RealEstate Weekly Summary of the Market
This summary from RealEstate Weekly (recommended newsletter, my previous entry) sums up the market quite nicely.
Conditions in the housing market have continued to deteriorate, if you're a seller. If you're a buyer, you are wringing your hands with glee.The latest survey of market conditions from HouseHunt Inc., an Internet real estate firm, showed just how tough it is: All six of the market measures the Web services uses in its surveys of real estate agents across the country posted declines in the third quarter.
First, the time a house stays on the market before selling has continued to lengthen. Only 26% of houses now sell within 60 days compared with the 45% of houses that sold that fast in the first quarter and 75% that sold that quickly two years ago.
Second, 52% of real estate agents say there are more sellers than buyers in the market versus 36% who say the opposite; 12% report a 50-50 split. Two years ago, buyers outnumbered sellers 66% to 14%, with 20% of markets split 50-50.
Third, the inventory of unsold houses is growing. The number of agents reporting a "good supply" of homes on the market hit 89% at the end of the third quarter, up from 81% in the first quarter and up from just 36% two years ago.
Fourth, barely half of sellers say they are getting 95% or more of their asking price when they sell. That number was 75% in the first quarter of this year and 90% two years ago.
Fifth, only 25% of sellers report multiple offers on properties for sale, down from almost 80% two years ago.
Finally, selling agents confirm that home-price appreciation has cooled considerably. Only 11% report prices increasing 10% or more and one-third report price declines. Two years ago, one-half of agents said prices were rising 10% or more and none reported declines.
Reference
Real Estate Weekly Newsletter, December 1, 2006
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