Barb Duthler

Americans across the country sat down to Thanksgiving with friends and family this week. Real estate activity took a backseat to the preparation of meals and the hosting of guests, where securing second helpings were more important than securing second homes. As we enter the final weeks of 2019, there is strength and optimism in the housing market, but at a pace that is muted due to the holiday season. The relatively low levels of inventory coupled with continued strong buyer activity are the common refrains across much of the country.

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

• New Listings decreased 43.6% to 501
• Pending Sales decreased 26.3% to 702
• Inventory decreased 6.6% to 10,461

For the month of October:

• Median Sales Price increased 5.7% to $280,000
• Days on Market decreased 4.2% to 46
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.2% to 98.1%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale decreased 4.0% to 2.4

All comparisons are to 2018

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

Residential new construction activity continues to rise nationally. The U.S. Commerce Department reports that new housing permits rose 5% in October to a new 12-year high of 1.46 million units. Lawrence Yun, the National Association of REALTORS® chief economist, called the latest figures “tremendously good news for the housing sector.” With builder sentiment and buyer activity remaining strong, it is widely expected that new construction will continue to remain brisk in the coming months.

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

• New Listings increased 74.1% to 928
• Pending Sales increased 39.8% to 966
• Inventory decreased 6.6% to 10,724

For the month of October:

• Median Sales Price increased 5.7% to $280,000
• Days on Market decreased 4.2% to 46
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.1% to 98.1%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale decreased 4.0% to 2.4

All comparisons are to 2018

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

In the Federal Housing Administration’s 2019 Annual Report to Congress, the FHA announced their Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund Capital Ratio stood at 4.84%, up from 2.76% last year and well above the 2% minimum required by Congress. This has prompted the National Association of REALTORS® to advocate for a reduction in FHA insurance premiums and eliminating the life-of-loan mortgage insurance requirement. While the FHA has not committed to any changes at this time, there is optimism for change in the future as the reserves continue to increase. With FHA loan market share at 11.4% in the 2019 report, any reduction in mortgage insurance costs would positively affect a large number of future borrowers.

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

• New Listings increased 6.2% to 1,028
• Pending Sales increased 6.3% to 999
• Inventory decreased 6.1% to 11,147

For the month of October:

• Median Sales Price increased 5.7% to $280,000
• Days on Market decreased 4.2% to 46
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.1% to 98.1%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale decreased 4.0% to 2.4

All comparisons are to 2018

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

With the stock market reaching record highs, continued low unemployment, and low mortgage rates, many signs in the US economy remain strong. However, total household debt has been rising for twenty-one consecutive quarters and is now $1.3 trillion higher than the previous peak of $12.68 trillion in 2008. While delinquency rates remain low across most debt types, including mortgages, higher consumer debt loads can limit future household spending capability and increase risk if the economy slows down.

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

• New Listings increased 6.3% to 1,094
• Pending Sales increased 1.6% to 992
• Inventory decreased 5.9% to 11,463

For the month of October:

• Median Sales Price increased 5.7% to $280,000
• Days on Market decreased 4.2% to 46
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.1% to 98.1%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale decreased 4.0% to 2.4

All comparisons are to 2018

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

This week the Federal Reserve reduced its benchmark rate for the third time this year. This action was widely anticipated by the market and mortgage rates rose for the third consecutive week. Despite the recent rise, rates still remain approximately one percent lower than a year ago, which has a substantial effect on buying power. Also this week, a TransUnion analysis predicts a surge of additional first-time homebuyers will enter the market between 2020 and 2022, climbing from 7.6 million buyers in the 2016-2018 period to 8.3-9.2 million in the 2020-2022 period.

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

• New Listings increased 9.2% to 1,223
• Pending Sales increased 3.3% to 1,043
• Inventory decreased 5.5% to 11,917

For the month of September:

• Median Sales Price increased 6.8% to $279,900
• Days on Market increased 2.4% to 43
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.1% to 98.5%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale decreased 3.7% to 2.6

All comparisons are to 2018

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

A new Census report this week announced that new construction home sales nationwide decreased slightly to a seasonally adjusted rate of 701,000 units, which is 15.5% higher than a year ago. Also in the announcement was news that the median sales price of new construction homes declined to $299,440 nationally, down 8% from a year ago. This decline was due to an increase in the availability of new homes at lower price points and is a welcomed change in what has been an underserved segment of the market.

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

• New Listings decreased 0.4% to 1,239
• Pending Sales increased 9.1% to 1,094
• Inventory decreased 4.9% to 12,212

For the month of September:

• Median Sales Price increased 6.8% to $279,700
• Days on Market increased 2.4% to 43
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.1% to 98.5%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale decreased 3.7% to 2.6

All comparisons are to 2018

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

While the U.S. Commerce Department reported that total housing starts dropped 9.4% month over month in September, that drop was focused on the apartment and condo segment while single-family housing starts actually rose .3%. Throughout much of the country, the continued low level of housing inventory is constraining sales activity from where it would be in a balanced market. Active inventory is in its normal seasonal decline, leaving buyers with fewer choices as we move towards the end of the year.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending October 19:

• New Listings decreased 6.1% to 1,309
• Pending Sales increased 6.5% to 1,138
• Inventory decreased 3.7% to 12,440

For the month of September:

• Median Sales Price increased 6.6% to $279,250
• Days on Market increased 2.4% to 43
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 0.1% to 98.5%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale decreased 3.7% to 2.6

All comparisons are to 2018

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