Brokers say home buyers are back, but they’re choosy

Home buyers are back, and they’re savvy and selective, according to officials who commented on the latest statistics from Northwest Multiple Listing Service. For sellers, that means pricing a home correctly at the start is vital.

The new report summarizing October activity shows year-over-year gains in new listings, pending sales, closed sales and prices. Northwest MLS members reported 8,643 pending sales last month, which is up nearly 6.9 percent from twelve months ago when members reported 8,086 mutually accepted offers. Most of the increases are from sales of single family homes, which rose more than 7.8 percent while condo activity was flat with less than a 1 percent rise in sales.

The West Wins: Top 10 'Turnaround' Housing Markets

Western states continue to dominate, showing some of the fastest paces of recovery in the nation’s housing markets. With inventories falling, national median list prices increased 2.54 percent year-over-year during the third quarter, Realtor.com reports. 

I sold this Olympia home in July for full asking price in less than 30 days.

The site released its rankings of the top 10 turnaround towns, based on third quarter housing data of median list price increases, inventory levels, and employment rates.

1.     Oakland, CA

2.     Sacramento, CA

3.     San Jose, CA

4.     San Francisco, CA

5.    Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA

6.     Bakersfield, CA

7.     Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Lompoc, CA

8.     Phoenix-Mesa, AZ

9.     Fresno, CA

10.   Miami, FL