Frenzied Housing Market Reaches Record-High Sales Prices - Peak, Swirles and Cavallito Properties

Local Market Update – June 2021

School’s out, and as vaccination rates rise and America enters a new normal, the U.S. housing market continues along at a frenzied pace, with low interest rates and limited inventory fueling record high sales prices. May saw the median existing-home sales price exceed $350,000, a 24% increase and the largest year-over-year increase since 1999, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. Eager buyers are making multiple offers, some for well over asking price, while others are making offers on homes sight unseen.

New Listings in the Triangle region increased 4.4 percent to 4,651. Under Contract Sales were down 10.4 percent to 4,248. Inventory levels fell 60.0 percent to 2,553 units.

Prices continued to gain traction. The Median Sales Price increased 23.1 percent to $357,000. Days on Market was down 63.0 percent to 10 days. Sellers were encouraged as Months Supply of Inventory was down 66.7 percent to 0.6 months.

The increase in sales prices comes with a slight decline in existing home sales nationwide, as homebuyers struggle with declining affordability amid a lack of inventory, forcing some buyers to simply wait it out in hopes of more inventory and less competition. Meanwhile, home builders are trying to meet the increased market demand, with housing starts up 3.6% in May from April, according to the Commerce Department. As we ease into new routines and look forward to a post-pandemic future, one thing remains certain: America desperately needs more homes.

Click on the links below for more detailed information about the Real Estate Markets in Durham, Orange & Chatham counties:

Durham County
Orange County
Chatham County

For information about how the local market affects your real estate needs, contact any of the real estate experts at Peak Swirles & Cavallito Properties.