Mortgage rates dropped for the fifth consecutive week, with the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage declining to 7.22% the week ending November 30, 2023, the lowest level since September, according to Freddie Mac. As a result, mortgage applications increased 2.8% on a seasonally adjusted basis from the previous week, and were up 43% on an unadjusted basis, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association. Refinance activity also improved, rising 14% from the previous week, marking the strongest week in two months.

IN THE TWIN CITIES REGION, FOR THE WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 2:

• New Listings increased 6.0% to 772
• Pending Sales decreased 2.6% to 648
• Inventory decreased 4.3% to 8,036

FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER:

• Median Sales Price increased 2.4% to $365,000
• Days on Market increased 2.8% to 37
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.2% to 98.4%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale increased 20.0% to 2.4

All comparisons are to 2022

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

Down payments reached a new high recently, as rising interest rates, elevated sales prices, and increased competition have led homebuyers to put more money down when purchasing a home. According to Realtor.com, buyers made an average down payment of 14.7% of the purchase price and a median down payment of $30,400 on primary residences in the third quarter of the year, surpassing the previous high of 14.1% in Q2 2022. In doing so, buyers paid 78.2% more as a down payment in Q3 2023 compared to Q1 2020, when the median down payment was $17,000.

IN THE TWIN CITIES REGION, FOR THE WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 25:

• New Listings increased 5.6% to 490
• Pending Sales increased 4.4% to 540
• Inventory decreased 4.6% to 8,323

FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER:

• Median Sales Price increased 2.4% to $365,000
• Days on Market increased 2.8% to 37
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.2% to 98.4%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale increased 20.0% to 2.4

All comparisons are to 2022

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

U.S. home seller profits continue to rise, with profit margins on median-priced single-family home and condo sales climbing to 59% in the third quarter of the year, up from 56.6% in the second quarter of 2023, according to ATTOM’s Q3 2023 U.S. Home Sales Report. Typical profit margins increased from the second quarter to the third quarter of 2023 in 85 of 155 metropolitan statistical areas analyzed, although profits were down year-over-year in 103, or 66%, of those metro areas.

IN THE TWIN CITIES REGION, FOR THE WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 18:

• New Listings decreased 5.9% to 934
• Pending Sales increased 3.6% to 711
• Inventory decreased 5.4% to 8,543

FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER:

• Median Sales Price increased 2.4% to $365,000
• Days on Market increased 2.8% to 37
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.2% to 98.4%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale increased 20.0% to 2.4

All comparisons are to 2022

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

Despite sluggish home sales, US home prices have continued to increase, further impacting affordability for many prospective buyers. According to the latest S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Index, home prices were up 2.6% year-over-year and 0.4% month-over-month as of last measure, marking the seventh consecutive monthly increase. Additionally, the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s index found home prices increased 5.6% year-over-year and 0.6% month-over-month as of last measure.

IN THE TWIN CITIES REGION, FOR THE WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 11:

• New Listings increased 12.0% to 981
• Pending Sales decreased 13.1% to 615
• Inventory decreased 5.3% to 8,711

FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER:

• Median Sales Price increased 2.4% to $365,000
• Days on Market increased 2.8% to 37
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.2% to 98.4%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale increased 20.0% to 2.4

All comparisons are to 2022

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

Builder confidence continues to wane amid persistently high mortgage rates, which have remained above 7% since mid-August. According to the National Association of Home Builders, builder confidence in newly built single-family homes fell four points to 40 in October, marking the third consecutive monthly decline. Higher rates have priced many prospective buyers out of the market, while also driving up the cost of builder development and construction loans, further impacting supply and housing affordability.

IN THE TWIN CITIES REGION, FOR THE WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 4:

• New Listings increased 6.6% to 1,048
• Pending Sales remained flat at 761
• Inventory decreased 5.8% to 8,805

FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER:

• Median Sales Price increased 2.4% to $371,000
• Days on Market increased 6.3% to 34
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.4% to 99.3%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale increased 20.0% to 2.4

All comparisons are to 2022

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

Elevated mortgage rates have surpassed high home prices as the primary barrier to housing affordability, according to Fannie Mae’s latest Home Price Sentiment Index (HPSI), which fell by 2.4 points to 64.5 in September. The monthly decrease in HPSI was attributed to net decreases in 5 of the Index’s 6 components—Buying Conditions, Selling Conditions, Mortgage Rate Outlook, Job Loss Concern, and Change in Household Income—with the majority of consumers reporting that they expect mortgage rates will continue to rise over the next 12 months.

IN THE TWIN CITIES REGION, FOR THE WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 28:

• New Listings decreased 9.1% to 986
• Pending Sales decreased 13.2% to 696
• Inventory decreased 6.3% to 8,893

FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER:

• Median Sales Price increased 2.4% to $371,000
• Days on Market increased 6.3% to 34
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.4% to 99.3%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale increased 20.0% to 2.4

All comparisons are to 2022

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

Annual U.S. single-family rent growth fell to 2.9% in August, marking the 16th consecutive month of declines, according to Corelogic’s most recent Single-Family Rent Index (SFRI). Although rent growth continues to moderate, single-family rents have increased by 30% nationwide since February 2020 and renters are feeling the effects, with the average American renter household spending about 40% of its income on housing costs as of last measure.

IN THE TWIN CITIES REGION, FOR THE WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 21:

• New Listings increased 3.2% to 1,160
• Pending Sales decreased 10.8% to 762
• Inventory decreased 7.5% to 8,839

FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER:

• Median Sales Price increased 2.4% to $371,000
• Days on Market increased 6.3% to 34
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.4% to 99.3%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale increased 20.0% to 2.4

All comparisons are to 2022

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

According to ATTOM’s Q3 2023 U.S. Home Affordability Report, median priced single-family homes and condos were less affordable compared to historical averages in 99% of counties nationwide in the 3rd quarter of 2023. Home sale prices have continued to rise across the country, and with mortgage rates above 7%, major homeownership expenses now take up 35% of the average national wage, the highest level since 2007, and well above the 28% affordability standard commonly used by many lenders.

IN THE TWIN CITIES REGION, FOR THE WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 14:

• New Listings decreased 8.8% to 1,187
• Pending Sales decreased 6.3% to 800
• Inventory decreased 7.8% to 8,813

FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER:

• Median Sales Price increased 2.4% to $371,000
• Days on Market increased 6.3% to 34
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.4% to 99.3%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale increased 20.0% to 2.4

All comparisons are to 2022

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

Adjustable-rate mortgages (ARM) continue to grow in popularity as prospective homebuyers aim to combat rising housing costs. Applications for 5/1 adjustable-rate mortgages rose 32.5% the week ending October 6 from four weeks earlier, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. Effective rates for a 5/1 ARM averaged about 6.66% compared to 7.49% for a traditional 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, with the share of ARM applicants representing 9.2% of all borrowers, the highest percentage since November 2022.

IN THE TWIN CITIES REGION, FOR THE WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 7:

• New Listings decreased 4.4% to 1,226
• Pending Sales increased 2.3% to 836
• Inventory decreased 7.7% to 8,740

FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER:

• Median Sales Price increased 2.3% to $370,805
• Days on Market increased 6.3% to 34
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.4% to 99.3%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale increased 20.0% to 2.4

All comparisons are to 2022

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

Nationally, pending home sales decreased 7.1% month-over-month as of last measure, falling to the lowest level since April 2020, according to the National Association of REALTORS®, as rising borrowing costs and a scarcity of new listings continue to impact market activity. Pending sales declined in all four regions and were down 18.7% year-over-year, with the smallest monthly declines noted in the Northeast (-0.9%) and the Midwest (-7.0%).

IN THE TWIN CITIES REGION, FOR THE WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 30:

• New Listings decreased 9.8% to 1,174
• Pending Sales decreased 2.0% to 895
• Inventory decreased 7.4% to 8,732

FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST:

• Median Sales Price increased 2.7% to $380,000
• Days on Market increased 18.5% to 32
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.1% to 100.0%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale increased 21.1% to 2.3

All comparisons are to 2022

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