The weather and the real estate market remained warm in October with gains in total sold dollar volume and a large reduction in days on market compared to October of 2016. An increase in prices buoyed a slight reduction in units sold to keep the market hot well into the autumn. October of 2017 posted a more than 5% increase in sold dollar volume, coming in at $128,774,826. Median price was $285,000 for the month, a year-over-year increase of 7.5%. Units sold fell slightly with a .48% decrease, going from 421 in October of 2016 down to 419 in October of 2017.
Days on market, the amount of time it takes from when a listing enters the market until it has a ratified contract, decreased over 20%, going from 72 days in October of 2016 to 57 days in October of 2017. Inventory remains low, but there were nearly 17% more listings coming onto the market in October of 2017 than the same time last year. There were 715 new listings in October of 2017 compared to 613 in October of 2016. Active listings are down slightly with a 1.78% decrease, coming in at 1,652. A bright spot in October was the number of new listings coming onto to the market, which is badly needed at this time.
Of the 419 units sold in October, more than half were financed using either a conventional loan or a VA loan. Nearly 12% of sales were cash purchases, with another 22% FHA financing. “The market is experiencing a slowdown in homes priced over $300,000 in line with normal seasonal fluctuations heading into the winter months,” commented FAAR Board of Director Pam Kuper. “Homes priced under $300,000 are still flying off the shelves with our low levels of available inventory.”
