Nationwide Seller's Market Reigns as Home Prices Climb

DENVER, Nov. 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 $18,000 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.

Contact
For specific data in this report or to request an interview, please contact [email protected]. 

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Description
The RE/MAX National Housing Report is distributed each month on or about the 15^th. The first Report was distributed in August 2008. The Report is based on MLS data in approximately 53 metropolitan areas, includes all residential property types, and is not annualized. For maximum representation, many of the largest metro areas in the country are represented, and an attempt is made to include at least one metro from each state. Metro area definitions include the specific counties established by the U.S. Government's Office of Management and Budget, with some exceptions.

Definitions
Transactions are the total number of closed residential transactions during the given month. Months Supply of Inventory is the total number of residential properties listed for sale at the end of the month (current inventory) divided by the number of sales contracts signed (pended) during the month. Where "pended" data is unavailable, this calculation is made using closed transactions. Days on Market is the number of days that pass from the time a property is listed until the property goes under contract for all residential properties sold during the month. Median Sales Price is the median of the median sales prices in each of the metro areas included in the survey.  

MLS data is provided by contracted data aggregators, RE/MAX brokerages and regional offices. While MLS data is believed to be accurate, it cannot be guaranteed. MLS data is constantly being updated, making any analysis a snapshot at a particular time. Every month the RE/MAX National Housing Report re-calculates the previous period's data to ensure accuracy over time. All raw data remains the intellectual property of each local MLS organization.

SOURCE RE/MAX, LLC

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