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Walla Walla Real Estate Update – September 2019
September became the fourth month in a row in the Walla Walla Valley to post year-over-year monthly gains in listing inventory. With approximately 2.5 months of inventory, Walla Walla’s market is still best categorized as a seller’s market. However, annual inventory gains indicate the market is moving towards balance. Should this trend continue, it will take pressure off increasing prices. This year, Walla Walla’s median sales price has increased 7% over last year.
Closed home sales slowed a bit during the month. While a slow down is typical for this time of year in the Walla Walla Valley, there are signs that the market should stay busy throughout the rest of the year. Historically, low interest rates have kept buyers active. The number of pending sales – homes under contract but not yet closed – grew 30% over September of last year. And strong buyer activity is expected to continue. Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, commented that “with interest rates expected to remain low, home sales are forecasted to rise in coming months and into 2020.” We anticipate a busy fourth quarter for the Walla Walla Valley’s real estate market.
September’s Listings: 309*
Monthly listings declined 3% from the previous month but remained 12% higher than the number of homes available for sale during September of last year.
September’s Closed Sales: 63*
The months home sales slowed 13% from the previous month and ended 7% below the number of closings during the same period a year ago. With one quarter to go, closed sales are 9% off last year’s pace.
September’s Median Sales Price: $269,900*
The months median sales price settled 7% from the previous month but was 5% higher than September of last year.
Click here for September’s charts.
*WWMLS WA Data
Walla Walla Real Estate Update – May 2019
More sellers listed their homes for sale in May which brought a much-needed boost to the Walla Walla Valley’s listing inventory. The number of listings grew 14% over the previous month and essentially equaled the number of homes available for sale 12 months ago. Closed homes sales declined a bit from the previous month but remained quite active. Yet at month’s end, annual homes sales were still 13% behind last year’s pace.
The valley’s median price jumped significantly from the previous month as more upper priced properties sold. However, this year’s median price has increased by just 3% over last year. Favorable interest rates continued to fuel buyer demand and new contract formation continued to be strong in May. The number of pending transactions – homes under contract but not yet closed – increased 30% over the previous month. This forward-looking indicator shows that the active market is continuing into the summer months.
May’s Listings: 264*
The month’s listings grew 14% over the previous month and equaled the number listed in May of last year.
May’s Closed Sales: 65*
Closed home sales slowed 7% from the previous month and 2% below the number that closed in May of last year.
May’s Median Price: $289,000*
The month’s median sales price took at 15% leap over the previous month but was just 4% above the median sales price for May of last year.
Click here for full a Monthly Statistics Report.
*WWMLS WA Data
Walla Walla Real Estate Update – April 2019
Walla Walla valley’s real estate market sprung back to life in April. Homes sales surged 52% and listing inventory grew 9% over the previous month. However, given the slow first quarter, year-to-date sales remained 16% behind last years pace and the trend of year-over-year listing declines continued. At month’s end, there were 8% fewer homes listed for sale than were available 12 months ago.
However, there were signs that the market will stay active as we head into summer. Buyer demand remained strong and the number of purchase and sale agreements increased. Pending sales, a forward-looking indicator for homes under contract but not yet closed, grew 12% over the previous month. We also expect to see listing inventory grow during May as sellers look to take advantage of the busy market.
April’s Listings: 232*
The month’s listing inventory grew 9% over the previous month but remained 8% below the number of homes available a year ago.
April’s Closed Sales: 70*
Home sales surged 52% ahead of the previous month but were 11% behind the number that closed during April of last year.
April’s Median Price: $252,000*
The month’s median price was 2% higher than the previous month and 11% higher than the median price for April of last year.
Click here for the full monthly charts.
*WWMLS WA Data
Walla Walla Real Estate Update – March 2019
Through the first part of the year, there were more buyers on the market than listings in the Walla Walla Valley. Some buyers delayed their purchase decisions because they were unable to find what they were looking for. At the first quarter end, both listings and sales had fallen 18% behind last years pace.
The low inventory continued to put upward pressure on price. The median price for this year’s first quarter was 9% higher than the first quarter of last year.
However, buyer demand remained strong and there were signs that home sales were increasing. Pending homes sales – those under contract but not yet closed – grew by 4% over the previous month. There were also signs that more listing inventory was on the way. Many sellers wanting to sell their homes this year have waited till spring to list. And the buyers can’t wait. We expect an active real estate market in the second quarter of the year.
Listings: 212*
Listing grew a modest 2% over the previous month but remained 18% below the number of homes available 12 months ago.
Closed Home Sales: 46*
Home sales increased 12% over the previous month but declined 20% below the number of closings in March of last year.
Median Price: $247,500*
The median decreased 5% from the previous month but was 4% higher than the median price for March of last year.
Click here for the full Monthly Charts
*WWMLS WA Data
Walla Walla Real Estate Update – February 2019
Walla Walla’s real estate market experienced an icy month. Both listings and sales continued to decline and harsh winter conditions are partly to blame. Many brokers reported that their sellers who wanted to list homes in February were waiting for the snow to melt so they could prepare their homes for market. In addition, slippery roads combined with the prospect of additional homes coming on the market caused some buyers to delay their purchase decisions. Through the first two months, closed home sales fell 17% behind last years pace.
Everyone is ready for spring! And Walla Walla’s real estate market is poised to get very busy. Warm weather will certainly bring listings to market and buyer demand for homes in the Walla Walla Valley will remain strong. Our local economy, favorable mortgage rates, and small-town lifestyle will continue to make owning a home here a very desirable investment. Like pretty much everyone, we are ready for the snow to melt!
February’s Listings: 208*
The month ended with 5% fewer listings than the previous month and 10% below the number of homes listed for sale a year ago.
February’s Closings: 34*
Monthly closings slid another 19% from the previous month and ended 15% below the number of closings in February of last year.
February’s Median Sales Price: $263,750*
Median prices increased 13% over the previous month and 18% above the median price for February of last year.
Click here for monthly charts.
*WWMLS WA Data
Walla Walla Real Estate Update – January 2019
The Walla Walla Valley’s real estate market got off to a slow start this year. Home closings were 19% below last year’s pace and listing inventory remained historically low. However, there were some encouraging signs; buyers continued to write contracts during the month and the pipeline of pending sales – homes under contract but not yet closed – increased by 41%. This is a good forward-looking indicator of future sales.
In addition, we are expecting Walla Walla’s listing inventory to grow during the first quarter of the year. As mentioned in our year-end report, 23 counties in Washington state are already reporting annual listing inventory gains. And although Walla Walla is often more steady than other markets, our area usually trends with the state.
January’s Listings: 219*
The month ended with the same number of listings as the previous month and 6% below the number of homes listed for sale a year ago.
January’s Closings: 42*
Closings declined by 22% from the previous month and fell 19% below the number of closings for January of last year.
January’s Median Sales Price: 233,000*
The median price fell 6% below the previous month but was 5% higher than the median price for January of last year.
*WWMLS WA Data
Click here for THE JANUARY 2019 MARKET REPORT
Walla Walla Real Estate Update – November 2018
Despite low inventory, the Walla Walla Valley MLS is poised to have its second most active real estate year ever. With one month to go, annual homes sales remained 4% ahead of last years pace. Last year’s sales were second to the number that occurred in 2016. While sustained listing inventory levels were extremely low this year for the Walla Walla Valley, new listings that came to market each month were quickly sold. The seller’s market continued, especially for homes under $600,000.
As reported throughout the year, low inventory levels led to increased prices. With one month to go, the fourth quarter’s median sales price is 10% higher than that for the same period a year ago.
While the market sustained good activity throughout the month, there were signs that the anticipated seasonal slowdown had begun. November’s pending sales – homes under contract but not yet sold – declined by 13%. However, December’s projected closings should ensure the lead over last year is maintained.
November’s Listings: 237*
Novembers listing inventory dropped 13% from the previous month and remained 14% below the number of homes listed for sale in November of last year.
November’s Closed Sales: 63*
Closed sales declined 14% from the previous month but stayed on par with the number of homes that closed in November of last year.
November’s Median Price: $260,000*
The month’s median price equaled that of last month but was 9% higher than the median price of closed homes in November of last year.
Click here for the full November Monthly Charts
*WWMLS WA Data
Walla Walla Real Estate Update – October 2018
With just two reporting months left in the year, 2018 is poised to be the second busiest real estate year in Walla Walla’s MLS history. 2016 currently holds the record for the most annual MLS home sales and 2017 holds the record for the second most. Through October of this year, home sales were 4% ahead of the pace from a year ago, but there were signs that the market is slowing a bit. October’s pending sales – homes under contract but not yet closed – declined by 14%.
Lawrence Yun, National Association of Realtors’ chief economist, reported that most of the country experienced “another month of rising inventory on a year-over-year basis”. However, this trend has not occurred in the Walla Walla Valley where inventory has remained low. At months end, year-over-year listings were 9% less than October of 2017.
Low inventory levels continued to put upward pressure on prices and the current seller’s market continued for homes under $600,000. Through October, the annual median sales price had increased 9% over the previous year to $248,481.
We continue to experience a moderately active market with buyers and sellers looking to make a move before year-end.
October’s Listings: 271*
The number of listings declined 2% from the previous month and was 9% below the number of homes available a year ago.
October’s Closed Sales: 67*
Monthly home sales stayed even with the previous month but were 13% below the same month of last year. As mentioned above, annual homes sales were still 4% ahead of last year’s pace.
October’s Median Price: $259,500*
The months median sales price increased by just $2000 over the previous month but was 14% higher than the same month of last year.
Click Here to View the Full Year to Date Statistic Charts
*WWMLS WA Data
Walla Walla Real Estate Update – September 2018
Walla Walla Valley home sales slowed in September which is typical during this time each year as many buyers focus on summer vacations and back to school activities.
Inventory declined during the month and remained 8% below the number of homes listed for sale a year ago. Low inventory levels have been caused, in part, by sellers who were excited about the prospect of receiving good offers on their property but were reluctant to list for fear of not being able to find their next home.
In spite of low inventory levels, Walla Walla has experienced a strong market through the first nine months. At month end, annual closed sales were 6% ahead of last years pace. The seller’s market continued to put upper pressure on prices. Year-to-date, Walla Walla’s median price has increased by 9% over the previous year.
We expect activity to pick up this fall prior to the Holiday Season as both buyers and sellers look to make changes and/or additions to their real estate holdings before year end.
September’s Listings: 277*
The month ended with 2% fewer listings than the previous month and 8% fewer than the number of homes listed for sale 12 months ago.
Septembers Closed Sales: 67*
Closed home sales declined 21% from the previous month. But as mentioned above, this is typical for the month of September. Closed sales were just 6% off the total for September of last year.
September’s Median Price: $257,500*
The months median price had a slight drop of 1.3% from the previous month but was significantly up from last September’s median sales price of $209,500.
View the full Monthly Statistic Charts
*WWMLS WA Data
Walla Walla Real Estate Update – August 2018
Hot weather and smoky skies did not slow home sales in August. The month tied June for the most monthly home sales of the year in the Walla Walla Valley. But a decline in pending sales and an increase in listing inventory suggested the market had slowed just a bit. Pending sales – homes under contract but not yet closed – stayed even with the previous month but were down 18% from the pace set earlier in the summer. However, at month end, annual sales were still 7% ahead of last years pace.
Listing inventory grew during the month to the highest level in 10 months, but remained historically low for our market. The number of homes listed for sale was down 6% from the number available 12 months ago.
As reported in previous months, low inventory continued to put upward pressure on price. The month’s median price was 13% higher than in August of last year. However, rising interest rates and home prices have not yet damped buyer’s demand for Walla Walla valley homes and our year is on track to be the 2nd most active annual market in our MLS’s history.
August’s Listings 284*
The month’s listing inventory grew by 7% over the previous month but there were still 6% fewer homes listed than were available 12 months ago.
August’s Closed Sales: 84*
Monthly closed home sales increased by a single sale over the previous month and were within 1 closing of the number that closed in August of last year.
August’s Median Price: $261,000*
The month’s median sales price held level with the previous month but was 13% higher than the median price for the same month of last year.
View the full Monthly Statistic Charts
*WWMLS WA Data
