Weekly Market Activity Report

Weekly Market Activity Report
The Twin Cities housing market continues to post strong pending sales figures as fall progresses. For the week ending October 31, there were 826 pending sales. That's down from the week before but 42.9 percent greater than the same week last year.
The extension and expansion of the tax credit means that first-time home buyer activity will remain strong, but don't bank on the same blockbuster numbers we have seen this year. If you were a potential first-time buyer who was qualified to purchase in 2009, odds are good that you already bought. The fact that the income limits have been raised for eligibility does help since it widens the credit's availability.
The $6,500 credit for second-time buyers will spur some sellers to put their homes on the market who had previously been on the fence. New listings will likely strengthen this winter and into early 2010 as a result.
Some updated numbers for this month:
• Days on Market is still shrinking, down to 128. That's 9.4 percent below last October.
• The Percent of Original List Price Received at Sale bumped up to 94.6.
• The Housing Affordability Index increased to 202, up 25.5 percent over 2008.