If you were waiting to sell your house because buyer demand disappeared when mortgage rates went up, the data shows there are plenty of interested buyers still out there. The housing market isn’t as frenzied as it was during the ‘unicorn’ years when buyer demand was through the roof, mortgage rates were historically low, and home values rose like we’ve never seen before. But that doesn’t mean the market is at a standstill.
Strong Buyer Demand Persists
Nationally, demand is still high compared to the last normal years in the housing market, and plenty of buyers are making moves right now. Here’s the data to prove it.
Showing Traffic Is Up
The ShowingTime Showing Index is a measure of how frequently buyers are touring homes. The graph below uses that index to show buyer activity over the past eight Octobers:
In the graph, the ‘unicorn’ years are shown in pink. You can see demand has dipped some since then. That’s in response to higher mortgage rates. But, when you compare 2023 to the blue bars on the left that represent the last normal years in the market (2018-2019), you can tell buyers are still more active than the norm.
Additional Insight: It’s important to note that while demand may have decreased from the peak ‘unicorn’ years, it remains robust compared to pre-unicorn times. This signifies a healthy housing market with ample opportunities for sellers.
But showing traffic isn’t the only way to see buyer demand is still high. The number of offers other sellers are getting and the average days homes are on the market tell the same story.
Sellers Are Still Seeing Multiple Offers
According to the latest data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), sellers are receiving an average of 2.5 offers on their houses. Let’s look at how that compares to recent years:
It’s true, that’s fewer than the number of offers sellers were receiving during the ‘unicorn’ years (shown in pink). But compared to last year, the number is up slightly. And it’s higher than it was in the more normal, pre-‘unicorn’ years in the housing market too.
Additional Insight: While the number of offers may have dipped compared to the peak years, it’s essential to consider the broader context. In the current market, sellers are still enjoying a competitive advantage with multiple offers, creating favorable conditions for maximizing returns.
Homes Priced Right Are Selling Fast
And it’s not just that sellers are still typically getting multiple offers more than the norm, they’re also seeing their homes sell fast. That’s a direct result of strong buyer demand. According to Zillow:
“. . . low inventory levels are spurring surprisingly strong competition . . . demand has remained resilient, and attractive, appropriately priced listings are moving quickly.”
Additional Insight: The key takeaway here is that pricing your home appropriately remains crucial. In a market where demand is strong, competitively priced listings tend to attract more attention and sell faster, benefiting sellers.
To help showcase that homes for sale are still going quickly, let’s look at data from NAR on the median days on market for this same time of year from 2018 through now:
As the graph shows, this year homes are sitting on the market only slightly longer than they were during the frenzy of the ‘unicorn’ years. And compared to the last normal years in the market, homes are still selling much faster than they did back then. That’s good news for sellers because it means there are eager buyers out there right now.
Additional Insight: The median days on market data clearly highlights that homes are selling faster now than in the pre-unicorn years. This quick turnover is advantageous for sellers as it reduces the time and uncertainty associated with selling a property.
Bottom Line
In conclusion, you haven’t missed your chance to sell at a time when sellers are receiving multiple offers, and homes are selling fast. When you’re ready to sell your house, let’s connect to get the ball rolling. The current market conditions favor sellers, with sustained buyer demand, multiple offers, and faster sales times compared to the pre-unicorn era. On top of the market being great for sellers, it’s always a great time to sell with us here at Sell For 1 Percent. Don’t hesitate to take advantage of these favorable conditions to achieve your real estate goals
