By Aubray Erhardt on Monday, July 28th, 2014

Finding the truth behind housing statistics is like debating the best beer for summertime. On the beer side, you might pick an American wheat, Belgian white, shandy, Kolsch, cider or maybe a Coors Light if you’re into the pickup truck and dirt road scene. On the housing side, you might say we’re too heavy toward a seller’s market as prices rise, that another buyer’s market is over the horizon if inventory pushes up or that things are just right for the first time in years. No matter where your submarket sits on the scale, it’s safe to say that MLS data is the best base for a meaningful opinion and that a doppelbock is not a good base for an outdoor barbecue in the middle of July.

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

• New Listings increased 10.4% to 1,913
• Pending Sales decreased 1.0% to 1,145
• Inventory increased 8.9% to 18,011

For the month of June:

• Median Sales Price increased 4.7% to $219,900
• Days on Market decreased 6.8% to 69
• Percent of Original List Price Received decreased 0.3% to 97.2%
• Months Supply of Inventory increased 10.5% to 4.2

All comparisons are to 2013

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

We are within one of the most affordable home-buying environments in history, but prices are up and rates may well go up, too. Rising prices provide empirical evidence of healthy demand. If inventory is able to replenish itself over the course of the next several months, sales could break up the sluggishness seen in some markets. There are those who believe that millennial buyers are being seduced away from homeownership by the agility of urban renting. That doesn’t appear to be the case. Housing is enjoying brisk activity, and people are talking positively about residential real estate again.

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

• New Listings increased 8.7% to 2,091
• Pending Sales decreased 8.4% to 1,231
• Inventory increased 7.8% to 17,606

For the month of June:

• Median Sales Price increased 4.7% to $219,900
• Days on Market decreased 6.8% to 69
• Percent of Original List Price Received decreased 0.3% to 97.2%
• Months Supply of Inventory increased 10.5% to 4.2

All comparisons are to 2013

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

By Aubray Erhardt on Monday, July 14th, 2014

Pending sales are back and ready to rumble along with their trusty comrade, inventory. After a slower start to the year, the numbers are rallying for a comeback. However, one number not rising is the number of people filing for unemployment. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, jobless applications continued their downward trend. This could help families pad downpayment funds. With more inventory to choose from, there aren’t any cheap shots in this boxing match.

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

• New Listings increased 14.8% to 1,269
• Pending Sales increased 17.4% to 1,045
• Inventory increased 7.7% to 17,587

For the month of June:

• Median Sales Price increased 4.7% to $219,900
• Days on Market decreased 6.8% to 69
• Percent of Original List Price Received decreased 0.3% to 97.2%
• Months Supply of Inventory increased 10.5% to 4.2

All comparisons are to 2013

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

Was the entirety of the U.S. fixated on footy while the Americans still had a shot? Maybe for 90 minutes here and there, but the distraction of quadrennial global sports entertainment is not enough to affect weekly sales activity in a country more in line with the Super Bowl than the World Cup. More accurate indicators of upcoming housing performance can be found in positive jobs activity that can spur real change in housing formation and reformation. With employers adding a seasonally adjusted 288,000 jobs last month and unemployment down to 6.1 percent, this summer has additional brightness to go with the high sun.

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

• New Listings increased 5.9% to 1,844
• Pending Sales decreased 8.5% to 1,244
• Inventory increased 7.0% to 17,583

For the month of May:

• Median Sales Price increased 8.2% to $210,000
• Days on Market decreased 7.0% to 80
• Percent of Original List Price Received decreased 0.2% to 96.8%
• Months Supply of Inventory increased 11.1% to 4.0

All comparisons are to 2013

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

The season of backyard grilling, outdoor festivals and extended family vacations is upon us. Those who are already safely tucked in an owned home are not likely thinking much about the housing market, but those who are fixing to buy or sell are living it daily. Not enough inventory or not enough money offered for purchase? Too high a price or multiple offers on the table? The answers are ever evolving and dependent upon location and situation. A new quarter of activity is almost in the books, but year-over-year comparisons on monthly and weekly activity may be more beneficial for those living the housing life.

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

• New Listings increased 6.3% to 1,910
• Pending Sales increased 3.1% to 1,216
• Inventory increased 7.5% to 17,365

For the month of May:

• Median Sales Price increased 8.2% to $210,000
• Days on Market decreased 7.0% to 80
• Percent of Original List Price Received decreased 0.2% to 96.8%
• Months Supply of Inventory increased 11.1% to 4.0

All comparisons are to 2013

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

Some economists do not believe that housing has established enough upward momentum to warrant a declaration of recovery, yet many market analysts are observing the rule of The Tortoise and the Hare. Fast, energetic upward spikes in sales may be exciting, but slow and steady wins the race. This phase of stabilization will likely show itself in year-over-year comparisons that cause yawns, but this kind of race is ultimately good for the market as a whole.

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

• New Listings increased 5.9% to 2,076
• Pending Sales decreased 4.1% to 1,267
• Inventory increased 6.5% to 16,857

For the month of May:

• Median Sales Price increased 8.2% to $210,000
• Days on Market decreased 7.0% to 80
• Percent of Original List Price Received decreased 0.2% to 96.8%
• Months Supply of Inventory increased 8.3% to 3.9

All comparisons are to 2013

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

Price growth. It has been the result of low inventory in the market these days, and it would appear that the duration of the summer market will continue to see an increase in year-over-year median sales price. If inventory makes a significant leap, perhaps we’ll see a different sort of impact on housing prices. Until then, the longer buyers wait, the more risk they take of paying a little bit more for that house key.

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

• New Listings increased 10.3% to 2,154
• Pending Sales decreased 0.7% to 1,283
• Inventory increased 6.2% to 16,453

For the month of May:

• Median Sales Price increased 8.2% to $210,000
• Days on Market decreased 7.0% to 80
• Percent of Original List Price Received decreased 0.2% to 96.8%
• Months Supply of Inventory increased 8.3% to 3.9

All comparisons are to 2013

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

Sales are generally coming in slower this year compared to last year, and the market continues to find its way toward balance despite relatively low inventory. This may trick the housing novice into believing that the U.S. market is headed for a disappointing summer season. Not so fast. Although housing may not be as booming as early 2013, it isn’t anywhere near as bust of late 2008. The stabilization of housing is still evolving wonderfully, like VHS to DVD to DVR.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending May 31:

• New Listings increased 1.8% to 1,744
• Pending Sales decreased 4.7% to 1,110
• Inventory increased 6.1% to 16,231

For the month of May:

• Median Sales Price increased 8.2% to $210,000
• Days on Market decreased 7.0% to 80
• Percent of Original List Price Received decreased 0.2% to 96.8%
• Months Supply of Inventory increased 8.3% to 3.9

All comparisons are to 2013

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

The yellow brick road to complete housing recovery has the trees whispering of rising home prices and low inventory. Luckily, these trees won’t throw apples at us. Even though improvements appear flat in nature as we progress through each month, year-over-year comparisons still show encouraging overall trends. The full splendor of Emerald City (and Emeraldville, Emeraldton, Emerald Township, etc.) is just a skip and a song away.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending May 24:

• New Listings increased 3.9% to 1,870
• Pending Sales decreased 3.0% to 1,294
• Inventory increased 5.6% to 15,957

For the month of April:

• Median Sales Price increased 7.5% to $196,158
• Days on Market decreased 9.3% to 88
• Percent of Original List Price Received decreased 0.1% to 95.9%
• Months Supply of Inventory increased 2.9% to 3.5

All comparisons are to 2013

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

Higher prices gave sellers reason for optimism in early 2014. As prices stabilize, some are sensing the formation of a counter-trend. Silly rabbits. Price alone does not determine the state of the housing market. Number of sales by housing segment, the types of households being formed and the availability of well-paying jobs all play important roles to housing health. As the summer months approach, things like inventory of homes for sale, new listings and number of days on market until sale, along with pricing, will help predict the direction of the housing market.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending May 17:

• New Listings increased 10.0% to 2,039
• Pending Sales decreased 8.3% to 1,175
• Inventory increased 4.1% to 15,432

For the month of April:

• Median Sales Price increased 7.5% to $196,129
• Days on Market decreased 8.2% to 89
• Percent of Original List Price Received decreased 0.1% to 95.9%
• Months Supply of Inventory increased 2.9% to 3.5

All comparisons are to 2013

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