November 2017 RE/MAX National Housing Report
Nationwide Seller’s Market Reigns as Home Prices Climb
DENVER – Despite record low inventory for the month, October home sales increased 2.5% year-over-year and kept 2017 prices ahead of 2016, according to this month’s RE/MAX National Housing Report. To access the housing report infographic, visit: rem.ax/2cYFT50.
Thirty-seven of the 53 metro markets in the November RE/MAX National Housing Report posted sales increases over October 2016. Meanwhile, inventory gauges were at their lowest point for an October in the report’s nine year history. The Months Supply of Inventory dropped to 3.3 – the lowest for any October in this housing report. It was mirrored by the Days on Market average of 51 days, also a new low for October for the report and a full week faster than the selling rate of homes in October of last year.
The Median Sales Price of $224,000 increased 3.3% over last October and was $19,000 higher than the same month in 2015. The median price remained on a par with the prices of last spring that kicked off the peak summer selling season.
“The housing market is steady and at least somewhat predictable with record-low inventory and increasing prices in markets across the country,” said Adam Contos, RE/MAX Co-CEO. “With job growth and increased household formation, buyers will struggle and may even be priced out of the market until home building catches up.”
Closed Transactions
Of the 53 metro areas surveyed in October 2017, the overall average number of home sales decreased 3.4% compared to September 2017 but increased 2.5% compared to October 2016. Thirty-seven of the 53 metro areas experienced an increase in sales year-over-year including, Albuquerque, NM,+19.8%, Augusta, ME, +14.1%, Las Vegas, NV, +13.2%, Billings, MT, +12.4% and Providence, RI +11.4%.
Median Sales Price – Median of 53 metro median prices
In October 2017, the median of all 53 metro Median Sales Prices was $224,000, down 1.1% from September 2017 but up 3.3% from October 2016. Only three metro areas saw a year-over-year decrease in Median Sales Price or remained unchanged (Wilmington/Dover, DE, -4.1%, Trenton, NJ, -1.0%, and Cincinnati, OH, at 0.0%). Eight metro areas increased year-over-year by double-digit percentages, with the largest increases seen in Las Vegas, NV, +16.3%, Birmingham, AL, +12.3%, New Orleans, LA, +12.3%, Des Moines, IA, +12.0% and Seattle, WA, +11.6%.
Days on Market – Average of 53 metro areas
The average Days on Market for homes sold in October 2017 was 51, up two days from the average in September 2017, and down seven days from the October 2016 average. The four metro areas with the lowest Days on Market were San Francisco, CA, at 24, Omaha, NE, at 26, Seattle, WA, at 27, and Nashville, TN, at 28. The highest Days on Market averages were in Augusta, ME, at 108 and Burlington, VT, at 89. Days on Market is the number of days between when a home is first listed in an MLS and a sales contract is signed.
Months Supply of Inventory – Average of 53 metro areas
The number of homes for sale in October 2017 was down 6.3% from September 2017, and down 13.4% from October 2016. Based on the rate of home sales in October, the Months Supply of Inventory decreased to 3.3 from September 2017 at 3.6, compared to October 2016 at 3.9. A 6.0-months supply indicates a market balanced equally between buyers and sellers. In October 2017, 50 of the 53 metro areas surveyed reported a months supply at or less than 6.0, which is typically considered a seller’s market. The metro areas that saw a months supply above 6.0, which is typically considered a buyer’s market, were Miami, FL, at 7.3, Birmingham, AL, at 6.8 and Augusta, ME, at 6.5. The markets with the lowest Months Supply of Inventory continued to be in the west with San Francisco, CA, at 1.0, Denver, CO and Seattle, WA, at 1.3, and San Diego, CA, at 1.8.
Feel free to contact me and I can help break down exactly what these numbers mean for our local market and for your neighborhood.
And lastly, If you or anyone you know is thinking of buying or selling a home - please call or email me. I'm here to help!
Peter Veres
Associate Broker, CRS,ABR,CLHMS,SRES
Elite Asset Management Team - RE/MAX Elite
www.PeteVeres.com
Cell: 505-362-2005
Office: 505-798-1000
