Saturday, August 13, 2011

Denver Real Estate Market Update August 2011

http://team-koz.blogspot.com/

DENVER MARKET UPDATE

JULY, 2011

 

 

 

Market Metrics:

 

July is the second month in 2011 where 3,835 homes closed at an average price of $270,066 which resulted in $1.0 Billion in sales volume for the month. June 2011 was the first month for 2011 to achieve these numbers.

 

Monthly Market Recap:

 

Single Family:                                                           
Active Inventory is 14,014 units at month end         

Sold units is 3,082                                                     

Median Sold Price is $237,000                                  

Average Sold Price is $298,654                                 

 

Condos:

Active Inventory is 3,569 units at month end

Sold units is 753

Median Sold Price is $123,150

Average Sold Price is $153,058

 

July Year-to-Date Market Recap (2011 versus 2010):

 

Single Family:                                                           

Active Inventory 14,014 versus 17,983 (↓22%)        

Sold Units 18,169 versus 19,138 (↓5%)                    

Median Price $228,500 vs $230,000 (↓1%)               

Average Price $281,597 vs $279,800 (↑1%)             

Sales Volume $5.1B versus $5.4B (↓6%)                  

Days on Market 109 versus 83 (↑31%)                      

Absorption Rate 6.13 versus 6.61 (↓7%)                   

 

Condos:

Active Inventory 3,569 versus 5,467 (↓35%)

Sold Units 4,501 versus 5,111 (↓12%)

Median Price $122,165 vs $135,000 (↓10%)

Average Price $156,921 vs $161,055 (↓3%)

Sales Volume $0.7B versus $0.8B (↓14%)

Days on Market 121 versus 88 (↑38%)

Absorption Rate 6.26 versus 7.28 (↓14%)

 

Note: Absorption Rate is also known as Month’s Supply of Inventory and represents the number of months that would be needed to deplete the current active listings inventory at the current sales rate.

 

Advice to Sellers:

 

The inventory of active listings continues to remain low in the Denver market and normally this would represent a “seller’s market”.  Mortgage rates have reached record lows and competitive rents are going up.  If you are a seller, how do you overcome the basic buyer reluctance which is the fear of paying too much?  How do you represent the value of your home?  What are the creative options that you need to be aware of in today’s market? These are some of the questions that sellers are asking to find that perfect buyer. Interest rates and inventories will play a key role in future sales numbers, watch them carefully.

 

Advice to Buyers:

 

Mortgage rates reach record lows and rents are going up.  What does this mean to you?  For one, the lower the mortgage rate equates to a larger price range of a home that you can afford.  Higher rents open up home ownership possibilities.  Is home ownership right for you?   

 

Let’s review the 7 steps to take before you buy a home?  The steps are: decide how much you can afford, develop your home wish list, select where you want to live, start saving, ask about all the costs before you sign, get your credit in order, and get prequalified.  Additionally, know how much financing you qualify for, research your priorities, establish a wants list, and establish a needs list.  Pay attention to only the local market as real estate is local.  The local real estate market can be a single home, a block of homes, or a subdivision.

 

Lifestyle continues to rate number one in the minds of buyers.  Establish your personal expectations of home ownership benefits and costs.

 

 

 

Stats.pdf Download this file
Denver_Real_Estate_Market_Update_August_2011.pdf Download this file

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Denver Real Estate Market Update August 2011

DENVER MARKET UPDATE
JULY, 2011

Market Metrics:

July is the second month in 2011 where 3,835 homes closed at an average price of $270,066 which resulted in $1.0 Billion in sales volume for the month. June 2011 was the first month for 2011 to achieve these numbers.

Monthly Market Recap:

Single Family:
Active Inventory is 14,014 units at month end
Sold units is 3,082
Median Sold Price is $237,000
Average Sold Price is $298,654

Condos:
Active Inventory is 3,569 units at month end
Sold units is 753
Median Sold Price is $123,150
Average Sold Price is $153,058

July Year-to-Date Market Recap (2011 versus 2010):

Single Family:
Active Inventory 14,014 versus 17,983 (↓22%)
Sold Units 18,169 versus 19,138 (↓5%)
Median Price $228,500 vs $230,000 (↓1%)
Average Price $281,597 vs $279,800 (↑1%)
Sales Volume $5.1B versus $5.4B (↓6%)
Days on Market 109 versus 83 (↑31%)
Absorption Rate 6.13 versus 6.61 (↓7%)

Condos:
Active Inventory 3,569 versus 5,467 (↓35%)
Sold Units 4,501 versus 5,111 (↓12%)
Median Price $122,165 vs $135,000 (↓10%)
Average Price $156,921 vs $161,055 (↓3%)
Sales Volume $0.7B versus $0.8B (↓14%)
Days on Market 121 versus 88 (↑38%)
Absorption Rate 6.26 versus 7.28 (↓14%)

Note: Absorption Rate is also known as Month’s Supply of Inventory and represents the number of months that would be needed to deplete the current active listings inventory at the current sales rate.

Advice to Sellers:

The inventory of active listings continues to remain low in the Denver market and normally this would represent a “seller’s market”. Mortgage rates have reached record lows and competitive rents are going up. If you are a seller, how do you overcome the basic buyer reluctance which is the fear of paying too much? How do you represent the value of your home? What are the creative options that you need to be aware of in today’s market? These are some of the questions that sellers are asking to find that perfect buyer. Interest rates and inventories will play a key role in future sales numbers, watch them carefully.

Advice to Buyers:

Mortgage rates reach record lows and rents are going up. What does this mean to you? For one, the lower the mortgage rate equates to a larger price range of a home that you can afford. Higher rents open up home ownership possibilities. Is home ownership right for you?

Let’s review the 7 steps to take before you buy a home? The steps are: decide how much you can afford, develop your home wish list, select where you want to live, start saving, ask about all the costs before you sign, get your credit in order, and get prequalified. Additionally, know how much financing you qualify for, research your priorities, establish a wants list, and establish a needs list. Pay attention to only the local market as real estate is local. The local real estate market can be a single home, a block of homes, or a subdivision.

Lifestyle continues to rate number one in the minds of buyers. Establish your personal expectations of home ownership benefits and costs.


Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Housing Sales and Prices Continue to Trend Higher

Housing Sales and Prices Continue to Trend Higher

RE/MAX National Housing Report June 2011

Home prices have now risen for four months in a row and sales transactions have risen for five of the last seven months, while the drop in sales prices from 2010 is smaller than it has been in the last three months. The June 2011 RE/MAX National Housing Report, which includes sales data from 53 metro areas in 45 states, indicates that closed transactions rose 7.5% and median prices were up 4.5% from May. Residential inventories continued a 12-month downward trend, most likely due to decreasing foreclosure activity. Although the market had a slow start to this year’s buying season, it now appears to be on track with a more seasonal performance. More metro areas are experiencing positive growth, and growth figures are increasing. Factors that continue to weigh on the market include unemployment, tight lending standards and consumer uncertainty.

"It’s very encouraging that both home prices and sales transactions have now risen for several months in a row,"said RE/MAX CEO Margaret Kelly. "It appears that this market is following traditional seasonal trends as it works its way through a recovery and back to more normal conditions."

Closed transactions in June were 7.4% higher than in May, while still lagging 10.6% behind the level seen in June 2010. The sales increase from May to June was the second highest of 2011 . In June, 47 of the surveyed metro areas experienced a rise in sales, up from 42 in May. Twenty of those metros saw double-digit increases in June compared to 15 in May. Monthly sales increases were the highest in the northeast: Burlington, VT +32.2, Hartford, CT +31.9%, Trenton, NJ +29.1%, New York, NY +27.9% and Boston, MA + 26.6%.

MEDIAN SALES PRICE–YEAR-OVER-YEAR CHANGE

The June 2011 RE/MAX Housing Report shows that home sales prices in June were 4.5% higher than in May, and only two did not see a monthly increase in prices: Albuquerque -1.7% and Honolulu –3.0%. On a year-to-year basis, home prices were 4.9% below June 2010, but 19 metro areas are now experiencing higher home prices than one year ago. In May, only 13 metros had higher prices than a year ago. Some of the most significant yearly increases in home prices occurred in: Pittsburgh, PA +6.6%, Baltimore, MD +4.8%, Des Moines +3.2%, Hartford, CT +3.7% and Washington, DC +3.5%.

The average Days on Market for homes sold in June was 90, down 4 days from the May level. While June marks the 9thconsecutive month the average has been 90 or above, it is the lowest Days on Market the RE/MAX National Housing Report has seen since September 2010, when the average was 88. Days on Market is the average number of days from listing to receipt of a signed contract.

MONTHS SUPPLY OF INVENTORY–AVERAGE OF 53 METRO AREAS

Due to increasing sales and lower foreclosure inventories, the 53 metro areas surveyed in the June 2011 RE/MAX Housing Report had an average Months Supply of Inventory of 6.9, which is unchanged from May, but down significantly from the 9.3 mark seen in June 2010. Overall inventory continued a 12-month trend to lower levels. Inventories were 2.1% lower in June than in May, and down 14.2% from June 2010. The Florida markets continue to see the largest drop in inventory: Miami, FL -50.1%, Orlando, FL -45.1%, Tampa, FL -30.1%, Phoenix, AZ -29.9% , Chicago, IL -25.5% and San Francisco, CA -25.4%.

Friday, July 15, 2011

Denver Real Estate Market Update July 2011

DENVER MARKET UPDATE

JUNE, 2011

 

 

 

Market metrics:

 

-          In June of 2011, the market saw 4,080 units close at an average price of $266,493 which resulted in $1.08 Billion of closed dollar volume. 

 

-          This is the first month in 2011 where the closings exceeded $1.0 Billion. 

 

-          On a Year-to-Date basis, 18,835 units closed at an average price of $254,151 which resulted in $4.8 Billion of closed dollar volume.

 

 

Monthly Market Recap:

 

Single Family:                                                            
Active Inventory is 14,215 units at month end         

Sold units is 3,295                                                     

Median Sold Price is $240,000                                  

Average Sold Price is $292,230                                 

 

Condominium:

Active Inventory is 3,811 units at month end

Sold units is 785

Median Sold Price is $125,525

Average Sold Price is $158,463

 

 

June Year-to-Date Market Recap (2011 versus 2010):

 

Single Family:                                                            

Active Inventory 14,215 versus 17,337 (↓ 18%)       

Sold Units 15,087 versus 16,506 (↓9%)                    

Median Price $226,500 vs $229,000 (↓1%)               

Average Price $278,113 vs $277,023 (even)             

Sales Volume $4.2B versus $4.6B (↓8%)                  

Days on Market 111 versus 82 (↑35%)                      

Absorption Rate 6.31 versus 6.24 (↑1%)                   

 

 

 

Condominium:

Active Inventory 3811 versus 5352 (↓29%)

Sold Units 3,748 versus 4,484 (↓16%)

Median Price $122,000 vs $135,000 (↓10%)

Average Price $157,697 vs $162,012 (↓3%)

Sales Volume $0.6B versus $0.7B (↓19%)

Days on Market 123 versus 87 (↑41%)

Absorption Rate 6.80 versus 6.89 (↓1%)

 

 

Note Absorption Rate is also known as Month’s Supply of Inventory and represents the number of months that would be needed to deplete the current active listings inventory at the current sales rate.

 

 

Advice to Sellers:

 

More and more prospective buyers rate Lifestyle as their top priority.  What are Lifestyle priorities?  Could they be ease of commuting, access to health and safety services, family friendly neighborhood, availability and access?  Lifestyle priorities are individual.  With that being said, who is the prospective buyer for your home?  Today in the Denver market, it is a buyer’s market.  What does this mean to you as the seller?  One needs to be open to creativity in order to sell your existing home and be positioned as one of the best priced and best conditioned homes in your area.  

 

 

Advice to Buyers:

 

We are in the heart of the home buying season for the Denver market.  Is it time to note the 7 steps to take before you buy a home?  The steps are: decide how much you can afford, develop your home wish list, select where you want to live, start saving, ask about all the costs before you sign, get your credit in order, and get prequalified.  Additionally, know how much financing you qualify for, research your priorities, establish a wants list, and establish a needs list.

 

Lifestyle rates number one in the minds of buyers.  Establish your personal expectations of home ownership benefits and costs.

 

In recent surveys, 7 of 10 renters say owning a home is a top priority. A majority of renters aspire to home ownership and most Americans believe owning a home is a solid financial decision. Also, 90% of respondents believe home ownership is the cornerstone of the American Dream.

 

 

 

 

DENVER MARKET UPDATE

Homes Sold for $1 Million or Greater

JUNE, 2011

 

June was one of the best months in a while for closing $1 Million+ properties, with a total closed dollar volume of $104.2 Million. Good news for higher end seller!

 

 

-          Seventy residential homes sold/closed in June, 2011 for $1 Million or greater.

o   Sixty Six (66) were single family and four (4) were condo.

 

Compared to the previous month and same month last year:

 

-          Single Family was up 57% compared to May, 2011 and down 3% compared to June, 2010.

 

-          Condo was up 100% compared to May, 2011 and up 300% compared to June, 2010.

 

For single family:

 

-          20 were in Boulder County, 14 were in Denver County, 11 each were in Arapahoe County and Douglas County, 7 were in Jefferson County, and 1 each were in Adams County, Clear Creek County, and Elbert County.

 

For condo:

 

-           3 were in Denver County, and 1 was in Boulder County.

 

Of the sixty six (66) single family properties sold/closed, the lowest sold price was $1.0 Million, while the highest sold/closed price was $6.1 Million (8 Bedrooms and 9 Bathrooms), and the 66 properties represent $99.1 Million in closed volume.

 

The four (4) condo properties sold/closed represent $5.0 Million in closed volume.

 

Residential equals Single Family plus Condo.

 

The above representation covers an eleven (11) county area including the counties of

Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas, Elbert, Gilpin,

Jefferson, and Park. The above representation may or may not reflect all real estate activity in the market.

Denver_Real_Estate_Market_Update_July_2011.pdf Download this file
REMAXPROSmktstats062011.pdf Download this file

Posted via email from team-koz's posterous

Denver Real Estate Market Update July 2011

DENVER MARKET UPDATE

JUNE, 2011

 

 

 

Market metrics:

 

-          In June of 2011, the market saw 4,080 units close at an average price of $266,493 which resulted in $1.08 Billion of closed dollar volume. 

 

-          This is the first month in 2011 where the closings exceeded $1.0 Billion. 

 

-          On a Year-to-Date basis, 18,835 units closed at an average price of $254,151 which resulted in $4.8 Billion of closed dollar volume.

 

 

Monthly Market Recap:

 

Single Family:                                                            
Active Inventory is 14,215 units at month end         

Sold units is 3,295                                                     

Median Sold Price is $240,000                                  

Average Sold Price is $292,230                                 

 

Condominium:

Active Inventory is 3,811 units at month end

Sold units is 785

Median Sold Price is $125,525

Average Sold Price is $158,463

 

 

June Year-to-Date Market Recap (2011 versus 2010):

 

Single Family:                                                            

Active Inventory 14,215 versus 17,337 (↓ 18%)       

Sold Units 15,087 versus 16,506 (↓9%)                    

Median Price $226,500 vs $229,000 (↓1%)               

Average Price $278,113 vs $277,023 (even)             

Sales Volume $4.2B versus $4.6B (↓8%)                  

Days on Market 111 versus 82 (↑35%)                      

Absorption Rate 6.31 versus 6.24 (↑1%)                   

 

 

 

Condominium:

Active Inventory 3811 versus 5352 (↓29%)

Sold Units 3,748 versus 4,484 (↓16%)

Median Price $122,000 vs $135,000 (↓10%)

Average Price $157,697 vs $162,012 (↓3%)

Sales Volume $0.6B versus $0.7B (↓19%)

Days on Market 123 versus 87 (↑41%)

Absorption Rate 6.80 versus 6.89 (↓1%)

 

 

Note Absorption Rate is also known as Month’s Supply of Inventory and represents the number of months that would be needed to deplete the current active listings inventory at the current sales rate.

 

 

Advice to Sellers:

 

More and more prospective buyers rate Lifestyle as their top priority.  What are Lifestyle priorities?  Could they be ease of commuting, access to health and safety services, family friendly neighborhood, availability and access?  Lifestyle priorities are individual.  With that being said, who is the prospective buyer for your home?  Today in the Denver market, it is a buyer’s market.  What does this mean to you as the seller?  One needs to be open to creativity in order to sell your existing home and be positioned as one of the best priced and best conditioned homes in your area.  

 

 

Advice to Buyers:

 

We are in the heart of the home buying season for the Denver market.  Is it time to note the 7 steps to take before you buy a home?  The steps are: decide how much you can afford, develop your home wish list, select where you want to live, start saving, ask about all the costs before you sign, get your credit in order, and get prequalified.  Additionally, know how much financing you qualify for, research your priorities, establish a wants list, and establish a needs list.

 

Lifestyle rates number one in the minds of buyers.  Establish your personal expectations of home ownership benefits and costs.

 

In recent surveys, 7 of 10 renters say owning a home is a top priority. A majority of renters aspire to home ownership and most Americans believe owning a home is a solid financial decision. Also, 90% of respondents believe home ownership is the cornerstone of the American Dream.

 

 

 

 

DENVER MARKET UPDATE

Homes Sold for $1 Million or Greater

JUNE, 2011

 

June was one of the best months in a while for closing $1 Million+ properties, with a total closed dollar volume of $104.2 Million. Good news for higher end seller!

 

 

-          Seventy residential homes sold/closed in June, 2011 for $1 Million or greater.

o   Sixty Six (66) were single family and four (4) were condo.

 

Compared to the previous month and same month last year:

 

-          Single Family was up 57% compared to May, 2011 and down 3% compared to June, 2010.

 

-          Condo was up 100% compared to May, 2011 and up 300% compared to June, 2010.

 

For single family:

 

-          20 were in Boulder County, 14 were in Denver County, 11 each were in Arapahoe County and Douglas County, 7 were in Jefferson County, and 1 each were in Adams County, Clear Creek County, and Elbert County.

 

For condo:

 

-           3 were in Denver County, and 1 was in Boulder County.

 

Of the sixty six (66) single family properties sold/closed, the lowest sold price was $1.0 Million, while the highest sold/closed price was $6.1 Million (8 Bedrooms and 9 Bathrooms), and the 66 properties represent $99.1 Million in closed volume.

 

The four (4) condo properties sold/closed represent $5.0 Million in closed volume.

 

Residential equals Single Family plus Condo.

 

The above representation covers an eleven (11) county area including the counties of

Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas, Elbert, Gilpin,

Jefferson, and Park. The above representation may or may not reflect all real estate activity in the market.

Denver_Real_Estate_Market_Update_July_2011.pdf Download this file
REMAXPROSmktstats062011.pdf Download this file

Posted via email from team-koz's posterous

6219 Oxford Peak Lane Castle Rock CO 80108

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Denver Real Estate Market Update June 2011



MARKET UPDATE



June 2011





The May 2011 month end inventory of unsold homes currently stands at 19,573 units, even with last month and down 11% from May, 2010. Great to see as lower inventories mean less competition.



- 4,777 units were placed under contract in May, up 1% from April and up 23% from May, 2010 a positive sign moving into summer.


- 3,732 units sold/closed in May, up 9% from April and down 15% from May, 2010.


Residential average sales price was $257,177 for May 2011, an increase of 3% month over month and 4% year over year.



Single Family average sales price was $279,443 for May 2011, an increase of 3% month over month and 2% year over year.



- 40% of the Single Family properties sold/closed in May were under $200,000 and 29% were in the $200,000 to $300,000 price range.


- Almost 70% of all market sales were under $300,000 in the Metro area in May.


Condo average sales price was $160,051 for May 2011 an increase of 1% month over month and 2% year over year.



- 34% of the Condo properties sold/closed in May were under $90,000 and 61% were under $150,000.


Condo median prices increased 2% to $123,525 in May 2011 when compared to April 2011 and decreased 9% from $135,000 in May 2010.



Single Family median prices increased 4% to $230,000 in May 2011 when compared to April 2011 and remained stable when compared to May 2010.



The leading counties for home sales in the Denver market continue to be: Denver, Arapahoe, and Jefferson.





Advice to Sellers:



More and more prospective buyers rate Lifestyle as their top priority with financial concerns following close behind. With that being said, the prospective buyer is looking for a home that has everything they want and is not interested and/or doesn’t have the financial ability to do renovations/home improvements after the purchase.



Move-In Ready homes are selling faster and for higher dollar than ever before. The more upgrades, the better your home shows, the sooner one of these buyers will make an offer on your home. Curb appeal, inside and out has never been more important.





Advice to Buyers:



Rental rates continue to increase and availability of rental properties continue to decrease. Denver continues to be a great market for first time home buyers.



Lifestyle rates number one in the minds of buyers. Establish your personal expectations of home ownership benefits and costs.



One may ask “Does buying really make better sense than renting?” While the answer is personal, one should take into consideration the results of a recent Fannie Mae National Housing Survey which shows that forgetting the finances for a minute, four of the biggest reasons people buy a home have nothing to do with money: they want a place to raise and educate their children, a place where their family will feel safe, to have plenty of living space, and to have control over the space.



Posted via email from team-koz's posterous

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Denver Real Estate Market Update May 2011

The April 2011 month end inventory of unsold homes stood at 19,553 units, up 1% from last month and down 9% from April, 2010. The inventory of unsold homes will continue to increase in the coming months as we enter the prime selling/buying season.

- 4,749 units were placed under contract in April 2011, up 33% from March 2011 and down 28% from April, 2010. (Please note that in April 2010, the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit effectively expired. As such, the April, 2010 market saw buyers create a frenzy situation by placing multiple offers on multiple homes in order to insure use of the federal program.)

- 3,429 units sold/closed in April 2011, up 7% from March 2011 and down 18% from April, 2010. (Please see the above note to appreciate the impact of the First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit program last year.)

In review, the first time home buyer/move buyer needed to have the home under contract by the end of April 2010 and closed by June 30th 2010. The June date was later changed to September 30th to take into consideration the extended time period required to close a distress property. The overall market, while down from last year has remained fairly steady in our “New Normal” world.

- All residential prices averaged $248,991 for April 2011, a slight decrease month over month and year over year.

- Single Family prices averaged $271,969 also a slight decrease month over month and year over year.

o 41% of all Single Family properties sold/closed in April 2011 were under $200,000 and 27% were in the $200,000 to $300,000 price range, comprising over 2/3 of the market.

- Condo prices averaged $158,438 a slight decrease month over month and year over year also. 37% of the Condo properties sold/closed in March were under $100,000 and 74% were under $200,000.

Looking at Median home price values:

- Condo median prices increased 1% to $121,200 in April 2011 when compared to March 2011 and decreased 13% from $139,700 in April 2010.

- Single Family median prices decreased 1% to $222,000 in April 2011 when compared to March 2011 and decreased 3% from $230,000 in March 2010.

The leading counties for home sales in the Denver market are: Denver, Arapahoe, and Jefferson.

On average a homeowner sells their existing home every six (6) years.

Home ownership continues to be the single largest purchase in one’s lifetime.

Advice to Sellers:

Establish your expectations as to home pricing, deferred maintenance needs, and the average amount of time required before your home can be sold.

Denver is in the prime home selling season. Take advantage of this prime home selling, position your home as the best that it can be to get your home sold.

Advice to Buyers:

Rental rates continue to increase and availability of rental properties continue to decrease. Denver continues to be a great market for first time home buyers.

As we move through the prime home selling/buying time of the year, more and more buyers will be entering the market. Establish your personal expectations of home ownership benefits and costs.

One may ask “Does buying really make better sense than renting?” While the answer is personal, one should take into consideration the results of a recent Fannie Mae National Housing Survey which shows that forgetting the finances for a minute, four of the biggest reasons people buy a home have nothing to do with money: they want a place to raise and educate their children, a place where their family will feel safe, to have plenty of living space, and to have control over the space.

Friday, April 15, 2011

March is the preview of the prime home selling/buying market:

The following quote attributed to an unknown source says it best “Denver is normalizing. Inventory is steady, buyers are shopping, and sellers are ready.”

- The March 2011 month end inventory of unsold homes is at 19,320 units, up 3% from last month and down 6% from March, 2010. The inventory of unsold homes will increase in the coming months.

- 3,571 units were placed under contract in March, down 3% from February and down 40% from March, 2010. Please note that in March 2010, the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit was set to expire in April, 2010. As such, the March, 2010 market saw buyers placing multiple offers on multiple homes in order to insure use of the federal program. This buyer frenzy continued through April, 2010.

- 3,209 units sold/closed in March, up 44% from February and down 11% from March, 2010.

Please see the above note to appreciate the impact of the First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit program last year.

In review, the first time home buyer/move buyer needed to have the home
under contract by close of April and closed by June 30th. The June date was later changed to September 30th to take into consideration the extended time period required to close a distress property.

Home prices remain fairly stable as the Denver market is entering its prime home selling/buying season.

- Single Family average prices, $249, 644 for 03/2011, increased modestly month over month and year over year.

- Residential average price at $273,877 remained steady month over month and year over year.

- 42% of the Residential properties sold/closed in March were under $200,000 and 28% were in the $200,000 to $300,000 price range.

- Condo average price at $159,853 remained steady month over month and year over year. 43% of the Condo properties sold/closed in March were under $110,000 and 74% were under $200,000.

- Condo median prices decreased 4% to $120,000 in 03/2011 when compared to 02/2011 and decreased 9% from $131,579 in 03/2010.

- Residential median prices increased 2% to $224,900 in 03/2011 when compared to 02/2011 and decreased 2% from $229,000 in 03/2010.


General Economic Factors:
The following parameters, relative to the housing market, are improving modestly. Consumer confidence is increasing, thus it is more likely that the consumer will make larger $$ purchases. Employment is showing a slight upturn, thus reducing the fear of “job loss”. Mortgage rates remain affordable, even though the due diligence paperwork requirements are increasing. Distress properties continue to be a factor in the market. Fortunately, the Denver market continues to manage the existence of these properties.

Recently released polls indicate that Denver continues to maintain a strong economic base, employment is increasing, and the economic outlook is good. Improvement will be slow and steady.

Advice to Sellers:
According to a recent MSNBC poll, a seller’s most common mistakes are over pricing the home, relying too much on just comps, failing to take into account the home’s web appeal, and hovering over prospective buyers during showings.

Denver is entering the prime home selling season. It is time to manage your expectations and take advantage of this prime home selling season to sell your home.

Advice to Buyers:
Rental rates are increasing and availability is decreasing. Americans are still optimistic about home ownership. 80 plus % of Americans believe that home ownership is the best long term investment even though they are not expecting a speedy recovery of the housing market.

© 2011 Garold D Bauer, All Rights Reserved, Information Deemed Reliable But Not Guaranteed

Monday, March 28, 2011

Denver Real Estate Market Update March 2011

So How’s the Market, March 2011

Just like Spring, The Denver Real Estate Market is slowly waking up!

- Home re-sales in metro Denver ended up down 8.5% in February from a year earlier, following a similar year over-year decline in January, according to Metrolist Inc.

As the housing markets are finding their sea legs after being propped up by the first time buyers government stimulus in 2010, we see consumer confidence slowly increasing just as sure as the buds starting to appear on all of our trees and bushes.

- The number of homes Sold rose 3.4% in February to 2,229, compared with the 2,156 the previous month, according to an analysis of Metrolist data, a welcome seasonal trend.

Meanwhile, the Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index, which had increased in January, improved further in February. The index stands at 70.4, up from 64.8 in January.

The bright spot in the current market is that approximately 40 percent of the market this time last year was a result of the first time buyer tax credit. The decline in sales is a result of the tax credit going away with decreased demand as we expected. Looking at the current activity without the tax credit, and the numbers are fairly positive. We do have Activity in the market! Consumer confidence seems to be increasing across America as 68% of potential homebuyers and sellers in a recent survey, believe that the real estate market and property values will recover in the next year or two. In addition, 86% of Americans believe real estate is a good investment despite the market volatility of the past few years!

- Homes Sold last month were on the market an average of 124 days, versus 95 days in the same month a year earlier, about 30% longer, a fairly substantial increase as many have seen.

- The inventory of available homes in the Denver area fell by 3.4% last month from a year earlier, to 18,685 including single family homes and condos, a really positive sign moving into Spring

The potential Seller’s in the market seem to be more cautious and slow to come on the market, probably due to the fact that the average price also dropped last month by 2 percent for single family homes to $265,277 and condo re-sales were down 6 percent, to $155,656. The New home building activity was also down 43% from a year ago, with some caution to downward pressure in home prices from too much inventory. There is also the question of how much of a “shadow inventory” exists and how that will affect different segments of the market over the next few years. The shadow market is generally considered foreclosed homes owned by banks that have not yet hit the market, increasing the supply of unsold homes on the market. These distressed homes will eventually compete with other houses on the market!

Advice to Sellers:
Sellers in any real estate market are looking to get the best possible price. If you are looking to sell in the next year, today’s price may well be the best price. Home values stabilized somewhat in 2010. Many hoped that was a sign that values had bottomed out, but looking at a couple of recent reports it seems that a number of factors continue to dampen the recovery in the housing market. Negative equity, which limits the mobility of homeowners, weak demand and the overhang of shadow inventory all continue to exert downward pressure on prices. We are hoping that renewed demand in Spring and Summer activity will reduce the downward pressure, not that prices will start to stabilize or increase, but reduce the pressure to drive prices lower. Be the best positioned and best priced home in your market if possible and you will have the greatest opportunity to find your buyer sooner than later.

Advice to Buyers:
The buying power for Buyer’s today is almost unbelievable! As downward pressure is on the price of a home and value in the market is amazing, there is just as much upward pressure on mortgage interest rates and the potential for them to go up as the economy begins to grow. Home prices may lower a few thousand dollars still, but a small adjustment in interest rates may affect your buying power by tens of thousands. History has shown us as demand goes up, so do interest rates! Always remember that in any market the good homes will sell quickly, so if you like what you see, consider making that offer today before another buyer does.

AS OUR DAFODILS AND TULIPS BEGIN TO POP UP, SO WILL MORE BEAUTIFUL HOMES! JUST LIKE A SPRING FLOWER THAT DOESN’T LAST VERY LONG, THE GOOD HOMES WILL COME AND GO QUICKLY TOO! ALWAYS LOOK YOUR BEST TO HAVE THE GREATEST CHANCE FOR SUCCESS!

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Denver Real Estate Market Update February 2011

Denver Real Estate Market Update February 2011 So, How’s the Market, February 19, 2011

The Denver Real Estate Market is Learning to “Fly Solo”!

The Real estate markets across America were being supported with Government Stimulus incentives in 2010! The markets in the early months of 2011 are learning to fly on their own, which in the long run will be healthier and give us a true picture of real values. Buyers and Sellers seemed to be on hold in January and the beginning of February after a small surge of activity the end of 2010.

Here are some of the latest stats:

- New listings/homes for sale only increased by about 100 from the previous month (good news)

- The number of Under Contract homes in January 2011 saw a major decrease down 43% from January 2010. (Again, the reminder that the tax stimulus was in full effect last year.)

- Homes Sold/Closed in January were also down approximately 24% year over year. All of the above comparisons include Single Family Homes and Condo/Townhomes.

The positive news is that It appears that the sleeping giant called a Denver Home Buyer is slowly waking up now that the Super Bowl is over, and the post Christmas blues have begun to wear off. The Groundhog saw his shadow, so officially Spring is nearby and the Spring Home Buying market should be close by as well.

Home prices seem to be bouncing along the bottom, so the best opportunities for Buyers is right now before the Spring rush begins and the low interest rates we are still seeing start to rise. Sellers should prepare their homes to the best condition as possible as time on the market has increased year over year!

HEADLINE: Timing Is Important!

If you’re considering listing a single family home or condo for sale in 2011, it’s time to stop thinking and start the process, those that are on the market now are ahead of the game and are already getting showings. Last year the average residential property was on the market for well over three months before selling – which doesn’t include the properties that were taken off the market prior to sale. Even if you list your home today, it will likely be nearly mid-year before you find a buyer and close.

Timing is important when listing a home. In 2010, almost as many residential properties were sold March through June as were sold during the other months combined. Waiting until later in the year to list your property may mean missing out on the hottest selling times of the year.

The following graph compares days on market over the past 2 years for the average home in the Denver market. Homes in the mid to upper price ranges, especially above $350,000 have had significantly longer marketing times depending on neighborhood and area.

Advice for Buyers!
No one knows exactly what’s going to happen to home prices. Today’s prices may be the most affordable for the foreseeable future. With both prices and interest rates low, now is a great time to buy. Begin your search before the Spring weather attracts more buying competition!


Advice for Sellers!
Based on the number of active listings, there is an inventory of well over 5 months for the average single family home currently. Make sure your home is on the market now to ensure it’s available to buyers during the peak shopping months of March through September. Your home has to shows as good as it can show so you don’t miss an opportunity.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Incredible Views! Once in a Lifetime Opportunity! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWB6ftd7RW8

3879 Stone Canon Ranch Rd. Castle Rock CO 80104

Michael Kozlowski Receives Top Honors as the #1 Individual Agent at RE/MAX Professionals for 2010 at Awards Ceremony 2/16/2011.

Michael Kozlowski - Team Koz RE/MAX Professionals takes top honors at the RE/MAX Professionals awards ceremony at Pinehurst Country Club February 16, 2010.

Michael was recognized as the #1 Individual Agent at RE/MAX Professionals for 2010, as well as the #1 Individual Agent at the Dever Tech Center Office for 2010.

For more information please visit www.team-koz.com or contact Michael directly at team-koz@comcast.net

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