The National Association of Home Builders’ latest Housing Trends Report found that in Q1 2021, 16% of American adults were looking to purchase a home in the next 12 months, up from 10% from a year ago and now at the highest level since Q1 2018. The Millennial generation saw the largest change in expectations year over year, with 32% planning to buy in the next 12 months, double the levels seen in Q1 2020.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending May 1:

• New Listings increased 10.8% to 1,730
• Pending Sales increased 25.5% to 1,534
• Inventory decreased 47.8% to 5,406

For the month of March:

• Median Sales Price increased 10.5% to $328,231
• Days on Market decreased 36.1% to 39
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 2.7% to 101.9%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale decreased 47.4% to 1.0

All comparisons are to 2020

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

A bit of good news this week on the home affordability front as the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage slipped below 3 percent to 2.97%, according to Freddie Mac. The benchmark 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rate, while still higher than a few months ago, remains more than one third of a percent less than the same time last year. The slight pullback in rates may be short lived, however, as Nadia Evangelou, senior economist for the National Association of REALTORS®, still expects rates to rise in the coming months.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending April 24:

• New Listings increased 14.5% to 1,687
• Pending Sales increased 38.4% to 1,509
• Inventory decreased 47.5% to 5,337

For the month of March:

• Median Sales Price increased 10.4% to $328,000
• Days on Market decreased 36.1% to 39
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 2.7% to 101.9%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale decreased 47.4% to 1.0

All comparisons are to 2020

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

A new analysis by housing giant Freddie Mac suggests that the U.S. housing market needs 3.8 million more single-family homes nationwide to meet demand. Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist, noted “we should have almost four million more housing units if we had kept up with demand the last few years.” While new construction activity has increased in recent years, it has never fully recovered to its previous peak more than fifteen years ago.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending April 17:

• New Listings increased 19.0% to 1,582
• Pending Sales increased 45.3% to 1,481
• Inventory decreased 47.6% to 5,276

For the month of March:

• Median Sales Price increased 10.4% to $328,000
• Days on Market decreased 36.1% to 39
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 2.7% to 101.9%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale decreased 55.0% to 0.9

All comparisons are to 2020

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

Home prices are not the only rising cost for prospective homebuyers. ATTOM Data Solutions’ latest property tax analysis of nearly 87 million single-family homes in the U.S. found the average property tax bill rose 4.4 percent from 2019 to 2020, to an average of $3,719 for a single-family home. Nationwide, the average effective tax rate was 1.1% of the property’s value in 2020, down slightly from 1.14% in 2019.

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

• New Listings increased 27.1% to 1,658
• Pending Sales increased 20.8% to 1,249
• Inventory decreased 49.3% to 5,086

For the month of March:

• Median Sales Price increased 10.4% to $328,000
• Days on Market decreased 36.1% to 39
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 2.7% to 101.9%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale decreased 52.6% to 0.9

All comparisons are to 2020

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

The University of Michigan’s latest Consumer Sentiment Index came in at 84.9 points, up from 76.8 in February and the highest level since last March’s 89.1 reading. The index is an economic indicator of the overall health of the economy as determined by consumer opinion. Increasing values point to increasing consumer confidence in their own financial health and the health of the overall economy.

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

• New Listings decreased 7.6% to 1,406
• Pending Sales increased 21.8% to 1,358
• Inventory decreased 49.4% to 5,051

For the month of February:

• Median Sales Price increased 11.5% to $314,000
• Days on Market decreased 31.3% to 46
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 2.1% to 100.1%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale decreased 47.1% to 0.9

All comparisons are to 2020

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

As the spring market is in full swing and home prices are ticking up, mortgage rates have moved higher in recent weeks as well. Freddie Mac reports that the national average rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rose to 3.17% with an average of .6 points. While rates are still below the average of 3.5% for the same week last year, the year over year comparison has been tightening in recent weeks.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending March 27:

• New Listings decreased 3.8% to 1,479
• Pending Sales increased 15.5% to 1,327
• Inventory decreased 49.0% to 4,992

For the month of February:

• Median Sales Price increased 11.5% to $314,000
• Days on Market decreased 31.3% to 46
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 2.1% to 100.1%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale decreased 47.1% to 0.9

All comparisons are to 2020

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

Real estate data firm ATTOM Data Solutions reported that the number of homes flipped by investors decreased in 2020 for the first time since 2014. For this study, ATTOM defined a home flip as a condo or single-family home that sold twice within 12 months. Flips of single-family homes and condos fell 13.1% in 2020 compared to 2019, falling to its lowest point since 2016. ATTOM estimated that 5.9% of all homes sold in 2020 were flips.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending March 20:

• New Listings decreased 21.4% to 1,390
• Pending Sales increased 4.9% to 1,230
• Inventory decreased 48.6% to 4,872

For the month of February:

• Median Sales Price increased 11.5% to $314,000
• Days on Market decreased 31.3% to 46
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 2.1% to 100.1%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale decreased 47.1% to 0.9

All comparisons are to 2020

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

Freddie Mac reported that cash-out refinancing activity surged 42% in 2020 compared to 2019, as homeowners cashed out $152.7 billion in home equity, the highest level since 2007. Low interest rates and strong appreciation in recent years proved attractive to cash-out refinance borrowers, who, on average, withdrew $50,000 in equity.

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

• New Listings decreased 22.0% to 1,391
• Pending Sales increased 4.8% to 1,252
• Inventory decreased 46.5% to 4,857

For the month of February:

• Median Sales Price increased 11.5% to $314,000
• Days on Market decreased 31.3% to 46
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 2.1% to 100.1%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale decreased 47.1% to 0.9

All comparisons are to 2020

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