August 2021 Housing Market Update

Like the temperatures hitting us this week, it seems the recently released August housing market reports are all showing a decline in home sales, compared to this time last year. This is not atypical, given our ‘hot market season’ runs from May to August anyway. However, this could also have something to do with decreasing inventory and rising median sales prices. Overall, I can attest to the market remaining highly active (and competitive).

NATIONALLY

Summary: Existing home sales decreased slightly while median home sales prices increased in August, both on a national scale, and regionally, here in the Midwest, compared to last month and this time last year.

The most recent Existing Home Sales Report, by the National Association of REALTORS®, was just released titled, “Existing-Home Sales Recede 2.0% in August,” (Quintin Simmons, September 22nd, 2021). The following bullet points are additional highlights from this release.

Existing-Home Sales

“Existing-home sales dropped 2% on a seasonally adjusted annual rate from July to August.”
“The median existing-home sales price rose at a year-over-year pace of 14.9%.”
“Properties typically remained on the market for 17 days in August, unchanged from July and down from 22 days in August 2020.”
“In August 2021, each of the four major U.S. regions experienced declines on both a month-over-month and a year-over-year perspective.”

STATEWIDE

Summary: Honing in, Wisconsin saw a decline in home sales and an increase in median sales price, compared to this time last year.

The Wisconsin REALTORS® Association, released their monthly market report with the headline, “Summer Housing Market Constrained by Tight Inventories.“ Here are some additional key takeaways:

August 2021 Home Sales Report

“August home sales fell 6.3% compared to their levels in August 2020, whereas the median price rose 6.4% to $250,000 over that same 12-month period.”
“Year to date, statewide sales are ahead of the pace recorded in 2020.”
“The median price is up 10.6% to $240,000 over that same period.”
“Average days on the market [are] at the record-low level of just 65 days for the second straight month. This compares to 88 days in August of last year. This is the lowest level for days on the market since the WRA began tracking this data in January 2005.”

LOCAL MARKET

Summary: Across our tri-county area (Kenosha, Racine & Walworth Counties) we saw a decline in the number of closed sales and compared to this time last year. Kenosha and Racine Counties actually had more new listings in August 2021, compared to August 2020. Finally, in Southeastern Wisconsin (except for in Racine County), the median sales priced increased, year over year, as well.

Below are the August 2021 Local Market Reports, by MetroMLS for the Counties of Kenosha, Racine, and Walworth, as well as the Lake Geneva-Delavan-Williams Bay area; and their monthly blog post called Market Reports: August 2021, by Dan Zielinski of FlexMLS, reflecting our hyperlocal multiple listing service area based out of Metro-Milwaukee.

MARKET REPORTS: AUGUST 2021

Active listings are down 2.9% and sold listings are down 1.7% compared to this time last year. The Months of Supply of Inventory also saw a slight decrease, dropping 1.2% from last year.
The above infographic includes data on single-family properties and condominiums in the 13 primary counties.
by Dan Zielinski | September 15, 2021 | Metro MLS, FlexMLS

Other Market Updates:

August 2021 Monthly Housing Market Trends Report: Seller Activity Warms Up as 432,000 Newly-Listed Homes Hit the Market by Sabrina Speianu, Realtor.com®

Home Prices Dipped 1.2% in August. Could the Housing Market Be Cooling Off? by Maurie Backman of The Motley Fool for NASDAQ

Sellers: Although I do not believe scare tactics are (morally) useful, the fact remains: sellers, your time may be running out. If you have thought about selling your home, the time to act is now. Inventory is dropping, but buyers are still out there. Contact me or follow the link below if you would like a custom, free home valuation.

Your free, instant Home Valuation here: HomeValuationzByAnnie.com

Buyers: If I’ve heard this once, I’ve heard this a million times this year: money is cheap. Even if you are on the fence, as to whether or not you want to buy a home this year, I suggest you call a lender and get a pre-approval squared away for when the right property pops up. Do not believe everything you hear – there are plenty of sellers out there accepting offers with loans and other contingencies. I am here to help – please feel free to reach out!

All the best,

ANNIE ZAMBITO
LICENSED REAL ESTATE AGENT
KEEFE REAL ESTATE | LAKE GENEVA, WI 53147
PHONE 262.348.3253 | 262.215.1982
EMAIL azambito@keeferealestate.com | anniezrealty@gmail.com
OFFICE 262.248.4492 | www.keeferealestate.com

Follow this Link for Your Copy of the 2021 Q2 Market Report by Keefe Real Estate

Search for Your Next Home HERE

Get Your Free Property Valuation Here

My August 2021

Sources

“Local Market Reports.” MetroMLS®. September 22nd, 2021.

Zielinski, Dan. “Market Reports: August 2021.” FlexMLS® & Metro MLS ®. September 22nd, 2021.

“August 2021 Home Sales Report.” Wisconsin REALTORS® Association. September 22nd, 2021.

Speianu, Sabrina. “August 2021 Monthly Housing Market Trends Report: Seller Activity Warms Up as 432,000 Newly-Listed Homes Hit the Market.” Realtor.com®. September 22nd, 2021.

Backman, Maurie. “Home Prices Dipped 1.2% in August. Could the Housing Market Be Cooling Off? The Motley Fool; NASDAQ. September 22nd, 2021.

“Existing Home Sales Report.” NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. September 22nd, 2021.

Simmons, Quintin. “Existing-Home Sales Recede 2.0% in August,” NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. September 22nd, 2021.

July 2021 Housing Market Update

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Our ‘hot market’ season is Memorial Day to Labor Day, here in the Greater Lake Geneva area, with July smack dab in the middle. The numbers are out, and the reports are in, for the July 2021 real estate market. Hopefully this blog entry gives you peace of mind enough to enjoy what’s left of summer …because we all know, like Ned Stark said (Game of Thrones), “winter is coming!”

NATIONALLY

Summary: Nationally and regionally (in the Midwest), existing home sales and median sales prices increased in July 2021 compared to last year and last month.

The most recent Existing Home Sales Report, by the National Association of REALTORS®, was just released titled, “Existing-Home Sales Climb 2.0% in July,” (Quintin Simmons, August 23, 2021). The following bullet points are additional highlights from this release.

Existing-Home Sales

“Existing-home sales rose in July, marking two consecutive months of increases, according to the National Association of Realtors®.”
“The median existing-home price for all housing types in July was $359,900, up 17.8% from July 2020 ($305,600), as each region saw prices climb.”
“Existing-home sales rose 2% on a seasonally adjusted annual rate from June to July, with no sales declines showing in any regions.”
“According to Freddie Mac, the average commitment rate for a 30-year, conventional, fixed-rate mortgage was 2.87% in July, marginally down from 2.98% in June. The average commitment rate across all of 2020 was 3.11%.”
“Existing-home sales in the Midwest rose 3.8% to an annual rate of 1,380,000 in July, a 1.4% decline from a year ago. The median price in the Midwest was $275,300, a 13.1% increase from July 2020.”

STATEWIDE

Summary: In Wisconsin, home sales declined in July 2021, compared to July 2020; however, year-to-date existing home sales were up compared to this time last year. Additionally, median prices went up, and average days on market are down, year over year.

The Wisconsin REALTORS® Association, released their monthly market report with the headline, “Home Sales Moderate in July as Prices Continue to Rise.“ Here are some additional key takeaways:

July 2021 Home Sales Report

“July 2021 home sales fell 14.2% relative to July 2020, and the statewide median price rose to $250,000 in July, an increase of 10.7% over the past 12 month”
“On a year-to-date basis, sales are still in positive territory, with existing home sales up 3.9% for the first seven months of 2021 relative to that same period in 2020. Median prices are up 12.4% to $240,000 year to date.”
“Total listings are 11.0% lower than 12 months earlier in July 2020, but this is a significant improvement compared to how the year began. Total January listings were 30.7% lower than a year earlier.”
“Average days on the market dropped 27.8% compared to July 2020, falling from 90 days to just 65 days. This is the lowest level for days on the market since the WRA began tracking this data in January 2005. “

LOCAL MARKET

Summary: In July 2021, our tri-county area (Kenosha, Racine & Walworth Counties) saw a decline in the number of closed sales and an increase in sales price compared to this time last year. While the number of new listings fluctuated across counties and municipalities, we clearly have more buyer demand than we have available housing.

Below are (1) the July 2021 Local Market Reports, by MetroMLS for the Counties of Kenosha, Racine, and Walworth, as well as the Lake Geneva-Delavan-Williams Bay areas; and (2) their monthly blog post called Market Reports: July 2021, by Dan Zielinski of FlexMLS, reflecting our hyperlocal multiple listing service area based out of Metro-Milwaukee.

MARKET REPORTS: JULY 2021

The sellers’ market continued in July, with the median sales price increasing while inventory levels and days on market decreased compared to last July.
New listings in the Milwaukee region increased 2% to 2,700. Closed sales decreased by 1.5% to 2,163. Inventory levels decreased 2.5% to 4,090 units.
Prices continued to gain traction. The median sales price increased 9% to $290,000. Days on Market was down 48.2% to 14 days. The months supply of inventory decreased 1% to 1.9 months.
by Dan Zielinski | Aug 16, 2021 | Metro MLS, FlexMLS

Other Market Updates:

July 2021 Housing Market Trends Report – Realtor.com Research
Speianu, Sabrina. “July 2021 Monthly Housing Market Trends Report: New Listings Rise 6.5% Nationwide as More Smaller Homes Hit the Market.” Realtor.com®

Sellers: Please re-read statewide section above. Year-to-date sales are up, sales prices are up, inventory is low, and interest rates are low, in July 2021. What does this mean? Well, I’ll put it this way: I have yet to witness a stronger sellers’ market. Contact me or follow the link below if you would like a custom, free home valuation.

Your free, instant Home Valuation here: HomeValuationzByAnnie.com

Buyers: Interest rates are down, compared to this time last year, AND compared to last month. While it is a competitive market, it is a GREAT time to buy. Money is cheap; peace of mind is priceless. I am here to help – please feel free to reach out!

All the best,

Follow this Link for Your Copy of the 2021 Q2 Market Report by Keefe Real Estate

Search for Your Next Home HERE

Get Your Free Property Valuation Here

My July 2021

Sources

Game of Thrones. Created by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, HBO Entertainment, 2011–2019.

“Local Market Reports.” MetroMLS®. August 23, 2021.

Zielinski, Dan. “Market Reports: July 2021.” FlexMLS® & Metro MLS ®. August 23, 2021.

“July 2021 Home Sales Report.” Wisconsin REALTORS® Association. August 23, 2021.

Speianu, Sabrina. “July 2021 Monthly Housing Market Trends Report: New Listings Rise 6.5% Nationwide as More Smaller Homes Hit the Market.” Realtor.com®. August 23, 2021.

“Existing Home Sales Report.” NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. August 23, 2021.

Simmons, Quintin. “Existing-Home Sales Climb 2.0% in July,” NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® August 23, 2021.

June 2021 Housing Market Update

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Our area has seen a steady increase in Closed Sales every month so far this year, according to the Local Market Reports by MetroMLS. Median Sales Price has mainly gone up, but New Listings have fluctuated in 2021. In the Greater Lake Geneva area, June is typically an active month in real estate. Despite low inventory, it was overall a positive month. Keep reading for the national, statewide and hyperlocal June 2021 market breakdown.

NATIONALLY

Summary: Nationally, existing home sales went UP 1.4%, and regionally, the Midwest AGAIN outperforms the 3 other major regions of the U.S., in June 2021 compared to June 2020!

As a country, the National Association of REALTORS® most recent Existing Home Sales Report, for June 2021, shows some positive news on a national scale… finally. The following highlights are additional highlights from this release:

Existing-Home Sales (highlights)

-Existing-home sales rose 1.4% on a seasonally adjusted annual rate from May to June
-The inventory of unsold homes increased 3.3% to 1.25 million from May to June – equivalent to 2.6 months of the monthly sales pace
-The median existing-home sales price rose at a year-over-year pace of 23.4%, the second highest level recorded since January 1999.
-Homes on the market typically sold in 17 days
[…]
-Existing-home sales in the Midwest rose 3.1% to an annual rate of 1,330,000 in June, an 18.8% increase from a year ago.
-The median price in the Midwest was $278,700, an 18.5% increase from June 2020.
Simmons, Quintin. “ Existing-Home Sales Expand 1.4% in June.” NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

STATEWIDE

Summary: In Wisconsin, the month of June 2021 brought: more existing home sales, higher median sales prices, more new listings and fewer days on market, compared to last June.

On the state level, the Wisconsin REALTORS® Association, released their monthly market report with the headline, “Wisconsin Housing Market Strong in First Half of 2021,” (Wisconsin Housing Statistics June 2021 Report). Here are some additional key takeaways:

June 2021 Home Sales Report (highlights)

-Through the first half of 2021, existing home sales rose 8.4% relative to that same period last year, and median prices were up 11.9% over that same period to $235,000 on continued tight inventory.
-Regionally, the strongest annual growth in sales over the first six months of the year was seen in the North region, up 13.5%; the Southeast region [of the state] up 12.5%; and the Central region, up 10.5%.
-While total listings in June were 19.3% below listings from a year earlier, the number of new listings were up 9.6% compared to June 2020
-June home sales kept pace with sales in June 2020, whereas median prices rose 15.2% to $257,000 over the 12-month period.
-There were just 3 months of available supply of housing in June, which indicates a strong seller’s advantage in the market.
-Average days on the market dropped to just 69 days in June, down from 96 days in June of last year. This is the lowest statewide figure on record since […] 2005.
-The strong price pressure caused housing affordability to slip 9.5% compared to June 2020.
Wisconsin Housing Statistics June 2021 Report by Wisconsin REALTORS® Association

LOCAL MARKET

Summary: Walworth County, and the Lake Geneva-Geneva-Delavan-Williams Bay Area saw a decrease in new listings, but an increase in closed sales and median sales price, in June 2021 compared to June 2020.

Below you will see evidence of a sellers’ market – fewer homes available to pick from, listed at higher prices. Read the Local Market Reports by MetroMLS, and the Market Report: June 2021 by Dan Zielinski of FlexMLS, reflecting our hyperlocal multiple listing service area based out of Metro-Milwaukee. Specifically, the images show the June 2021 housing statistics for Kenosha, Racine, and Walworth Counties as well as the Lake Geneva, Delavan, Williams Bay area:

Monthly Indicators: June2021 (highlights)

School’s out, and as vaccination rates rise and America enters a new normal, the U.S. housing market continues along at a frenzied pace, with low interest rates and limited inventory fueling record high sales prices. […] Eager buyers are making multiple offers, some for well over asking price, while others are making offers on homes sight unseen.
Some buyers [are forced] to simply wait it out in hopes of more inventory and less competition. Meanwhile, home builders are trying to meet the increased market demand.
As we ease into new routines and look forward to a post-pandemic future, one thing remains certain: America desperately needs more homes.
by Dan Zielinski of FlexMLS

Other Market Updates:

June 2021 Housing Market Trends Report – Realtor.com Research
Speianu, Sabrina. “June 2021 Monthly Housing Market Trends Report: New Listings Stage a Comeback in June as Home Prices Hit a New High.” Realtor.com®

Sellers: The market still heavily weighs in your favor. That being said, buyer demand will be curbed by upcoming interest rate increases. When that will be is unclear, but it is inevitable, and I’d wager to say by 2022. In my opinion, this is the year to sell. Contact me if you have questions or would like a custom, free home valuation.

Your free, instant Home Valuation here: HomeValuationzByAnnie.com

Buyers: Strategy and patience are key. Have your financing and your backup plan in order. Draw your lines and try not to jump too fast. Just because the sellers are in the driver’s seat does not mean you have to get the short end of the stick. You need an agent who will negotiate on your behalf, with integrity. I am here to help – please feel free to reach out!

All the best,

Follow this Link for Your Copy of the 2021 Q2 Market Report by Keefe Real Estate

Search for Your Next Home HERE

Get Your Free Property Valuation Here

My June 2021

Sources

“Local Market Reports.” MetroMLS®. July 22, 2021.

Zielinski, Dan. “Market Reports: June 2021.” FlexMLS® & Metro MLS ®. July 22, 2021.

“June 2021 Home Sales Report.” Wisconsin REALTORS® Association. July 22, 2021.

Speianu, Sabrina. “June 2021 Monthly Housing Market Trends Report: New Listings Stage a Comeback in June as Home Prices Hit a New High.” Realtor.com®. July 22, 2021.

“Existing Home Sales Report.” NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. July 22, 2021.

Simmons, Quintin. “Existing-Home Sales Expand 1.4% in June.” NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® July 22, 2021.

May 2021 Housing Market Update

Featured

This past weekend marked the summer solstice, the official start of summer. Our farmers finally got some much needed precipitation, as well. Then, today, the National Association of REALTORS® posted their monthly Existing Home Sales Report, showing the Midwest outperforming the other major regions of the U.S., confirming our MetroMLS‘s Market Report report that came out last week.

LOCAL MARKET

Summary: Lake Geneva-Delavan-Williams Bay Area up 49.1% in New Listings, 72.2% in Closed Sales & 8.1% in Median Sales Price, compared to this time last year!!

Below are the Local Market Reports by MetroMLS, and the Market Report: May 2021 by Dan Zielinski of FlexMLS, reflecting our hyperlocal multiple listing service area based out of the Metro-Milwaukee area, published on June 14th, 2021. Specifically, the images show the May 2021 housing statistics for Kenosha, Racine, and Walworth Counties as well as the Lake Geneva, Delavan, Williams Bay area. You will see across-the-board increases in New Listings, Closed Sales AND Median Sales Price.No matter which way you dice it, we are outperforming last years’ market – regionally, statewide, countywide and hyperlocally, and on every measure!

MARKET REPORTS: MAY 2021 (highlights)

As the weather warms and the first day of summer rapidly approaches, the U.S. housing market shows little sign of cooling down. Robust buyer demand, fueled by low mortgage rates, continues to outpace supply, which remains near historic lows.
[…] With such a limited supply of existing homes to purchase, all eyes are on home builders to provide a much-needed boost of inventory to the market to help meet buyer demand. However, increasing material and labor costs, along with supply chain challenges, have contributed to significantly higher construction costs, with builders passing these costs on to homebuyers.
by Dan Zielinski of FlexMLS

STATEWIDE

Summary: Sales are up DOUBLE DIGITS, yes, even STATEWIDE, compared to last May (when everything was shut down due to covid-19).

On the state level, the Wisconsin REALTORS® Association, released their monthly market report with the headline, “Wisconsin Housing Market Strong Even as Inventories Remain Tight,” (Wisconsin Housing Statistics May 2021 Report). Here are some additional key takeaways:

May 2021 Home Sales Report (highlights)

– Both existing home sales and median prices rose by double-digit margins in May compared to their levels 12 months earlier, when the economy was in lockdown.
-Demand conditions are very strong with the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage dipping to 2.96% in May.
-The latest statewide employment data from April indicates a robust rebound from the depressed levels of April 2020, with 261,200 private sector nonfarm jobs added over the last 12 months.
-Total statewide listings fell 26.2% to just 21,195 homes for sale in May.
-Housing supply remains very tight with just 2.8 months of available supply in the state. Inventory is tight in all regions, across all urban/rural classifications and across all price ranges.
-Average days on the market dropped 24% to just 73 days statewide in May as competition for the limited supply intensified.
-Housing affordability slipped 7.1% as median home prices surged 14.2% over the past 12 months to $245,500 in May 2021.
Wisconsin Housing Statistics May 2021 Report by Wisconsin REALTORS® Association

NATIONALLY

Summary: Nationally, existing home sales went down -0.9%, but regionally, the midwest is outperforming the other major regions of the U.S., up +1.6% in May 2021 compared to May 2020!

As a country, the National Association of REALTORS® most recent Existing Home Sales Report, for May 2021, shows sales are down, but let’s be honest: a less than 1% dip should not scare buyers and/or sellers out of transacting. Additionally, please note sales are UP here in the midwest. The reason for this, to me, is obvious: nobody wants to move in 6 feet of snow! The following highlights are additional highlights from this release:

Existing-Home Sales (highlights)

-Existing-home sales are down for the fourth consecutive month.
-The median existing-home price for all housing types saw a record year-over-year increase of 23.6% in May 2021.
-Properties typically sold in 17 days
[…]
Existing-home sales in the Midwest rose 1.6% to an annual rate of 1,310,000 in May, a 27.2% increase from a year ago. The median price in the Midwest was $268,500, an 18.1% increase from May 2020..
Simmons, Quintin. “Existing-Home Sales Decline 2.7% in April.” NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

Other Market Updates:

May 2021 Housing Market Trends Report – Realtor.com Research
Speianu, Sabrina. “May 2021 Monthly Housing Market Trends Report.” Realtor.com®

Sellers: Stay up to date on the Federal Reserve. Once mortgage interest rates increase, the number of ready, willing and *ABLE* buyers will decrease, and consequentially so will your upper hand in today’s sellers’ market. This will happen before the end of 2021, therefore, this is the best year to sell. Reach out if you have questions or would like a custom, free home valuation.

Your free, instant Home Valuation here: HomeValuationzByAnnie.com

Buyers: If your patience is wearing thin, its time to strategize. Reach out to see how I help buyers find off-market property to get an accepted offer before homes go on the market. Interest rates will go up, so please don’t wait. I’d be happy to help.

All the best,

Follow this Link for Your Copy of the 2021 Q1 Market Report by Keefe Real Estate

Search for Your Next Home HERE

Get Your Free Property Valuation Here

Sources

“Local Market Reports.” MetroMLS®. June 22, 2021.

Zielinski, Dan. “Market Reports: May 2021.” FlexMLS® & Metro MLS ®. June 22, 2021.

“May 2021 Home Sales Report.” Wisconsin REALTORS® Association. June 22, 2021.

Speianu, Sabrina. ” May 2021 Monthly Housing Market Trends Report.” Realtor.com®. June 22, 2021.

“Existing Home Sales Report.” NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. June 22, 2021.

Simmons, Quintin. “Existing-Home Sales Experience Slight Skid of 0.9%.” NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®June 22, 2021.

April 2021 Housing Market Update

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Lake Geneva Area Make BIG JUMPS Year Over Year According to MetroMLS
- +133% in New Listings
- +96.7% in Closed Sales
- +30% in Median Sales Price

Like clockwork, every spring, people across the central United States are reinvigorated by Spring in bloom. This year, with the mask order lifted, that breath of fresh air feels like life-saving medicine. Exactly what the doctor ordered. This time last year, April 2020 was the first full month of pandemic status under coronavirus. It was also the first month where the real estate market took a real hard hit. This is important, because the year-over-year numbers in this update seem…unreal. But the truth is, our farmers were able to sow their seeds early, and we’re bloomin’, baby.

Not just in comparison to last year, but even in relation to last month, we’re seeing an uptick on all major indicators: New Listings, Closed Sales AND Median Sales Price. The following images are side-by-side comparisons for Kenosha County, Racine County, Walworth County and the Lake Geneva, Delavan, Williams Bay area. On the left are March 2021 Local Market Reports (by MetroMLS® & ShowingTime®). On the right are April 2021 Local Market Reports . This is not a mirage. The tri-county area here in Southeastern Wisconsin is thriving. We’re better today than we were last month, and even more so than last year.

Metro-Milwaukee Highlights:

April was another strong month for home sales. The busy spring market continues to see many multiple offer situations driving sales prices above the asking price. By the time a property sale closes with such strong activity, the market may have already moved higher than that sold price suggests. Such markets can create stress and frustration for prospective homebuyers, who frequently have to submit offers on multiple properties before they can secure a purchase.
[…] Buyers, sellers, and agents are all trying their best to predict where the housing market is going. While housing affordability remains an area to watch as prices continue to rise, strong buyer demand and limited housing supply show no signs of easing soon, pointing to a continuation of this market trend through spring and into summer.
Zielinski, Dan “Monthly Indicators“

Nationally, things look a little different. Interestingly enough, the Midwest as a whole outperformed the other three major regions of the country last month, as well. The snippets below are from the latest press release, “Existing-Home Sales Decline 2.7% in April,” by NAR®, the National Association of Realtors.

National Highlights:

“Existing-Home Sales Decline 2.7% in April.”
April Existing Home Sales, National Association of REALTORS®

Existing-home sales waned in April, marking three straight months of declines, according to the National Association of Realtors®. All but one of the four major U.S. regions witnessed month-over-month drops in home sales, but each registered double-digit year-over-year gains for April.
[…]
Only the Midwest experienced higher sales from the prior month, but each of the four major U.S. regions recorded year-over-year increases.
Simmons, Quintin. “Existing-Home Sales Decline 2.7% in April.” NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

Read the April 2021 Existing Home Sales Report by NAR here

Notable Market Updates:

April 2021 Monthly Housing Market Trends Report: Homes Are Selling Lightning Fast Amid a Continuing Inventory Crunch
Speianu, Sabrina. “April 2021 Monthly Housing Market Trends Report.” Realtor.com®

Sellers: If you think buyer demand is going to stay as high as it is right now, do yourself a quick favor and search “news on interest rates.” The sheer volume of articles written on this should tell you: interest rates are bound to go up and curb buyer demand. The best time to sell is when you have the most competitive buyers in the market; right now is the strongest sellers’ market I have witnessed.

Your free, instant Home Valuation here: HomeValuationzByAnnie.com

Buyers: Interest rates may never be as low as they are currently again! It is competitive, but with the right buyers’ agent, and the right strategies, you still have a chance to get into the home of your dreams. Reach out, I’d be happy to help.

All the best,

Follow this Link for Your Copy of the Keefe Real Estate 2020 Annual Market Report

Search for Your Next Home HERE

Get Your Free Property Valuation Here

Sources

Zielinski, Dan. “Monthly Indicators.” FlexMLS® & Metro MLS®. May 21, 2021.

“April 2021 Existing Home Sales Report.” NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® . May 21, 2021.

Simmons, Quintin. “Existing-Home Sales Decline 2.7% in April.” NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® . May 21, 2021.

Speianu, Sabrina. “April 2021 Monthly Housing Market Trends Report.” Realtor.com® May 21, 2021.

Q1 – March 2021 Housing Market

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As the prophetic Bob Dylan once said, “The Times They Are a-Changin’.” The truth is: markets can be volatile. While the future of our evolving economy is unknown, an apocalyptic frame of mind is counterproductive. Remember, as of March 2021, all ‘year-over-year’ numbers and percentages will reflect the difference between today and the beginning of the pandemic; please pause before drawing conclusions based on comparisons to black swan event derived data points. The following are highlights from recent housing market press releases regarding national and metro-Milwaukee area trends.

National Highlights:

Month-over-month, existing-home sales fell in all major regions of the country, but were up 12.3% year-over-year, and the median existing-home sales price hit a historic high of $329,100.
March Existing Home Sales, National Association of REALTORS®

Existing-home sales fell in March, marking two consecutive months of declines […]. The month of March saw record-high home prices and gains. While each of the four major U.S. regions experienced month-over-month drops, all four areas welcomed year-over-year gains in home sales.
Existing-home sales in the Midwest declined 2.3% to an annual rate of 1,280,000 in March, a 0.8% rise from a year ago. The median price in the Midwest was $248,200, a 13.5% increase from March 2020.
According to Freddie Mac, the average commitment rate for a 30-year, conventional, fixed-rate mortgage was 3.08% in March, up from 2.81% in February. The average commitment rate across all of 2020 was 3.11%.
Simmons, Quintin. “Housing Market Reaches Record-High Home Price and Gains in March.” NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

Metro-Milwaukee Highlights:

Normal spring increases in sales activity, coupled with relaxing COVID-19 policies, created a very busy March real estate market as buyer demand continued largely unabated in the face of rising home prices and mortgage rates. Existing home seller and new construction activity continue to remain below levels necessary to bring the market back into balance, pointing to a busy and competitive buyer market in the coming months.
[…] While many homebuilders are working to increase their activity, the cost of lumber and other materials and a backlogged supply chain continue to limit new home construction and have increased costs substantially. New methods of construction, including 3d printed homes, could speed construction and reduce costs in the future, but realistically are several years away from making a measurable impact in the market.
Zielinski, Dan “Monthly Indicators“

The most inciteful graphs to note in the above Local Market Reports by MetroMLS & ShowingTime, are the “Year to Date” figures. In Q1 of 2021, compared to Q1 2020, we have seen fewer new listings, but technically more closed sales across Kenosha, Racine & Walworth Counties. Also noteworthy: median sales prices have gone down, in the month of March 2021 compared to March 2020, throughout Southeastern Wisconsin.

Sellers: If you have considered selling, but are stuck on the thought, “where would I go?” reach out to your agent about ‘lease-back options’ and ‘post-closing agreements.’ You may be able to live in your home after closing, until you find your next one. I would not wait to sell until next year, however, because 1) interest rates will eventually go up and decrease the number of buyers in the market, and 2) my magic 8 ball is broken. So. There’s that.

Your free, instant Home Valuation here: HomeValuationzByAnnie.com

Buyers: If you want to take advantage of the current interest rates, but aren’t sure whether or not your credit will allow you to: reach out to lenders (yes, more than one; shop around) ASAP. Inquire about potential credit repair programs to set you on the fast track to the closing table with the best loan. I would not wait until next year because there is no way interest rates are staying as low as they are forever. This market is not for the faint of heart, sure, but do not be scared, be prepared. Have a plan, and a plan B… and maybe a plan C, for where and how your moving; consider renting if crossing state lines, staying with family for 3 – 6 months, or even look into buying a duplex or multi-family home to live in.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, remember: it is Spring! Take time to soak up the sun and admire the budding life outside, you wont regret it.

All the best,

Follow this Link for Your Copy of the Keefe Real Estate 2020 Annual Market Report

Search for Your Next Home HERE

Get Your Free Property Valuation Here

Sources

Bob Dylan, “The Times They Are a-Changin’.” “The Times They Are A-Changin’ (Fort Nowhere)”. www.youtube.com. 2019-12-12. Retrieved April 24, 2021.

Zielinski, Dan. “Monthly Indicators.” FlexMLS® & Metro MLS®. April 24, 2021.

Simmons, Quintin. “Housing Market Reaches Record-High Home Price and Gains in March.” National Association of REALTORS®. April 22, 2021.

February 2021 Housing Market

Featured

What a difference a year makes! Last February, coronavirus was a soft murmur, not a screaming headline, and the economy was booming… Change may not always be welcome, but it is part of life. Learning how to ‘roll with the punches’ has proven to be a useful skill these past 12 months. February 2021 was a continuation of the most recent trends in the real estate market, with low inventory, but more sales at higher prices.

February 2020 Flashback Quotes:

“Home showings increased substantially in February as a result of current economic conditions,” February 2020 Foot Traffic, by the National Association of REALTORS®.

“Consumers continue to drive economy, forecasts retail sales will grow 3.5 percent to 4.1 percent,” February 2020 Monthly Economic Review, by the National Retail Federation©.

“Fortunately for the U.S. economy, job creation was again strong in January when 225,000 net new payroll jobs were added. We expect the strong foundation for the U.S. consumer sector to keep overall economic momentum positive for the U.S. this year,” February 2020 U.S. Economic Outlook, by Robert A. Dye, Ph.D. and Daniel Sanabria of Comerica.

The Kenosha, Racine and Walworth County Local Market Reports by MetroMLS & ShowingTime, are below, as well as that of my hyper-local, Lake Geneva area market. Throughout Southeastern Wisconsin, there were fewer new listings coming onto the market, but more homes being sold, at higher median sales prices (with the exception of Racine County, which had a slight -1.1% decrease in median sales price) in February 2021, compared to last year. Also, note that we have all seen a drastic decrease in number of days on the market – year to date and year over year.

Notable Reads:

The National Association of REALTORS® released their February 2021 Commercial Market Insights ©, with tons of useful information. Follow the link for the latest!

Why might this be? According to our Monthly Indicators publication, by Dan Zielinski of FlexMLS and Metro MLS, we’re amidst an adjustment period, where the housing market is stabilizing.

Mortgage interest rates ticked a bit higher in February but remain below their February 2020 levels. Interest rates may rise a bit further in coming weeks, but according to Freddie Mac chief economist Sam Khater, “while there are multiple temporary factors driving up rates, the underlying economic fundamentals point to rates remaining in the low 3 percent range for the year.” With rates still at historically low levels, home sales are unlikely to be significantly impacted, though higher rates do impact affordability. […]
For homeowners currently struggling due to COVID-19, government agencies are continuing efforts to help those in need. The Federal Housing Finance Agency announced they will allow homeowners with loans backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to receive an additional three months of forbearance, extending total payment relief to up to 18 months. Qualified homeowners must already be in a forbearance plan as of the end of February.
Monthly Indicators by Dan Zielinski | Mar 15, 2021 | FlexMLS, Metro MLS

Next, I investigated the difference in showings across our tri-county area, compared to last year, using the Target Market Analysis by ShowingTime®. The more I thought about it, the more sense it made: of course there were technically more showings in February 2020. With our current low inventory, there were simply less homes to see in February 2021. Interestingly enough, you’ll notice an uptick in showings for listings over $600,000 since last year. This is definitely something to pay attention to!

Recent Market Reports:

“More Than 200,000 New Listings Are Missing From U.S. Housing Market,” according to the February 2021 Monthly Housing Market Trends Report, by Sabrina Speianu, Realtor.com®
“After a brief pause, mortgage rates continued their recent rise. Changes by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s overseeing agency will likely make it more expensive to mortgage second homes and investment properties. And consumer optimism is finally showing signs of improvement,” Zillow Market Pulse: March 12, 2021, by Matthew Speakman, © Zillow, Inc.
“U.S. homebuilding dropped to a six-month low in February as severe cold gripped many parts of the country, in a temporary setback for a housing market that remains supported by extremely lean inventories amid strong demand for larger homes,” U.S. housing market takes breather amid bitterly cold weather by © CNBC LLC.

Sellers: It is still a sellers’ market, but we do not know how long it will last. Interest rates have already gone up a little. If interest rates continue to rise, this could negatively affect buyer demand. This is the time to list before anything changes.

Your free, instant Home Valuation here: AnniesHomeValuez.com

Buyers: It is still a good time to buy! Mortgage interest rates are still relatively low, but they have creeped up. This is crunch time, if you want to buy a home in 2021. Have your pre-approval ready to go, before seeing homes. Be flexible, and do your research on comparable home sales.

The silver lining around the past years’ pandemonium has to be the renewed importance of “home.” Clearly, a house is much more than plywood and nails. As more jobs go remote and kids attend school virtually, the more crucial it is to love where you live. If home is where the heart is: have you found yours?

Happy (ALMOST) Spring!

Follow this Link for Your Copy of the Keefe Real Estate 2020 Annual Market Report

Search for Your Next Home HERE

Get Your Free Property Valuation Here

Sources:

February 2020 Foot Traffic, by the National Association of REALTORS®

February 2020 U.S. Economic Outlook, by Robert A. Dye, Ph.D. and Daniel Sanabria of Comerica

Local Market Reports by MetroMLS & ShowingTime

Monthly Indicators by Dan Zielinski of FlexMLS, Metro MLS

Target Market Analysis below by ShowingTime®

February 2021 Monthly Housing Market Trends Report, by Sabrina Speianu, Realtor.com®

January 2021 Housing Market

Featured

Southeastern Wisconsin’s residential real estate market generally cools down with the temperature. Winter months are often marked by decreased buyer activity, as well as fewer homes entering and leaving the market, as new listings and sold homes, respectively. This winter, however, buyer demand and activity have remained high. While inventory decreased in January 2021, both sales and sales prices were up – Nationally, Regionally and Locally.

Highlights from latest Existing Home Sales Report, by Quintin Simmons, National Association of REALTORS®

Nationally:
- “Existing-home sales rose in January, marking two consecutive months of growth”
- “Total existing-home sales […] increased 0.6% from December to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 6.69 million in January.”
- “Sales in total climbed year-over-year, up 23.7% from a year ago (5.41 million in January 2020).”
Regionally:
- “The Midwest inched up 1.9% to an annual rate of 1,570,000 in January, a 22.7% jump from a year ago.”
- “The median price in the Midwest was $227,800, a 14.7% increase from January 2020.”
Notable Quotes:
- “Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist [said,] ‘Sales easily could have been even 20% higher if there had been more inventory and more choices.’ “
- “Whereas much of the economy has suffered due to COVID-19, the housing sector has been one of the few bright spots, according to Yun.”
- “In NAR’s latest quarterly report, released last week, home prices in every tracked U.S. metro area increased during the fourth quarter of 2020.”

Highlights from latest January 2021 Monthly Housing Market Trends Report, by Sabrina Speianu, Realtor.com®

“National inventory declined by 42.6% over last year.”
“Nationally, the typical home spent 76 days on the market in January, 10 days less than the same time last year.”

As far as our local market goes, MetroMLS & FlexMLS had the following to say in the latest release of Market Reports:

January started well for the housing market, with healthy buyer demand and strong market fundamentals. A robust increase in housing starts in December points to an active year for new construction. Still, higher material costs, especially lumber, and a limited supply of buildable lots will temper the number of new units.
[…] The Mortgage Bankers Association’s January research estimates approximately 2.7 million homeowners with mortgages are currently in forbearance plans. Some of these homes may eventually come to market. But given the strong appreciation in most market segments in recent years, these eventual home sales are likely to be mostly traditional sellers. However, a modest increase in short sales and foreclosures at some point this year would not be surprising.
Market Reports: January 2021 by Dan Zielinski, MetroMLS & FlexMLS

Below are the Local Market Reports, by MetroMLS & ShowingTime, for the tri-county area of Walworth, Kenosha & Racine Counties, as well as my hyper-local market (Lake Geneva – Delavan – Williams Bay municipalities). As you can see, the National and Regional trends mentioned above are also reflected here. We have all seen less New Listings, more Closed Sales, and higher Median Sales Prices – across the board.

Notable Reads:

Check out what Ramsey Solutions predicts will happen in residential real estate this year: Housing Market Forecast 2021: How Hot Will It Be?

For more on the commercial side of the market, read the latest report by National Association of REALTORS®: January 2021 Commercial Real Estate Market Trends and Outlook

Sellers: How do low interest rates, low inventory, and high demand affect you? It means you’re more likely to have more buyers interested in your home, willing to pay higher prices. What are you waiting for!? Take advantage of this sellers’ market while it weighs so heavily in your favor.

Buyers: If you think you’re going to buy a home this year, do yourself a favor and start the process now. Get a hold of your local lender, first, then your realtor. Whether repairing your credit or just updating your pre-approval, cross this bridge first. It is a competitive market out there, and you do not want to leave financing to the last minute – trust me. Once that’s started, have your realtor set you up on an MLS search and check the market, at least once a day. Changes are happening rapidly, as you will see. You can do this! Persistence, Preparedness, and Patience are key!

Did you know: You CAN buy a home if you owe the IRS back taxes. Find out how here: Can You Buy a House if You Owe Taxes? by Credit.com ™, Inc.

If January set any precedent for the year to come, we’re in for quite the ride in 2021. Remember, be proactive, not reactive. As renown British scientist, Charles Darwin, once said, “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent; it is the one most adaptable to change.”

Follow this Link for Your Copy of the Keefe Real Estate 2020 Annual Market Report

Search for Your Next Home HERE

Contact Me for Your Complementary Home Valuation + Strategic Pricing Analysis

Sources:

Existing-Home Sales Tick Up 0.6% in January by Quintin Simmons, National Association of REALTORS®

January 2021 Monthly Housing Market Trends Report: Fewer Options for Buyers as Prices Rise and Sellers Hesitantly Step into 2021 by Sabrina Speianu, Realtor.com ®

Market Reports: January 2021 by Dan Zielinski, MetroMLS & FlexMLS

Local Market Reports by MetroMLS & ShowingTime

Housing Market Forecast 2021: How Hot Will It Be? by Ramsey Solutions

January 2021 Commercial Real Estate Market Trends and Outlook by National Association of REALTORS®

Can You Buy a House if You Owe Taxes? by Credit.com ™, Inc.

December 2020 Housing Market

Featured

& Year-End Review

Typically, December is a slow month for real estate. The holidays and new year are seen as dedicated time to rest and recuperate; less activity allows us all to reflect on the past year and prepare for the next. Not this December, however; 2020 was an anomaly to the very end.

Sabrina Speianu, Sr. Economic Research Analyst for Realtor.com ® said, ” […] December housing data release reveals that home buyers and sellers were much more active this holiday season compared to last year. Home listing prices continued to increase at double-digit rates compared to last year, fueled by buyer demand, which also continued to snap up homes at a rate almost two weeks more quickly than last year.” (December 2020 Monthly Housing Market Trends Report: Number of Homes for Sale Hits a New Low).

Our local metro-Milwaukee area multiple listing service, MetroMLS echoed a similar message in their latest Monthly Indicators release:

December is normally one of the slowest months of the year but strong buyer demand across most segments of the market, buoyed by near-record low interest rates, continue to drive a healthy sales pace in the face of a new wave of COVID-19 infections and a softening jobs market.
[…] With low mortgage rates and strong buyer demand in most market segments, the housing market of early 2021 looks to continue the trends we saw in the second half of 2020. Low inventory and multiple offers on in-demand properties and market segments are likely to remain common while the market waits and hopes for a boost in new construction and a surge in home sellers to help provide more balance to the market.
December 2020 MetroMLS Monthly Indicators

Below are the Local Market Reports, by MetroMLS & ShowingTime, for the tri-county area of Walworth, Kenosha & Racine Counties. You’ll notice double digit percentage increases in new listings AND closed sales for December 2020, compared to December 2019. Median Sales price was also higher, across the board. On a hyper-local level, the Lake Geneva/Williams Bay/Delavan area saw a slight dip in the number of new listings, but also the greatest increase in median sales price — which makes sense!

Finally, I wanted to take a more cumulative look at our tri-county area this year. Using the data from Wisconsin Housing Statistics, by the Wisconsin REALTORS® Association, below you’ll see the Number of Home Sales and Median Sales Price for the Kenosha, Racine & Walworth County areas in 2019 compared to 2020. The pandemic impacted our market, significantly, in April and May. However, we surpassed the number of homes sold, and median sales price, every month from June onward, compared to last year.

Hindsight is 20/20! The numbers are in, and the charts don’t lie. Clearly, 2020 is not 2008, and we’re not having a housing market crash. The global pandemic impacted every corner of the economy, including real estate… but only briefly. Interest rates are low, demand is high, supply is low and prices are trending upward — but most importantly, we’re not imploding. All’s well on the real estate frontier.

Sellers: There are still buyers out there! Buyers that weren’t able to get what they wanted in 2020 are going to stay in the market until interest rates increases – which will eventually happen. Don’t wait to list your home, if you don’t have to. Take advantage of this seller’s market!

Buyers: Interest rates are still low, and prices have seemed to stabilize (see last chart above). If you want to buy a home in 2021, get your ducks in a row — ASAP. Have your realtor set you up with an MLS search, and check out all the active and sold homes in your desired area and price point, often. Call your lender and have your pre-approval ready to go before you start seeing homes. This is a “you snooze, you lose” market, so be prepared.

In sum, bring on 2021! Feel free to reach out and ask if you need anything…

Stay well,

Sources:

December 2020 Monthly Housing Market Trends Report: Number of Homes for Sale Hits a New Low by Sabrina Speianu Sr. Economic Research Analyst Realtor.com®

December 2020 MetroMLS Monthly Indicators by MetroMLS

Local Market Reports by MetroMLS & ShowingTime

Wisconsin Housing Statistics by Wisconsin REALTORS® Association

November 2020 Housing Market

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With the holiday season upon us, we have finally seen a very slight slow down in the housing market, ending last months’ record-breaking five consecutive month-over-month gains. That being said, compared to last year, we’re still on fire, in my opinion. Let’s take a look at the November 2020 market, starting Nationally and narrowing our way down to our hyper-local market.

The NAR (National Association of Realtors) just released their monthly Existing Home Sales report, with the following Key Highlights:

Existing-home sales decreased in November to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 6.69 million – down 2.5% from the prior month, but up 25.8% from one year ago.
The median existing-home price was $310,800, 14.6% more than in November 2019.
Total housing inventory declined from the prior month and one year ago to 1.28 million, enough to last 2.3 months at the current sales pace – both record-low figures. Homes typically sold in 21 days.
Existing-Home Sales Decrease 2.5% in November by Quintin Simmons

Under Regional Breakdown, the report also states, “Existing-home sales fell 2.5% in the Midwest to an annual rate of 1,590,000 in November, but up 24.2% from a year ago. The median price in the Midwest was $239,100, a 14.6% increase from November 2019.” We are in line with the national trend, it would appear, but next we’ll see how we fare, specifically in the Tri-County area.

The MetroMLS and ShowingTime, released their November 2020 Monthly Indicators and Local Market Reports recently. Here are a few highlights:

November saw the Dow Jones Industrial Average top 30,000 for the first time, while mortgage rates reached new record lows again. These new records have provided encouragement for buyers to move forward on home purchases, which continued to remain strong overall for the month.
[…]
Showing activity remains higher than the same period a year ago across most of the country, suggesting that strong buyer demand is likely to continue into what is typically the slowest time of year. With inventory remaining constrained in most market segments, sellers continue to benefit from the tight market conditions.
Monthly Indicators by MetroMLS

Kenosha, Racine & Walworth Counties each experienced an increased number of closings/home sales as well we double digit percentage increases in median sales price (November 2020 compared to November 2019). While Kenosha County had a 1.1% decrease in new listings, both Racine and Walworth Counties had more listings in comparison to last year. Year-to-date, we have had less listings but more sales across the tri county area.

Are we slowing down a bit this holiday season? Yes, but not by much! I’m still doing showings and writing offers, taking listing appointments and writing contracts. Christmas is 3 days away! I am in no way complaining! If you are interested in learning more about what NAR has to say about this fast-paced market and where it’s going, I implore you to you read 3 Trends Driving Hyperactivity in the Real Estate Market by Melissa Dittmann Tracey.

Sellers: Buyers are still actively looking, during holiday season. If you are considering selling and think you have time – be aware that rates will eventually go up and demand will lesson. That is just bound to happen. We don’t know when, but change is upon us. Why risk it? List it.

Buyers: If you want to take advantage of the amazing interest rates, but don’t know if you’re ready? Just call a lender and get the ball rolling (email me if you want my list of preferred lenders). We do not know when interest rates will go up, just that they will eventually go up. My suggestion is to find out where you are currently, asap; knowledge is power!

Please have a safe and happy holiday season, and remember: Flexibility is security! Feel free to reach out and ask if you need anything.

Stay well,