Reprinted from September 2020 CRRA Monthly Indicators
Strong buyer activity has continued into the fall, which is normally the start of the seasonal slowing of the housing market. With stronger buyer activity in the market this year and the continued constrained supply of homes for sale, speedy sales and multiple offers are likely to remain a common occurrence and will keep the housing market hot even when the weather is cooling.
New Listings were up in the Charlotte region by 11.0 percent to 5,514. Pending Sales increased 28.1 percent to 5,428. Inventory shrank 51.3 percent to 5,095.
Prices moved higher as Median Sales Price was up 11.5 percent to $289,900. Months Supply of Homes for Sale was down 56.0 percent to 1.1, indicating that demand increased relative to supply.
While mortgage rates remain near record lows, The Mortgage Bankers Association reports that lending standards are tightening, which makes it a bit more difficult for some buyers to qualify. At the same time, unemployment remains substantially higher than a year ago due to COVID-19. Despite all this, buyers are out in full force this fall, showing amazing resilience in the middle of a pandemic.