Eleven Oaks Realty is proud to present their December 2017 Austin Real Estate Price Report measuring activity in the Austin single family home market.
Austin Median Home Price Up 3%
The biggest story in this month’s Austin Real Estate Price Report comes by way of median home prices. For the 40th month in a row, the median price of a home in Austin outpaced the previous year. The median price of an Austin home in December 2016 was $345,000 compared to $355,000 in December 2017, marking a 3% ($10,000) increase in year over year numbers.
Median home price helps us see the distribution of homes sold and does not really give us an indication of the increase or decrease in a particular home’s market value. To analyze market value, we’d have to take an in depth look at a neighborhood. If you’re looking for something like that, please check out our Austin Home Values Report.
What does this mean to buyers? With 40 straight months of price increases and no breaks, it doesn’t seem like this market is slowing down. This year was very healthy so if you’re looking to start a home search soon, the sooner the better.
What does this mean to sellers? In the winter, demand tends to take a dip. Spend some time preparing your home to meet the market. You will have less buyers in the market, so you’ll want your home to stand out.
7% Increase in Time to Sell Home in Austin
In December 2017, it took 62 days to sell a home in Austin, on average, compared to 59 days in December 2016, marking a 7% (4 day) increase in year over year numbers.
Number of Homes Taken Off the Market Up 36%
In December 2017, there were 538 homes taken off the market compared to 397 in December 2016. This marked a 36% (141 home) increase in year over year numbers. This trend of more homes taken off the market is something we’ve seen for quite some time in Austin. It seems that some sellers are unrealistic about what they can get for their homes and instead of reducing their prices to a market appropriate level, they decide to take them off the market. Though the Austin market is strong, it is still price sensitive. Buyers are willing to pay top dollar, but not for homes that they don’t feel are a value.
If you need to sell and your home was priced right, maybe there was something else going on. The biggest culprits we see are incorrect info in the MLS and poor marketing. Check out our Austin Home Marketing Plan to see how your homes would be marketed.
Having trouble selling your home? Check out our Austin Home Not Selling resources page to find out why.
3% Increase in the Number of Sold Homes in Austin
In December 2017, Austin saw a 3% increase in the number of homes sold from December 2016 to December 2017. In December 2017, we saw 1,177 homes sell in Austin compared to 1,148 in December 2016 marking a 3% (29 home) increase in year over year numbers.
20% Decrease in Austin Housing Inventory
In December 2017, we saw 2.7 months of inventory on the market, compared to 3.4 months of inventory in December 2016, marking a 20% decrease in year over year numbers. This year, we’ve consistently seen extremely low inventory levels.
Austin Homes Under Contract Up 16%
In December 2017, 923 homes went pending (under contract) in Austin compared to 793 in December 2016, marking a 16% (130 home) increase in year over year numbers.
2% Increase in Number of Homes on the Market
In December 2017, we had 3,943 homes for sale in Austin, compared to 3,855 in December 2016, showing a 2% (88 home) increase in year over year numbers. Since inventory numbers have been so low this year, a 2% increase will be welcomed by a lot of buyers still looking for more choices.
7% Decrease in Number of Homes Listed for Sale
In December 2017, we saw 763 homes introduced to the market compared to 824 in December 2016, a 7% (61 home) decrease in year over year numbers. This is fairly typical for December when activity slows dramatically due to the holidays.
Supply Up 2% and Demand Up 3%
This month we saw a 2% increase in supply (number of properties for sale) and a 3% increase in demand (number of sold properties). The market is fairly even this month as supply and price are supported by a slight increase in demand.
Median for Sale Flat vs Median Sold Price Up 3%
This chart compares the Median for Sale Price vs the Median Sold Price to show their relationship. In Austin, we saw no change in the median for sale price and a 3% increase in the median sold price of a single family home in year over year numbers.
Source: Clarus Market Metrics, ACTRIS Sold Data
December 2017 Austin Real Estate Price Report – Strictly Numbers
For those of you who prefer to see the actual numbers, we’ve included the figures for December 2017 Austin home sales below. The most expensive home that sold in December 2017 sold for $4,425,000 and the least expensive home sold for $100,000. Homes ranged in size from 480 sqft – 8,015 sqft with an average size of 2,217 sqft. The average price per square foot for a home that sold in Austin in December 2017 was $216.12 with the lowest being $77.58/sqft and the highest being $988.37/sqft. It took, on average, 57 days to sell a home in Austin and sellers received, on average, 95.24% of their original list prices.
| Beds | Baths | SqFt | List Price | LP/SqFt | Sold Price | SP/SqFt | SP/LP | SP/OLP | ADOM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Min | 1 | 1 | 480 | $122,000 | $80.21 | $100,000 | $77.58 | 50.25% | 29.50% | 0 |
| Max | 7 | 9 | 8,015 | $5,600,000 | $1,046.51 | $4,425,000 | $988.37 | 115.76% | 176.92% | 756 |
| Avg | 3 | 3 | 2,217 | $477,696 | $221.97 | $463,323 | $216.12 | 97.80% | 95.24% | 57 |
| Median | 3 | 3 | 1,999 | $385,000 | $188.93 | $379,950 | $184.39 | 98.29% | 96.42% | 33 |
| Search Criteria | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Status | Sold | Sold Date | Dec-17 |
| Property Type | Single Family Homes | Number Sold | 934 |
| Source: | ABoR Sales Data | Area | Austin |
Time to Buy? Sell?
As we always say, the best time to buy or sell a home is when you need to buy or sell. If you have a house to buy, buying when its a sellers market may hurt you on the buying end, but you’ll make it up on the selling end. If you’re trying to get into the market for the first time, the only way you’ll know that we’ve “hit bottom” is when its in the rear view mirror. Work with professionals who can help you analyze your financial and lifestyle to determine if now is the right time to buy or sell.
Looking strictly at the numbers, it appears the recommendation for this month is – it’s mixed. So if you’re looking to buy, start dipping your toe in the market now. If you’re looking for the best deal, be patient and don’t be afraid to negotiate. Sometimes it takes sellers a while to come to the realization their house isn’t worth what they had hoped. If you’re looking to buy, we can help you be successful. We know the market and know how to get the best deal for a buyer. For more info about buying a home, visit Buy a Home in Austin.
Sellers will have to be smart this winter to get top dollar for their homes. Without the uptick in demand, you’ll need smart marketing to get your home seen by serious buyers. If you’re a seller who needs to sell now, work with a professional Realtor who can help you position your home as the best value on the market. There are still highly motivated buyers in the market who are ready to make stronger offers than they were last year. Check out our 88 Ways to Sell Your Home Faster and For More Money for some tips on how you can prepare your home to meet the market. For more info about our Home Selling Program and why it is the best in Austin, check out Sell My Austin Home.
Curious How Much You Could Sell Your Austin Home For?
Our Market Snapshot Tool is for you. With just your zip code, we’ll email you a detailed report showing what homes in your neighborhood sold for, how long it took to sell and how the market is trending. Though our Austin Real Estate Price Report is helpful in gauging the overall trend of the market, it doesn’t address neighborhoods specifically. If you’re looking for that type of report, put in your name and zip code below and our system will email you a Neighborhood Market Report.
Questions About the Austin Real Estate Price Report?
Do you have questions about this Austin Real Estate Price Report? Call us at (512) 827-8323 or email us at info@11OaksRealty.com and we’ll help you in any way we can. If you’re looking to buy or sell Austin real estate, don’t forget to check out our Buyer Resources and our Seller Resources for more tips.
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