Market Report - February 2023
In its continued effort to curb inflation, the Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate in February by a quarter-percentage point to 4.50% - 4.75%, its 8th rate hike since March of last year, when the interest rate was nearly zero. Mortgage interest rates have dipped slightly from their peak last fall, leading pending sales to increase 8.1% month-to-month as of last measure, but affordability constraints continue to limit homebuyer activity overall, with existing-home sales declining for the twelfth consecutive month, according to the National Association of Realtors® (NAR).
New Listings were down 18.5 percent to 457. Pending Sales decreased 16.8 percent to 435. Inventory grew 112.2 percent to 904 units.
Prices moved higher as Median Sales Price was up 3.2 percent to $474,520. Days on Market increased 46.8 percent to 160 days, the ninth consecutive month of year-over-year gains. Months Supply of Inventory was up 185.7 percent to 2.0 months, indicating that supply increased relative to demand.
With buyer demand down from peak levels, home price growth has continued to slow nationwide, although prices remain up from a year ago. Sellers have been increasingly cutting prices and offering sales incentives in an attempt to attract buyers, who have continued to struggle with affordability challenges this winter. The slight decline in mortgage rates earlier this year convinced some buyers to come off the sidelines, but with rates ticking up again in recent weeks, buyers are once again pulling back, causing sales activity to remain down heading into spring.