May Housing Market Set New Records for Low Supply, Speed and Competition - Redfin Real Estate News

May Housing Market Set New Records for Low Supply, Speed and Competition

by
Updated on October 6th, 2020

The median home sale price increased 6.8 percent in May to $288,000. Sales increased 7.5 percent compared to last year, a strong gain despite a severe shortage in the number of homes for sale.

Market Summary May 2017 Month-Over-Month Year-Over-Year
Median sale price $288,000 2.9% 6.8%
Homes sold 287,000 19.5% 7.5%
New listings 360,800 9.6% 3.0%
All Homes for sale 769,200 2.4% -10.9%
Median days on market 37 -4 -7
Months of supply 2.7 -0.4 -0.5
Sold above list 25.9% 1.1% 2.3%
Average Sale-to-list 95.4% 0.5% 0.5%

The number of homes for sale fell 10.9 percent, marking 20 straight months of year-over-year declines. The number of homes newly listed for sale in May increased 3 percent, but buyers tore through the small but welcome bump in fresh inventory before it could begin to make a dent in the long-standing supply shortage. There was a 2.7-month supply of homes left in May—the lowest Redfin has recorded since we began tracking the market in 2010—well below the six months that represents a market balanced between buyers and sellers.Median Sale Price (1)
Months of Supply
 
The typical home went under contract in 37 days, setting a new record for home-selling speeds. More than a quarter (25.9%) of homes sold above their list price, the highest percentage Redfin has recorded. The median sale-to-list price ratio set yet another record, hitting 95.4 percent in May.
“There is still a lot of momentum in home prices in many metros, not only on the coasts but also in places like Buffalo, Grand Rapids and Omaha,” said Redfin chief economist Nela Richardson. “Strong local economic growth and burgeoning demand from older millennials are accelerating home-price growth in this very competitive, low-inventory pre-summer market. The Federal Reserve’s announcement yesterday to raise short-term rates will have very little effect on buyer demand or the overall housing market. If anything, it may motivate buyers to make their purchases sooner rather than later.”  
In a Redfin-commissioned survey conducted last month, more than 1,000 homebuyers responded to a question about the effect a hypothetical rate hike above 5 percent would have on their home-buying plans. A quarter said it would have no impact, while nearly as many (23%) said they would increase their urgency to buy before rates went up further. Twenty-nine percent said they would slow down their search and see if rates came back down, 18 percent said their urgency wouldn’t change, but they would look in other areas or buy a smaller home. Just 5 percent said they would cancel their home-buying plans all together.
Denver was the fastest-moving market for the third month in a row, with the typical home finding a buyer in just six days. Denver home sales were strong in May, up 18.9 percent compared to last year, despite the fact that the region had just a one month supply of homes for sale. Prices in the metro area rose 5.3 percent.
Sold Above List
 
In the other markets that made up the top-five fastest–Seattle, Grand Rapids, Portland and Omaha–homes spent fewer than 10 days on the market before finding a buyer.
Redfin agent Dakotah Smith was not surprised to see Omaha among the fastest housing markets in the nation. “Omaha is seeing increased interest from buyers from more expensive coastal cities, who recognize that our city offers the rare combination of livability, a thriving jobs market and low cost of living.”
The median sale price in Omaha was $187,000 in May, 9.9 percent higher than a year ago, but still far below that of many coastal cities. A dearth of homes for sale has created competitive conditions for buyers. Smith says that well-priced homes are often off the market in the first weekend and competitive escalation clauses are common. Inventory in Omaha fell 22.5 percent in May and more than 30 percent of homes sold for more than the listing price.
Smith explains Omaha is part of the emerging “Silicon Prairie,” a cluster of Midwestern cities with blossoming tech sectors. “Not too many years ago, it was rare for someone to move to Omaha unless they had family here or were stationed in the military. Today I frequently work with buyers who are moving here from other states. Startups are taking advantage of lower overhead costs and pulling tech talent from the universities in the region. As many Millennials begin to start families, they are looking for cities where they can afford to buy a home and raise a family.”  

Other May Highlights

Competition

  • Denver, CO was the fastest market for the third month in a row, with nearly half of all homes pending sale in just 6 days. Seattle, WA was the next fastest markets with 7 median days on market, followed by Grand Rapids, MI (8) Portland, OR (8) and Omaha, NE (9).
  • The most competitive market in May was San Jose, CA where 74.1% of homes sold above list price, followed by 70.9% in Oakland, CA, 70.1% in San Francisco, CA, 64.1% in Seattle, WA, and 51.8% in Tacoma, WA.

Prices

  • Seattle, WA had the nation’s highest price growth, rising 15.9% since last year to $510,000. Lakeland, FL had the second highest growth at 15.1% year-over-year price growth, followed by Tampa, FL (13.2%), Memphis, TN (13%), and Manchester, NH (12.2%).
  • Two metros saw slight price declines in May including Albany, NY (-0.9%), and Baton Rouge, LA (-0.6%).

Sales

  • In 29 out of 89 metros, sales surged by double digits from last year. Poughkeepsie, NY led the nation in year-over-year sales growth, up 44.4%, followed by Memphis, TN, up 40.2%. Philadelphia, PA rounded out the top three with sales up 28.3% from a year ago.
  • Rochester, NY had the largest decline in sales since last year, falling 14.3%. Home sales in Santa Rosa, CA and Buffalo, NY declined by 11.2% and 10.3%, respectively.

Inventory

  • Rochester, NY had the largest decrease in overall inventory, falling 35.7% since last May. Buffalo, NY (-31.9%), San Jose, CA (-31.0%), and Seattle, WA (-27.1%) also had far fewer homes available on the market than a year ago.
  • Ogden, UT had the highest increase in the number of homes for sale, up 41.4% year over year, followed by Provo, UT (34.9%) and Fort Myers, FL (27.3%).

Below are market-by-market breakdowns for prices, inventory, new listings and sales for markets with populations of 1.5 million or more. For downloadable data on all of the markets Redfin tracks, visit the Redfin Data Center.

Month-Over-Month Year-Over-Year
Atlanta, GA $220,000 1.4% 4.8%
Austin, TX $310,000 2.5% 8.8%
Baltimore, MD $272,000 6.7% 8.8%
Boston, MA $400,000 5.3% 8.1%
Charlotte, NC $229,000 -0.9% 9.1%
Chicago, IL $244,000 1.9% 6.6%
Cincinnati, OH $164,000 -0.6% 1.9%
Cleveland, OH $143,000 5.9% 7.9%
Columbus, OH $196,000 7.0% 8.9%
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX $266,000 3.9% 11.3%
Denver, CO $378,000 -0.5% 5.3%
Detroit, MI $172,000 6.2% 8.9%
Edison, NJ $287,000 -0.7% 0.7%
Fort Lauderdale, FL $243,000 6.8% 10.5%
Hampton Roads, VA $223,000 2.3% 1.4%
Houston, TX $235,000 3.1% 4.4%
Indianapolis, IN $170,000 3.1% 6.2%
Kansas City, MO $198,200 6.7% 4.4%
Las Vegas, NV $235,000 2.2% 10.3%
Long Island, NY $401,800 0.4% 8.4%
Los Angeles, CA $575,000 2.7% 6.5%
Miami, FL $275,000 -1.5% 10.0%
Milwaukee, WI $198,500 -4.1% 7.3%
Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN $250,000 2.0% 6.4%
Nashville, TN $270,000 2.2% 8.0%
Oakland, CA $700,000 2.9% 8.5%
Orange County, CA $675,000 2.3% 6.4%
Orlando, FL $223,000 1.4% 11.6%
Philadelphia, PA $250,100 5.6% 6.4%
Phoenix, AZ $242,000 2.7% 5.7%
Pittsburgh, PA $160,000 7.5% 4.6%
Portland, OR $371,900 1.9% 10.0%
Riverside-San Bernardino, CA $340,000 1.5% 7.9%
Sacramento, CA $375,000 5.6% 8.1%
San Antonio, TX $212,000 1.0% 3.4%
San Diego, CA $540,000 1.9% 8.0%
San Francisco, CA $1,290,000 3.2% 8.6%
San Jose, CA $983,500 2.4% 5.2%
Seattle, WA $510,000 1.0% 15.9%
St. Louis, MO $174,000 4.0% 2.9%
Tampa, FL $210,000 3.4% 13.2%
Washington, DC $405,000 3.1% 5.2%
National $288,000 2.9% 6.8%

Homes Sold

Redfin Metro Homes Sold Month-Over-Month Year-Over-Year
Atlanta, GA 11,677 25.2% 11.4%
Austin, TX 3,187 19.5% 0.8%
Baltimore, MD 4,245 4.5% 15.0%
Boston, MA 6,014 35.7% -0.5%
Charlotte, NC 3,273 16.3% 3.1%
Chicago, IL 14,232 32.2% 24.1%
Cincinnati, OH 2,601 24.3% -2.8%
Cleveland, OH 2,787 28.6% 4.2%
Columbus, OH 3,081 26.5% 10.8%
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX 9,059 17.0% 1.4%
Denver, CO 5,911 20.3% 18.9%
Detroit, MI 5,977 7.2% 8.8%
Edison, NJ 3,203 23.2% 26.5%
Fort Lauderdale, FL 3,604 17.4% -0.6%
Hampton Roads, VA 2,557 33.1% 16.9%
Houston, TX 8,283 21.0% 7.7%
Indianapolis, IN 3,195 17.0% -3.7%
Kansas City, MO 3,542 25.6% -4.1%
Las Vegas, NV 4,229 20.5% 11.6%
Long Island, NY 2,232 9.1% 12.7%
Los Angeles, CA 6,972 18.2% 3.2%
Miami, FL 2,967 12.9% 6.2%
Milwaukee, WI 1,975 16.8% -3.8%
Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN 6,628 21.5% 14.8%
Nashville, TN 3,513 23.4% 16.5%
Oakland, CA 2,580 14.9% -0.5%
Orange County, CA 3,123 16.4% 1.5%
Orlando, FL 4,756 15.5% 26.1%
Philadelphia, PA 5,716 40.5% 28.3%
Phoenix, AZ 9,719 13.2% 12.8%
Pittsburgh, PA 2,521 16.3% 11.9%
Portland, OR 3,808 26.3% -3.9%
Riverside-San Bernardino, CA 5,722 15.1% 9.3%
Sacramento, CA 3,025 14.5% -1.7%
San Antonio, TX 2,749 23.6% 0.6%
San Diego, CA 3,554 9.8% -1.6%
San Francisco, CA 1,373 16.7% 1.9%
San Jose, CA 1,612 19.4% 2.2%
Seattle, WA 4,914 30.6% 5.2%
St. Louis, MO 4,124 15.9% 2.0%
Tampa, FL 6,425 11.1% 16.3%
Washington, DC 9,690 20.9% 11.4%
National 287,000 19.5% 7.5%

All Homes for Sale

Redfin Metro All Homes for Sale Month-Over-Month Year-Over-Year
Atlanta, GA 34,096 13.6% -2.3%
Austin, TX 7,398 5.0% 18.3%
Baltimore, MD 10,402 -0.9% -19.1%
Boston, MA 11,439 3.9% -19.7%
Charlotte, NC 10,697 5.0% -7.4%
Chicago, IL 44,354 2.2% -14.8%
Cincinnati, OH 8,328 3.1% -16.8%
Cleveland, OH 8,715 -0.9% -19.6%
Columbus, OH 6,854 3.2% -12.6%
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX 16,956 -3.2% -5.2%
Denver, CO 5,993 5.2% -4.8%
Detroit, MI 10,892 4.2% -25.0%
Edison, NJ 13,696 -5.1% -14.7%
Fort Lauderdale, FL 14,509 2.4% -4.5%
Hampton Roads, VA 7,805 0.0% -11.9%
Houston, TX 26,153 2.1% 6.3%
Indianapolis, IN 6,536 -1.5% -23.1%
Las Vegas, NV 10,786 -3.9% -25.5%
Long Island, NY 11,260 1.9% -20.2%
Los Angeles, CA 15,767 -1.9% -3.8%
Miami, FL 17,646 -0.9% -4.8%
Milwaukee, WI 6,522 3.9% -12.2%
Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN 11,565 4.8% -14.3%
Nashville, TN 9,289 4.6% 9.8%
Oakland, CA 2,744 -3.7% -18.6%
Orange County, CA 7,497 0.1% -9.2%
Orlando, FL 9,655 -3.5% -22.9%
Philadelphia, PA 15,306 3.3% -16.5%
Phoenix, AZ 20,534 -8.3% -15.2%
Pittsburgh, PA 10,351 1.9% -12.1%
Portland, OR 5,136 11.0% -5.1%
Riverside-San Bernardino, CA 14,910 -4.7% -10.3%
Sacramento, CA 4,483 7.5% -23.6%
San Antonio, TX 7,477 -1.2% -10.3%
San Diego, CA 5,362 -1.2% -22.7%
San Francisco, CA 1,979 -6.4% -15.6%
San Jose, CA 1,650 -2.3% -31.0%
Seattle, WA 3,883 11.3% -27.1%
St. Louis, MO 14,709 15.4% 2.7%
Tampa, FL 12,271 -5.8% -26.8%
Washington, DC 17,096 -0.5% -19.0%
National 769,200 2.4% -10.9%

New Listings

Redfin Metro New Listings Month-Over-Month Year-Over-Year
Atlanta, GA 13,207 9.5% 3.3%
Austin, TX 4,479 10.9% 15.6%
Baltimore, MD 5,436 0.5% 1.4%
Boston, MA 9,769 17.7% 6.0%
Charlotte, NC 3,946 6.5% 2.1%
Chicago, IL 16,588 7.2% -4.8%
Cincinnati, OH 3,035 8.5% -1.8%
Cleveland, OH 3,565 7.3% 0.2%
Columbus, OH 3,683 12.5% 7.1%
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX 11,846 14.0% 12.5%
Denver, CO 6,500 8.1% 0.0%
Detroit, MI 8,244 22.9% -0.2%
Edison, NJ 4,922 8.8% 5.1%
Fort Lauderdale, FL 4,311 8.5% 2.0%
Hampton Roads, VA 3,037 13.7% 10.6%
Houston, TX 11,561 7.9% 12.5%
Indianapolis, IN 3,507 5.0% -2.0%
Kansas City, MO 3,939 2.3% -2.4%
Las Vegas, NV 4,379 7.1% 0.2%
Long Island, NY 4,222 8.6% -2.3%
Los Angeles, CA 9,042 8.5% 2.9%
Miami, FL 4,565 14.0% 5.4%
Milwaukee, WI 2,516 8.6% -2.7%
Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN 7,905 10.8% -1.3%
Nashville, TN 4,285 12.9% 5.6%
Oakland, CA 3,260 7.9% -1.8%
Orange County, CA 3,837 5.3% -2.8%
Orlando, FL 5,135 8.4% 7.9%
Philadelphia, PA 6,712 2.8% 3.1%
Phoenix, AZ 9,530 1.6% 5.7%
Pittsburgh, PA 2,981 4.2% 1.1%
Portland, OR 4,859 17.9% 0.4%
Riverside-San Bernardino, CA 6,793 7.3% -1.1%
Sacramento, CA 4,100 18.2% 1.0%
San Antonio, TX 3,808 18.6% 15.6%
San Diego, CA 4,310 10.5% 0.1%
San Francisco, CA 1,544 7.9% -7.3%
San Jose, CA 1,796 8.3% -4.8%
Seattle, WA 6,223 26.7% 5.9%
St. Louis, MO 5,244 8.9% 7.2%
Tampa, FL 6,603 6.2% 6.9%
Washington, DC 11,695 1.5% 5.7%
National 360,800 9.6% 3.0%
Alina Ptaszynski

Alina Ptaszynski

Alina is on the communications and PR team at Redfin. She helps consumers and the media understand what's going on in the housing market, the real estate industry and inside Redfin.

Email Alina

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Be the first to see the latest real estate news:

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

By submitting your email you agree to Redfin’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

Scroll to Top