Monday, August 19th, 2013

In the world of costs and benefits, no good deed goes unpunished and every rain cloud has a silver lining. The Commerce Department recently reported that consumer retail spending had risen the most in seven months. That bodes well for residential real estate – an industry sensitive to consumer confidence and spending levels.

But it could force the Federal Reserve’s hand in tapering stimulatory monetary policy sooner than later, something that could push interest rates off their current lows.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending August 10:

  • New Listings increased 19.1% to 1,650
  • Pending Sales increased 10.1% to 1,197
  • Inventory decreased 11.3% to 15,990

For the month of July:

  • Median Sales Price increased 16.8% to $208,000
  • Days on Market decreased 31.4% to 72
  • Percent of Original List Price Received increased 2.6% to 97.5%
  • Months Supply of Inventory decreased 21.7% to 3.6

Click here for the full Weekly Market Activity Report.From The Skinny.

Posted in Weekly Report |
Monday, August 12th, 2013
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The Twin Cities were once again buzzing with housing activity in July. Rising rents combined with still-favorable prices and mortgage rates have resulted in ongoing housing recovery. House hunters continue to eye seller activity for hints of additional inventory. New listings rose a healthy 24.6 percent, the second-largest gain since April 2010. Buyers have 15,671 properties from which to choose – 13.0 percent fewer than in July 2012 but still marking the smallest year-over-year decline in inventory in more than two years.

The overall median sales price was $208,757, up 17.2 percent compared to July 2012. A shift in sales type is driving this price growth. As recently as July 2011, foreclosures and short sales together comprised 45.4 percent of all sales activity. In July 2013, these two distressed segments made up just 20.6 percent of all sales. On the seller side, the percentage of all new listings that were distressed in July fell to 17.9 percent, down from 41.2 percent in July 2011.

New listings were up 24.6 percent overall, but traditional seller activity surged 55.7 percent – the most in nearly ten years. Foreclosure new listings decreased 31.2 percent and short sale new listings fell 42.1 percent. With 17 straight months of year-over-year median price gains, multiple-offer situations and just 3.6 months’ supply of inventory, the same market that recently favored buyers is now tilting toward sellers. Homes are selling in an average of 72 days – the quickest pace in six and a half years. Sellers are receiving an average of 97.5 percent of their original list price – the highest ratio in just over seven years.

The traditional median sales price rose 3.6 percent to $224,900; the foreclosure median sales price was up 11.6 percent to $135,000; the short sale median sales price increased 18.6 percent to $153,000. On average, traditional homes sold in 62 days for 97.6 percent of original list price, foreclosures sold in 83 days for 98.3 percent of original list price and short sales lagged at 166 days and 93.8 percent of original list price.

Posted in The Skinny |
Monday, July 29th, 2013

Nationwide, local markets have become stable enough to withstand mortgage rate increases. Improving job and other economic sectors have fortified real, organic housing growth. Bargain-basement deals have given way to multiple offers, stiff bidding wars and lickety-split days on market. Inventory may still be thin, but traditional home sellers are stepping up to the plate with new listings. It won’t be long now until the housing recovery is once again referred to as just housing.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending July 20:

  • New Listings increased 25.1% to 1,731
  • Pending Sales increased 6.2% to 1,171
  • Inventory decreased 14.3% to 15,623

For the month of June:

  • Median Sales Price increased 17.5% to $210,000
  • Days on Market decreased 34.5% to 74
  • Percent of Original List Price Received increased 2.5% to 97.5%
  • Months Supply of Inventory decreased 25.0% to 3.6

Click here for the full Weekly Market Activity Report.From The Skinny.

Posted in Weekly Report |
Monday, July 29th, 2013

Posted in Monthly Skinny Video |
Monday, July 22nd, 2013

Housing isn’t just housing. That may have a strange ring to it. But housing includes building, inspecting, remodeling, lending, refinancing, furnishing and a host of other functions tied to the physical space of home. Each of these functions is tied to job growth and interest rates, and each has seen some spectacular highs and lows over the past eight years. There has been a recent sense of stability brewing in all of housing. Here’s to making the most of it.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending July 13:

  • New Listings increased 25.1% to 1,921
  • Pending Sales increased 26.5% to 1,352
  • Inventory decreased 15.6% to 15,390

For the month of June:

  • Median Sales Price increased 17.5% to $210,000
  • Days on Market decreased 34.5% to 74
  • Percent of Original List Price Received increased 2.5% to 97.5%
  • Months Supply of Inventory decreased 25.0% to 3.6

Click here for the full Weekly Market Activity Report.From The Skinny.

Posted in Weekly Report |