The Mortgage Bankers Association reported that the share of mortgages currently in forbearance dropped to 6.93% as of September 13, 2020, the 15th weekly decline in a row and its lowest level in five months. The share of mortgages in forbearance peaked in June at 8.55%. The continued decline is a positive sign, but current levels suggest many homeowners are still struggling from unemployment or underemployment due to the pandemic.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending September 26:

• New Listings increased 11.2% to 1,747
• Pending Sales increased 27.7% to 1,449
• Inventory decreased 31.1% to 9,154

For the month of August:

• Median Sales Price increased 9.8% to $315,000
• Days on Market decreased 4.9% to 39
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 1.3% to 100.3%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale decreased 30.8% to 1.8

All comparisons are to 2019

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

In the latest National Association of Home Builders / Wells Fargo Housing Market Index report released this week, home builder confidence in the market for newly-built single-family homes rose five points from 78 in August to 83 in September, tying an all-time high in the 35-year history of the index. While lumber prices are up 170% from mid-April, adding more than $16,000 to the price of a typical new single-family home, strong demand by homebuyers has buoyed builders’ outlook.

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

• New Listings increased 8.6% to 1,854
• Pending Sales increased 25.8% to 1,527
• Inventory decreased 31.2% to 9,076

For the month of August:

• Median Sales Price increased 9.8% to $315,000
• Days on Market decreased 4.9% to 39
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 1.3% to 100.3%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale decreased 30.8% to 1.8

All comparisons are to 2019

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

The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) Mortgage Credit Availability Index (MCAI) in August fell by 4.7 percent to 120.9. A decline in the MCAI indicates that lending standards are tightening, and this latest drop finds the index at its lowest point since March 2014. Tightening lending standards often includes a reduction in loan programs with low credit scores, high loan-to-value ratios, and reduced borrower documentation requirements. So while mortgage rates continue to remain near all-time lows, qualifying for a mortgage is becoming a little more difficult for some borrowers.

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

• New Listings decreased 3.8% to 1,783
• Pending Sales increased 13.5% to 1,384
• Inventory decreased 31.5% to 8,928

For the month of August:

• Median Sales Price increased 9.8% to $315,000
• Days on Market decreased 4.9% to 39
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 1.3% to 100.3%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale decreased 30.8% to 1.8

All comparisons are to 2019

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

Strong buyer activity continues into the back-to-school season that normally signals the seasonal slowing of the housing market. With more buyers in the market and the continued constrained supply of homes for sale, speedy sales and multiple offers are likely to remain a common occurrence and will keep agents and prospective homebuyers and sellers quite busy this fall.

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

• New Listings decreased 3.4% to 1,669
• Pending Sales increased 40.3% to 1,601
• Inventory decreased 30.2% to 8,942

For the month of July:

• Median Sales Price increased 10.6% to $313,000
• Days on Market increased 7.9% to 41
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.5% to 100.1%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale decreased 23.1% to 2.0

All comparisons are to 2019

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

Mortgage rates continue to remain near all-time lows. This week, mortgage giant Freddie Mac reported that average rates on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage were 2.91% with an average of .8 points, just slightly above the record-low rate of 2.88% recorded earlier in the month. The Federal Reserve has announced that they will be adopting a more flexible monetary policy in an effort to achieve inflation that averages 2% over time, which is likely to keep mortgage rates low and provide further support to economic activity for an extended period of time.

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

• New Listings increased 24.2% to 1,730
• Pending Sales increased 18.0% to 1,540
• Inventory decreased 30.7% to 9,094

For the month of July:

• Median Sales Price increased 10.6% to $313,000
• Days on Market increased 7.9% to 41
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.5% to 100.1%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale decreased 29.6% to 1.9

All comparisons are to 2019

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

New construction activity continues to show strength, reaching pre-COVID-19 levels. The latest report from the Commerce Department and U.S. Housing and Urban Development shows total housing production is up 22.6% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of nearly 1.5 million units, the highest rate since February. Lumber prices have surged more than 110% since mid-April, adding approximately $14,000 to the typical new single-family home according to National Association of Home Builder estimates. Many are finding new construction home prices have increased in recent months from the pressures of increased costs to builders and strong consumer demand.

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

• New Listings increased 4.0% to 1,771
• Pending Sales increased 21.7% to 1,582
• Inventory decreased 30.3% to 9,262

For the month of July:

• Median Sales Price increased 10.6% to $313,000
• Days on Market increased 7.9% to 41
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.5% to 100.1%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale decreased 29.6% to 1.9

All comparisons are to 2019

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

Weekly new unemployment insurance claims dropped below one million for the first time since March last week. More than 28 million people are receiving some form of unemployment benefits as of July 25th, which was down more than 3 million from the previous week. Economists are concerned that many of those laid off since the start of COVID-19 may lose their jobs permanently, as some businesses, both large and small, have downsized or closed in recent months. Replacing those lost jobs is likely to be a lengthy process.

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

• New Listings increased 6.4% to 1,842
• Pending Sales increased 12.3% to 1,563
• Inventory decreased 30.0% to 9,252

For the month of July:

• Median Sales Price increased 10.6% to $313,000
• Days on Market increased 7.9% to 41
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.5% to 100.1%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale decreased 29.6% to 1.9

All comparisons are to 2019

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

As the major stock market indexes continue to be at or near record highs, we find the housing market in high demand as well. Mortgage rates are still at or near record lows and home buyer activity remains strong. While uncertainty remains on what effects the upcoming elections and any seasonal resurgence of COVID-19 may have on the financial and housing market, healthy housing demand fundamentals today will create significant tailwinds in the near term.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending August 8:

• New Listings increased 0.5% to 1,839
• Pending Sales increased 19.1% to 1,663
• Inventory decreased 29.4% to 9,291

For the month of July:

• Median Sales Price increased 10.6% to $313,000
• Days on Market increased 7.9% to 41
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.5% to 100.1%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale decreased 29.6% to 1.9

All comparisons are to 2019

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

While the Bureau of Economic Analysis reported this week that the US economy contracted at a 32.9% annual rate in Q2 2020, the housing market continues to show strength. Freddie Mac reported 30-year fixed-rate mortgages are hovering around 3% with .8 points, which is three-quarters of a percent lower than this time last year. With showing activity and pending sales still posting strong numbers, the housing market looks to continue to be a bright spot in economic activity.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending August 1:

• New Listings decreased 12.1% to 1,774
• Pending Sales increased 9.0% to 1,563
• Inventory decreased 28.2% to 9,332

For the month of June:

• Median Sales Price increased 5.2% to $305,000
• Days on Market increased 2.4% to 42
• Percent of Original List Price Received decreased 0.4% to 99.6%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale decreased 25.9% to 2.0

All comparisons are to 2019

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

The Mortgage Bankers Association reported that their Purchase Index of mortgage applications was 19 percent higher than the same week one year ago. Continued high levels of home purchase mortgage applications suggests that home buyer interest and activity will remain strong in the coming weeks.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending July 25:

• New Listings increased 0.7% to 1,777
• Pending Sales increased 8.8% to 1,499
• Inventory decreased 28.7% to 9,303

For the month of June:

• Median Sales Price increased 5.2% to $305,000
• Days on Market increased 2.4% to 42
• Percent of Original List Price Received decreased 0.4% to 99.6%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale decreased 25.9% to 2.0

All comparisons are to 2019

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