For Week Ending April 18, 2015

Well, folks, we have hit the beginning of the selling season. As the actual calendar season announces its presence with overall temperature change, the residential real estate market will up its game by bringing an annual seasonal increase in home sales and inventory. Many metrics should begin to take off as we begin what should be one of the best recovery years housing has seen thus far.

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

• New Listings increased 31.1% to 2,062
• Pending Sales increased 18.8% to 1,426
• Inventory decreased 0.3% to 14,914

For the month of March:

• Median Sales Price increased 10.5% to $210,000
• Days on Market increased 7.4% to 102
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.8% to 95.9%
• Months Supply of Inventory increased 3.0% to 3.4

All comparisons are to 2014

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

For Week Ending April 11, 2015

Both the job market and housing starts regularly draw media attention. One week, reports show that hiring is up and salaries are on the rise, and that home prices are increasing and inventory is on the rise. Then you might catch a story about a layoff or lack of homes for sale and flat prices. While there will always be markets in the country that aren’t as fast-tracked as others, it doesn’t mean they will finish last in the race. Recovery is still evident, as trends show stability to steady improvement.

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

• New Listings increased 9.7% to 2,114
• Pending Sales increased 17.0% to 1,319
• Inventory decreased 0.2% to 14,509

For the month of March:

• Median Sales Price increased 10.5% to $210,000
• Days on Market increased 7.4% to 102
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.8% to 95.9%
• Months Supply of Inventory increased 3.0% to 3.4

All comparisons are to 2014

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

For Week Ending April 4, 2015

Rent or buy? It is the question on the minds of many as we cast full sail into the selling season. Whilst stories are written about which cities and neighborhoods are better to rent or buy in, we can hang in the peace of a fairly stable market where there are good options available for rent and sale. Spring is sprung, yet there is no raining on the hit parade of homeownership.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending April 4:

• New Listings decreased 8.4% to 1,688
• Pending Sales increased 32.8% to 1,364
• Inventory increased 2.8% to 14,431

For the month of March:

• Median Sales Price increased 10.5% to $210,000
• Days on Market increased 7.4% to 102
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.8% to 95.9%
• Months Supply of Inventory remained flat at 3.3

All comparisons are to 2014

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

For Week Ending March 28, 2015

While there may be bubbly prices where bridges both Golden and Brooklyn adorn the last remaining postcards of a bygone era when people purchased postcard stamps, the bulk of the U.S. is in great shape this spring. Homeownership is a positive prospect in the face of rising rents in even the most affordable rental markets, while new home sales continue to bloom along with flowers and tree buds.

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

• New Listings increased 10.4% to 1,767
• Pending Sales increased 27.6% to 1,360
• Inventory increased 2.4% to 14,190

For the month of February:

• Median Sales Price increased 9.3% to $200,000
• Days on Market increased 7.1% to 106
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.7% to 94.2%
• Months Supply of Inventory increased 3.3% to 3.1

All comparisons are to 2014

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

For Week Ending March 21, 2015

An increase in new home sales are in the spotlight, thanks to some recent figures by the Commerce Department, but one should be careful not to speculate too much about sales outpacing predicted numbers from the beginning of the year. Small sample sizes, seasonal adjustments and poor geographic weighting can have undesirable consequences on the reliability of national figures. This is why locally grown MLS data is often the best source for quality market-informed nourishment.

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

• New Listings increased 22.1% to 1,821
• Pending Sales increased 27.1% to 1,252
• Inventory increased 1.7% to 13,869

For the month of February:

• Median Sales Price increased 9.3% to $200,000
• Days on Market increased 7.1% to 106
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.7% to 94.2%
• Months Supply of Inventory increased 3.3% to 3.1

All comparisons are to 2014

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

For Week Ending March 14, 2015

Have rents gone up enough to get renters to lean toward homeownership again? That’s the question of the moment. With mortgage rates remaining low, the time may be ripe for renters to invest in something beyond a 12-month lease as rental affordability is beginning to border on unaffordability.

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

• New Listings increased 20.6% to 1,765
• Pending Sales increased 14.3% to 1,040
• Inventory increased 1.4% to 13,523

For the month of February:

• Median Sales Price increased 9.3% to $200,000
• Days on Market increased 7.1% to 106
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.7% to 94.2%
• Months Supply of Inventory increased 3.3% to 3.1

All comparisons are to 2014

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

As September deepens, a certain level of seasonal housing market cooling is bound to occur, but year-over-year trends do not seem poised to offend. Overheated and undercooked markets might make pretty for media outlets, yet a balanced market is the best friend of the buyer, the seller and, frankly, the real estate practitioner. Seasonal dips are nothing to fret over. It is now and will continue to be best to measure residential real estate activity not by months but by years.

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

• New Listings increased 1.6% to 1,650
• Pending Sales decreased 1.0% to 993
• Inventory increased 9.5% to 18,513

For the month of August:

• Median Sales Price increased 5.3% to $219,000
• Days on Market decreased 2.9% to 68
• Percent of Original List Price Received decreased 0.7% to 96.3%
• Months Supply of Inventory increased 15.8% to 4.4

All comparisons are to 2013

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

Normalization is the word of the day when describing real estate markets these days. Market recovery has taken hold in most parts of the nation, and as those markets approach prior peaks, price growth may come in line with more normal historical levels. In the short-term, this may mean some metrics exhibit year-over- year declines, but the long-term trend is still higher. While everyone is entitled to their theories, the slow-but-steady path we’ve seen in recent months is beginning to match a pattern we have seen for decades.

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

• New Listings increased 9.0% to 1,653
• Pending Sales increased 1.4% to 879
• Inventory increased 9.7% to 18,320

For the month of August:

• Median Sales Price increased 5.3% to $219,000
• Days on Market decreased 2.9% to 68
• Percent of Original List Price Received decreased 0.7% to 96.3%
• Months Supply of Inventory increased 15.8% to 4.4

All comparisons are to 2013

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

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in August that total nonfarm payroll employment increased by more than 200,000 in July, and the national unemployment level is holding relatively steady at 6.2 percent. Combined with a reported increase in consumer confidence by Reuters, the U.S. economy is looking pretty spiffy. So long as quality paying jobs continue to be added to the mix and housing policy remains welcoming to those who want to buy and sell, there is reason to remain optimistic about residential real estate.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending August 30:

• New Listings increased 0.6% to 1,365
• Pending Sales decreased 10.8% to 1,087
• Inventory increased 9.9% to 18,627

For the month of August:

• Median Sales Price increased 5.3% to $219,001
• Days on Market decreased 2.9% to 68
• Percent of Original List Price Received decreased 0.8% to 96.2%
• Months Supply of Inventory increased 15.8% to 4.4

All comparisons are to 2013

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

As summer begins to wane, the total number of home sales will gradually drop like the leaves of fall. And although autumn is nearing, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the changing of the season will bring market chills. Because even as sales drop, sales prices are still mostly on the rise and inventory is stabilizing all across the country. And let’s not forget that lower sales figures are also due to fewer distressed properties on the market.

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

• New Listings increased 3.5% to 1,539
• Pending Sales increased 4.5% to 1,175
• Inventory increased 10.1% to 18,755

For the month of July:

• Median Sales Price increased 3.4% to $215,000
• Days on Market decreased 5.6% to 68
• Percent of Original List Price Received decreased 0.7% to 96.8%
• Months Supply of Inventory increased 15.8% to 4.4

All comparisons are to 2013

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