Milwaukee

During this year's spring refresh, seller activity is the first item on the watch list. Low inventory has been a national headline grabber, and many are eager to see if this is the year that brings a bevy of new properties to market for ready-to buyers. Investor activity and cash purchases should be monitored, as well, along with any increases in new construction. And although interest rates are up from their all-time lows, borrowing costs are still remarkably affordable. It's cheaper to own than to rent in most of the country.

New Listings in the Milwaukee region increased 4.0 percent to 2,393. Pending Sales were down 39.4 percent to 903. Inventory levels grew 1.8 percent to 7,248 units.

Prices marched higher. The Median Sales Price increased 1.5 percent to $165,000. Days on Market was down 7.9 percent to 98 days. Absorption rates slowed as Months Supply of Inventory was up 1.6 percent to 5.6 months.

Consumers are in better shape for the current financial landscape, just in time for the primary home-buying season. Along with an uptick in consumer confidence, GDP growth was revised up to 2.6 percent by the Commerce Department. Consumer spending has risen and claims for unemployment benefits have decreased. Economic health fuels housing market growth. Employed, confident people with rising incomes tend to purchase real property.

All data for the market reports comes from the Multiple Listing Service, Inc. and is powered by 10K Research and Marketing. You can follow this link: http://www.metromls.com/support/Market_Updates/index.html or visit www.metromls.com.

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