"People are moving here, home prices will continue to increase, inventory shortages will occur. That's our future," remarked Dick Beeson, principal managing broker at RE/MAX Northwest in Gig Harbor, upon viewing the October statistics from Northwest Multiple Listing Service.
Active listings of homes and condos totaled 14,379, the lowest level since April. Compared to a year ago, last month's selection declined more than 21% and was down 10% from September, according to the new report from Northwest MLS. The year-over-year and month-to-month volume of new listings also declined last month. On a positive note, MLS figures show system-wide gains in October's pending sales (up nearly 5.6%), closed sales (up 4.1%) and prices (up nearly 7.7%) compared to a year ago.
Beeson, a member of the Northwest MLS board of directors, and other MLS leaders also commented on inventory shortages, which some refer to as the "new normal." The sustained, lower levels of supply "drive some buyers crazy as they keep expecting to gain the upper hand," Beeson reported, adding, "It's not going to happen any time soon. The market has settled into a circadian rhythm of sorts."
Find more information at: http://www.nwmls.com/News--Information/page/Latest-Press-Release