over the past several weeks, some might want to predict that we've reached bottom. While the news is encouraging, it's a bit premature to stake that claim. Meanwhile, housing supply is clearly in decline. New listings from the most recently reported week were a stirring 19.8 percent lower than last year and were down 12.8 percent over the last three months.
This week's edition of the MAAR Weekly Market Activity Report features updated figures for several key metrics. Days on Market Until Sale in July fell slightly to 146 but remains up 13.3 percent from July 2007. Percent of Original List Price Received at Sale decreased to 92.6 percent, also down from last year. Months Supply of Inventory is up 8.6 percent from last year at 10.5. And our Housing Affordability Index (HAI) fell 4 points from last month to 144 due to another increase in interest rates and seasonal increases in home prices. Despite the drop, the HAI remains much improved from 2006 and 2007.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Wqeekly Market Rerport for the week of July 28th, 2008
Weekly Market Activity Report
In the Twin Cities housing market, sales are flat like a New York pizza and supply is down like grandma's comforter. Fortunately for us, the data confirms our kitschy similes. Pending sales for the week ending July 19 are ahead of the same week last year by 3.8 percent, while new listings fell by 13.0 percent for the same time period—positive signs of a market in transition.
The total number of active listings for sale currently sits at 33,410, (comfortably) down 1,722 units—or 4.9 percent—from this time last year. Since the number of new homes coming on the market remains in decline and sales appear to have hit bottom, we can expect total inventory to remain lower than last year for some time to come.
In the Twin Cities housing market, sales are flat like a New York pizza and supply is down like grandma's comforter. Fortunately for us, the data confirms our kitschy similes. Pending sales for the week ending July 19 are ahead of the same week last year by 3.8 percent, while new listings fell by 13.0 percent for the same time period—positive signs of a market in transition.
The total number of active listings for sale currently sits at 33,410, (comfortably) down 1,722 units—or 4.9 percent—from this time last year. Since the number of new homes coming on the market remains in decline and sales appear to have hit bottom, we can expect total inventory to remain lower than last year for some time to come.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Weekly market Report for the week of July 21st, 2008
Weekly Market Activity Report
Housing supply in the Twin Cities continues its descent. For the week ending July 12, there were 11.5 percent fewer new listings on the market than there were one year ago. Over the last three months, there have been roughly 4,000 fewer homes on the market than there were during the same period in 2007. The total number of properties for sale currently sits at 33,390—down 4.7 percent from this time last year.
The sales picture is slightly different, as activity has flattened after two years of downward movement. We are showing a slight 1.8 percent increase in pending sales from the same week last year. Over the last three months, there have been roughly 300fewer pending sales—a decline of 2.7 percent.
The new construction market has achieved an important step towards its eventual recovery. The Months Supply of Inventory for new construction properties is now less than at this time one year ago—dropping slightly from 11.0 months in July 2007 to 10.8 today. This figure has been increasing steadily for several straight years. A drastic decrease in new construction inventory is the reason for the decline.
Condominium prices continue to indicate healthier dynamics than the other property types, with both average sales price and price per square foot up slightly. This submarket seems to have peaked and flattened earlier than others, and also has far fewer foreclosures and short sales affecting overall price data.
The entire market continues to shift downward to the lower price ranges, in both supply and demand—an indication of the growing prevalence of lender-mediated foreclosures and short sales in the Twin Cities.
Housing supply in the Twin Cities continues its descent. For the week ending July 12, there were 11.5 percent fewer new listings on the market than there were one year ago. Over the last three months, there have been roughly 4,000 fewer homes on the market than there were during the same period in 2007. The total number of properties for sale currently sits at 33,390—down 4.7 percent from this time last year.
The sales picture is slightly different, as activity has flattened after two years of downward movement. We are showing a slight 1.8 percent increase in pending sales from the same week last year. Over the last three months, there have been roughly 300fewer pending sales—a decline of 2.7 percent.
The new construction market has achieved an important step towards its eventual recovery. The Months Supply of Inventory for new construction properties is now less than at this time one year ago—dropping slightly from 11.0 months in July 2007 to 10.8 today. This figure has been increasing steadily for several straight years. A drastic decrease in new construction inventory is the reason for the decline.
Condominium prices continue to indicate healthier dynamics than the other property types, with both average sales price and price per square foot up slightly. This submarket seems to have peaked and flattened earlier than others, and also has far fewer foreclosures and short sales affecting overall price data.
The entire market continues to shift downward to the lower price ranges, in both supply and demand—an indication of the growing prevalence of lender-mediated foreclosures and short sales in the Twin Cities.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Market Update for the week of June 16th, 2008
Bringing our market back to balance involves a two-step process: supply needs to draw down, demand needs to bounce back up. It's as simple as that. So far, 2008 is proving to be the year that we can confidently check the first item off this list, as the number of homes for sale continues to dwindle relative to one year ago. There are currently 33,219 homes for sale in the Twin Cities region, down a hearty 4.9 percent from one year ago, a year-over-year figure which should continue to drop in the months ahead. New listings for the week ending June 7 were down 13.9 percent from a year ago, while pending sales declined by a smaller 5.3 percent for the same time period comparison.
All in all, we're halfway there: supply is coming down, but demand is only flattening, not coming back up just yet. Regardless, the signs are encouraging.
This week's edition of the MAAR Weekly Market Activity Report features updated figures for our Housing Affordability Index (HAI) and Months Supply of Inventory. The HAI dropped slightly to 149 due to another increase in interest rates, while inventory increased to 10.4 months of supply. This means that it will take 10.4 months to sell through our current inventory, should buyer activity remain constant and no homes new to the market are listed for sale.
All in all, we're halfway there: supply is coming down, but demand is only flattening, not coming back up just yet. Regardless, the signs are encouraging.
This week's edition of the MAAR Weekly Market Activity Report features updated figures for our Housing Affordability Index (HAI) and Months Supply of Inventory. The HAI dropped slightly to 149 due to another increase in interest rates, while inventory increased to 10.4 months of supply. This means that it will take 10.4 months to sell through our current inventory, should buyer activity remain constant and no homes new to the market are listed for sale.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Market Report for the week of May 11th, 2008
Weekly Market Activity Report
In Minnesota, warmer weather typically equates to listing increases. But compared to previous years, the run-up to the 2008 summer selling season in the Twin Cities housing market has been meek. The number of new listings for the week ending May 3 was 16.6 percent behind the same time last year—the ninth consecutive week of decline relative to a year ago. Buyer activity is also slower. Over the last three months, pending sales are hovering around a 16 percent year-over-year decline.
This week's edition of the MAAR Weekly Market Activity Report features updated figures for several important metrics. As the spring season begins, the Average Days on Market Until Sale decreased to 154 while the Percent of Original List Price Received at Sale increased slightly to 91.7. The Housing Affordability Index decreased to 151, due to slight seasonal increases in sales price and interest rates. Finally, the Months Supply of Inventory increased to 10.2 months; a 5- to 6-month supply rate is considered indicative of a balanced market.
In Minnesota, warmer weather typically equates to listing increases. But compared to previous years, the run-up to the 2008 summer selling season in the Twin Cities housing market has been meek. The number of new listings for the week ending May 3 was 16.6 percent behind the same time last year—the ninth consecutive week of decline relative to a year ago. Buyer activity is also slower. Over the last three months, pending sales are hovering around a 16 percent year-over-year decline.
This week's edition of the MAAR Weekly Market Activity Report features updated figures for several important metrics. As the spring season begins, the Average Days on Market Until Sale decreased to 154 while the Percent of Original List Price Received at Sale increased slightly to 91.7. The Housing Affordability Index decreased to 151, due to slight seasonal increases in sales price and interest rates. Finally, the Months Supply of Inventory increased to 10.2 months; a 5- to 6-month supply rate is considered indicative of a balanced market.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Market Report for the week of May 5th, 2008
Weekly Market Activity Report
Ring the bell, sound the alarms, shout from the mountaintops: the number of homes for sale in the Twin Cities region as of today is less than the number for sale at this point last year, a new benchmark which marks an encouraging sign that the market is in an early stage of recovery.
This is the first time since MAAR began tracking inventory figures that we have been able to show a year-over-year decline in listing supply. There are currently 32,448 residential properties for sale, a decline of 134 units from this time in 2007. With sellers still holding back on putting their homes on the market (new listings are down 11.4 percent from last year over the last three months), this downward year-over-year trend in inventory should continue into the summer.
This week's edition of the MAAR Weekly Market Activity Report features a new figure for our Supply-Demand Ratio of 7.53, which means there are approximately 7.53 homes on the market for each buyer in May— up 12.9 percent from May 2007 when the figure was 6.67.
Ring the bell, sound the alarms, shout from the mountaintops: the number of homes for sale in the Twin Cities region as of today is less than the number for sale at this point last year, a new benchmark which marks an encouraging sign that the market is in an early stage of recovery.
This is the first time since MAAR began tracking inventory figures that we have been able to show a year-over-year decline in listing supply. There are currently 32,448 residential properties for sale, a decline of 134 units from this time in 2007. With sellers still holding back on putting their homes on the market (new listings are down 11.4 percent from last year over the last three months), this downward year-over-year trend in inventory should continue into the summer.
This week's edition of the MAAR Weekly Market Activity Report features a new figure for our Supply-Demand Ratio of 7.53, which means there are approximately 7.53 homes on the market for each buyer in May— up 12.9 percent from May 2007 when the figure was 6.67.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Market Report for the week of April 21st, 2008
Weekly Market Activity Report
The signs are early and nascent, but there are some promising early indicators that the Twin Cities housing market is beginning to correct and pull back from its two year-beeline in the buyer's favor. While affordability, interest rates and overall supply are still attractive, home sellers are cutting back on new listings substantially in 2008.
For the week ending April 12, there were 2,156 new listings, down a full 20.1 percent from the same week last year. That's the fifth week in the last six that we've seen double-digit percentage drops from 2007 activity. Newly signed purchase agreements (pending sales) are still behind last year also, posting a 3.8 percent decline.
While our market still faces a long road ahead to full recovery, the recent reduction in new supply is a positive beacon on the horizon and undoubtedly welcome news for home sellers.
The signs are early and nascent, but there are some promising early indicators that the Twin Cities housing market is beginning to correct and pull back from its two year-beeline in the buyer's favor. While affordability, interest rates and overall supply are still attractive, home sellers are cutting back on new listings substantially in 2008.
For the week ending April 12, there were 2,156 new listings, down a full 20.1 percent from the same week last year. That's the fifth week in the last six that we've seen double-digit percentage drops from 2007 activity. Newly signed purchase agreements (pending sales) are still behind last year also, posting a 3.8 percent decline.
While our market still faces a long road ahead to full recovery, the recent reduction in new supply is a positive beacon on the horizon and undoubtedly welcome news for home sellers.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
MJarket Rerport for the week of April 14th, 2008
Spring inventory growth remains staid in the Twin Cities housing market as the annual influx of new properties for sale has not been as rambunctious as the levels seen over the last few springs. The total number of homes for sale in the metro area currently sits at 31,615 up only 3.0 percent from the same time last year—the lowest such year-over-year increase for some years. Home sales remain relatively slow as well, with newly signed purchase agreements (pending sales) from the last three months trailing the same period last year by 16.6 percent.
This week's edition of the MAAR Weekly Market Activity Report features an updated Housing Affordability Index (HAI) for April. The HAI fell slightly to 155 due to a seasonal increase in home prices in March but remains a healthy 16.6 percent above where it was two years ago. Softening prices, motivated sellers and a continuation of historically low interest rates have dramatically improved the affordability picture in recent months.
This week's edition of the MAAR Weekly Market Activity Report features an updated Housing Affordability Index (HAI) for April. The HAI fell slightly to 155 due to a seasonal increase in home prices in March but remains a healthy 16.6 percent above where it was two years ago. Softening prices, motivated sellers and a continuation of historically low interest rates have dramatically improved the affordability picture in recent months.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Market report for the week of April 7th, 2008
Weekly Market Activity Report
The Twin Cities housing market is showing early signs of entering a positive phase of correction. The number of new listings entering the market for the week ending March 29 was 14.8 percent behind the same week last year, the fourth consecutive week of double-digit declines relative to last year. Unfortunately, pending sales remain lackadaisical (down 15.9 percent for the same time period comparison), so the total inventory of homes for sale continues to exhibit decelerating growth this spring season—an encouraging momentum change in our shifting supply-demand balance.
This week's edition of the MAAR Weekly Market Activity Report features updated figures for several key metrics. In March, the Days on Market Until Sale held steady at 165 and the Percent of Original List Price Received at Sale dipped slightly to 91.0—both indicators of the continued advantage the buyer holds in this market. The April Months Supply of Inventory increased to 9.6 months, up 23.9 percent from this time last year. A market that's balanced between buyers and sellers would have roughly a 5- to 6-month supply of homes for sale. We haven't been there since 2005.
The Twin Cities housing market is showing early signs of entering a positive phase of correction. The number of new listings entering the market for the week ending March 29 was 14.8 percent behind the same week last year, the fourth consecutive week of double-digit declines relative to last year. Unfortunately, pending sales remain lackadaisical (down 15.9 percent for the same time period comparison), so the total inventory of homes for sale continues to exhibit decelerating growth this spring season—an encouraging momentum change in our shifting supply-demand balance.
This week's edition of the MAAR Weekly Market Activity Report features updated figures for several key metrics. In March, the Days on Market Until Sale held steady at 165 and the Percent of Original List Price Received at Sale dipped slightly to 91.0—both indicators of the continued advantage the buyer holds in this market. The April Months Supply of Inventory increased to 9.6 months, up 23.9 percent from this time last year. A market that's balanced between buyers and sellers would have roughly a 5- to 6-month supply of homes for sale. We haven't been there since 2005.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Market report for the week of March 31st, 2008
Weekly Market Activity Report
Vamoosh! Home sellers in the Twin Cities are continuing their great disappearing act, with new listings on the market in 2008 sitting far below last year's rate. Over the last three months, there have been almost 2,500 fewer listings put on the market than there were a year ago—a drop of 9.5 percent.
Inventory is still more plentiful than ever. Despite the pullback, we still have a record high number of houses on the market for this time of year. So what's the takeaway here? Well, if we look closer, we can see that the inventory gap between now and one year ago is closing, and closing hard. We've gone from being up 12.6 percent from a year ago to only 5.5 percent up in the last 12 weeks.
Gut check: We must keep perspective on the challenging environment that sellers still face, despite the softening competition. The number of signed purchase agreements (pending sales) for the last three months is 17.7 percent behind the same period a year ago. There's fewer of everything.
Vamoosh! Home sellers in the Twin Cities are continuing their great disappearing act, with new listings on the market in 2008 sitting far below last year's rate. Over the last three months, there have been almost 2,500 fewer listings put on the market than there were a year ago—a drop of 9.5 percent.
Inventory is still more plentiful than ever. Despite the pullback, we still have a record high number of houses on the market for this time of year. So what's the takeaway here? Well, if we look closer, we can see that the inventory gap between now and one year ago is closing, and closing hard. We've gone from being up 12.6 percent from a year ago to only 5.5 percent up in the last 12 weeks.
Gut check: We must keep perspective on the challenging environment that sellers still face, despite the softening competition. The number of signed purchase agreements (pending sales) for the last three months is 17.7 percent behind the same period a year ago. There's fewer of everything.
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