Monday, January 7th, 2019

For Week Ending December 29, 2018

Although the 2018 U.S. stock market had its worst losses in a decade, employers added 2.64 million jobs in 2018 – the best year since 2015 – as well as 312,000 jobs during December. In addition, average hourly earnings increased 3.2 percent, matching the October 2018 percentage that marked a nearly ten-year high. The unemployment rate rose to 3.9 percent from 3.7 percent but is still historically low. These combined events give the impression of an economy that remains ultimately optimistic but is also recalibrating.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending December 29:

  • New Listings increased 22.2% to 297
  • Pending Sales increased 11.5% to 514
  • Inventory increased 0.2% to 8,608

For the month of November:

  • Median Sales Price increased 8.2% to $265,000
  • Days on Market decreased 7.1% to 52
  • Percent of Original List Price Received decreased 0.1% to 97.3%
  • Months Supply of Inventory increased 10.5% to 2.1

All comparisons are to 2017

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

Posted in Weekly Report |
Friday, January 4th, 2019

For Week Ending December 22, 2018

The last few weeks of the year provide an opportunity for buyers, sellers and real estate practitioners alike to spend time with the family and friends that make owning a home that much more special. It also provides a time to plan for the potential for marginal increases in average household wages, median sales prices for homes, mortgage rates and total available homes for sale in 2019.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending December 22:

  • New Listings increased 11.1% to 469
  • Pending Sales decreased 7.4% to 680
  • Inventory increased at 9,053

For the month of November:

  • Median Sales Price increased 8.2% to $265,000
  • Days on Market decreased 7.1% to 52
  • Percent of Original List Price Received decreased 0.1% to 97.3%
  • Months Supply of Inventory increased 10.5% to 2.1

All comparisons are to 2017

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

Posted in Weekly Report |
Thursday, December 27th, 2018

“Housing is still relatively affordable.”
www.mplsrealtor.com

Posted in Monthly Skinny Video |
Monday, December 24th, 2018

For Week Ending December 15, 2018

The U.S. Federal Reserve recently raised the benchmark borrowing rate to a range of 2.25 to 2.50 percent. It is the fourth increase in 2018 and brings the rate to its highest level in a decade. As a result, borrowing money will be more expensive, particularly for credit card purchases. Fed Chair Jerome Powell stated that a rate increase at this time was appropriate for a healthy economy. Fed actions do not necessarily affect mortgage rates, but they can be influential.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending December 15:

  • New Listings increased 9.5% to 702
  • Pending Sales decreased 6.7% to 723
  • Inventory increased 1.0% to 9,487

For the month of November:

  • Median Sales Price increased 8.2% to $265,000
  • Days on Market decreased 7.1% to 52
  • Percent of Original List Price Received decreased 0.1% to 97.3%
  • Months Supply of Inventory increased 10.5% to 2.1

All comparisons are to 2017

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

Posted in Weekly Report |
Thursday, December 20th, 2018

By David Arbit on Tuesday, December 18th, 2018

For the first time since April 2015, there were more homes listed for sale in the Twin Cities metro than the same month the year prior. After years of strong buyer activity and weak seller activity, the tides seem to finally be shifting. Seller activity has been accelerating since the middle of this year. Meanwhile, the last four months all showed year-over-year decreases in pending sales. Unit sales volumes are still healthy, though there is some downward pressure brought on by tight inventory and rising prices and rates. The market is decelerating, but not yet contracting. Prices continue to rise, and homes are selling in less time. But absorption rates and the ratio of sold to list price are starting to ease. That’s good news for buyers, even though sellers still have strong negotiating power.

The number of active listings for sale has increased compared to the prior year. Buyers haven’t seen inventory gains in over 3.5 years. Months supply also ticked up to 2.1 months, suggesting the market is still tight but it is rebalancing and normalizing. After increasing in October and November, rates have settled back down around September levels. The lack of supply is especially noticeable at the entry-level prices, where multiple offers and homes selling for over list price are commonplace. The move-up and upper-bracket segments are less competitive and—for the most part—much better supplied. Inventory could double while sales remain stable and we’d still have less than 5 months of supply.

November 2018 by the Numbers (compared to a year ago)

Sellers listed 3,992 properties on the market, a 12.6 percent increase from last November

Buyers closed on 4,629 homes, a 0.9 percent decrease

Inventory levels for November rose 2.3 percent compared to 2017 to 10,181 units

Months Supply of Inventory was increased 10.5 percent to 2.1 months

The Median Sales Price rose 8.2 percent to $265,150, a record high for November

Cumulative Days on Market declined 7.1 percent to 52 days, on average (median of 31)

Changes in Sales activity varied by market segment:

Single family sales fell 1.1 percent; condo sales jumped 18.7 percent; townhome sales declined 3.3 percent

Traditional sales rose 1.3 percent; foreclosure sales sank 44.1 percent; short sales fell 42.9 percent

Previously-owned sales were down 3.2 percent; new construction sales ramped up by 28.7 percent
From The Skinny Blog.

Posted in The Skinny |