Month-to-month sales increase 8.9%, lowest December median since 2000
Sales increased for the month to 1,668 units sold, up 8.9% from the 1,531 closed escrows last month. Year-to-year closed escrows were also up (10.9%) from the 1,504 units sold last December. Making up the closed escrows this month were 561 REOs (33.6%), 490 short sales (29.4%) and 617 conventional sales (37%).
The median home sales price dropped this month to the lowest December median since 2000 ($148,000). This is a 2.4% decrease from the $165,000 median sales price of last month. The chart below shows the rise and fall of the December median over the last twelve years.
The $200,000 - $249,999 price range mode still accounts for the majority of the 1,668 total sales this month (14.4% or 241 units), while homes under $100,000 totaled 306 (18.3%) units. Closed escrows from conventional financing (574 units or 32% of all sales) decreased 4.4%, cash buyers increased 12.4% (552 units or 30.8%) and FHA financing decreased 11.8% (508 or 28.3%). These numbers include the 127 condo sales this month. The average amount of days spent on the market (from list date to opening escrow) 71 days; the median DOM remained at 40.
The Total Listing Inventory has been split up to more accurately display the current market. Active Listings numbered 2,966 properties and Active Short Sales Contingent showed 2,122. Active Short Sale Contingent properties are short sale properties on which initial offers have been made and are not entirely “active.” After breaking down Total Listing Inventory, we find that the Housing Market Supply figure is more accurately reflected. The Housing Market Supply figure for December was 1.8 Months – a 14.2% decrease from last month. This figure represents the amount of time – in months – it would take to deplete the Active Listing Inventory (2,966) given the current number of closed escrows (1,668).
According to MetroList® MLS data, the average home was 1,845 square feet. Of the 1,668 sales this month, 162 (9.7%) had 2 bedrooms or fewer, 883 (53%) had 3 bedrooms, 514 (30.8%) were 4 bedroom properties and 109 properties (6.5%) had 5+ bedrooms.
clear skies,
Doug Reynolds
No comments:
Post a Comment