Ted Bergstrom

The Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) latest Forbearance and Call Volume Survey reported that 5.53% of mortgage loans remained in forbearance as of December 27, 2020. While the forbearance rate is down significantly from its highest levels in 2020, the MBA estimates the current rate represents 2.7 million homeowners currently in forbearance plans.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending January 9:

• New Listings decreased 8.3% to 927
• Pending Sales increased 1.3% to 636
• Inventory decreased 39.8% to 5,098

For the month of December:

• Median Sales Price increased 10.0% to $307,000
• Days on Market decreased 30.4% to 39
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 2.5% to 99.7%
• 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 we near the end of the year, overall real estate activity slows as many buyers and sellers briefly turn their focus from real estate to the holidays, family, and friends. With mortgage rates closing the year at near record lows, and almost one percent lower than a year ago, home purchase mortgage loan application volume remains high and continues to signal strong buyer demand going into the new year.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending December 26:

• New Listings increased 22.0% to 338
• Pending Sales increased 17.0% to 593
• Inventory decreased 37.9% to 5,777

For the month of November:

• Median Sales Price increased 10.7% to $310,000
• Days on Market decreased 33.3% to 34
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 2.8% to 100.2%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale decreased 40.9% to 1.3

All comparisons are to 2019

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

According to research by realtor.com®, all-cash home purchases make up about 36% of the market, which is up only slightly from last year. While the middle-price tiers saw about the same percentage of all-cash sales as last year, the low end of the market (under $200,000) and the very top of the market (over $1 million) saw higher shares of cash sales this year than last.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending December 19:

• New Listings increased 28.1% to 693
• Pending Sales increased 24.4% to 923
• Inventory decreased 37.0% to 6,137

For the month of November:

• Median Sales Price increased 10.7% to $310,000
• Days on Market decreased 33.3% to 34
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 2.8% to 100.2%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale decreased 38.1% to 1.3

All comparisons are to 2019

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

The National Association of Home Builders reports that lumber prices are rising again. After hitting an all-time high of near $950 per thousand board feet in September, prices slid to near $550 per thousand board feet in October but are now above $650 per thousand board feet in December. High lumber prices have contributed to significant price increases in most new construction homes this year and increases the costs of remodeling as well. A tariff reduction expected this month may help soften lumber costs in the coming weeks.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending December 12:

• New Listings increased 23.6% to 870
• Pending Sales increased 10.0% to 838
• Inventory decreased 36.5% to 6,421

For the month of November:

• Median Sales Price increased 10.7% to $310,000
• Days on Market decreased 33.3% to 34
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 2.8% to 100.2%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale decreased 38.1% to 1.3

All comparisons are to 2019

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

The National Association of REALTORS® released a new report analyzing relocation trends during the pandemic. From March through October 2020, 8.9 million people moved according to the NAR’s analysis of USPS change-of-address data. While this sounds substantial, when comparing to the same period last year, only approximately 94,000 more people moved this year than a year ago. The biggest trend was people moving from large cities to surrounding suburbs, with those counties located closest to big cities seeing the highest relocation gains.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending December 5:

• New Listings decreased 2.9% to 851
• Pending Sales increased 7.1% to 999
• Inventory decreased 35.3% to 6,748

For the month of October:

• Median Sales Price increased 12.5% to $315,000
• Days on Market decreased 23.9% to 35
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 2.4% to 100.5%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale decreased 36.0% to 1.6

All comparisons are to 2019

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

On Tuesday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed over 30,000 for the first time based on the good news in the development of coronavirus vaccines. Strength in the stock market, coupled with ongoing near-record low mortgage rates, continues to support healthy buyer demand in the market, though many take a short pause over the Thanksgiving holiday this week.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending November 28:

• New Listings increased 11.2% to 568
• Pending Sales increased 13.6% to 829
• Inventory decreased 34.8% to 7,219

For the month of October:

• Median Sales Price increased 12.5% to $315,000
• Days on Market decreased 23.9% to 35
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 2.4% to 100.5%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale decreased 36.0% to 1.6

All comparisons are to 2019

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

The National Association of REALTORS® reported that existing-home sales rose again in October, the fifth monthly increase in a row. Total existing-home sales increased 4.3% from September, rising to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 6.85 million homes, and marking the highest home sales level in 15 years. While home sales activity slows during the holiday season, overall buyer demand remains strong.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending November 21:

• New Listings increased 5.2% to 990
• Pending Sales increased 8.8% to 1,093
• Inventory decreased 33.5% to 7,604

For the month of October:

• Median Sales Price increased 12.5% to $315,000
• Days on Market decreased 23.9% to 35
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 2.4% to 100.5%
• Months Supply of Homes For Sale decreased 36.0% to 1.6

All comparisons are to 2019

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