2014 April Home Sales Report - Wisconsin REALTORS® Association

2014 April Home Sales Report - Wisconsin REALTORS® Association


Date: May 19, 2014

MADISON –
Wisconsin existing home sales fell in April even as median prices
continued to rise according to the most recent analysis of the state
housing market released by the Wisconsin REALTORS^®
Association (WRA). Home sales declined 11.6 percent in April compared
to the same month last year due to a combination of higher home mortgage
rates, higher prices and harsh winter temperatures. Median prices rose
over that same period, increasing 1.4 percent to $139,900.

“As we enter the second quarter of the year, we have been expecting some
improvement in home sales, but it’s important to remember that April
sales are still impacted by the February weather given the 6 to 8 week
lag between the time an offer is accepted and a closing takes place,”
said Steve Lane, Chairman of the WRA Board of Directors. He also noted
that there were heavy snows in the northern part of the state as late as
mid-April 2014. Every region of the state experienced a decline in
April sales. The Central region fared the best, falling just 3.8
percent over the April 2013 to April 2014 period, followed by the
Northeast region which dropped 8.5 percent over the period. The South
central region fell 9.6 percent and the Southeast region saw a decline
of 10.1 percent. Finally, the North region dropped 17.4 percent and the
West fell 25.5 percent. Interestingly, home sales fell more
substantially in the metropolitan counties which averaged a 13 percent
reduction in sales in April compared to rural counties which declined 7
percent between April 2013 and April 2014. “This may be due in part to
much tighter inventories in the urban counties compared to rural
counties,” said Lane. Rural counties had just over 14 months of
available inventory in April compared to just 6.9 months for
metropolitan counties.

“The national economy barely grew in thefirst quarter which under normal circumstances might suggest an economic slowdown, but even that has been partially blamed on the weather,” said
Michael Theo, WRA President and CEO. The advance estimate of first
quarter real GDP growth revealed that the economy grew at just 0.1
percent, and the combination of a harsh winter, lower trade and lower
inventory replacement kept the economy stagnate in the first quarter.
Countering that was a relatively strong consumption component of real
GDP, and a relatively strong April jobs report. The latter indicated a
stronger than anticipated 288,000 jobs created in the US in April which
is the largest monthly growth in more than 2 years. “The key to
sustained growth in the housing market is a growing economy we hope the
current employment trends continue,” said Theo.

For the second straight month, median home prices grew at a modest pace with April
prices up 1.4 percent over April 2013. “The relatively slower pace of
sales over the last four months has allowed our inventories to increase
this year although we are still below April 2013 levels,” said Mr. Theo.
The inventory of unsold homes stood at 8.9 months in April compared to
9.4 months this time last year. “We always expect our inventories to
expand in the winter since home sales cool off, and our inventories have
increased quite a bit this year, which has helped stabilize our
prices,” he said. Wisconsin median prices increased 7.2 percent in 2013
compared to 2012, and they were up 4.2 percent in the first quarter of
2014 relative to that quarter in 2013. In contrast, the price increases
the last two months have been less than 2 percent on an annual basis
which is more in line with general inflationary trends.

The Wisconsin Housing Affordability Index measures the percent of the median priced
home that the household with median family income can afford to buy at
current mortgage rates, assuming a 20 percent down payment. The index
currently stands at 231 compared to 252 in April last year. “Although
slipping slightly, Wisconsin still has very affordable housing, which is
an asset that continues to be a solid hedge against inflation,” he
added.