Market Report - January 2022
The 2022 real estate market begins where 2021 left off, in which existing home sales reached their highest level since 2006, with the National Association of REALTORS® reporting sales were up 8.5% compared to the previous year as homebuyers rushed to take advantage of historically low mortgage rates. Home sales would’ve been even greater were it not for soaring sales prices and a shortage of homes for sale in many markets, forcing a multitude of buyers to temporarily put their home purchase plans on hold.
New Listings were down 24.6 percent to 451. Pending Sales decreased 26.9 percent to 491, the eighth consecutive month of year-over-year declines. Inventory shrank 53.8 percent to 389 units.
Prices moved higher as Median Sales Price was up 23.7 percent to $482,500. Days on Market decreased 25.4 percent to 100 days. Months Supply of Inventory was down 53.8 percent to 0.6 months, indicating that demand increased relative to supply.
For many buyers, 2022 marks a new opportunity to make their home purchase dreams a reality. But it won’t be without its challenges. Inventory of existing homes was at 910,000 at the start of the new year, the lowest level recorded since 1999, according to the National Association of REALTORS®, and competition remains fierce. Affordability continues to decline, as inflation, soaring sales prices, and surging mortgage interest rates reduce purchasing power. The sudden increase in rates and home prices means buyers are paying significantly more per month compared to this time last year, which may cause sales to slow as more buyers become priced out of the market.