As the first month of the year trots onward, so do home buyers. They posted increased activity levels compared to the same week in 2011. Seller activity slowed compared to last year, however. Inventory declines effectively positioned many local markets into a more balanced state – particularly toward the end of last year. Increased seller activity in the coming months could slow or even reverse that trend. Don’t fret. Not only is an increase in new listings perfectly normal for this time of year, but improved absorption rates and seller concessions could begin to stew into seller confidence.

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

• New Listings decreased 8.2% to 1,092
• Pending Sales increased 29.0% to 730
• Inventory decreased 23.2% to 17,822

For the month of December:

• Median Sales Price decreased 6.5% to $145,000
• Days on Market decreased 2.1% to 141
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 1.7% to 90.6%
• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 33.7% to 4.7

Click here for the full Weekly Market Activity Report.

From The Skinny.

Last week, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported that mortgage applications increased more than 23.0 percent from the week prior. The fine print stated that most of the increase was driven by refinancing activity, given record low rates. Residential construction data also provided glimmers of hope. By now, many have surely noticed that the supply-demand balance is changing. What some may not realize is that this is a leading indicator, while home prices are a lagging indicator. Price appreciation is the final phase of recovery. Excess supply is down–in some areas, it’s way down. Purchase demand in most areas strengthened throughout the second half of 2011. For sellers, it’s less scary out there. For buyers, it’s still a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

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

• New Listings decreased 5.2% to 1,216
• Pending Sales increased 28.4% to 728
• Inventory decreased 23.8% to 17,690

For the month of December:

• Median Sales Price decreased 6.5% to $145,000
• Days on Market decreased 2.5% to 140
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 1.7% to 90.6%
• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 35.6% to 4.6

Click here for the full Weekly Market Activity Report.

From The Skinny.

Decreased supply, high demand and low prices are among the encouraging developments in 2011 that give cause for optimism in 2012. Consumer purchase demand increased absent any outside incentives. As the active supply of homes for sale decreased dramatically, absorption rates improved to levels not seen since 2005. Unprecedented low interest rates and record housing affordability resulted in an 8.2 percent increase in home sales for the area.

2011 by the Numbers

• Consumers purchased 41,429 homes, up 8.2 percent from 2010 and—excluding 2009—the highest since 2006.
• Sellers listed 68,875 new homes on the market, down 15.8 percent from 2010 and the lowest level since 2002. Inventory levels dropped 28.7 percent from 2010 and are at the lowest level in 8 years.
• Months supply of inventory—the time it would take to sell off all active properties—dropped 36.5 percent to 4.5 months.
• The median sales price fell 11.7 percent to $150,000.
• Precisely 50.0 percent of all closed sales were either foreclosures or short sales, up from 47.9 percent in 2010 and 48.9 percent in 2009.

“We are pleased with the recovery we saw in 2011,” said Richard Tucker, President of the St. Paul Area Association of REALTORS®. “Median sales price reflects the mix of properties sold during the year—and in 2011 a lot moved in that lower bracket. Price increases will be the final piece of the recovery.”

Distressed properties were the driving factor of home prices, selling for roughly 60 cents on the dollar compared to traditional homes.

“Homeowners need to remember that median sales price does a better job of reflecting what’s going off the market as a whole than representing the home values in a given area—each area is unique,” said Cari Linn, President of the Minneapolis Area Association of REALTORS®.

Improvements in the local economy will boost the Twin Cities real estate market in 2012. The outlook is positive: steady hiring, lessening layoffs and record low unemployment are all reasons the area continues to outperform the nation.

For other year-end residential real estate statistics and for stand-alone December 2011 data, please visit www.mplsrealtor.com and www.spaar.com.

The first full week of 2012 shows that buyers were off to a busy start while seller activity cooled down. Sales volumes easily beat the same week in 2011. The inventory drops that many communities saw during the second half of last year should translate into further positive news for sellers. Interest rates are expected to hold the low ground, enriching the buying environment for consumers. It’s early now. The spring market will ultimately be the major tell as to the rate of recovery throughout the year. Today’s lesson: Maintain a long-term perspective and watch trends develop beyond one week of data.

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

• New Listings decreased 14.6% to 1,266
• Pending Sales increased 13.8% to 561
• Inventory decreased 24.5% to 17,302

For the month of December:

• Median Sales Price decreased 6.5% to $145,000
• Days on Market decreased 2.5% to 140
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 1.7% to 90.6%
• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 35.6% to 4.6

The attached Weekly Market Activity Report is produced by the Minneapolis Area Association of REALTORS® (MAAR) for REALTOR® members and interested parties on a weekly basis. Use it to further your understanding of the Twin Cities 13-county residential real estate marketplace.

Click here for the full Weekly Market Activity Report.

From The Skinny.

Most observers would agree that this year’s housing recovery was not as robust as many had hoped. That said, a handful of things went right. Supply-side market correction took the guise of inventory declines and a pullback in listing activity. Consequently, sellers generally faced fewer challenges than in the past. Driven by improvements in the economy and record-low mortgage rates, purchase demand strengthened organically, independent of government incentives. Those sales gains dovetailed with falling inventories to move the market back toward balance. Nobody knows what 2012 will bring, but it’s a safe bet that these positive developments will continue to evolve.

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

• New Listings decreased 11.6% to 593
• Pending Sales increased 41.7% to 564
• Inventory decreased 24.9% to 18,341

For the month of December:

• Median Sales Price decreased 5.6% to $145,000
• Days on Market decreased 2.4% to 140
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 1.8% to 90.6%
• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 36.2% to 4.6

The attached Weekly Market Activity Report is produced by the Minneapolis Area Association of REALTORS® (MAAR) for REALTOR® members and interested parties on a weekly basis. Use it to further your understanding of the Twin Cities 13-county residential real estate marketplace.

Click here for the full Weekly Market Activity Report.

From The Skinny.

If you follow our weekly notes with even a sidelong glance, you know that the story of the market in 2011 has been increased sales and decreased inventory. That’s all well and good, but consumers and the media want to talk about one thing: Price. Ideally, sellers seek multiple offers. This signals strong demand and competitive bidding. Buyers want to know that purchasing a home is a financially sound investment. Consumers, whether buyer or seller, want to know when we’ll be establishing a stable real estate foundation again. Which is exactly why the tale of increased sales activity and healthy inventory absorption matters.

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

• New Listings decreased 9.6% to 596
• Pending Sales increased 48.4% to 607
• Inventory decreased 24.4% to 18,666

For the month of November:

• Median Sales Price decreased 10.2% to $149,000
• Days on Market decreased 1.8% to 135
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 1.0% to 90.9%
• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 29.8% to 5.7
• Inventory decreased 24.4% to 18,666

The attached Weekly Market Activity Report is produced by the Minneapolis Area Association of REALTORS® (MAAR) for REALTOR® members and interested parties on a weekly basis. Use it to further your understanding of the Twin Cities 13-county residential real estate marketplace.

Click here for the full Weekly Market Activity Report.

From The Skinny.

As another new year approaches, we find ourselves settling in for the holidays, which typically come with slowed real estate activity. In the first week of the full holiday shopping season, we saw sales increase. We’re talking about residential real estate, of course, although retail performed surprisingly well, too. Sellers listed fewer properties during the week, choosing instead to hunker down in their living rooms rich with the aromas of pine-scented candles and cinnamon cider sticks.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending December 3:

• New Listings decreased 9.3% to 1,006
• Pending Sales increased 36.4% to 885
• Inventory decreased 22.9% to 20,031

For the month of November:

• Median Sales Price decreased 9.9% to $149,500
• Days on Market decreased 1.8% to 135
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 1.0% to 90.9%
• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 30.5% to 5.7

The attached Weekly Market Activity Report is produced by the Minneapolis Area Association of REALTORS® (MAAR) for REALTOR® members and interested parties on a weekly basis. Use it to further your understanding of the Twin Cities 13-county residential real estate marketplace.

Click here for the full Weekly Market Activity Report.

From The Skinny.

Last month, the number of homes for sale in the 13-county Twin Cities metropolitan area plunged nearly 24.0 percent from last year to 19,516 – the lowest November inventory reading since 2004. In addition, November 2011 marked only the third month in more than five years (68 months to be precise) where there was less than six months supply of inventory. Sellers listed 4,102 new homes on the market, down 13.6 percent from last year. Buyers entered into 3,321 purchase agreements, up 30.2 percent over November 2010.

Some sellers are already starting to benefit from less competition. The share of asking price that sellers receive at sale has posted year-over-year increases for the fourth consecutive month. In November, sellers received an average of 90.9 percent of their asking price. That figure was likely helped by the 30.6 percent decrease in months supply of inventory – currently at 5.7 months. Generally, 5 to 6 months is considered balanced.

The median home price was down 10.1 percent from November 2010 to $149,250. Lender-mediated activity (foreclosures and short sales) comprised 44.1 percent of all closed sales and 41.9 percent of new listings.

The first and fourth quarters of the year tend to see the most distressed sales and listing activity. Consequently, traditional prices fell 9.2 percent to $187,400, foreclosure prices dropped 14.3 percent to $98,500 and short sale prices were down 11.5 percent to $130,000.

Market times were down 1.7 percent to 135 days, on average – the second year-over-year decrease in a row. The housing affordability index hit a new record high of 245, meaning that the median household income in the region was 245% of what is necessary to qualify for the median-priced home under prevailing interest rates.