As the end of the year approaches, market futurists will either put on their overly cheery, poinsettia-colored glasses or turn into a bunch of dreary Nostradamus Nellys. The wise analyst will tune out extremes and embrace seasonally appropriate slowdowns as a sign of normal market activity while looking with anticipation to what will likely be continued moderate recovery in 2014. Watch for light gains in inventory, quieter pending sales activity and more sedate market times.

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

• New Listings increased 46.6% to 893
• Pending Sales increased 42.8% to 841
• Inventory decreased 3.6% to 15,008

For the month of October:

• Median Sales Price increased 11.4% to $194,900
• Days on Market decreased 27.2% to 75
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 1.4% to 95.8%
• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 10.0% to 3.6

All comparisons are to 2012

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

This week, and through the end of the year, you might be watching for much-needed inventory gains that will not arrive due to traditional end-of-year lulls in the marketplace related to holidays and/or colder weather. Nobody wants to sell at the bottom. In general, inventory pools are up in year-over-year comparisons in many areas, suggestive of seller confidence with recent price gains. Overall recovery is unlikely to stall. The pace of price gains and bidding wars may ease, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Just ask any prospective home buyer.

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

• New Listings decreased 4.2% to 1,003
• Pending Sales decreased 7.3% to 758
• Inventory decreased 3.2% to 15,318

For the month of October:

• Median Sales Price increased 11.4% to $194,900
• Days on Market decreased 27.2% to 75
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 1.4% to 95.8%
• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 12.5% to 3.5

All comparisons are to 2012

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

Fewer people are out scouting homes now that they’re scouting the perfect bird for their Thanksgiving feast. Weekly and monthly seller and buyer activity may be slowing in comparison to last reporting period, but overall markets still show signs of stable recovery. By and large, expect the end of 2013 to look just as juicy and golden as your bird is soon to be.

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

• New Listings increased 11.4% to 1,132
• Pending Sales decreased 3.1% to 819
• Inventory decreased 3.2% to 15,517

For the month of October:

• Median Sales Price increased 11.4% to $195,000
• Days on Market decreased 27.2% to 75
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 1.4% to 95.8%
• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 12.5% to 3.5

All comparisons are to 2012

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

Most analysts agree that we are not in the midst of inflating another housing bubble. Instead, we are sometimes seeing seemingly dramatic price and sales increases, but off of artificially low baseline levels. Private equity firms and first-time buyers have bought up a lot of inventory, while some sellers await further price recovery. Credit remains available but not abundant, so lenders are avoiding the facilitation of another bubble. Default rates and foreclosure activity are at multiyear lows. As of now, the housing recovery is intact.

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

• New Listings increased 5.5% to 1,185
• Pending Sales increased 6.9% to 972
• Inventory decreased 2.6% to 16,034

For the month of October:

• Median Sales Price increased 11.4% to $195,000
• Days on Market decreased 27.2% to 75
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 1.4% to 95.8%
• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 12.5% to 3.5

All comparisons are to 2012

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

Holiday decorations have debuted in department stores across the nation (really?), and their mere presence just might affect housing activity for those prone to a good winter hunker. Comparisons to year-ago levels will show improvement and recovery, even as general activity will likely slow through the rest of 2013. With rates seemingly in a continuous go-low zone, the thrifty buyer and willing seller will still meet for transactional tea.

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

• New Listings increased 16.4% to 1,209
• Pending Sales increased 10.4% to 974
• Inventory decreased 3.1% to 16,211

For the month of September:

• Median Sales Price increased 11.7% to $195,000
• Days on Market decreased 29.7% to 71
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 1.7% to 96.4%
• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 14.0% to 3.7

All comparisons are to 2012

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

Nationally, we are starting to see some of the impact of the government shutdown on the housing market. Applications for government mortgage products dropped to the lowest level since 2007, according to a release from the Mortgage Banker’s Association. This was while overall applications were up marginally. Most FHA lenders were able to process loans while Veterans Administration loans were slowed considerably and USDA Rural Development financing was cut off entirely. That said, there was still plenty of activity locally, much of it positive.

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

• New Listings increased 16.3% to 1,291
• Pending Sales decreased 11.4% to 867
• Inventory decreased 3.9% to 16,275

For the month of September:

• Median Sales Price increased 11.7% to $195,000
• Days on Market decreased 29.7% to 71
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 1.8% to 96.5%
• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 14.0% to 3.7

All comparisons are to 2012

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

As tricks and treats are planned, housing starts its preparation for a holiday season hibernation. Though activity hasn’t come to a complete halt – there are still year-over-year gains being posted for listings and prices – the liveliness of the summer months has started to slow. Keep watch on any movements from the Fed, on economic indicators outside of housing and on the legislative tug-of-war. Each may play a part in predicting how the rest of the fourth quarter of 2013 goes.

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

• New Listings increased 21.7% to 1,524
• Pending Sales decreased 2.7% to 892
• Inventory decreased 5.6% to 16,113

For the month of September:

• Median Sales Price increased 11.7% to $195,000
• Days on Market decreased 29.7% to 71
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 1.8% to 96.5%
• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 16.3% to 3.6

All comparisons are to 2012

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

Home price gains and housing demand are still a year-over-year improvement, but activity is beginning to moderate as the seasons change. With the possibility of further rate and price increases, some buyers are still motivated, but urgency tends to wane when holiday decorations start going up. Recovery continues, but the pace is stabilizing. Yet that’s a good thing, since harmful corrections usually follow when the market moves too far too fast.

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

• New Listings increased 17.9% to 1,536
• Pending Sales increased 2.4% to 1,037
• Inventory decreased 6.2% to 16,074

For the month of September:

• Median Sales Price increased 11.7% to $195,000
• Days on Market decreased 29.7% to 71
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 1.8% to 96.5%
• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 16.3% to 3.6

All comparisons are to 2012

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

Home prices are still rising and rates have increased incrementally. As the cement of market balance hardens, it has become more dependent on move-up and first- time home buyers. Even with tightened lending regulations, seller activity has broadened. The government shutdown should not have a major impact on national and local market housing recovery. But as we get deeper into the -ber months, it will be interesting to see if the year-over-year trends hold true, simply lessen in drama or give reason for pause.

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

• New Listings increased 10.3% to 1,449
• Pending Sales increased 12.2% to 1,106
• Inventory decreased 5.9% to 16,282

For the month of August:

• Median Sales Price increased 16.8% to $207,825
• Days on Market decreased 34.0% to 70
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 2.0% to 97.0%
• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 15.9% to 3.7

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

Higher interest rates, rising prices and a budget standoff in Washington haven’t shaken consumer sentiment regarding housing. Buyers continue to riffle through existing inventory for options, keeping an eye out for new listings. A sense of normalcy is returning to the real estate ethos after more than a decade of extreme ups and downs. It’s a big week for economic and housing news, so keep your eyes and ears tuned for any changing headlines.

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

• New Listings increased 13.3% to 1,469
• Pending Sales decreased 5.5% to 970
• Inventory decreased 6.8% to 16,249

For the month of August:

• Median Sales Price increased 16.9% to $207,900
• Days on Market decreased 34.0% to 70
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 2.0% to 97.0%
• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 18.2% to 3.6

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