The best real estate professionals leverage the power of data to deliver excellent value and real market understanding to customers. With the exceptional tools at their disposal, they can help buyers and sellers understand market trends and make important decisions. Real estate is “hot” again, even during the winter months, but nobody is predicting a rocket ship rise. It helps everybody if this market recovery incline is smooth and steady, like the gentle flow of a hot air balloon. Here are the numbers for this week.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending January 19:

• New Listings decreased 1.6% to 1,077
• Pending Sales increased 17.4% to 822
• Inventory decreased 31.6% to 12,197

For the month of December:

• Median Sales Price increased 15.9% to $168,000
• Days on Market decreased 23.4% to 108
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 3.5% to 93.8%
• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 40.0% to 3.0

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

The first full week of 2013 market data looks a lot like most of 2012 did. But let’s go beyond the obvious. Consider this: Americans formed substantially more new households in 2012 than we built, which is partly responsible for the ongoing declines in active listings. Our population continues to expand from both natural reproduction and in-migration. But builders and lenders lacked the confidence and risk appetite to build in larger volumes. Unlike our sluggish jobs recovery, this imbalance actually stands to further fuel our fledgling housing recovery. If only all those new households could secure adequate employment, we’d be off to the races.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending January 12:

• New Listings decreased 8.0% to 1,120
• Pending Sales increased 4.3% to 722
• Inventory decreased 31.7% to 12,123

For the month of December:

• Median Sales Price increased 15.9% to $168,000
• Days on Market decreased 23.4% to 108
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 3.5% to 93.8%
• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 42.0% to 2.9

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

With 2012 in the books, we’re starting to see some 2013 activity trickle in. Watch for continuations of last year’s trends: less inventory, strong buyer activity and firmer prices. It’s hard to believe spring is just around the corner, but would-be spring sellers are noticing the changes that have taken place. It’s a much less scary time to sell a home. Foreclosure activity will also be a key metric to watch. For the current cycle, here’s what the data shows.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending January 5:

• New Listings decreased 34.6% to 832
• Pending Sales increased 12.7% to 594
• Inventory decreased 31.1% to 12,000

For the month of December:

• Median Sales Price increased 16.2% to $168,452
• Days on Market decreased 23.4% to 108
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 3.5% to 93.8%
• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 42.0% to 2.9

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

The results are mostly in, and the evidence is overwhelming. Housing not only outperformed most other sectors of the economy, but for the first time in half a decade, there was meaningful market recovery in 2012. For 2013, a few things seem likely. Expect interest rates to remain low and rents to rise, which will continue to drive buyer activity. Sellers should return to the marketplace in light of the improvements. Prices should remain firm and show moderate to strong gains. Foreclosure activity and job growth remain wildcards, but momentum is heading in the right direction.

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

• New Listings decreased 40.1% to 358
• Pending Sales decreased 12.6% to 442
• Inventory decreased 30.0% to 12,916

For the month of November:

• Median Sales Price increased 16.4% to $172,200
• Days on Market decreased 26.5% to 103
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 3.6% to 94.2%
• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 38.6% to 3.5

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

While you’re eating better and exercising more, also resolve to better understand the inner workings of your housing market. Data does not have to be daunting. Just from the existing trends, it’s safe to expect to see more homes selling in less time for closer to list price. It also looks like the single-family detached segment may recover faster than the condo-townhouse attached segment. It would be wise to watch foreclosure activity to see whether there will be fewer low-priced sales in 2013. Many patterns emerge if you look in the right places.

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

• New Listings increased 9.5% to 657
• Pending Sales increased 41.7% to 815
• Inventory decreased 29.2% to 13,315

For the month of November:

• Median Sales Price increased 16.4% to $172,287
• Days on Market decreased 26.5% to 103
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 3.6% to 94.2%
• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 38.8% to 3.5

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