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September 2021 Housing Market Update (NWMLS Press Release)
Northwest MLS brokers say August activity follows patterns of seasonal slowing
*NOTE* – the data we are looking at is from the full month of August. The NWMLS comprises 26 of Washington’s 39 counties, mostly in the western part of the state.
Here are the bullet points from the newest press release from the Northwest Multiple Listing Service, which provides housing market data for most of Western Washington:
- End-of-summer vacations and back-to-school prep caused a decrease in activity that reflects a normal seasonal pattern
- compared to July, August had fewer new listings, pending sales, and closed sales, lower median prices, and less overall inventory
- overall open house traffic dipped as well
- homes are sitting on the market slightly longer, but inventory is still low relative to demand
- prices are up year-over-year about 18.2%
- mortgage rates continue to be below 3%
- condo sales in King County are up about 20% compared to a year ago, which could mean buyers are choosing to move back to the city or getting priced out of buying residential homes
- luxury home sales continue to exceed expectations, with no signs of slowing
- nearly 15% of this year’s sales (through August) commanded prices of $1 million or more
To read the full press release, click here.
June 2021 Housing Market Update (NWMLS Press Release)
May marked a month of new records for some market indicators
*NOTE* – the data we are looking at is from the full month of May. The NWMLS comprises 26 of Washington’s 39 counties, mostly in the western part of the state.
Here are the bullet points from the newest press release from the Northwest Multiple Listing Service, which provides housing market data for most of Western Washington:
- May’s inventory was down 46.6% compared to last year
- year-over-year median price is 30% higher than a year ago
- “Record low interest rates and job gains continue to drive the market, along with focused lifestyle changes”
- rising home prices are prompting buyers to drive farther north, south, and east to find affordable homes
- pending sales edged above the volume of new listings (high buyer demand has kept supply depleted)
- “Only a decrease in demand will moderate house price trends”
- “Frenzy-level buyer demand has not waned. The local market is still virtually sold out in the more affordable and mid-price ranges, as well as into the luxury ranges in some areas”
To read the full press release, click here.
October 2020 Housing Market Update (NWMLS Press Release)
September’s home sales reached highest level since June 2018
Here are the bullet points from the newest press release from the Northwest Multiple Listing Service, which provides housing market data for most of Western Washington.
- September’s closings marked a jump of nearly 28% from the same month a year ago
- inventory is down 43% from a year ago
- pending sales are up 23% from a year ago
- prices for single family homes and condos combined are up 19% from a year ago
- it’s too soon to make any predictions about how Boeing’s announcement to move 787 production to South Carolina away from Everett will affect the Snohomish County housing market
- supply continues to be inadequate to meet demand
- in King County, the median sale price for single family homes was $754,600 (median means half sold for more, half sold for less)
To read the full press release, click here.
February 2019 Seattle Market Report
Heating Up!
Stats for the Seattle real estate market for February 2019 are out, so here’s the market update condensed into some highlights.
- Pending sales are down about 14 percent compared to February 2018.
- Inventory in Seattle rose from January to 1.8 months (0-3 months of inventory is considered a seller’s market).
- Median prices increased compared to January but were still down compared to February 2018.
- Median sale prices in Seattle:
- residential – $730,000 (down 6% compared to Feb 2018)
- condo – $444,000 (down 14% compared to Feb 2018)
- combined – $690,000 (down 3% compared to Feb 2018)
- 47% of homes took a price cut before selling, with 20% selling above list price. Compare that to February 2018 when only 14% took price cuts before selling and 64% sold over the asking price!
- We are seeing more homes go under contract than new homes coming on the market.
- We are seeing more offer review dates.
- Homes that are priced well are getting multiple offers.
As we continue towards the spring market (the busiest time of year for buyers and sellers), I think we’ll see a lot of buyers taking advantage of low interest rates but they may be competing for homes due to the limited choices.
If you’d like to see market update graphs that are updated each month, check out the market update section of my website.
