Nice news!  Read the highlights below from RMLS’s monthly report on the metro area’s real estate market statistics. 

What caught my eye was that December showed a big jump in closed sales from the month before (14.3%) and an increase number of pending sales as well (6%).  The inventory in months fell a significant amount – down 2.3 months.

The average and median sale prices vs. the previous month were a mixed bag: up 2.2% and down 1.3% respectively. 

This is all really good news in a month where Realtors are supposed to be sitting at home reading movie magazines and eating bon-bons.  I may have to buy a newspaper tomorrow to see how the Oregonian manages to rain on this parade. 

      -Ron-

From RMLS’s December 2010 “Market Action”

“December Residential Highlights

Looking at the Portland Metro area market in 2010, December continued the trend of decreased activity toward the end of the year. However, closed sales underwent an uptick in December, reaching the highest monthly level since June.

Inventory also saw its lowest level since June. Closed sales were down 2.9% compared to December 2009, but pending sales were up 6%. New listings dropped 8.5%.

Comparing the previous month of November 2010 with December 2010 shows closed sales jumped from 1,279 to 1,462 (14.3%). However, pending sales fell from 1,426 to 1,210 (-15.2%), and new listings dropped from 2,437 to 1,925 (-22.2%).

At the month’s rate of sales, the 11,611 active residential listings would last about 7.9 months, a 2.3-month drop since November.

2010 Summary

When comparing activity in 2010 with that of 2009, closed sales dipped 0.2%. Pending sales were 2.1% lower, but new listings were up 3.0%. Total sales volume for 2010 was $5.3 billion, down from $5.5 billion in 2009.

Sale Prices

The average sale price for December 2010 declined 5.2% compared to December 2009. The median sale price also fell 5%. Month to month, comparing November 2010 to December 2010, the average sale price went up from $271,900 to $278,000 (2.2%) while the median sale price dropped from $233,000 to $230,000 (-1.3%).

For 2010, average sale price dropped 2.7% compared to 2009, and median sale prices fell 2.9%.”

RMLS released their market statistics from November, and again I’m pleased by what I’m seeing.  What I’ve been seeing has been reflected in my and some of my colleagues business for this time of year.  November and December are typically supposed to be down months for Realtors, and these past couple of months have been anything but that. 

The number of closed sales was down a considerable amount from November of 2009.  November 30^th was the initial deadline for the first time home buyer tax credit – so, no surprise there.  The number of pending sales was up by 7.4% from last year though, which is very good in my book and indicates continued and increasing activity. 

The average and median sale prices were down from the previous month by $4900 and $500 respectively.  The inventory in months decreased from 10.7 to 10.2 months – not a big change but a positive one, none the less. 

Read below for the statistical highlights from RMLS’s publication, “Market Action,” and call me if you would like a market analysis of your neighborhood and home.  I’m happy to oblige. 

      -Ron-

November Residential Highlights

The Portland Metro area market continued to show decreases in activity in November. However, while closed sales were the lowest since February of this year, they decreased by only 1% from the previous month. Pending sales were also higher than November of the past two years.

Closed sales were down 28.7% compared to November 2009, but pending sales were up 7.4%. New listings dipped down 1%.

Comparing the previous month of October 2010 with November 2010 shows closed sales decreased from 1,292 to 1,279 (-1%). Additionally, pending sales fell from 1,632 to 1,426 (-12.6%), and new listings dropped from 3,119 to 2,437 (-20.7%).

At the month’s rate of sales, the 13,103 active residential listings would last approximately 10.2 months. Inventory in November is the lowest it has been since June of this year.

Year-to-Date

When comparing January- November 2010 with the same period in 2009, closed sales increased 0.2%. Pending sales were 2.6% lower, but new listings were up 3.7%.

Sale Prices

The average sale price for November 2010 declined 0.5% compared to November 2009. The median sale price also fell 2.5%. On a month-to-month basis, comparing October 2010 to November 2010, the average sale price went down from $276,800 to $271,900 (-1.8%) and the median sale price also dropped from $233,500 to $233,000 (-0.2%). This marks the third straight month average sale prices have fallen.