For Week Ending September 12, 2015

With home prices steadily rising in year-over-year comparisons, houses are becoming less affordable for buyers – but not less desirable. Thanks in part to the improving job market, there has been more demand from both buyers and renters. Mimicking this, housing starts have climbed nicely in the past year, and recent studies indicate the percentages of housing starts will remain strong in the coming months.

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

• New Listings decreased 6.0% to 1,549
• Pending Sales decreased 0.8% to 965
• Inventory decreased 14.1% to 16,433

For the month of August:

• Median Sales Price increased 2.7% to $224,900
• Days on Market decreased 5.9% to 64
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.8% to 97.1%
• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 21.7% to 3.6

All comparisons are to 2014

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

For Week Ending September 5, 2015

Year-over-year home value percentages have continued to rise across the nation. Millennials have been pinpointed as the driver of the price increases, as this age group continues to show a willingness to ditch high rental costs while taking a step toward a commitment to homeownership at prices that may surpass last year at this time.

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

• New Listings decreased 12.7% to 1,443
• Pending Sales increased 31.9% to 1,167
• Inventory decreased 12.6% to 16,537

For the month of August:

• Median Sales Price increased 2.7% to $224,900
• Days on Market decreased 5.9% to 64
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.8% to 97.1%
• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 21.7% to 3.6

All comparisons are to 2014

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

For Week Ending August 29, 2015

The stock market has been experiencing a bit of a tizzy of late, but that does not seem to have had huge ramifications for housing. The Mortgage Bankers Association recently reported that mortgage applications and refinancing have both been on the rise, likely in order to get ahead of an expected rate hike by the Federal Reserve. While stock market flux can have undesirable ripples throughout the economy, it appears that housing has remained relatively untouched for the time being.

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

• New Listings increased 13.0% to 1,534
• Pending Sales increased 8.3% to 1,171
• Inventory decreased 13.0% to 16,777

For the month of July:

• Median Sales Price increased 4.7% to $225,000
• Days on Market decreased 7.4% to 63
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.8% to 97.6%
• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 17.4% to 3.8

All comparisons are to 2014

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

For Week Ending August 22, 2015

In numerous metropolitan markets across the country, the S&P/Case–Shiller Home Price Index has indicated that home prices have risen during summer, confirming the trends evident by examining MLS data. That’s no surprise from month to month, but it’s also true in year-over-year comparisons. As ideal summer weather diverges toward autumn, we will begin to see some seasonal relaxation, but the market should still look positive when compared to last year. It’s been another good year for residential real estate, and that is expected to continue.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending August 22:

• New Listings decreased 3.1% to 1,490
• Pending Sales increased 5.8% to 1,235
• Inventory decreased 12.4% to 16,992

For the month of July:

• Median Sales Price increased 4.7% to $225,000
• Days on Market decreased 7.4% to 63
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.8% to 97.6%
• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 19.6% to 3.7

All comparisons are to 2014

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

For Week Ending August 15, 2015

According to statistics jointly released by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, privately-owned housing starts rose 0.2 percent when comparing July 2015 to the prior month and 10.1 percent when compared to July 2014. These numbers are at the highest levels the market has seen since October 2007. This bodes well for the eventual landing of a flock of potential buyers currently holding in a rental pattern or the wakening of those resting in extended parental basement hibernation.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending August 15:

• New Listings increased 3.1% to 1,746
• Pending Sales increased 18.9% to 1,268
• Inventory decreased 12.3% to 16,950

For the month of July:

• Median Sales Price increased 4.7% to $225,000
• Days on Market decreased 7.4% to 63
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.8% to 97.6%
• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 19.6% to 3.7

All comparisons are to 2014

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

For Week Ending August 8, 2015

That time of year is here for some and on its way for others: School. The summer’s fun is winding down. Perceived as good for some weary parents, bad for some summer-loving kids and standard fare for real estate professionals that know August as a quiet identifier of the expectation of housing market slowdown. That said, home sales and housing prices have both continued to edge up across the country on a macro level compared to last year’s numbers. Let’s take a look at the local trends.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending August 8:

• New Listings decreased 2.8% to 1,746
• Pending Sales increased 13.5% to 1,293
• Inventory decreased 11.0% to 17,038

For the month of July:

• Median Sales Price increased 4.7% to $225,000
• Days on Market decreased 7.4% to 63
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.8% to 97.6%
• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 19.6% to 3.7

All comparisons are to 2014

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

For Week Ending August 1, 2015

According to a recent study, housing starts are expected to be slightly over a million for the U.S. in 2015, with more than half of those being single-family homes. New home sales are expected to increase by at least 20 percent compared to last year. An increase in housing starts hints at a state of homeostasis for the residential real estate market. More homes means more choices for buyers, from first-timers to upgraders.

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

• New Listings decreased 8.1% to 1,665
• Pending Sales increased 14.3% to 1,341
• Inventory decreased 10.1% to 17,183

For the month of July:

• Median Sales Price increased 4.7% to $225,000
• Days on Market decreased 7.4% to 63
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.8% to 97.6%
• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 19.6% to 3.7

All comparisons are to 2014

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

For Week Ending July 25, 2015

According to the U.S. Census, homeownership is at 63.4 percent for the second quarter of 2015, down 1.3 percent from the second quarter of 2014. This is the lowest rate of homeownership since 1967. To put that in greater context, homeownership peaked at 69.2 percent in 2004, and the 50-year average is 65.3 percent. Although the data may be indicating otherwise on a macro level, mortgage applications have kept REALTORS® busy through summer.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending July 25:

• New Listings increased 1.2% to 1,804
• Pending Sales increased 21.3% to 1,362
• Inventory decreased 9.8% to 17,125

For the month of June:

• Median Sales Price increased 4.7% to $229,900
• Days on Market decreased 5.7% to 66
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.5% to 97.7%
• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 15.9% to 3.7

All comparisons are to 2014

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

For Week Ending July 18, 2015

Let’s try to never forget how bad the U.S. housing market got. The Great Recession lasted from about December 2007 to June 2009. Ever since then, and particularly in the last couple of years, the market has strengthened to once again become a cornerstone in one of the strongest economies in the world. Better lending standards, low oil prices and higher wages are a few of the catalysts for positive change. As we tip into the second half of 2015, the trends still reveal stable housing in a stable economy.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending July 18:

• New Listings decreased 7.8% to 1,758
• Pending Sales increased 7.7% to 1,210
• Inventory decreased 9.1% to 16,973

For the month of June:

• Median Sales Price increased 4.7% to $229,900
• Days on Market decreased 5.7% to 66
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.5% to 97.7%
• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 15.9% to 3.7

All comparisons are to 2014

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

For Week Ending July 11, 2015

With the economy on the ups these days, the Federal Reserve Chair, Janet Yellen, is predicting a fine-tuning of monetary policy by the end of the year. In tandem with the improving economy, the unemployment rate dropped by 0.2 percent to 5.3 percent for June 2015. It is widely believed that interest rates will go up before the year is over, which is a pretty clear indicator that the housing market is thrumming along at a good clip.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending July 11:

• New Listings increased 2.7% to 2,143
• Pending Sales increased 7.5% to 1,310
• Inventory decreased 9.0% to 16,655

For the month of June:

• Median Sales Price increased 4.7% to $229,900
• Days on Market decreased 5.7% to 66
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.5% to 97.7%
• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 15.9% to 3.7

All comparisons are to 2014

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