For Week Ending October 28, 2017

The national unemployment rate registered in at 4.1 percent for October 2017. To put that in perspective, joblessness has not been this low in the U.S. since December 2000. In other positive economic news, mortgage rates have been holding steady at or near 3.9 percent. Historically, the average rate has been around 6.0 percent. Factors such as these keep the pool of potential buyers full, even during the so-called off-season of residential real estate sales.

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

• New Listings increased 2.7% to 1,076
• Pending Sales decreased 2.2% to 1,001
• Inventory decreased 16.4% to 11,932

For the month of September:

• Median Sales Price increased 7.4% to $247,000
• Days on Market decreased 12.3% to 50
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.6% to 98.1%
• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 16.7% to 2.5

All comparisons are to 2016

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

For Week Ending October 21, 2017

The level of real estate activity should subside each week for the remainder of the year. Savvy real estate professionals not only begin to plan now for another successful year next year, but they continue to track the trends to see where prices, listings and other metrics are at relative to last year and all past years of available data. Finding reliable patterns in the trends is a sure way to be of greater service to buyers and sellers. Let’s see where those trends are in our local market.

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

• New Listings increased 10.5% to 1,329
• Pending Sales decreased 4.4% to 1,016
• Inventory decreased 17.7% to 12,042

For the month of September:

• Median Sales Price increased 7.2% to $246,650
• Days on Market decreased 12.3% to 50
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.6% to 98.1%
• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 16.7% to 2.5

All comparisons are to 2016

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

For Week Ending October 14, 2017

Much was made of the homeownership rate dropping to a 50-year low last year. It was thought that tastes had changed, especially among Millennials, and that people craved more mobility through rentals and smaller, more urban homes. Then something happened earlier this year: Millennials drove up the homeownership rate. Judging by continued buyer demand well into autumn, it would seem that owning a home is still as desirable today as it was 50 years ago.

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

• New Listings decreased 1.7% to 1,365
• Pending Sales decreased 5.1% to 1,027
• Inventory decreased 17.2% to 12,247

For the month of September:

• Median Sales Price increased 7.2% to $246,500
• Days on Market decreased 12.3% to 50
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.6% to 98.1%
• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 16.7% to 2.5

All comparisons are to 2016

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

For Week Ending October 7, 2017

Many potential buyers are simply not on the market during this time of year, as school-aged children settle into routines and the gainfully employed focus more on end-of-year goals and holiday planning over taking on a big move. But not all buyers are equal. Consider instead the first-time buyers with no children, relocated employees, investment buyers, bargain hunters and those with generally fewer ties to established routines.

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

• New Listings decreased 1.3% to 1,395
• Pending Sales increased 4.1% to 1,103
• Inventory decreased 16.6% to 12,378

For the month of September:

• Median Sales Price increased 7.3% to $246,800
• Days on Market decreased 12.3% to 50
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.6% to 98.1%
• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 16.7% to 2.5

All comparisons are to 2016

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

For Week Ending September 30, 2017

Few cities and neighborhoods – around the nation and locally – are turning heads as hotbeds of new housing inventory. Residential real estate markets that have had a hard time dealing with a reduction in the number of homes available for sale are now also struggling to keep up with new listings levels from last year. While it’s true that builder confidence is up, it will take time before any sort of new development spawns a significant change in trend direction.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending September 30:

• New Listings decreased 4.9% to 1,382
• Pending Sales decreased 0.9% to 1,160
• Inventory decreased 16.0% to 12,728

For the month of August:

• Median Sales Price increased 6.8% to $252,000
• Days on Market decreased 14.3% to 48
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.6% to 98.5%
• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 16.7% to 2.5

All comparisons are to 2016

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

For Week Ending September 23, 2017

Last year’s national chorus was about how high buyer demand, a sunny economic outlook and enticingly low mortgage rates were propping up sales and prices in spite of low inventory. That refrain is still common enough, but regional changes continue to become more pronounced, whether due to weather, differing employment expectations or varying new construction outlooks. Let’s look at how our unique local market is performing.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending September 23:

• New Listings increased 1.7% to 1,465
• Pending Sales decreased 1.5% to 1,081
• Inventory decreased 16.5% to 12,740

For the month of August:

• Median Sales Price increased 6.8% to $252,000
• Days on Market decreased 14.3% to 48
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.6% to 98.5%
• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 16.7% to 2.5

All comparisons are to 2016

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

For Week Ending September 16, 2017

According to the National Association of Home Builders, there is a rising demand in the new-home market spurred on by ongoing job and economic growth, the continuation of attractive mortgage rates and increased consumer confidence. And there does appear to be a notable increase in building or announced building projects around the country. Builder confidence tends to equate with more construction starts, which would be welcome news in an era of low inventory.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending September 16:

• New Listings decreased 5.7% to 1,536
• Pending Sales decreased 7.1% to 1,084
• Inventory decreased 16.5% to 12,740

For the month of August:

• Median Sales Price increased 6.8% to $252,000
• Days on Market decreased 14.3% to 48
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.6% to 98.5%
• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 16.7% to 2.5

All comparisons are to 2016

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

For Week Ending September 9, 2017

For several years, residential real estate markets across the country were relatively similar except for a few pockets of extreme price increases in the west and a few areas of slower post-recession recovery in the east. Regional market diversion is becoming more common. Natural disasters play a part, as do factors such as the proclivities and incomes of a younger buyer pool.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending September 9:

• New Listings decreased 3.1% to 1,690
• Pending Sales increased 2.7% to 1,036
• Inventory decreased 16.5% to 12,587

For the month of August:

• Median Sales Price increased 6.8% to $252,000
• Days on Market decreased 14.3% to 48
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.6% to 98.5%
• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 16.7% to 2.5

All comparisons are to 2016

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

For Week Ending September 2, 2017

Market trends have remained steady for the last couple of years, which has allowed residential real estate to flourish in terms of sales activity and buyer demand. Even when total sales are not measuring forward in year-over-year comparisons, it is evident that the market is responding positively to wider economic indicators. Higher prices, fewer days on market and lower months of supply are all usual indicators of healthy activity.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending September 2:

• New Listings decreased 2.3% to 1,306
• Pending Sales decreased 4.3% to 1,145
• Inventory decreased 16.5% to 12,852

For the month of July:

• Median Sales Price increased 5.6% to $251,650
• Days on Market decreased 16.4% to 46
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.8% to 99.1%
• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 16.1% to 2.6

All comparisons are to 2016

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

For Week Ending August 26, 2017

Conversationally speaking, it has been a busy and exciting summer for residential real estate. Much has been said about low supply, higher prices and speedy sales, but the truth of the matter is that buyers are snatching up desirable homes no matter the trends. Good transactions are occurring with smart lending practices. Although more inventory would be useful, the market is finding a way to succeed.

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

• New Listings increased 3.7% to 1,499
• Pending Sales decreased 1.3% to 1,227
• Inventory decreased 16.4% to 13,010

For the month of July:

• Median Sales Price increased 5.6% to $251,650
• Days on Market decreased 16.4% to 46
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.8% to 99.1%
• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 16.1% to 2.6

All comparisons are to 2016

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