Bruce Erickson

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Weekly Market Report

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For Week Ending July 10, 2021

As sales prices surge, housing affordability continues to decline, despite historically low interest rates. According to the National Association of REALTORS® Housing Affordability Index, the median family income increased by only 1.2% in May, while the monthly mortgage payment rose to $1,204, a 20% gain compared to a year ago. Homeowners are allocating more of their income toward their mortgage, putting additional strain on consumers’ pocketbooks amid rising inflation, as the Consumer Price Index jumped 5.4% in the year through June, according to the Labor Department, the largest year-over-year gain since August 2008.

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

  • New Listings decreased 7.8% to 1,751
  • Pending Sales decreased 30.1% to 1,103
  • Inventory decreased 32.6% to 6,709

For the month of June:

  • Median Sales Price increased 14.8% to $350,000
  • Days on Market decreased 52.4% to 20
  • Percent of Original List Price Received increased 4.5% to 104.1%
  • Months Supply of Homes For Sale decreased 42.9% to 1.2

All comparisons are to 2020

Click here for the full Weekly Market Activity Report. From MAAR Market Data News.

Weekly Market Report

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For Week Ending July 3, 2021

Mortgage applications decreased 1.8% last week, falling to the lowest level since January 2020, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s seasonally adjusted index, with declines noted in both refinance and purchase applications. Rising home prices and low inventory are responsible for the decline, even as mortgage rates remain low, causing experts to speculate whether the roaring housing market is finally cooling down.

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

  • New Listings decreased 1.9% to 1,343
  • Pending Sales increased 4.3% to 1,610
  • Inventory decreased 33.5% to 6,906

For the month of April:

  • Median Sales Price increased 16.6% to $344,000
  • Days on Market decreased 41.5% to 24
  • Percent of Original List Price Received increased 4.4% to 104.0%
  • Months Supply of Homes For Sale decreased 50.0% to 1.1

All comparisons are to 2020

Click here for the full Weekly Market Activity Report. From MAAR Market Data News.

Weekly Market Report

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For Week Ending June 26, 2021

The U.S. Department of Labor reported unemployment claims fell to 364,000 for the week ending June 26, down 51,000 from the previous week’s revised total and the lowest level for initial jobless claims since the pandemic began. Nationwide, the existing-home median sales price set a new record high of $350,300, a 23.6% year-over-year increase, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. Some economists are predicting an increased supply of homes for sale in coming months, which may help to moderate home price increases later in the year.

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

  • New Listings increased 5.4% to 1,827
  • Pending Sales decreased 3.9% to 1,598
  • Inventory decreased 34.2% to 6,898

For the month of April:

  • Median Sales Price increased 16.6% to $344,000
  • Days on Market decreased 41.5% to 24
  • Percent of Original List Price Received increased 4.4% to 104.0%
  • Months Supply of Homes For Sale decreased 50.0% to 1.1

All comparisons are to 2020

Click here for the full Weekly Market Activity Report. From MAAR Market Data News.

Weekly Market Report

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For Week Ending June 12, 2021

U.S. median rental prices increased 5.5% year over year for an average of $1,527 in May, exceeding pre-pandemic figures and putting rents at their highest level in two years, according to realtor.com’s Monthly Rental Report. Meanwhile, after months of record highs, lumber prices have finally begun falling, with futures for July delivery down 41% since May’s record high, their biggest ever weekly loss, Bloomberg reports. Still, demand for housing remains strong as ever, with mortgage and refinance applications up from the previous week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

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

  • New Listings increased 9.5% to 1,894
  • Pending Sales increased 4.6% to 1,531
  • Inventory decreased 42.4% to 6,109

For the month of April:

  • Median Sales Price increased 16.6% to $343,750
  • Days on Market decreased 41.5% to 24
  • Percent of Original List Price Received increased 4.4% to 104.0%
  • Months Supply of Homes For Sale decreased 54.5% to 1.0

All comparisons are to 2020

Click here for the full Weekly Market Activity Report. From MAAR Market Data News.

Demand for Homes Continues to Increase, Tightening Market Inventory

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(June 16, 2021) – According to new data from the Minneapolis Area REALTORS® and the Saint Paul Area Association of REALTORS®, buyer activity in May was up 15.7 percent compared to last year, a twelfth-straight increase in month-over-month pending sales. Demand from buyers in the Twin Cities metro continues to out-pace the supply of new listings into the market.

Seller activity in May grew slightly in a year, up 2.6 percent from 2020, but dropped by 19.9 percent compared to 2019, our most recent pre-COVID year. The relative imbalance in performance between buyers and sellers has led to a strong seller’s market. Currently, the Twin Cities has 1.0 month’s supply of inventory. Typically, four to six months is considered a balanced market.

“Half of all listings in the Twin Cities have an accepted offer within a week,” according to Tracy Baglio, President of the Saint Paul Area Association of REALTORS®. “As the summer season begins to build, buyers need to continue to be prepared to make firm decisions and strong offers on a home.”

In May, homes spent a median seven days on market, which is down 56.3 percent from last year. The quick shelf life of listings is particularly impressive given that the median price of a home in the Twin Cities metro rose to $342,500, a 16.1 percent increase from last May. The 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Average in the United States did not exceed 3.0 percent, giving buyers the ability to stretch their dollar further.

“Recent showing activity shows that prospective home buyers shifted their interests to more expensive homes,” said Todd Walker, President of Minneapolis Area REALTORS®. “Two years ago, listings priced under $200,000 saw the largest share of showing activity. This year listings around $250,000 have seen the greatest share of activity.”

Activity varies by area, price point and property type. Sales of single-family homes were up 42.1 percent in Minneapolis and 16.7 percent in St. Paul, suggesting demand remains strong in the core cities. Condos continue to lead sales growth by property type. Across the 16-county Twin Cities region condo sales rose 98.3 percent. Sales of previously owned homes rose 18.3 percent while new construction rose 5.5 percent.

May 2021 by the numbers compared to a year ago

  • Sellers listed 7,576 properties on the market, a 2.6 percent increase from last May
  • Buyers signed 6,834 purchase agreements, up 15.7 percent (5,543 closed sales, up 15.4 percent)
  • Inventory levels fell 46.9 percent to 5,687 units
  • Month’s Supply of Inventory was down 54.5 percent to 1.0 month (4-6 months is balanced)
  • The Median Sales Price rose 16.1 percent to $342,500
  • Days on Market decreased 41.5 percent to 24 days, on average (median of 7 days, down 56.3 percent)
  • Changes in Sales activity varied by market segment
    • Single family sales were up 10.7 percent; condo sales rose 98.3 percent; townhome sales increased 13.6 percent
    • Traditional sales rose 16.6 percent; foreclosure sales were down 35.8 percent; short sales fell 63.6 percent
    • Previously owned sales were up 18.3 percent; new construction sales dropped 5.5 percent

From The Skinny Blog.

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