Decreased supply, strong demand and higher prices are among the encouraging developments in 2012 that make the case for continued recovery in 2013. Consumer purchase demand increased organically, absent any government incentives. As the active supply of homes for sale fell to 10-year lows, absorption rates improved to levels also not seen since 2003. Multi-decade low interest rates and record housing affordability resulted in a 16.9 percent increase in home sales for the 13-county metro.

2012 by the Numbers

• Sellers listed 65,914 new homes on the market, a modest 4.3 percent decrease from 2011 and a 10-year low.
• Buyers purchased 48,641 homes, up 16.9 percent from 2011 and the highest figure since 2006 (783 units shy).
• Inventory levels dropped 31.8 percent from 2011 to 11,875 units, the lowest level in 10 years.
• Months Supply of Inventory dropped 42.2 percent to 2.9 months.
• The Median Sales Price of closed sales was up, rising 11.9 percent to $167,900.
• Cumulative Days on Market was down 20.6 percent to 117 days, on average.
• Lender-mediated properties made up a smaller share of overall activity
• 34.6 percent of all New Listings were lender-mediated (either foreclosures or short sales), down from 41.9 percent in 2011 and 42.6 percent in 2010
• 37.3 percent of all Inventory was lender-mediated, down from 44.4 percent in 2011 and 47.4 percent in 2010
• 39.7 percent of all Closed Sales were lender-mediated, down from 50.0 percent in 2011 and 47.9 percent in 2010