Homes Going Under Contract Rises Year-over-Year in October 2018 in Hampton Roads
Home sales in Hampton Roads continue to outpace the number of listings coming onto the market. The region added 3,705 new listings to the market between October 1-31, 2018, an increase of 9.32% year-over-year. Yet by the end of the month, a snapshot of the market recorded only 11,716 active listings vs. 12,502 for the same period of time in 2017, a year-over-year decline of 6.29%. Eight of the past 12 months have seen an increase year-over-year in the number of new listings being added to the market, even as the number of active listings continues to decline year-over-year. For now, Hampton Roads remains a seller’s market.
In October 2018, residential active listings for the region were down 5.98% year-over-year with 9,564 available homes, down from 10,172 in October 2017. This is the 39th consecutive month that active listings have declined year-over-year. Six of the region’s seven major cities (Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Suffolk, and Hampton) underwent decreased inventory, with Portsmouth and Virginia Beach experiencing the greatest declines at 16.34% and 10.23% respectively. Newport News was the only major city to realize an increase, though very modest at just .80%.
October’s supply of residential home inventory in the region is currently 4.12 months, down 10.43% from the same period of time last year. This marks the 42st consecutive time that the months’ supply of inventory has declined year-over-year, a trend that started in May 2015. All seven of the region’s major cities currently maintain inventories below 5 months, with Virginia Beach the lowest at 3.51 months. Industry experts typically agree that a 6 months supply of inventory is considered a balanced market, and anything below to be a seller’s market.
Despite a minor blip in September, pending sales remain steady in Hampton Roads. For October 2018, residential pending sales rose 7.47% year-over-year, continuing the trend where 52 of the past 53 months have exhibited increases. Each of the area’s major cities rose year-over-year, with Newport News experiencing the most dramatic rise at 35.95%. The remaining 6 cities had more moderate increases below 10% each.
Residential settled sales experienced a minimal year-over-year decline of .86% in October 2018. Among
the major cities, Newport News and Virginia Beach saw the largest declines at 11.85% and 5.87% respectively, while Norfolk and Suffolk underwent significant increases at 13.94% and 13.67% each.
The median sales price has continued to rise for 50 consecutive months. In October 2018, the region’s residential median sales price rose 2.22% year-over-year to $235,000. Suffolk was the only major city to experience a decline at 3.85%. All others rose between .45% to 4.94%.
The number of distressed homes in the Hampton Roads region, those that are either short sales or foreclosures, has significantly decreased. In October 2018, distressed homes accounted for just 10.17% of all residential settled sales, down 2.06% year-over-year. Similarly, distressed homes accounted for only 8.76% of all residential active listings in October 2018, down 3.05% year-over-year.
Total Property statistics include all property types (Residential, Commercial, Multi-Family, Apartment, and Land & Farms), resale and new construction. New Construction Sales reflect only those properties reported in the MLS.
Real Estate Information Network, Inc., (REIN) serves real estate brokers in the Tidewater / Hampton Roads area of Virginia from Williamsburg east to Virginia Beach and south to the North Carolina border. There are approximately 595 real estate firms with 735 offices, 7568 real estate agents, and 166 appraiser members using REIN.
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This post was authored by local resident and REALTOR, John Womeldorf. John is known around town as Mr. Williamsburg, for both his extensive knowledge of the Williamsburg/ Hampton Roads/ Richmond VA area and his expertise helping buyers and sellers in the local real estate market.
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