May 2016 Market Update Videos

The housing market is being predictable, and that’s a good thing. At the beginning of the year, it was anticipated that the prevailing trends of the past year would continue into and through 2016, and that has largely been the case. The number of homes for sale has generally remained lower compared to a year ago, and prices have been steadily rising in desirable communities where homes show well.

New Listings in the Charlotte region increased 2.6 percent to 5,721. Pending Sales were up 21.1 percent to 5,160. Inventory levels fell 26.6 percent to 10,513 units. Prices continued to gain traction. The Median Sales Price increased 6.3 percent to $202,000. List to Close was down 4.2 percent to 113 days. Sellers were encouraged as Months Supply of Homes for Sale was down 34.1 percent to 2.9 months.

There have been no striking changes to curtail what should be a decent run of home sales over the next several months. Mortgage rates have remained stubbornly and wonderfully low, the unemployment rate has remained at or near 5.0 percent for eight straight months and wages have increased for a great many people. New construction has been slow, and that may be a damper on sales, but the general outlook remains strong.