Home prices in Seattle saw little change from August to September, an indication of a seasonal slowdown in the local market. Earlier this year, Seattle-area home prices saw month-to-month increases between 3-5%, according to the latest S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Home Price Index. 

“If I had to choose only one word to describe September 2021’s housing price data, the word would be ‘deceleration. Housing prices continued to show remarkable strength in September, though the pace of price increases declined slightly.” — S&P DJI managing director Craig Lazzara.

While the housing market may be hotter than usual, the shift toward seasonal norms is starting to show and could benefit both buyers and renters. 

“Motivated by fast-rising rents and the anticipated increase in mortgage rates, consumers that are on strong financial footing are signing contracts to purchase a home sooner rather than later.” — NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun

The demand for housing in the U.S. has reached a new all-time high since 2017, a rare occurrence for this time of year when the market typically slows. According to a Redfin report, a recovering economy and all-time low mortgage rates are critical factors in the current market. 

As the economy recovers from COVID and the housing market gains traction, homeownership is top of mind for Americans, according to the latest survey from Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC.

The seasonally adjusted estimate of new houses for sale at the end of September was 389,000, representing a supply of 6.3 months at the current sales rate, the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development reported.

As dramatic rent prices impact states across the nation, renters are searching for more affordable places to call home. Nationally, the median rent price is up over 16% since January, with some cities seeing double that, according to a recent Apartment List report.

Seattle is the fourth most expensive city in Washington for renters, according to a recent Zumper report. The report analyzed active listings last month in 11 metro cities.

Demand for second homes was up 70% from pre-pandemic levels in October, according to a new report from Redfin. This outpaced August’s 48% gain but was below January’s record 91% growth.

The U.S. housing market kept firing on all cylinders, as the demand for residential real estate drove prices higher for the 116th month in a row, marking the longest streak on record.

It’s been a crazy year for real estate with bidding wars, record home prices and historically low inventory, but that may all come to an end in 2022.

Among the 51 metro areas surveyed in October, closed transactions were down 6.4% from September, nearly twice the average pre-pandemic decline of 3.3% between 2015 and 2019, RE/MAX said, citing its National Housing Report.

November’s reading of 83 was up three points from October, driven by low existing inventories and strong buyer demand, the National Association of Home Builders reported, citing the latest NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index.

Housing observers noted that demand for housing remains robust despite the lack of new supply.

Should you wait until spring to put your home on the market? A recent Realtor.com report says, not necessarily.