Realtor.com® March Housing Report: Housing Market Takes a Step in a Buyer-Friendly Direction

March data shows the largest share of price reductions since 2019 with 34 out of the 50 largest metros showing an uptick in drops

Santa Clara, CA – April 4, 2024 (PRNewswire) According to the Realtor.com® March housing report, buyers are looking at an optimistic mix of increasing inventory and an uptick in price reductions going into the Spring season. In March, the percentage of homes with price reductions increased to 15.0% – the largest share in 5 years – and the total number of homes actively for sale grew by 23.5% compared to last March (but remains well below pre pandemic levels).

“Sellers are starting to warm up to the current environment, wading into the market in increasing numbers despite market mortgage rates that are likely above their existing rate, if they have a mortgage.  As a result, data shows surprisingly competitive pricing trends among sellers, especially in the lead up to this year’s Best Time to Sell, which Realtor.com® reported will be between April 14th – 20th,” said Danielle Hale, Chief Economist of Realtor.com®. “As seller optimism swells, we may see even further inventory gains later in the season that will likely create a more balanced environment for hopeful homebuyers.” 

List of the 10 Metro Areas with Largest Share of Price Reductions of Total Inventory

  1. Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Fla. – 27.6%
  2. Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, Ariz. – 23.0%
  3. Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, Texas – 22.3%
  4. Jacksonville, Fla. – 22.1%
  5. San Antonio-New Braunfels, Texas – 21.8%
  6. Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, Fla. – 20.2%
  7. Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, Ore.-Wash. – 20.1%
  8. Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, Fla. – 19.7%
  9. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas – 19.5%
  10. Memphis, Tenn.-Miss.-Ark. – 19.3%

Across the country, price reductions were up compared with last year. In the South it was up 3.5 percentage points, +1.0 percentage points in the Midwest, +0.5 percentage points in the Northeast, and +0.2 percentage points in the West.

Sellers Turned Out as Home Listing Activity Continued to Climb
Between January 2024 and March 2024, the inventory of homes actively for sale was at its highest level since 2020. While inventory looks to be on the upswing, it’s important to note that the market is still down 37.9% compared to pre-pandemic levels. Like in February 2024, one price range in particular has outpaced all other price categories as home inventory between $200,000 and $350,000 grew by 30.5% compared to March 2023. A few metros experienced huge gains in active inventory for sale including Tampa (+58.3%), Orlando (53.3%), and Miami (48.2%).

Median List Price is in Flux; Up from Last Month, But Not Much has Changed from Last Year
The national median list price increased from $415,500 to $424,900 between February and March 2024. But, when compared to last year, the median list price only increased by 0.2% from March 2023. In two weeks of March, the median list price even dipped below last year’s levels. Out of the 50 largest metros, 18 saw their median list price decline compared to last year including Miami (-8.4%), Oklahoma City (-8.3%), and San Francisco (-7.6%), while Los Angeles (+15.1%), Richmond (+11.8%), and Pittsburgh (+11.6%) saw the biggest increases.  As prices fluctuate, so do the requirements for financing a home. With mortgage rates hovering between 6.6% and 7% for the past three months, the cost of financing a home (assuming a 20% down payment) increased by $63 compared to last March.

March 2024 Housing Metrics – National

MetricChange over Mar 2023Change over Mar 2019
Median listing price+0.2% (to $422,700)+38.9 %
Active listings+32.5 %-37.7 %
New listings+16.5 %-17.2 %
Median days on market-2 days (to 50 days) -15  days
Share of active listings with price reductions+2.2 percentage points(to 15.0%)+0.0  percentage points

Additional details and full analysis of the market inventory levels, price reductions, fluctuations and stabilization can be found in the Realtor.com® March Monthly Housing Report.

March 2024 Housing Overview of the 50 Largest Metros, Ranked by Largest Price Reduction

Metro AreaMedian Listing PriceMedian Listing Price YoYMedian Listing Price per Sq. Ft. YoYActive Listing Count YoYNew Listing Count YoYMedian Days on MarketMedian Days on Market Y-Y (Days)Price Reduced SharePrice Reduced Share Y-Y (Percentage Points)
Tampa-St.  Petersburg-Clearwater, Fla.$419,0002.2 %3.0 %58.3 %29.3 %51027.6 %8.3 pp
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler,  Ariz.$535,0007.1 %4.1 %16.9 %9.7 %49-123.0 %-2.0 pp
Austin-Round  Rock-Georgetown, Texas$550,0000.0 %2.0 %15.8 %19.0 %40-1122.3 %-4.5 pp
Jacksonville,  Fla.$415,0003.9 %4.6 %38.6 %22.1 %47-522.1 %4.6 pp
San  Antonio-New Braunfels, Texas$340,000-1.9 %-1.4 %36.8 %16.9 %572.521.8 %3.1 pp
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford,  Fla.$439,000-0.4 %2.0 %53.3 %14.6 %54120.2 %6.2 pp
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro,  Ore.-Wash.$605,000-1.6 %2.2 %26.7 %7.7 %451.520.1 %9.7 pp
Miami-Fort  Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, Fla.$549,000-8.4 %-3.6 %48.2 %16.6 %58-219.7 %5.5 pp
Dallas-Fort  Worth-Arlington, Texas$440,000-0.5 %1.4 %38.0 %16.7 %40-5.519.5 %3.5 pp
Memphis,  Tenn.-Miss.-Ark.$327,0002.5 %2.3 %38.2 %16.1 %51-1.519.3 %4.8 pp
Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin,  Tenn.$559,0006.0 %6.9 %9.3 %3.6 %32-318.8 %0.6 pp
New  Orleans-Metairie, La.$329,000-0.3 %-0.5 %27.7 %-4.8 %67917.8 %-0.6 pp
Oklahoma  City, Okla.$321,000-8.3 %-1.5 %22.9 %17.4 %45-5.517.2 %5.2 pp
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood,  Colo.$620,000-5.4 %2.6 %48.1 %19.4 %303.2517.2 %4.1 pp
Houston-The  Woodlands-Sugar Land, Texas$363,0000.7 %1.3 %23.5 %20.1 %43-3.516.7 %2.4 pp
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia,  N.C.-S.C.$410,0002.1 %5.8 %19.9 %1.2 %38-3.516.5 %4.1 pp
Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson,  Ind.$330,0005.5 %5.8 %23.5 %8.3 %42-4.2516.2 %2.6 pp
Atlanta-Sandy  Springs-Alpharetta, Ga.$410,0000.0 %4.0 %22.1 %11.9 %41-515.7 %2.6 pp
Columbus,  Ohio$380,0000.8 %6.8 %20.2 %9.7 %29-0.514.2 %2.0 pp
Las  Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, Nev.$470,0004.4 %5.8 %-33.1 %8.4 %38-1513.7 %-6.4 pp
Louisville/Jefferson  County, Ky.-Ind.$315,0002.3 %3.6 %14.5 %5.9 %40413.6 %0.6 pp
Virginia  Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, Va.-N.C.$391,0004.8 %6.4 %14.3 %2.2 %34-413.2 %2.3 pp
Birmingham-Hoover,  Ala.$290,0004.0 %5.3 %27.6 %12.6 %50-113.1 %-0.1 pp
Riverside-San  Bernardino-Ontario, Calif.$599,0007.1 %7.1 %7.5 %15.2 %47-713.0 %0.4 pp
Pittsburgh,  Pa.$240,00011.6 %9.9 %10.8 %1.3 %55-912.9 %0.8 pp
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson,  Md.$335,000-3.8 %2.4 %11.6 %6.5 %36-711.3 %1.1 pp
Raleigh-Cary,  N.C.$450,0000.0 %5.9 %6.1 %18.1 %42-9.511.2 %-1.5 pp
Kansas  City, Mo.-Kan.$425,000-6.6 %-4.0 %8.1 %20.7 %51-19.7511.2 %2.9 pp
Cincinnati,  Ohio-Ky.-Ind.$350,000-4.7 %6.2 %28.1 %17.0 %37-111.1 %3.0 pp
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom,  Calif.$635,0001.3 %4.2 %16.9 %32.5 %36-6.511.1 %1.0 pp
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington,  Pa.-N.J.-Del.-Md.$350,0006.6 %7.2 %-1.3 %1.6 %43-6.511.0 %0.0 pp
Cleveland-Elyria,  Ohio$230,0008.4 %9.2 %0.4 %2.4 %42-1.511.0 %1.5 pp
San  Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, Calif.$998,0005.1 %11.1 %26.3 %25.9 %32-510.9 %1.2 pp
St.  Louis, Mo.-Ill.$292,0004.7 %4.8 %14.2 %4.9 %39-7.510.3 %0.8 pp
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn,  Mich.$240,0001.2 %1.7 %3.6 %4.1 %42-3.59.8 %-2.3 pp
Boston-Cambridge-Newton,  Mass.-N.H.$880,0006.9 %10.0 %0.9 %7.3 %24-49.7 %1.3 pp
Minneapolis-St.  Paul-Bloomington, Minn.-Wis.$445,000-1.4 %-0.2 %24.3 %16.8 %34-49.5 %2.3 pp
Richmond,  Va.$450,00011.8 %8.7 %8.8 %-9.4 %4439.1 %1.3 pp
Los  Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, Calif.115000015.1 %8.1 %5.4 %17.8 %42-3.59.0 %-0.4 pp
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue,  Wash.$768,000-2.7 %1.4 %20.3 %19.5 %29-38.7 %-0.8 pp
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria,  DC-Va.-Md.-W. Va.$604,0000.8 %6.6 %2.2 %3.2 %31-38.7 %0.9 pp
San  Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, Calif.$999,000-7.6 %-1.2 %13.4 %21.7 %27-6.58.6 %-0.3 pp
Milwaukee-Waukesha,  Wis.$365,000-0.3 %5.2 %9.9 %12.4 %29-3.57.9 %0.7 pp
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin,  Ill.-Ind.-Wis.$375,0006.4 %7.3 %-7.7 %2.0 %33-77.8 %-1.8 pp
New  York-Newark-Jersey City, N.Y.-N.J.-Pa.$760,0008.8 %15.2 %-4.3 %2.6 %50-56.8 %-0.4 pp
Providence-Warwick,  R.I.-Mass.$500,000-2.8 %-1.7 %0.1 %12.1 %35.5-5.756.3 %0.6 pp
San  Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, Calif.1481000-0.9 %1.1 %2.2 %21.5 %22-55.8 %-1.6 pp
Buffalo-Cheektowaga,  N.Y.$270,0009.7 %9.6 %4.2 %3.7 %38-6.55.3 %-0.3 pp
Hartford-East  Hartford-Middletown, Conn.$400,000-0.7 %4.7 %6.1 %6.5 %3785.1 %0.6 pp
Rochester,  N.Y.$280,0008.7 %7.1 %-4.0 %9.0 %22-24.3 %-2.5 pp

Methodology
The Realtor.com housing report is based on data from March 2024. Listings include the active inventory of existing single-family homes and condos/townhomes/row homes/co-ops for the given level of geography on Realtor.com; new construction is excluded unless listed via an MLS that provides listing data to Realtor.com. Realtor.com data history goes back to July 2016. 50 largest U.S. metropolitan areas as defined by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB-202003).

About Realtor.com®
Realtor.com® is an open real estate marketplace built for everyone. Realtor.com® pioneered the world of digital real estate more than 25 years ago. Today, through its website and mobile apps, Realtor.com® is a trusted guide for consumers, empowering more people to find their way home by breaking down barriers, helping them make the right connections, and creating confidence through expert insights and guidance. For professionals, Realtor.com® is a trusted partner for business growth, offering consumer connections and branding solutions that help them succeed in today’s on-demand world. Realtor.com® is operated by News Corp [Nasdaq: NWS, NWSA] [ASX: NWS, NWSLV] subsidiary Move, Inc. For more information, visit Realtor.com®.

Media Contact
press@move.com 

SOURCE realtor.com

realtor.com March 2024 Housing Market Update

In the following brief video, from realtor.com, we can an update that gives you the relevant economic and real estate information you need to know to navigate the housing market as a homebuyer, home seller, or industry professional.

In March, Chief Economist Danielle Hale highlights still-strong economic readings including the latest labor market and inflation data. She hones in on key inflation metrics and how shelter costs are contributing. She notes that shelter costs have decelerated, and rents are falling annually, which should eventually be reflected in the inflation data.

Danielle also reviews the thinking from the March Fed meeting and how the committee’s economic projections signaled that interest rates may remain ‘higher for longer’, dependent on incoming data. She notes that mortgage rates could ease, mirroring the decline in 10-year treasury yields.



Zillow Names This Year’s Best Markets For First-time Home Buyers

Top markets for first-time home buyers offer affordable options and peers living nearby

  • St. Louis is the top major market in the U.S. for first-time home buyers. 
  • Half of the 10 best markets for first-time buyers are in the Midwest. 
  • First-time buyers made up half of all home buyers last year, the highest share since at least 2017. 

Seattle, WA – April 4, 2024 (PRNewswire) First-time home buyers in 2023 accounted for the largest share of home purchases in years. A new Zillow® analysis names this year’s best markets for first-time home buyers, where their dollars go further and starter homes are relatively plentiful. 

First-time buyers made up half of all home buyers last year, according to Zillow’s Consumer Housing Trends Report. That’s the highest share in the report’s history, which dates back to 2018, and up from a low of 37% in 2021. The “rate lock” effect — occurring when homeowners are financially incentivized to keep their current home because of the low rate on their current mortgage — has kept some would-be repeat buyers on the sidelines. 

“Affording a home is a tough hill to climb, and it’s especially steep for those buying their first home. Headwinds like mortgage rates, low inventory and rising rents are still strong, but easing,” said Zillow Senior Economist Orphe Divounguy. “Attractive homes are moving fast, so those looking to buy this spring should get their finances in order now, including getting pre-approved for a home loan. The increase in new listings this spring, due both to new construction and to more homeowners choosing to sell, will give buyers more options and help to ease price growth. The housing train is slowing down just enough to give more first-time buyers an opportunity to hop on board.”

Top 10 markets for first-time home buyers in 2024 

  1. St. Louis
  2. Detroit
  3. Minneapolis
  4. Indianapolis
  5. Austin
  6. Pittsburgh
  7. San Antonio
  8. Birmingham
  9. Kansas City
  10. Baltimore

Zillow’s ranking of the best markets for first-time buyers is based on rent affordability, the share of for-sale listings a typical household can comfortably afford, how stiff the competition is expected to be for those affordable listings, and how many similar-age households1 live in the area. 

The top two markets in Zillow’s ranking, St. Louis and Detroit, score well in terms of affordability — both for rental affordability as a prospective buyer builds up savings for a down payment, and for the number of affordable homes available to buy. Austin, while not the most affordable housing market on this list, ranks first in the number of similar-age households living there with which a buyer can build a community. 

First-time buyer tips and tricks
Zillow has gathered tools on one easy-to-navigate web page to help aspiring first-time buyers make the leap to homeownership, from getting finances in tip-top shape to hiring the right real estate agent who can help a buyer win a home. 

Zillow’s affordability calculator can help buyers understand their price range, including some of the hidden costs of homeownership that are often overlooked. 

It’s important for first-time buyers to understand how their credit score can impact their loan options and costs. A top loan officer can help a buyer understand all of their options, such as whether “paying points” or an adjustable rate mortgage might make sense for a buyer’s specific financial situation. 

Renters who pay their landlords through Zillow can now help build or enhance their credit history by opting in to rent payment reporting, with on-time payments reported to a major national credit bureau. 

A down payment is often the biggest financial hurdle for a first-time buyer. Those without enough money saved for a 20% down payment shouldn’t fret — nearly half of buyers put down less than 20%. Zillow displays down payment assistance programs a buyer may be eligible for on all for-sale listings. 

Metro AreaRent
Affordability
Share of
Affordable Listings
Affordable Listings Per
100 Renters
Share of Similar-Age
Households
St. Louis19.9 %66.7 %3.426.0 %
Detroit21.5 %63.6 %4.024.3 %
Minneapolis19.8 %48.4 %2.528.1 %
Indianapolis22.0 %50.4 %2.628.9 %
Austin20.3 %23.0 %1.333.6 %
Pittsburgh21.9 %62.9 %3.724.4 %
San Antonio22.6 %32.8 %2.630.6 %
Birmingham22.4 %47.5 %4.225.3 %
Kansas City21.0 %50.6 %2.227.2 %
Baltimore22.2 %56.4 %2.327.1 %
Ages 29–43. Zillow Research shows nearly half of first-time buyers are in this age range.

Methodology
Zillow’s 2024 list of the best markets for first-time buyers is based on four metrics: 

  • Rent affordability, as defined by the share of median household income spent on rent.
  • The share of available for-sale inventory on Zillow that the median household can comfortably afford, spending no more than 30% of income on the estimated monthly mortgage cost, assuming 5% down and 6.94% mortgage interest rate. 
  • The ratio of affordable for-sale inventory to renter households. More inventory per renter household is an indicator of less competition for each listing. 
  • The share of households ages 29–43. More households of similar age mean a higher score in Zillow’s ranking. 

About Zillow Group
Zillow Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: Z and ZG) is reimagining real estate to make home a reality for more and more people. As the most visited real estate website in the United States, Zillow and its affiliates help people find and get the home they want by connecting them with digital solutions, dedicated partners and agents, and easier buying, selling, financing and renting experiences. 

Zillow Group’s affiliates, subsidiaries and brands include Zillow®, Zillow Premier Agent®, Zillow Home Loans℠, Trulia®, Out East®, StreetEasy®, HotPads®, ShowingTime+, Spruce® and Follow Up Boss®. 

All marks herein are owned by MFTB Holdco, Inc., a Zillow affiliate. Zillow Home Loans, LLC is an Equal Housing Lender, NMLS #10287 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). © 2023 MFTB Holdco, Inc., a Zillow affiliate.

SOURCE Zillow