Home Prices at New High in February Amid Record Low Inventory

 

 

DENVER – February home prices reached a new high as steady demand combined with record low inventory drove prices up, according to this month’s RE/MAX National Housing Report that surveys 53 metro areas.
 
Last month saw a negligible decline (-0.02%) in home sales from February 2016, which posted the most sales in the nine-year history of the report. Less than half of the markets experienced an increase in sales year-over-year.
 
Meanwhile, active inventory reached a record low for February, dropping 17.9% year-over-year. This marks the 100th consecutive month of year-over-year declines dating back to October 2008.
 
As a result, the Median Sales Price of $212,000 – another February record – was up 6% year-over-year. This is the 11th consecutive month of year-over-year price increases.
 
Homes sold faster last month, with average Days on Market dropping from 75 in February 2016 to 68 last month. 
 
“Inventory, not the rise in interest rates, remains the principal constraint on home sales,” said Dave Liniger, RE/MAX CEO, Chairman of the Board and Co-Founder. “The resale market is driven dramatically by the availability of new homes. Most U.S. markets have a high demand for new home construction, and although it’s good to see housing starts trending upward, we still need more.”
 
Closed Transactions 
Of the 53 metro areas surveyed in February 2017, the overall average number of home sales decreased 0.02% compared to February 2016. Of the 53 metro areas, 23 experienced an increase in sales year-over-year, with nine experiencing double-digit increases.  The markets with the largest increase in sales included Trenton, NJ +26.2%, Nashville, TN +19.4%, Las Vegas, NV +18.2%, Wichita, KS +14.6% and Birmingham, AL +13.3%.
 
Median Sales Price – Median of 53 metro median prices
In February 2017, the median of all 53 metro Median Sales Prices was $212,000, up 1.4% from January 2017 and up 6.0% from February 2016. Only six metro areas saw year-over-year decreases or remained unchanged, with 16 rising by double-digit percentages. The largest double-digit increases were seen in Fargo, ND +19.9%, Burlington, VT +18.4%, Tampa, FL +15.9%, Indianapolis +14.3% and Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX +13.9%.

Days on Market – Average of 53 metro areas
The average Days on Market for homes sold in February 2017 was 68, up two days from the average in January 2017, but down seven days from the February 2016 average. The three metro areas with the lowest Days on Market were San Francisco, CA at 32, Omaha, NE at 34 and Denver, CO at 38. The highest Days on Market averages were in Augusta, ME at 147 and Chicago, IL at 109. 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 February 2017 was down 2.2% from January 2017, and down 17.9% from February 2016. Based on the rate of home sales in February, the Months Supply of Inventory was 3.6, compared to January 2017 at 3.8 and February 2016 at 4.0. A 6.0-month supply indicates a market balanced equally between buyers and sellers. In February 2017, 45 of the 53 metro areas surveyed reported a months supply of less than 6.0, which is typically considered a seller’s market. The remaining eight saw a months supply above 6.0, which is typically considered a buyer’s market. The markets with the lowest Months Supply of Inventory continued to be in the west, with both Denver, CO and Seattle, WA at 1.0 and San Francisco, CA at 1.1.