As you can see from the first chart above, Position Realty Market Index, the first time home buyer tax credit created a great deal of demand in the market similar to the real estate boom from 2004 to 2006. Currently the numbers of transactions are slowing down as a result there is an increase in inventory because the number of listings is not being purchased at a fast enough rate.

Since February 2013 (12 months ago), the average sold price has increased approximately +12.4% (up from last month), the average days on market have increased approximately +5.6% (up from last month) and the number of transaction has decreased approximately -27.8% (down from last month). The month of November showed signs the average sold price was starting to decrease and this trend has continued throughout the month of February. The current average sold price is approximately $248,000 which is down -2.7% from last month at $254,000. Also, the current number of transactions in month of January at 4,651 has never been this low since April 2008. If this trend continues throughout the year it could be very bad news for real estate price. Hopefully the average sold price, average days on market and the number of transaction will reverse with the spring / summer buying season.

The volume of REO purchases since February 2013 (12 months ago) has decreased approximately -49.3% and the volume of short sales have decreased approximately -69.3%. The volume of REO purchases are shrinking because the increase in real estate prices are causing consumer to stop letting their homes go into foreclosure and the existing supply of REO properties are getting purchased at a faster rate.

Since February 2013 (12 months ago), the number of homes for sale on the market have increased approximately +23.8%. This increase in the number of listings is caused by investors leaving the market and sellers that purchased during the real estate boom are putting their homes on the market to break-even or sell with a small amount of equity. Real estate prices have reached a point where sellers are listing their homes at a faster rate than buyers are purchasing. This may cause a decrease in real estate prices but hopefully buyers will resume their buying trend as we enter the spring / summer buying season.

As more and more sellers enter the market and as more of the supply of residential homes increase, real estate prices may start to decrease (more supply and weaker demand causes prices to decrease).Real estate prices are still at an all time low (near 2008 prices), mortgage rates are still at a historical low and the market is improving both in terms of prices and the overall economy. Time to sell is NOW!! Give us a call to discuss your best selling strategy, TODAY!!