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.

New-home construction recently fell to a 3-year low, as higher mortgage rates take their toll on homebuilders, impacting affordability and causing production to slow. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, housing starts dropped 11.3% from the previous month, led by a decline in multi-family construction. Although starts fell more than economists predicted, building permits increased over the same period, rising 6.9% from the previous month.

IN THE TWIN CITIES REGION, FOR THE WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 23:

• New Listings decreased 3.8% to 1,252
• Pending Sales decreased 10.0% to 894
• Inventory decreased 8.7% to 8,707

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 15.8% to 2.2

All comparisons are to 2022

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

Single-family homes are shrinking, as U.S. homebuilders respond to increased demand for smaller, more affordable homes. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, median single-family square floor area declined 2.9% to 2,191 square feet in the second quarter of 2023, the lowest reading since 2010. Single-family home size increased briefly during the COVID-19 pandemic, but has been decreasing steadily since the third quarter of 2022, as housing affordability conditions continue to impact buyer purchasing power.

IN THE TWIN CITIES REGION, FOR THE WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 16:

• New Listings decreased 3.2% to 1,413
• Pending Sales decreased 2.9% to 905
• Inventory decreased 9.3% to 8,562

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 15.8% to 2.2

All comparisons are to 2022

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

Mortgage applications fell to their lowest level since 1996, with total mortgage applications dropping 0.8% from the previous week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), as higher mortgage interest rates continue to take their toll on market participants. Applications to purchase a home were 27% lower than the same week a year ago, while demand for refinances was down 31% compared to the same week last year.

IN THE TWIN CITIES REGION, FOR THE WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 9:

• New Listings decreased 2.4% to 1,400
• Pending Sales decreased 16.7% to 692
• Inventory decreased 10.3% to 8,239

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 15.8% to 2.2

All comparisons are to 2022

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

The lack of existing-home inventory continues to boost demand for new construction homes, and U.S. homebuilders are ramping up production to help meet buyers’ needs. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, total housing starts rose 3.9% month-over-month to a seasonally adjusted rate of 1.452 million, and were up 5.9% from the same period last year, exceeding economists’ expectations. Much of the increase was due to single-family starts, which grew 6.7% month-over-month, led by gains in the Midwest and West regions.

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

• New Listings decreased 2.1% to 1,185
• Pending Sales decreased 6.1% to 933
• Inventory decreased 11.3% to 8,255

FOR THE MONTH OF JULY:

• Median Sales Price remained flat at $375,000
• Days on Market increased 31.8% to 29
• Percent of Original List Price Received decreased 0.7% to 100.8%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale increased 15.8% to 2.2

All comparisons are to 2022

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

U.S. home equity recently hit a 4-year high, with nearly half of all mortgage borrowers considered equity rich—having a loan to value ratio of 50% or lower—in the second quarter of this year. According to ATTOM’s Q2 2023 U.S. Home Equity and Underwater Report, 49% of mortgaged residential homes were equity rich, up from 47% in the first quarter of the year, with quarterly increases found in 45 states. The highest levels of equity-rich mortgaged properties continue to be found in the West, with six of the top 10 states in the second quarter located in that region.

IN THE TWIN CITIES REGION, FOR THE WEEK ENDING AUGUST 26:

• New Listings increased at 1,282
• Pending Sales decreased 9.2% to 923
• Inventory decreased 12.7% to 8,178

FOR THE MONTH OF JULY:

• Median Sales Price remained flat at $375,000
• Days on Market increased 31.8% to 29
• Percent of Original List Price Received decreased 0.7% to 100.8%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale increased 15.8% to 2.2

All comparisons are to 2022

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

International buyers of U.S. homes purchased 14.2% fewer homes from April 2022 to March 2023 compared to the same 12-month period a year before, according to the latest data from the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). Foreign buyers purchased 84,600 homes, marking the fewest number of properties purchased annually by foreign buyers since 2009, when NAR began tracking this data. Although sales were down, home prices have continued to rise, with the median existing-home sales price among international buyers hitting $396,400, the highest ever recorded by NAR.

IN THE TWIN CITIES REGION, FOR THE WEEK ENDING AUGUST 19:

• New Listings decreased 3.1% to 1,324
• Pending Sales decreased 15.0% to 966
• Inventory decreased 14.0% to 8,117

FOR THE MONTH OF JULY:

• Median Sales Price increased at $375,250
• Days on Market increased 31.8% to 29
• Percent of Original List Price Received decreased 0.7% to 100.8%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale increased 10.5% to 2.1

All comparisons are to 2022

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

Seller profit margins are up nationwide following three quarterly declines, according to ATTOM’s Q2 2023 U.S. Home Sales Report. Typical profit margins on medianpriced single-family and condo sales climbed to 47.7% in the second quarter of 2023, up from 43.9% the previous quarter, representing the first increase in a year. The rise in profit margins was boosted by recent growth in median single-family home and condo prices, which increased in more than 90% of the country in Q2, according to the report.

IN THE TWIN CITIES REGION, FOR THE WEEK ENDING AUGUST 12:

• New Listings decreased 7.4% to 1,398
• Pending Sales decreased 10.5% to 1,068
• Inventory decreased 14.4% to 8,065

FOR THE MONTH OF JULY:

• Median Sales Price remained flat at $375,000
• Days on Market increased 31.8% to 29
• Percent of Original List Price Received decreased 0.7% to 100.8%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale increased 10.5% to 2.1

All comparisons are to 2022

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

According to ATTOM’s Q2 2023 Home Affordability Report, 98% of median-priced U.S. single-family homes and condos were less affordable than their historical averages in the second quarter of 2023, up from 94% in the first quarter, with the decline in affordability attributed in part to rising sales prices, which have continued to outpace wage growth. Nationally, median single-family home values rose 10% from the first quarter to the second quarter, with residents needing 33% of their income to cover major homeownership expenses, the highest level since 2007.

IN THE TWIN CITIES REGION, FOR THE WEEK ENDING AUGUST 5:

• New Listings decreased 11.9% to 1,400
• Pending Sales decreased 10.5% to 1,039
• Inventory decreased 14.2% to 7,975

FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE:

• Median Sales Price increased 0.5% to $382,000
• Days on Market increased 47.6% to 31
• Percent of Original List Price Received decreased 1.9% to 101.3%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale increased 17.6% to 2.0

All comparisons are to 2022

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