For Week Ending December 1, 2018

While recent stock market activity has displayed some heart-pounding drops and rallying rises, that volatility has not created the same tidal waves within residential real estate. Increasing home prices and mortgage rates have indeed created a sense of immediacy for some buyers and turned others away due to affordability concerns, but these decisions appear to be rooted in longer-term trends rather than the effects of a media headline or presidential tweet.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending December 1:

• New Listings increased 7.0% to 877
• Pending Sales decreased 9.0% to 904
• Inventory increased 1.5% to 10,437

For the month of October:

• Median Sales Price increased 8.6% to $265,000
• Days on Market decreased 7.7% to 48
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.2% to 97.9%
• Months Supply of Inventory remained flat at 2.4

All comparisons are to 2017

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

For Week Ending November 24, 2018

With each passing week, it is evident that residential real estate markets across the nation are poised to finish 2018 with positive energy and room for optimism. Even in an environment of rising home prices and mortgage rates, we are finding relative balance in city after city when looking specifically at year-over-year trends. While it’s true that sales and new listings are down compared to last year at this time for some price ranges and home types, it is not often by much.

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

• New Listings increased 16.7% to 525
• Pending Sales decreased 7.2% to 670
• Inventory increased 2.0% to 10,852

For the month of October:

• Median Sales Price increased 8.6% to $265,000
• Days on Market decreased 7.7% to 48
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.2% to 97.9%
• Months Supply of Inventory remained flat at 2.4

All comparisons are to 2017

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

For Week Ending November 17, 2018

Sales and new listings continue to perform well in much of the nation thanks to a booming economy. Housing affordability remains a concern and is beginning to affect new single-family home construction. Builders are showing caution in the face of rising home prices and mortgage rates. Historically, housing can still be considered relatively affordable, but affordability measures have shown decline for several years. If this continues, it could negate recent gains in inventory.

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

• New Listings increased 6.7% to 955
• Pending Sales decreased 7.0% to 891
• Inventory increased 0.9% to 11,273

For the month of October:

• Median Sales Price increased 8.6% to $265,000
• Days on Market decreased 7.7% to 48
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.2% to 97.9%
• Months Supply of Inventory remained flat at 2.4

All comparisons are to 2017

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

For Week Ending November 10, 2018

The Bureau of Labor Statistics recently reported that the unemployment rate for October 2018 remained unchanged from the prior month at 3.7 percent. Low unemployment has been one of many positive outcomes during a strong U.S. economy. Real estate has also been a benefactor of recent economic strength, as cranes dot U.S. skylines and median sales prices have increased in most residential real estate markets for several years. Gainful employment is important in order for these conditions to continue.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending November 10:

• New Listings increased 9.4% to 1,012
• Pending Sales decreased 6.1% to 949
• Inventory increased 0.8% to 11,649

For the month of October:

• Median Sales Price increased 8.6% to $265,000
• Days on Market decreased 7.7% to 48
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.2% to 97.9%
• Months Supply of Inventory remained flat at 2.4

All comparisons are to 2017

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

For Week Ending November 3, 2018

According to Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed rate is at its highest average in seven years, reaching 4.94 percent. Last year at this time, the average rate was 3.90 percent. The higher rates are causing a slowdown in home price growth in some markets, but not all markets yet. Keeping a positive perspective, average rates were 5.97 percent ten years ago at this time, 6.78 percent 20 years ago and 10.39 percent 30 years ago. For maximum comparative impact, consider the 17.21 percent average rate of November 1981.

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

• New Listings increased 9.7% to 1,115
• Pending Sales decreased 16.5% to 943
• Inventory decreased 1.1% to 12,095

For the month of September:

• Median Sales Price increased 6.1% to $262,000
• Days on Market decreased 16.0% to 42
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.3% to 98.4%
• Months Supply of Inventory remained flat at 2.6

All comparisons are to 2017

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

For Week Ending October 27, 2018

Real estate professionals from around the globe recently gathered in Boston to network, teach, learn and share at the National Association of REALTORS® Conference and Expo. It is an annual tradition that has been going strong since 1908. An organized real estate industry is a healthy one that can have a positive effect on real estate transactions and beyond. The relative market balance being experienced across the nation can’t entirely be attributed to REALTOR® cooperation, but it certainly doesn’t hurt.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending October 27:

• New Listings increased 15.0% to 1,239
• Pending Sales decreased 9.1% to 941
• Inventory decreased 1.4% to 12,374

For the month of September:

• Median Sales Price increased 6.1% to $262,000
• Days on Market decreased 16.0% to 42
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.3% to 98.4%
• Months Supply of Inventory remained flat at 2.6

All comparisons are to 2017

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

For Week Ending October 20, 2018

In general, the country is experiencing a balanced real estate market in one form or another, depending on geographic location. While it is true that median sales prices are relatively high in terms of housing affordability for the standard household wage, metrics such as new listings, pending sales and inventory are all fairly level with year-ago levels in much of the nation. At a time of stock market volatility, political uncertainty and rising interest rates, this is very welcome news.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending October 20:

• New Listings increased 4.3% to 1,387
• Pending Sales decreased 5.6% to 1,021
• Inventory decreased 2.3% to 12,397

For the month of September:

• Median Sales Price increased 6.1% to $262,000
• Days on Market decreased 16.0% to 42
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.3% to 98.4%
• Months Supply of Inventory remained flat at 2.6

All comparisons are to 2017

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

For Week Ending October 13, 2018

It is that rare two-week window when not only politicians battle each other in order to convince voters who is best, but when professional football, baseball, hockey and basketball teams are battling for dominance in their respective sports. Competition is in the air, and yet the bulk of residential real estate markets across the country continue to enjoy a fair and balanced playing field. Even inventory, which has been down for years, is not looking so far from year-ago levels.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending October 13:

• New Listings increased 1.6% to 1,389
• Pending Sales decreased 1.6% to 1,064
• Inventory decreased 2.9% to 12,494

For the month of September:

• Median Sales Price increased 6.1% to $262,000
• Days on Market decreased 16.0% to 42
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.3% to 98.4%
• Months Supply of Inventory remained flat at 2.6

All comparisons are to 2017

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

For Week Ending October 6, 2018

Residential real estate continues to churn out impressive numbers as we reach deeper into autumn. In many markets, new listings and/or pending sales are still outperforming the results from this same time last year. When the economy is strong, buyers and sellers will remain active beyond the more traditional selling season. Predictions for a slowdown are rolling in, but we’re not there yet. Let’s take a look at what’s happening locally.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending October 6:

• New Listings increased 11.0% to 1,554
• Pending Sales decreased 1.3% to 1,121
• Inventory decreased 3.3% to 12,532

For the month of September:

• Median Sales Price increased 6.1% to $262,000
• Days on Market decreased 16.0% to 42
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.3% to 98.4%
• Months Supply of Inventory remained flat at 2.6

All comparisons are to 2017

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

For Week Ending September 29, 2018

The U.S. unemployment rate recently dropped to 3.7 percent, which is its lowest mark since December 1969. The economy continues to bear impressive fruit within and outside of residential real estate, and the Federal Reserve has reacted by raising the benchmark federal funds rate by a quarter of a percentage point, the third rate hike of 2018. While this may be undesirable news for those carrying high credit debt, it is also a reflection of a bright economic outlook.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending September 29:

• New Listings increased 15.0% to 1,592
• Pending Sales decreased 6.3% to 1,123
• Inventory decreased 4.7% to 12,653

For the month of August:

• Median Sales Price increased 6.3% to $268,000
• Days on Market decreased 16.7% to 40
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.7% to 99.2%
• Months Supply of Inventory remained flat at 2.6

All comparisons are to 2017

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