Strong Housing Market Sees 12% Price Growth

DENVER, July 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- June marks the 17^th month in a row that both home sales and prices have been higher than the same month last year.  The median price of homes sold in June was $193,750, which is 12.6% higher than the median price last June.  The RE/MAX Housing Report, a survey of MLS data in 52 metropolitan areas, also found that home sales in June were 4.1% greater than sales in June 2012.  The housing recovery, which began in 2012, is continuing to produce significant increases in home prices and sales, while the number of homes for sale remains much lower than one year ago, 23.9% lower than June 2012.  A low supply of homes results in higher prices, but also makes it difficult for anxious byers looking for just the right house to call home.  At the current sales rate, the number of months to clear the entire inventory is just 3.9, making this market more favorable to sellers.  In the 1^st quarter, over 800,000 homeowners regained positive equity, possibly feeling more confident to place their home on the market for sale, which should help the current low inventory environment.

"Summer sales are traditionally the strongest of the year, but this year we're seeing sales at a double-digit pace above last summer.  Even after the recession, interest in homeownership remains quite high," said Margaret Kelly, CEO of RE/MAX, LLC.  "Low mortgage rates and attractive home prices are still creating opportunities with the best home affordability the market has seen in years." 

Transactions – Year-Over-Year Change
The June RE/MAX Housing Report shows a 4.3% decrease in Closed Transactions over May, but a 4.1% increase over sales in June 2012.   This makes June the 24^th month in a row reporting higher sales than the same month in the previous year.  This year's selling season continues to experience higher home sales than the turnaround year of 2012. Of the 52 metro areas surveyed in June, 31 reported higher sales than June 2012, with 13 reporting double-digit gains, including:  Albuquerque, NM +42.9%, Providence, RI +25.3%, Chicago, IL +20.7%, Charlotte, NC +19.6%, Baltimore, MD +18.0%, and Raleigh & Durham, NC +17.4%. 

Median Sales Price
The Median Price for all homes sold in June was $193,750, which was 5.0% higher than the Median Price in May and 12.6% higher than the price in June 2012.  June marks the 17^th month in a row, the Median Price has been higher than in the same month of the previous year. With high buyer demand and a low supply of homes for sale, home prices are expected to remain significantly higher than last year. Of the 52 metro areas surveyed in June, only one experienced a year-to-year drop in Median Price: Albuquerque, NM -4.2%.  However, 30 metro areas reported double-digit increases, including:  Detroit, MI +47.9%, Atlanta, GA +43.1%, Las Vegas, NV +33.3%, San Francisco, CA +31.0%, Los Angeles, CA +29.1%, and Miami, FL 25.8%. 

Days on Market – Average of 53 Metro Areas
The average Days on Market for all homes sold in June was just 65, which is 5 days lower than the average in May, but 19 days lower than the June 2012 average of 84.  June's 65 day average is the lowest Days on Market average in the last 12 months.  The low Days on Market average is the direct result of few homes for sale and high buyer demand.  Days on Market is the number of days between when a home is first listed in an MLS and when a sales contract is signed. 

Months Supply of Inventory – Average of 54 Metro Areas
The number of homes for sale in June was 2.3% lower than the inventory in May and 23.9% below the inventory in June 2012.   With lower percentage losses and 18 metros reporting inventory increases from May, the problem of low home inventories may be in the early stage of a rebound. Of the 52 metro areas in the June survey, 49 reported lower levels than last year.  Extremely low Months Supply of inventory continue to be seen in cities like: San Francisco, CA 1.2, Denver, CO 1.6,  Los Angeles, CA 1.7, Phoenix, AZ 1.9,  San Diego, CA 2.0, Seattle, WA 2.1, and Washington, DC  2.1.

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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 52 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.  Month's 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 price of all residential properties sold during the month.

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