Despite increases in new listings in recent months, America is facing an epic housing shortage, with realtor.com reporting the U.S. needs an additional 5.24 million homes to meet current population needs, an increase of 1.4 million homes since 2019, as new-home construction has failed to keep up with household formations. Assuming the rate of household formations continues, the average rate of new home completions would need to triple over the next 5 – 6 years in order to meet current demand.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending September 18:

• New Listings decreased 10.5% to 1,736
• Pending Sales decreased 18.1% to 1,289
• Inventory decreased 15.0% to 8,287

For the month of August:

• Median Sales Price increased 11.1% to $350,000
• Days on Market decreased 43.6% to 22
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 2.1% to 102.4%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale decreased 26.3% to 1.4

All comparisons are to 2020

Click here for the full Weekly Market Activity Report. From MAAR Market Data News.

Fall brings good news for those looking to purchase a home, with realtor.com reporting the best time to buy a home is now, according to their Best Time to Buy Report, which analyzed listing data back to 2018. Based on the data, analysts found that the period between Sept. 12 and Oct. 17 will offer the most favorable home buying conditions to prospective buyers, as the majority of U.S. markets are predicted to see more homes for sale, less competition, and increased days on market than at any other time this year.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending September 11:

• New Listings decreased 9.0% to 1,680
• Pending Sales decreased 19.5% to 1,141
• Inventory decreased 16.9% to 7,971

For the month of July:

• Median Sales Price increased 11.9% to $350,000
• Days on Market decreased 43.6% to 22
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 2.1% to 102.4%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale decreased 26.3% to 1.4

All comparisons are to 2020

Click here for the full Weekly Market Activity Report. From MAAR Market Data News.

Mortgage rates remained below 3% for the eighth week in a row, with Freddie Mac reporting the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 2.87% for the week ending September 2nd. Despite persistent low rates, total mortgage applications fell 1.9% compared to the previous week, according to the Mortgage Banker’s Association, with both purchase and refinance applications moderating, as a rise in new COVID-19 cases tempered economic momentum.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending September 4:

• New Listings decreased 16.1% to 1,470
• Pending Sales decreased 21.2% to 1,303
• Inventory decreased 17.7% to 7,913

For the month of July:

• Median Sales Price increased 11.9% to $350,000
• Days on Market decreased 53.7% to 19
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 3.5% to 103.6%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale decreased 30.0% to 1.4

All comparisons are to 2020

Click here for the full Weekly Market Activity Report. From MAAR Market Data News.

Pending sales were down for a second straight month, falling 1.8% in July, according to the National Association of REALTORS®, as stiff competition for homes and high sales prices have discouraged some would-be buyers. Home prices have been soaring during the pandemic, with the S&P Corelogic Case-Shiller national home price index reporting that prices rose 18.6% nationally in June, the largest annual increase in the history of the index since 1987.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending August 28:

• New Listings decreased 10.6% to 1,621
• Pending Sales decreased 8.6% to 1,463
• Inventory decreased 17.8% to 8,014

For the month of July:

• Median Sales Price increased 11.9% to $350,000
• Days on Market decreased 53.7% to 19
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 3.5% to 103.6%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale decreased 30.0% to 1.4

All comparisons are to 2020

Click here for the full Weekly Market Activity Report. From MAAR Market Data News.

With the last days of summer on the horizon, experts are expecting an unusually busy fall market, as sellers continue putting more homes on the market, hoping to take advantage of record-high sales prices and strong buyer demand. The National Association of REALTORS® reports the median existing home price was up 17.8% year-over-year, and new listings were up 7.3% in July compared to June, defying seasonality trends typically seen in the fall.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending August 21:

• New Listings decreased 5.0% to 1,757
• Pending Sales decreased 11.0% to 1,454
• Inventory decreased 19.5% to 7,906

For the month of July:

• Median Sales Price increased 11.9% to $350,000
• Days on Market decreased 53.7% to 19
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 3.5% to 103.6%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale decreased 30.0% to 1.4

All comparisons are to 2020

Click here for the full Weekly Market Activity Report. From MAAR Market Data News.

High home prices are the most common reason prospective buyers have yet to purchase a home, with 39% of active buyers mentioning high sales prices as the primary deterrent to not finding a home in Q2 2021, according to a recent Housing Trends report from the National Association of Home Builders. This is a change from the previous two quarters, where interested buyers reported being outbid by other offers as the most common reason for not purchasing a home.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending August 14:

• New Listings decreased 11.7% to 1,697
• Pending Sales decreased 8.0% to 1,503
• Inventory decreased 19.3% to 7,901

For the month of July:

• Median Sales Price increased 11.9% to $350,000
• Days on Market decreased 53.7% to 19
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 3.5% to 103.6%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale decreased 30.0% to 1.4

All comparisons are to 2020

Click here for the full Weekly Market Activity Report. From MAAR Market Data News.

America’s housing shortage may be starting to ease up, with new listings up 6.5% year-over-year in July, making it the fourth consecutive month of annual increases, according to realtor.com’s Monthly Housing Report. More than half of the nation’s 50 largest metropolitan areas reported double-digit increases in new listings, which may suggest the market is beginning to normalize after the record-breaking activity seen during the pandemic.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending August 7:

• New Listings increased 1.7% to 1,939
• Pending Sales decreased 18.6% to 1,414
• Inventory decreased 23.1% to 7,605

For the month of July:

• Median Sales Price increased 11.9% to $350,000
• Days on Market decreased 53.7% to 19
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 3.5% to 103.6%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale decreased 30.0% to 1.4

All comparisons are to 2020

Click here for the full Weekly Market Activity Report. From MAAR Market Data News.

The percentage of first-time home buyers fell to 31% in June, the lowest level in more than 3 decades, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. Cash offers, bidding wars, and soaring home prices are making it increasingly difficult for first-time buyers to compete in a market with record low inventory and declining housing affordability, even as 30-year mortgage rates dropped below 3 percent for the first time since February.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending July 31:

• New Listings decreased 1.6% to 1,832
• Pending Sales decreased 10.4% to 1,476
• Inventory decreased 25.9% to 7,427

For the month of June:

• Median Sales Price increased 14.8% to $350,000
• Days on Market decreased 52.4% to 20
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 4.5% to 104.1%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale decreased 42.9% to 1.2

All comparisons are to 2020

Click here for the full Weekly Market Activity Report. From MAAR Market Data News.

Sales of new construction single-family homes fell to a 14-month low, dropping 6.6% in June compared to May, according to the Commerce Department, although sales of new homes remain 13.5% higher compared to a year ago. The recent decline in sales can be attributed to rising construction costs and building material prices, with these increases then passed on to consumers, and to labor and supply chain challenges, which have extended homebuilding timelines, frustrating buyers and further aggravating America’s housing shortage.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending July 24:

• New Listings decreased 3.3% to 1,786
• Pending Sales decreased 4.6% to 1,481
• Inventory decreased 25.9% to 7,400

For the month of June:

• Median Sales Price increased 14.8% to $350,000
• Days on Market decreased 52.4% to 20
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 4.5% to 104.1%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale decreased 42.9% to 1.2

All comparisons are to 2020

Click here for the full Weekly Market Activity Report. From MAAR Market Data News.

Cash buyers continue to make up a significant portion of the U.S. housing market, with nearly one-third of home sales this year being all-cash purchases. Although investors make up a considerable number of cash sales transactions, the increasing availability of remote work during the pandemic has allowed some homeowners to sell their homes in pricey markets and relocate to less-expensive locales, where they’re able to pay cash for a new home, giving them an edge in a highly competitive market.

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

• New Listings increased 3.1% to 1,909
• Pending Sales decreased 12.0% to 1,422
• Inventory decreased 29.0% to 7,106

For the month of June:

• Median Sales Price increased 14.8% to $350,000
• Days on Market decreased 52.4% to 20
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 4.5% to 104.1%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale decreased 42.9% to 1.2

All comparisons are to 2020

Click here for the full Weekly Market Activity Report. From MAAR Market Data News.