This year, there’s a lot to be thankful for beyond the traditional holiday bird. Home buyers can be thankful for record-low mortgage rates. Sellers can be thankful for the possibility of getting more money in less listing time. Some homeowners are thankful for the housing recovery because it may alleviate underwater situations.

Tryptophan doesn’t seem to be slowing buyer and seller optimism.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending November 17:

• New Listings increased 11.4% to 1,046
• Pending Sales increased 9.8% to 843
• Inventory decreased 29.4% to 14,770

For the month of October:

• Median Sales Price increased 14.8% to $175,000
• Days on Market decreased 25.2% to 103
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 3.5% to 94.5%
• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 40.1% to 3.7

Click here for the full Weekly Market Activity Report.

From The Skinny.

Housing continues to be a bright spot in the national economy. Locally, we enjoyed more sales and additional seller activity. As prices firm up, some sellers will be lifted out of unenviable positions while others will receive a confidence booster. That’s a good thing, since buyers at some price points are struggling to find inventory. Additional evidence of turnaround will come by way of days on market, the average ratio of sold to list price and absorption rates generally under five months.

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

• New Listings decreased 9.0% to 1,015
• Pending Sales increased 11.3% to 883
• Inventory decreased 29.1% to 15,007

For the month of October:

• Median Sales Price increased 14.8% to $175,000
• Days on Market decreased 25.3% to 103
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 3.5% to 94.5%
• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 40.5% to 3.7

Click here for the full Weekly Market Activity Report.

From The Skinny.

1.3 million. That’s how many Americans were reportedly lifted out of underwater mortgage situations this year from rising home prices, according to the Obama administration’s October Housing Scorecard. There’s more going on than meets the eye here. Rising prices also help restore tax base, decreasing the likelihood of tax increases later. National GDP even benefits. When real estate is chugging along, things are good. And now, arguably more so than ever in the past four or
five years, real estate is starting to chug again. It’s not at full speed yet, but the open track ahead beckons.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending November 3:

• New Listings decreased 1.0% to 1,125
• Pending Sales increased 25.3% to 930
• Inventory decreased 27.7% to 15,434

For the month of October:

• Median Sales Price increased 14.8% to $174,995
• Days on Market decreased 25.0% to 103
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 3.5% to 94.4%
• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 41.0% to 3.7

Click here for the full Weekly Market Activity Report.

From The Skinny.

Over the course of the year, we’ve cleverly devised new tactics each week to communicate just how far the market has come. This week is no exception. Most level-headed housing advocates agree that lower residential vacancy rates are a good thing. Well, chalk one up for level-headed housing advocates, because Reuters just reported that the U.S. residential vacancy rate fell to 1.9 percent in the third quarter. That’s the lowest level in seven years. It’s just the latest installment of overwhelming bullish housing news.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending October 27:

• New Listings decreased 3.0% to 1,037
• Pending Sales increased 11.1% to 914
• Inventory decreased 28.8% to 15,700

For the month of September:

• Median Sales Price increased 12.7% to $174,625
• Days on Market decreased 28.5% to 101
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 4.1% to 94.8%
• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 38.8% to 4.1

Click here for the full Weekly Market Activity Report.

From The Skinny.