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Mark Hinks

Real Estate Agent

Buyer and seller activity down; weather partly to blame

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If February was the month of record snowfall, March was the month of record wet basements. The effects of extreme weather continue to impact the market. Despite that, the latest numbers for Twin Cities residential real estate show some strength amidst ongoing signs of change. Prices continued to climb, reaching a new record. New listings fell 8.8 percent as fewer sellers listed their properties. Closed sales were down 9.3 percent as some buyers waited on soggy properties as well as additional inventory options. Market times rose year-over-year for the first time since March 2015. Another sign of a changing market is the ratio of sold to list price has fallen for four of the last five months. This—along with other indicators—suggest the market is improving for buyers, even though sellers still have strong pricing power, favorable negotiating leverage and quick market times.

The number of active listings for sale decreased compared to the prior year. Even so, buyers have seen inventory gains for five of the last six months. Months supply, however, was flat at 1.8 months, suggesting the market is still tight but realigning. Buyers should still expect competition on the most coveted listings. After touching 5.0 percent in November, mortgage rates have settled back down around 4.1 percent, which is great news for buyers. The supply squeeze is most evident at the entry-level prices, where multiple offers and homes selling for over list price are commonplace. The move-up and upper-bracket segments are less competitive and better supplied.

March 2019 by the Numbers (compared to a year ago)

  • Sellers listed 6,160 properties on the market, an 8.8 percent decrease from last March
  • Buyers closed on 3,673 homes, a 9.3 percent decrease
  • Inventory levels for March declined 4.2 percent compared to 2018 to 8,685 units
  • Months Supply of Inventory was flat at 1.8 months
  • “There’s plenty of buyers and sellers out there looking to get deals done,” said Linda Rogers, President-Elect of Minneapolis Area REALTORS®. “If rates and inventory cooperate, we’re still anticipating a solid year.”
  • The Median Sales Price rose 6.5 percent to $275,000, a record high for any month
  • Cumulative Days on Market rose 15.8 percent to 66 days, on average (median of 30)
  • Changes in Sales activity varied by market segment
    • Single family sales declined 7.2 percent; condo sales sank 16.5 percent; townhome sales fell 12.2 percent
    • Traditional sales decreased 7.9 percent; foreclosure sales declined 26.8 percent; short sales fell 32.3 percent
    • Previously-owned sales were down 10.1 percent; new construction sales rose 2.3 percent

    Quotables

    “The extremes of February and March are still noticeable,” said Todd Urbanski, President of Minneapolis Area REALTORS®. “It’s difficult to disentangle weather-induced market shifts with organic market shifts.”

    All information is according to the Minneapolis Area REALTORS® based on data from NorthstarMLS. Minneapolis Area REALTORS® is the leading regional advocate and provider of information services and research on the real estate industry for brokers, real estate professionals and the public. We serve the Twin Cities 16-county metro area and western Wisconsin.
    From The Skinny Blog.

Weekly Market Report

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For Week Ending April 6, 2019

New listings finally started to perk up across the nation last week, effectively launching residential real estate into the springtime selling season. Much has been said and written about the slow launch of new homes for sale in what was anticipated to be a year of rising inventory. Mother Nature has had different plans so far in several markets, adding another burst of winter weather in April that may spoil an otherwise promising start to the second quarter of 2019.

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

  • New Listings decreased 3.4% to 1,883
  • Pending Sales decreased 6.1% to 1,208
  • Inventory decreased 2.2% to 8,797

For the month of March:

  • Median Sales Price increased 6.5% to $275,000
  • Days on Market increased 15.8% to 66
  • Percent of Original List Price Received decreased 0.5% to 98.6%
  • Months Supply of Homes For Sale remained flat at 1.8

All comparisons are to 2018

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

Weekly Market Report

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For Week Ending March 30, 2019

The national unemployment rate held firm at 3.8 percent for the second month in a row, which is good news for an economy that has shown signs of slowing down during the first three months of 2019. Hiring and wage gains have both been below expectations, retail sales dropped considerably to close 2018, and there have been fewer home sales across the nation. Maintaining a historically low unemployment rate is reassuring and may offer confidence to many wary and weary consumers.

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

  • New Listings increased 18.6% to 1,470
  • Pending Sales decreased 3.1% to 1,151
  • Inventory decreased 4.3% to 8,657

For the month of February:

  • Median Sales Price increased 6.2% to $265,500
  • Days on Market remained flat at 69
  • Percent of Original List Price Received decreased 0.3% to 97.7%
  • Months Supply of Homes For Sale remained flat at 1.7

All comparisons are to 2018

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

Weekly Market Report

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For Week Ending March 23, 2019

As new listings continue to fail to gain traction and inventory struggles to keep pace with the already low figures from last year, one begins to wonder if the U.S. is poised for a real estate slowdown. Some observers are seeing this as an inevitability, as investors price out more typical, family-driven home buyers. Housing starts and permits are also trending downward, and research indicates that the percentage of sales with price reductions are on the rise.

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

  • New Listings decreased 10.4% to 1,428
  • Pending Sales decreased 16.5% to 1,030
  • Inventory decreased 5.6% to 8,429

For the month of February:

  • Median Sales Price increased 6.2% to $265,500
  • Days on Market remained flat at 69
  • Percent of Original List Price Received decreased 0.3% to 97.7%
  • Months Supply of Homes For Sale remained flat at 1.7

All comparisons are to 2018

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

Weekly Market Report

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For Week Ending March 16, 2019

The Federal Reserve recently announced that interest rates will remain steady and that further rate hikes are not planned for 2019. Given that the federal funds rate has increased nine times over the past three years, this is welcome news for consumers carrying high credit card balances. The overall economy, inflation and Fed actions also have an effect on mortgage rates, so it is generally good news when rate hikes are paused, especially when total sales are dropping in many parts of the nation.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending March 16:

  • New Listings decreased 12.2% to 1,374
  • Pending Sales decreased 20.8% to 976
  • Inventory decreased 5.8% to 8,273

For the month of February:

  • Median Sales Price increased 6.2% to $265,500
  • Days on Market remained flat at 69
  • Percent of Original List Price Received decreased 0.3% to 97.7%
  • Months Supply of Homes For Sale remained flat at 1.7

All comparisons are to 2018

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

Extreme February Weather Leaves Dent on Residential Market Stats

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Winter sports enthusiasts likely enjoyed the snowiest February on record more than those attempting to buy and sell homes. Even so, the latest numbers for Twin Cities residential real estate show some strength amidst ongoing signs of change. Sellers showed a sizeable, weather-related decline in listing activity, while buyers entered into fewer contracts than last February even while closed sales rose. Market times flattened out as the median sales price continued to rise compared to last year. One sign of a changing market is the fact that the ratio of sold to list price has fallen for three of the last four months. This—along with other indicators—suggest the market is improving for buyers, even though sellers still have strong pricing, favorable negotiating leverage and quick market times.

Due to the decline in new listings, the number of active listings for sale decreased compared to the prior year. Even so, buyers have seen inventory gains for four of the last five months. Months supply followed suit, tick down to 1.6 months, suggesting the market is still tight. Buyers should expect competition on the most sought-after listings and neighborhoods. After increasing to 5.0 percent in November, mortgage rates have settled back down around 4.5 percent. That’s great news for buyers. The supply squeeze is most evident at the entry-level prices, where multiple offers and homes selling for over list price are commonplace. The move-up and upper-bracket segments are less competitive and better supplied. Inventory could rise substantially, and we’d still have a balanced market.

February 2019 by the Numbers (compared to a year ago)

Sellers listed 4,355 properties on the market, a 14.3 percent decrease from last February
Buyers closed on 2,798 homes, a 4.0 percent increase
Inventory levels for February declined 5.7 percent compared to 2018 to 7,936 units
Months Supply of Inventory decreased 5.9 percent to 1.6 months
The Median Sales Price rose 6.2 percent to $265,500, a record high for February
Cumulative Days on Market was flat at 69 days, on average (median of 43)
Changes in Sales activity varied by market segment

Single family sales rose 6.7 percent; condo sales fell 0.9 percent; townhome sales increased 1.0 percent
Traditional sales increased 7.4 percent; foreclosure sales sank 40.3 percent; short sales fell 41.4 percent
Previously-owned sales were up 4.7 percent; new construction sales rose 5.3 percent

Quotables

“The cold and snow in February was certainly an impediment,” said Todd Urbanski, President of Minneapolis Area REALTORS®. “The March numbers will offer more clarity on market direction.”

“We’re still sensing plenty of interest from buyers and sellers,” said Linda Rogers, President-Elect of Minneapolis Area REALTORS®. “This spring market should be productive, especially with more inventory.”

All information is according to the Minneapolis Area REALTORS® based on data from NorthstarMLS. Minneapolis Area REALTORS® is the leading regional advocate and provider of information services and research on the real estate industry for brokers, real estate professionals and the public. We serve the Twin Cities 16-county metro area and western Wisconsin.
From The Skinny Blog.

Weekly Market Report

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For Week Ending March 9, 2019

New listings and overall housing inventory are still proceeding slower than last year in many markets across the U.S., and they are mostly trailing activity for last year, which was already rather low. Sales have also been slower than last year at this time in areas with lingering winter weather, but the thaw is on. That may present a new set of difficulties for communities that have experienced an abundance of rain and snow over the last few months.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending March 9:

  • New Listings decreased 8.6% to 1,304
  • Pending Sales decreased 16.2% to 917
  • Inventory decreased 6.2% to 8,117

For the month of February:

  • Median Sales Price increased 6.2% to $265,500
  • Days on Market remained flat at 69
  • Percent of Original List Price Received decreased 0.3% to 97.7%
  • Months Supply of Homes For Sale remained flat at 1.7

All comparisons are to 2018

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

Weekly Market Report

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For Week Ending March 2, 2019

Sales totals have been mixed across the nation and dependent on what has been a considerably persistent wintry mix in the Great Plains, Midwest and Northeast. While this time of year brings unpleasant weather to all parts of the country, it has less impact on southern and western states. While there is no true national real estate market, overarching trends continue to be higher prices and more inventory, especially west of the Rocky Mountains. Let’s look more closely at what is happening locally.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending March 2:

  • New Listings decreased 20.0% to 1,257
  • Pending Sales decreased 13.3% to 923
  • Inventory decreased 5.5% to 8,009

For the month of January:

  • Median Sales Price increased 6.1% to $259,000
  • Days on Market decreased 5.8% to 65
  • Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.1% to 97.0%
  • Months Supply of Homes For Sale increased 13.3% to 1.7

All comparisons are to 2018

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

Weekly Market Report

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For Week Ending February 23, 2019

Two years ago, Millennials (born between 1981 and 1996) passed older generational groups to account for the most new mortgages. Today, Millennials also account for the most total dollar amount of those mortgages. Given the state of ongoing median sales price increases in the majority of the country, this should not come as a surprise. And given the positive state of the U.S. economy, finding the correct balance between positive sales figures and sales prices will be a dominant theme of 2019.

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

  • New Listings decreased 25.0% to 949
  • Pending Sales decreased 12.6% to 866
  • Inventory decreased 3.0% to 8,093

For the month of January:

  • Median Sales Price increased 6.1% to $259,000
  • Days on Market decreased 5.8% to 65
  • Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.1% to 97.0%
  • Months Supply of Homes For Sale increased 13.3% to 1.7

All comparisons are to 2018

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