Quarterly Market Trends: Q1 Eastside

Q1: January 1 – March 31, 2018

It is the time of year when our market starts to take off. Spring is here and we are starting to see seasonal increases in inventory.

In fact, there was a 54% increase in new listings in March compared to February. That increase was topped by a 58% rise in pending sales, illustrating very strong demand for housing on the Eastside. Last month, the average list-to-sale price ratio (how the sale price relates to the list price) was 103%, indicating that multiple offers were the norm. We ended the quarter with 0.7 months of inventory – the lowest level yet. More inventory would be absorbed by happy buyers looking for more selection and would help temper price growth, which is up 14% year-over-year.

Eastside real estate has a very high premium due to close-in commute times and desirable neighborhoods. In fact, the median price in March was $927,000! Sellers are enjoying amazing returns due to this phenomenon, and buyers are securing mortgages with minor debt service due to low interest rates. This is a very strong seller’s market, but buyers who are securing a home are already enjoying appreciation in equity.

This is only a snapshot of the trends on the Eastside area; please contact us if you would like further explanation of how the latest trends relate to you.