RE/MAX National Housing Report for October 2023
Inventory Grows While Declines in Sales, New Listings Soften Seasonal declines in home sales and new listings softened in October while inventory grew for a seventh consecutive month across the 53 metro areas surveyed. Home sales dropped 4.6% from September to October, far less than the 13.5% month-over-month drop in October 2022. New listings also declined 5.0%, which was also less than half of the 11.1% drop from September to October last year. While there were 6.9% fewer homes on the market year over year, October’s inventory grew 4.6% month over month to continue a streak of monthly increases that began in April. The median sales price of $410,000 did not budge from September and remained 2.8% above October 2022. “October had some encouraging signs – especially compared to a year ago,” said Nick Bailey, President and CEO of RE/MAX, LLC. “Given the interest rate environment, it was good to see the trend of monthly inventory gains continuing, and prices appear to be stabilizing for the moment. It remains a challenging market, but demand for homes is still high – and buyers are gaining a little more leverage as time goes on.” Agent Esther Clarke of RE/MAX Associates in Salt Lake City says it’s a balancing act in her market. “New housing developments have sprung up around the city, but regardless of how fast they’re built, the inventory can’t keep up with demand. Homes that are in good shape and priced right are selling quickly. And I think buyers are starting to recognize the interest rates as the new normal.” Other notable metrics: Highlights and local market metrics for October include: New Listings Of the 53 metro areas surveyed in October 2023, the number of newly listed homes is down 5.0% compared to September 2023, and down 1.3% compared to October 2022. The markets with the biggest decrease in year-over-year new listings percentage were Las Vegas, NV at -17.6%, Seattle, WA at -17.5%, and Indianapolis, IN at -13.0%. The markets with the biggest year-over-year increase in new listings percentage were San Francisco, CA at +14.2%, Miami, FL at +13.9, and Tampa, FL at +13.6%. New Listings:5 Markets with the Biggest YoY Decrease Market Oct 2023New Listings Oct 2022New Listings Year-over-Year% Change Las Vegas, NV 3,072 3,729 -17.6 % Seattle, WA 3,607 4,374 -17.5 % Indianapolis, IN 2,717 3,124 -13.0 % Detroit, MI 5,364 6,144 -12.7 % Chicago, IL 10,579 11,984 -11.7 % Closed Transactions Of the 53 metro areas surveyed in October 2023, the overall number of home sales is down 4.6% compared to September 2023, and down 8.7% compared to October 2022. The markets with the biggest decrease in year-over-year sales percentage were Dover, DE at -26.9%, New Orleans, LA at -17.6%, followed by a tie between Burlington, VT and Trenton, NJ at -15.9%. Only two markets had an increase in year-over-year sales percentage, Salt Lake City, UT at +13.4% and Milwaukee, WI at +2.7%. Closed Transactions:5 Markets with the Biggest YoY Decrease Market Oct 2023Transactions Oct 2022Transactions Year-over-Year% Change Dover, DE 177 242 -26.9 % New Orleans, LA 796 966 -17.6 % Trenton, NJ 285 339 -15.9 % Burlington, VT 217 258 -15.9 % Seattle, WA 3,454 4,089 -15.5 % Median Sales Price – Median of 53 metro area pricesIn October 2023, the median of all 53 metro area sales prices was $410,000, flat compared to September 2023, and up 2.8% from October 2022. The markets with the biggest year-over-year decrease in median sales price were Honolulu, HI at -4.1%, New Orleans, LA at -3.7%, followed by a tie between Portland, OR and San Antonio, TX at -1.9%. The markets with the biggest year-over-year increase in median sales price were Trenton, NJ at +18.6%, Cleveland, OH at +12.5%, and Hartford, CT at +11.5%. Median Sales Price:5 Markets with the Biggest YoY Increase Market Oct 2023Median Sales Price Oct 2022Median Sales Price Year-over-Year% Change Trenton, NJ $415,000 $350,000 +18.6 % Cleveland, OH $225,000 $200,000 +12.5 % Hartford, CT $340,000 $305,000 +11.5 % San Diego, CA $840,000 $764,000 +9.9 % Manchester, NH $445,000 $410,000 +8.5 % Close-to-List Price Ratio – Average of 53 metro area pricesIn October 2023, the average close-to-list price ratio of all 53 metro areas in the report was 99%, flat compared to both September 2023 and October 2022. The close-to-list price ratio is calculated by the average value of the sales price divided by the list price for each transaction. When the number is above 100%, the home closed for more than the list price. If it’s less than 100%, the home sold for less than the list price. The metro areas with the lowest close-to-list price ratio were Miami, FL at 95%, followed by a tie between Bozeman, MT and New Orleans, LA at 96%. The metro areas with the highest close-to-list price ratios were Hartford, CT at 104% and San Francisco, CA at 103%. Close-to-List Price Ratio:5 Markets with the Biggest YoY Increase Market Oct 2023Close-to-List PriceRatio Oct 2022Close-to-List PriceRatio Year-over-YearDifference* Trenton, NJ 102.4 % 100.2 % +2.1 pp Hartford, CT 103.9 % 101.8 % +2.1 pp San Francisco, CA 102.9 % 100.9 % +1.9 pp Las Vegas, NV 98.2 % 96.7 % +1.5 pp Detroit, MI 99.6 % 98.2 % +1.4 pp *Difference displayed as change in percentage points Days on Market – Average of 53 metro areasThe average days on market for homes sold in October 2023 was 36, up one day compared to the average in both September 2023 and October 2022. The metro areas with the lowest days on market were Baltimore, MD at 12, Washington, DC at 13, and Philadelphia, PA at 15. The highest days on market averages were in Coeur d’Alene, ID at 78, Bozeman, MT at 77, and Fayetteville, AR at 73. Days on market is the number of days between when a home is first listed in an MLS and a sales contract is signed. Days on Market:5 Markets with the Biggest YoY Increase Market Oct 2023Days on Market Oct 2022Days on Market Year-over-Year% Change Bozeman, MT 77 44 +73.4 % Anchorage, AK 44 27 +65.3 % Coeur d’Alene, ID 78 48 +61.9 % New Orleans, LA 60 38 +57.3 % San Antonio, TX 70 46 +51.1 % Months’ Supply of Inventory – Average of 53 metro areasThe number of homes for sale in October 2023 was up 4.6% from September 2023 and down 6.9% from October 2022. Based on the rate of home sales in October 2023, the months’ supply of inventory was 2.3, up compared 2.1 in September 2023, and flat compared October 2022. In October 2023, the markets with the lowest months’ supply of inventory were a two-way tie between Manchester, NH and Trenton, NJ at 0.9, followed by Seattle, WA at 1.0. The markets with the highest months’ supply of inventory were Bozeman, MT at 5.1, San Antonio, TX at
Read More