Tuesday, September 5th, 2023
For Week Ending August 26, 2023

U.S. home equity recently hit a 4-year high, with nearly half of all mortgage borrowers considered equity rich—having a loan to value ratio of 50% or lower—in the second quarter of this year. According to ATTOM’s Q2 2023 U.S. Home Equity and Underwater Report, 49% of mortgaged residential homes were equity rich, up from 47% in the first quarter of the year, with quarterly increases found in 45 states. The highest levels of equity-rich mortgaged properties continue to be found in the West, with six of the top 10 states in the second quarter located in that region.

IN THE TWIN CITIES REGION, FOR THE WEEK ENDING AUGUST 26:

  • New Listings increased at 1,282
  • Pending Sales decreased 9.2% to 923
  • Inventory decreased 12.7% to 8,178

FOR THE MONTH OF JULY:

  • Median Sales Price remained flat at $375,000
  • Days on Market increased 31.8% to 29
  • Percent of Original List Price Received decreased 0.7% to 100.8%
  • Months Supply of Homes For Sale increased 15.8% to 2.2

All comparisons are to 2022

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

Posted in Weekly Report |
Monday, August 28th, 2023
For Week Ending August 19, 2023

International buyers of U.S. homes purchased 14.2% fewer homes from April 2022 to March 2023 compared to the same 12-month period a year before, according to the latest data from the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). Foreign buyers purchased 84,600 homes, marking the fewest number of properties purchased annually by foreign buyers since 2009, when NAR began tracking this data. Although sales were down, home prices have continued to rise, with the median existing-home sales price among international buyers hitting $396,400, the highest ever recorded by NAR.

IN THE TWIN CITIES REGION, FOR THE WEEK ENDING AUGUST 19:

  • New Listings decreased 3.1% to 1,324
  • Pending Sales decreased 15.0% to 966
  • Inventory decreased 14.0% to 8,117

FOR THE MONTH OF JULY:

  • Median Sales Price increased at $375,250
  • Days on Market increased 31.8% to 29
  • Percent of Original List Price Received decreased 0.7% to 100.8%
  • Months Supply of Homes For Sale increased 10.5% to 2.1

All comparisons are to 2022

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

Posted in Weekly Report |
Thursday, August 24th, 2023

Posted in Monthly Skinny Video |
Monday, August 21st, 2023
For Week Ending August 12, 2023

Seller profit margins are up nationwide following three quarterly declines, according to ATTOM’s Q2 2023 U.S. Home Sales Report. Typical profit margins on medianpriced single-family and condo sales climbed to 47.7% in the second quarter of 2023, up from 43.9% the previous quarter, representing the first increase in a year. The rise in profit margins was boosted by recent growth in median single-family home and condo prices, which increased in more than 90% of the country in Q2, according to the report.

IN THE TWIN CITIES REGION, FOR THE WEEK ENDING AUGUST 12:

  • New Listings decreased 7.4% to 1,398
  • Pending Sales decreased 10.5% to 1,068
  • Inventory decreased 14.4% to 8,065

FOR THE MONTH OF JULY:

  • Median Sales Price remained flat at $375,000
  • Days on Market increased 31.8% to 29
  • Percent of Original List Price Received decreased 0.7% to 100.8%
  • Months Supply of Homes For Sale increased 10.5% to 2.1

All comparisons are to 2022

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

Posted in Weekly Report |
Thursday, August 17th, 2023
  • The median sales price remained flat at $375,000
  • Signed purchase agreements fell 9.5 percent; new listings down 16.0 percent
  • Sellers accepted offers for an average of 100.8 percent of their list price

(August 15, 2023) – According to new data from Minneapolis Area Realtors® and the Saint Paul Area Association of REALTORS®, home prices were flat in July. Both buyer and seller activity were lower compared to July 2022.

Sales & Prices

Home prices were down slightly in April and May, up slightly in June, and flat in July. April marked the first year-over-year price decline since February 2012. The typical home price is now up 7.1 percent from 2021, up 20.0 percent from 2020 and up 32.3 percent from 2019. But market dynamics always vary by price point, property type and location. Signed purchase agreements fell 9.5 percent from last July when buyer activity had already declined in the face of higher rates. Closings were down 21.4 percent but are a lagging indicator. As a more forward-looking indicator, pending sales are a more timely measure.

Of the sellers that did list and sell their properties, they received an average of 100.8 percent of list price after 29 days on market. This reflects a persistently tight supply picture. Homes are still selling faster than in July of 2018, 2019 and 2020. “It still surprises me how often I hear and read about a crash,” said Brianne Lawrence, President of the Saint Paul Area Association of REALTORS®. “Prices flattening out and homes spending longer on market combined with a possible downtick in rates could be just the medicine the doctor ordered for frustrated buyers.”

Listings and Inventory

July sellers listed 16.0 percent fewer homes on the MLS than last year. Inventory levels slid a similar 16.1 percent. Would-be sellers are faced with a unique decision: stay put in a home that no longer meets their needs or take their equity and embrace higher prices and rates until refinancing. Sellers are feeling the “golden handcuffs” and are reluctant to swap a 3.0 percent rate for 7.0 percent. “When is the best time to buy a home? When you’re ready,” said Jerry Moscowitz, President of Minneapolis Area Realtors®. “Focus on what you can’t change such as layout and location. Rooms can be repainted. Counters and appliances can be updated. Loans can be refinanced.”

Both supply and demand have come down in unison, meaning the balance between buyers and sellers remains tight. Inventory levels fell 16.1 percent in July to 7,842 active listings. The market still favors sellers, but not to the same degree as the last few years. The market has 2.1 months supply of inventory but typically 4-6 months of supply are needed to achieve a balanced market.

Location & Property Type

Market activity varies by area, price point and property type. New home sales rose 61.8 percent while existing home sales were down 13.5 percent. Single family sales fell 11.6 percent, condo sales were flat and townhome sales were down 4.5 percent. Sales in Minneapolis decreased 12.7 percent while Saint Paul sales fell 13.8 percent. Cities such as Mounds View, St. Anthony, Zumbrota and Vadnais Heights saw the largest sales gains while Hudson, Cambridge, New Richmond and Monticello all had notably lower demand than last year.

July 2023 Housing Takeaways (compared to a year ago)

  • Sellers listed 5,823 properties on the market, a 16.0 percent decrease from last July
  • Buyers signed 4,408 purchase agreements, down 9.5 percent (4,387 closed sales, down 21.4 percent)
  • Inventory levels shrank 16.1 percent to 7,842 units
  • Month’s Supply of Inventory rose 10.5 percent to 2.1 months (4-6 months is balanced)
  • The Median Sales Price was flat at $375,000
  • Days on Market rose 31.8 percent to 29 days, on average (median of 12 days, up 9.1 percent)
  • Changes in Sales activity varied by market segment
    • Single family sales decreased 11.6 percent; condo sales were flat & townhouse sales fell 4.5 percent
    • Traditional sales declined 9.9 percent; foreclosure sales rose 95.0 percent to 39; short sales rose 233.3 percent to 10
    • Previously owned sales were down 13.5 percent; new construction sales increased 61.8 percent
    • Sales under $500,000 fell 11.7 percent; sales over $500,000 gained 1.3 percent


From The Skinny Blog.

Posted in The Skinny |