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Your Queen Anne Market Report for December 2019
First off, I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving with friends and family!
Now let’s leap into what has happened on the Hill since my last report:
Sales during the Holidays and into January usually slow, but this year, at least in November, sales in King County are up 7% over this time last year according to the NWMLS. This is surprising news and confirms what my colleagues and I have been observing in our local market. In Ballard, Wallingford, Fremont, Crown Hill and most of the other near north end neighborhoods with average prices under $1Million, the competition among buyers is fierce. A very nice Craftsman bungalow in Wallingford that I looked at for a buyer last month had 8 offers on it listed at $985,000! Another home in Magnolia priced at $1.05M has had 8 pre-inspections before they are looking at offers. Much of what is causing this is traditional low inventory this time of year and amazingly low interest rates both which I expect to continue into the spring market. In looking at the data, it seems that homes listed over $1.2M are not experiencing this sales rapidity but are selling with an average on market of around 54 days. Currently, we have 16 active listings for sale on the Hill and the average sold price has been consistently right around $1.2M for a 2500 square foot home. Average price/square foot for the last 30 days has risen slightly to $525.00 November 2019 QA Pendings and solds for more details. Also, below is the 2020 real estate projection from Windermere’s economist Matthew Gardener. I encourage you to view his 4 minute video.
Finally, the home on the Hill that sold for most over list price was 3017 10thAvenue West, listed for $875,000 and sold for $913,700. Certainly not the overage we were used to seeing in the recent fast markets, but it was a major fixer in a Queen Anne Park and had been in very rough shape for years, so I am sure the neighbors are thrilled!
And that’s the way Steve sees it…
Have a magical Holiday season!
Your Queen Anne Market Report for September
You probably have felt it in the air over the last 90 days-home prices are coming down. Ah the good old days when a home would come onto the market and be sold in less than a week with multiple offers. Not happening now. Our Windermere economist is indicating that, on average, home prices are down 7-10% over this time last year.
No need to panic, because mortgage rates are low and will probably fall a little more over the next month, so that keeps buyers in the market. There is no one reason for this transition in prices. Perhaps prices just got too high for buyers to qualify or feel comfortable with their monthly mortgage payment? Perhaps the bulk of buyers have already purchased and are not being replaced at the same crazy rate that they were over the preceding seven years? Perhaps there are so many new rental apartments now with managers offering major incentives to prospective tenants that that has lessened demand, not to mention that as rents become much less than mortgage payments, folks may decide to stay in their apartments. Perhaps they are locked into a one year lease with ten more months to go? And we cannot forget the unusually higher volume of homes that came on the market in late April and continued through June which contributed to the price decline.
Despite the above, I am still very bullish on the future of Queen Anne popularity and pricing. If we follow the usual annual cycle, I expect this market to continue at basically this value level until next Spring when we will be off to the races again from March-June(or longer)!
Don’t forget: WS Excise taxes are going up starting January 2020 and really impact homes closing for $1.5M or more. Please see the attachment for details.
There were very few homes that sold over their list prices in August, but there was one standout: 1407 Bigelow was listed at $1.495M and sold for $1.7M.
And that’s the way Steve sees it…Click here to view report, and Click here to view the current Excise Tax rates.
Make it another great month!
Your Queen Anne Market Report for July 2019
What I suggested might happen to our market in last month’s report, namely that increased inventory would probably lead to a slow down to the market, has come to pass. In addition, we are now in the summer market which is usually slightly slower.
Having said that, homes are still appreciating quite well as demand for Queen Anne remains high due to its location and continuing low interest rates. The Fed is expected to cut the rate they charge banks next month and that usually leads to slightly lower mortgage rates so I see rates as continuing to be positive.
To recap the last 30 days, there have been 43 homes sell or close since my last report on June 10th. Seven of those have sold for more than full price. Of those 43 sold or pending homes, 10 were listed since June 10th. We currently have 44 active listings for sale which is about the same number as last month. Incidentally, I am seeing a less frantic pace of homes coming onto the market since the last report. This spring was truly something of a record breaker in terms of homes coming on the market. In the last 30 days, we have only had 18 homes listed for sale which is far less than the number listed in March, April and especially May. I expect this slower pace of homes being listed to continue through summer.
Many of you probably know that the WS Legislature has increased the excise rates you pay when your home sells. Please review this document which will let you know how much more it will cost you to sell your home beginning in January. FYI, the rate more than doubles for homes sold for $1.5M or more. Yikes!
The winner of last month’s home that sold for the most over its list price was 3338 9th West, listed for $1.195M and selling for $1.321M. After I previewed this home, I thought it was too low on the price, but the market gave us the current value. Please review this document for details of those homes that sold in the last 30 days.
And that’s the way Steve sees it…
Have fun outside if it ever stops raining! (At least it’s warmer).
