It won't be long before the housing recovery is simply referred to as housing. Institutional and cash buyers have effectively priced themselves out of the market. During the downturn, these groups purchased much inventory. Now that prices are rising, there's less incentive for these kinds of buyers, yet affordability for consumers remains attractive.
Closed sales rose 1.3 percent from last year’s number, topping out at 645 residential units sold. New listings in the Chattanooga region were up 20.4 percent to 1,223. Inventory shrank 1.3 percent to 5,243 units.
Prices moved higher as the median sales price was up 8.5 percent to $153,500. Days on market decreased 7.9 percent to 117 days. Months supply of inventory was down 8.0 percent to 9.2 months, indicating that demand increased relative to supply.
GCAR President Mark Blazek added, “With mortgage rates slightly up but relatively low by historic standards, the Fed has indicated no change in monetary policy based on a moderately paced economic expansion. Although the unemployment rate remains a factor to watch, the housing recovery continues to plug along, helping the greater economy with flourishing activity in sales and prices. Housing has made a positive contribution to real GDP growth for 11 consecutive quarters.”