U.S. housing starts fell 14.8% month-over-month in January to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,331,000 units, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Single-family starts dropped 4.7% from the previous month, while multi-family starts declined 35.8%. Although construction was down for the month, builder sentiment continues to improve, rising to the highest level since August 2023, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) / Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI).

IN THE TWIN CITIES REGION, FOR THE WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 24:

• New Listings increased 48.6% to 1,138
• Pending Sales increased 7.0% to 799
• Inventory increased 5.7% to 6,537

FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY:

• Median Sales Price increased 3.1% to $352,500
• Days on Market decreased 8.2% to 56
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.7% to 96.7%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale increased 28.6% to 1.8

All comparisons are to 2023

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

Housing inventory improved for the third month in a row, with the number of homes actively for sale in January increasing 7.9% year-over-year, according to Realtor.com’s January 2024 Monthly Housing Market Trends Report. Lower mortgage rates appear to have brought some sellers back to the market, as the number of newly listed homes rose 2.8% year-over-year. While this is good news for prospective homebuyers, the supply of homes for sale remains down compared to typical 2017 – 2019 levels.

IN THE TWIN CITIES REGION, FOR THE WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 17:

• New Listings increased 14.7% to 1,090
• Pending Sales increased 11.2% to 792
• Inventory increased 4.9% to 6,451

FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY:

• Median Sales Price increased 3.1% to $352,500
• Days on Market decreased 8.2% to 56
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.7% to 96.7%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale increased 28.6% to 1.8

All comparisons are to 2023

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

Seller profits declined for the first time since 2011, according to ATTOM’s Year-End 2023 U.S. Home Sales Report, which found that home sellers made a $121,000 profit on the sale of a median-priced single-family home in 2023, resulting in a 56.5% return on investment year-over-year. This is a slight drop from 2022, when home sellers made $122,600 on the sale of a typical single-family home, for a 59.8% return on investment. Despite the decline, however, seller profits and profit margins remained near record levels last year.

IN THE TWIN CITIES REGION, FOR THE WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 10:

• New Listings increased 18.4% to 1,061
• Pending Sales increased 6.1% to 760
• Inventory increased 3.5% to 6,355

FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY:

• Median Sales Price increased 3.2% to $353,035
• Days on Market decreased 8.2% to 56
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.7% to 96.7%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale increased 21.4% to 1.7

All comparisons are to 2023

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

U.S. single-family rent growth was up 2.7% year-over-year as of last measure, according to Corelogic’s January 2024 U.S. Single-Family Rent Index, keeping in line with the annual rate of growth recorded prior to the pandemic. Attached singlefamily rents increased 3.3% year-over-year, while detached single-family rents rose 2.3%. Nationally, rent growth was highest in the lower-priced rental tiers, climbing 2.9% year-over-year.

IN THE TWIN CITIES REGION, FOR THE WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 3:

• New Listings increased 17.9% to 942
• Pending Sales increased 4.2% to 720
• Inventory increased 2.6% to 6,446

FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER:

• Median Sales Price increased increased 1.4% to $353,900
• Days on Market increased 2.0% to 51
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.4% to 96.7%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale increased 20.0% to 1.8

All comparisons are to 2023

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

Builder confidence continues to rise amid declining mortgage rates, climbing seven points to 44 in January, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). The latest reading marks the highest level of confidence since last summer, with builder sentiment up nine points from the same period last year. Mortgage rates have plunged more than one full percentage point since their peak of 7.79% in October, improving affordability and helping to bring some buyers back from the sidelines.

IN THE TWIN CITIES REGION, FOR THE WEEK ENDING JANUARY 27:

• New Listings increased 13.7% to 847
• Pending Sales increased 6.3% to 724
• Inventory increased 0.5% to 6,486

FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER:

• Median Sales Price increased 1.3% to $353,500
• Days on Market remained flat at 50
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.4% to 96.7%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale increased 20.0% to 1.8

All comparisons are to 2023

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

There were 4.9% more homes for sale on the typical day in December compared to the same period in 2022, according to Realtor.com’s December 2023 Monthly Housing Market Trends Report, marking the second consecutive month of annual inventory growth. The number of newly listed homes was also up, rising 9.1% annually, while the total number of unsold homes, including pending listings, was up 3.6% compared to last year.

IN THE TWIN CITIES REGION, FOR THE WEEK ENDING JANUARY 20:

• New Listings increased 13.8% to 823
• Pending Sales decreased 4.9% to 619
• Inventory decreased 2.3% to 6,478

FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER:

• Median Sales Price increased 1.3% to $353,700
• Days on Market remained flat at 50
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.4% to 96.7%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale increased 13.3% to 1.7

All comparisons are to 2023

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

Fannie Mae’s Home Purchase Sentiment Index (HPSI) climbed nearly three points to 67.2 in December and was up 6.2 points year-over-year, according to the latest National Housing Survey®. The rise was attributed to increasing consumer optimism about mortgage rates, with a survey-high 31% of respondents indicating they expect mortgage rates will decline over the next 12 months. Homeowners, in particular, had greater optimism about the future of mortgage rates than renters, which could encourage some would-be sellers to list their homes this year, helping to increase the supply of existing homes for sale.

IN THE TWIN CITIES REGION, FOR THE WEEK ENDING JANUARY 13:

• New Listings increased 14.5% to 900
• Pending Sales increased 2.6% to 560
• Inventory decreased 4.2% to 6,397

FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER:

• Median Sales Price increased 1.3% to $353,700
• Days on Market remained flat at 50
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.4% to 96.7%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale increased 13.3% to 1.7

All comparisons are to 2023

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

Median priced single-family homes and condos were less affordable compared to historical averages in 99% of counties nationwide in the 4th quarter of 2023, according to ATTOM’s Q4 2023 U.S. Home Affordability Report. Major homeownership expenses currently take up 33.7% of the average national wage, a slight improvement from the third quarter, when major expenses consumed 35% of the average national wage. ATTOM reports homeowners need an annual income of more than $75,000 to afford a home in approximately 57% of the county markets in the report.

IN THE TWIN CITIES REGION, FOR THE WEEK ENDING JANUARY 6:

• New Listings increased 3.9% to 853
• Pending Sales increased 19.3% to 476
• Inventory decreased 2.7% to 6,382

FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER:

• Median Sales Price increased 2.2% to $362,550
• Days on Market remained flat at 40
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.2% to 97.4%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale increased 15.8% to 2.2

All comparisons are to 2023

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

U.S housing starts surged following the drop in mortgage rates, jumping 14.8% from the previous month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,560,000 units, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The latest reading was boosted by an increase in single-family starts, which climbed 18% from the previous month. Housing completions were also up, rising 5% month-over-month. The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage has fallen more than one percentage point since its peak in late October, leading to an increase in building activity and builder sentiment.

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

• New Listings increased 6.7% to 366
• Pending Sales increased 1.2% to 413
• Inventory decreased 5.3% to 6,831

FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER:

• Median Sales Price increased 2.2% to $362,550
• Days on Market remained flat at 40
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.2% to 97.4%
• 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 median household income for U.S. homebuyers hit a record high of $107,000 recently, a 21.6% increase from a year ago, according to the National Association of REALTORS® 2023 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers. Despite higher home prices and rising borrowing costs, the share of first-time buyers also grew, increasing from 26% in 2022 to 32% this year. Down payments continued to climb as well, with the typical down payment for first-time buyers averaging 8%, the highest share since 1997, according to the report.

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

• New Listings increased 37.3% to 453
• Pending Sales increased 20.7% to 571
• Inventory decreased 4.3% to 7,167

FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER:

• Median Sales Price increased 2.2% to $362,600
• Days on Market remained flat at 40
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.2% to 97.4%
• 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.