After nearly a decade of declining inventory in the Seattle area, The Seattle Times reports that the number of homes for sale “is finally starting to rise — and in a big way — as the rapid-fire market that has led to extreme bidding wars and lightning-fast sales slows a bit.” Referencing a report released by the Northwest Multiple Listing Service, the Times says that the number of single-family homes increased by 43-percent in June 2018 compared to this same time last year, while condo inventory skyrocketed by 73-percent.
We are thrilled to share a review of 2017 market activity in the Puget Sound presented by Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty. Our acclaimed Research Editor and Data Analyst, William Hillis, has assembled an excellent year-over-year review of eight key counties in Western Washington along with data for 29 communities. In addition to providing in-depth market analysis, this year’s report includes a look at the effects of Chinese capital controls and Canada’s restrictions on foreign buyers, landmark sales on the Eastside, the “Condominium Conundrum,” and a timeline of Seattle’s performance on the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Home Price Index. We offer the following key highlights from the reports, with a selection of trends to watch, as a conversation starter so we may discuss the impact on homes in your neighborhood.
Within the past few years, the inventory of housing for sale in western Washington has done a 180, returning to degrees of shortage not seen since the year 2005. The low housing inventory is most visible in the Greater Seattle area of King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties. Since January 2015, this region of central Puget Sound has remained a seller’s market. Housing inventories remained below four months for nearly the entire year.
The Seattle market has continued to thrive and drive up home prices in and around the Puget Sound making it harder for some buyers to purchase a home. A new startup wants to help you buy a house in Seattle, but there is a small catch.
A recent article in Multi-Housing News reveals Seattle has been deemed the best residential market in the US. The website ranked large cities based on their potential for “long-term growth, equity and profit for investors.”
In recent years, the Seattle area has attracted new residents in droves. The booming job market, nearby outdoor amenities, and relatively affordable cost of living has many considering our region the most desirable for relocation. Can you blame them? With Amazon and Microsoft regularly making huge business moves (not to mention Starbucks, Facebook, Google, T-Mobile, Expedia, REI, Apple, etc) the job market is consistently flourishing.
It’s no secret that over the past several years Seattle has been a haven for relocating families, foreign investors, and transferring tech workers. That’s why it also came as no surprise to us that home values have been steadily increasing; and that the Seattle real estate market continues to be ranked one of the hottest in the nation.
Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty has recently released their 2016 Market Report which examines the year-over-year performance of 24 markets that the brokerage serves, factors that have affected the Western Washington housing market this past year, and insight on where the market is heading in 2017.
Autumn has arrived and the median sale price of King County Residential homes was 435K in September 2015, up nearly 15K compared to the previous year. Homes spent an average of 27 days on the market, down 18% year over year.
Active listings were down 4% compared to last month and 37% compared to last year in King County, with a median sale price of $441.4K. Homes spent an average of 25 days on the market, a 19% decrease from last year that reveals more buyers were on the market than last June. Downtown Seattle condo sales were up 126% year over year.
