Realogics Sotheby's International Realty — Blog

March Market Snapshot

Many were curious to see how the typically robust spring real estate market would be impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic. Like many sectors of the economy, residential real estate experienced disruption and uncertainty just when things were ramping up.

As guidelines for essential workers evolved, the market virtually paused for a few days, but then took off again after real estate guidelines and practices were adjusted to support social distancing. Despite the changes, housing activity around Western Washington in March showed the volume of new listings added during the month surpassed February’s total, as did both pending and closed sales.

November Favors Home Sellers

November surprised the real estate market with a strong favor for home sellers. The Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS) released data on the month of November which showed a 7% year-over-year increase in pending sales. This increase across King, Pierce, and Snohomish County jumps to 9.2% when considering mutually accepted offers.

Advantages of New Construction

As of May 2019, the housing inventory in the Seattle market was just shy of two months. Fewer choices means it will become more difficult finding that perfect home that fits your needs. When you account for older homes on the market that may need updates, eccentric houses that were designed for a specific style, price points, and other factors, this leaves a small pool of homes to adapt to your lifestyle. It’s in these markets that new construction homes become even more of an enticing option for buyers.