Housing inventory remains tight heading into Spring

With Spring rumoured to be coming soon (please!) here’s a look at the inventory awaiting buyers.

First Single Family Homes (SFHs). Although supply is a little higher than a year ago in actual numbers, it is slightly lower in terms of months of supply because the rate of sales increased over the last year. For the whole of Essex County supply is just under 3 months, or half the level regarded as a market in equilibrium between buyers and sellers.

The cold winter not only kept buyers indoors but also made it more difficult for sellers to get their houses ready for sale. The economy is improving, albeit still slowly, economic confidence seems to be improving, the stock market is at a high, and the likelihood is that mortgage rates will increase. Coupled with growing awareness that home prices are improving, I believe that 2014 could be a strong year for home prices on the North Shore.

Source: MLS, Oliver Reports

The condo inventory is actually down, leading to a greater reduction in months of supply. For a number of years prices of SFHs at the lower end of the market were under the greatest pressure, making them in some cases an alternative for condos. Now that the lower end has recovered, so the demand for condos seems to be coming back.

Source: MLS, Oliver Reports

If you  – or somebody you know – are considering buying or selling a home and have questions about the market and/or current home prices, feel free to contact me on 781.631.1223 or [email protected].

Andrew Oliver is a Realtor with Harborside Realty in Marblehead