Following December holidays, buyers flooded the real estate market in January. Unfortunately, they were met with low inventory levels and with that, limited homes to choose from in markets across the country. While many are hoping for relief from the seller’s market we experienced in 2021, high demand and low inventory will likely lead to another year of large increases in home value. Experts predict that interest rates will increase in 2022. As a result, the market may cool off slightly later this year. But we likely won’t return to a completely balanced market and sellers will continue to have the upper hand.
January proved a competitive start to 2022 for buyers. But ultimately, every market is different. No one has a crystal ball to perfectly predict the future. Our experts see the market likely remaining hot across the country, fueled by high buyer demand.
All stats below are based on End of Month in December vs January:
Seattle Housing Market
Supply and Demand: In January, there were 3 weeks worth of single family home inventory available, the same amount we saw in December.
Median days on the market – In January houses spent an average of 6 days on the market, the same number of days we saw in December.
New homes on the market – In January, there were 10,982 new homes on the market, a slight decrease from the 11,200 new homes we saw in December.
Homes sold – In January, 10,417 homes sold, a slight decrease from December’s 10,578 homes sold.
Seattle housing supply was extremely limited in 2021, and 2022 is following this trend. Median days on the market are consistent at less than a week, and January saw a decrease in new homes on the market. Median sales price in Seattle reached $900,000 in January. With that, homes are selling for 101% of list price, an increase from 100.4% in December 2021. As buyers continue to enter the market hoping to find a home by spring time, the Seattle market will remain extremely competitive, with sellers having the upper hand.
Seller Suggestions
No one can predict exactly what 2022 will look like for sellers in this real estate market. However, the current data shows spring of 2022 will see similar trends to 2021 as sellers continue to have the upper hand in this market. Home values will continue to rise as demand outpaces supply. But with that, keep in mind that buyers are becoming more selective in some cases. So, it’s important to ensure you don’t overprice your home initially, as this could ultimately hurt your bottom line. Home values will continue to increase, but interest rates will likely increase as well. At Trelora, our expert agents recommend selling now, before this increase takes place in order to get top dollar for your home. You can get started today with a free home valuation.
Here are a few blogs that might help you as a seller:
- How Real Commissions Impact Home Equity
- Assessed Value vs. Market Value: What’s the Difference?
- How to Sell Your House Fast
Buyer Suggestions
Many buyer’s paused their home search over the holidays, and reentered the market in January prepared with financing and ready to make competitive offers. As a result, January saw an influx of new buyers competing for a limited number of active listings. Thus, making this one of the most competitive months yet to win a home. As talk of a rise in interest rates increases, buyer’s are feeling the urgency to make a purchase as soon as possible. However, a rise in interest rates likely means a decrease in competition amongst buyers. This could be good news for buyers who choose to stay in the market despite an increase in rates. It remains essential that buyers are prepared with financing before making an offer on a home. With that, working with an agent who specializes in your local market can give you the competitive edge you need and help you understand how to make your offers more competitive.
Here are a few blogs that might help you as a buyer:
- Buying a House For Sale By Owner
- Contingent vs. Under Contract: What’s the Difference?
- What Does Escrow Mean in Real Estate & How Does it Work?
Please note, if you buy with us, we split our buyer’s agent commission with you and give you back up to $6,000, and if you sell with us, we give you comprehensive, expert service for only 1%. And keep in mind, especially if you’re moving or you have friends in other states, that Trelora can help you in Atlanta, Charleston, Charlotte, Denver, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Raleigh, Sacramento, Seattle and Tucson. In the meantime, please stay healthy and safe.
Christopher has been been in the Real Estate industry for 8 years and has had the opportunity to close over 1,000 deals while acting as the Managing Broker for thousands more. Christopher is passionate about continuing to find ways to simplify, maximize, and serve Trelora’s clients exceptionally well and spends his time building teams to deliver high levels of service. When not doing real estate Christopher can be seen training for marathons and ultra relays with his 2 year old daughter, eating pizza, and drinking a steady stream of Diet Coke.