ADA COUNTY HOME SALES REACHED RECORD $404 MILLION IN MAY;
DRIVEN BY INCREASE IN NEW CONSTRUCTION CLOSINGS
Key Takeaways:
- The total sales dollar volume of all residential real estate sold in Ada County in May 2018 exceeded $400 million for the first time ever in a month, based on data going back to 2005. The previous high point was $371 million in June 2017.
- This jump in dollar volume was driven by a 60% increase in the number of newly constructed homes that sold compared to May 2017, along with an 8.7% bump in the median sales price — reflecting increasing costs of land, labor, and construction materials.
- Existing home sales were up just 2% from last year, but persistently low inventory pushed existing home prices up 16.1%, which further contributed to the record sales volume.
Analysis:
The total sales dollar volume of all residential real estate sold in Ada County last month was at the highest level ever in a month (based on data going back to 2005), reaching $404.4 million, an increase of 30.5% over May 2017. The previous high point was in June 2017 at $371.1 million.
May’s jump in volume was driven by a 60.1% increase in the number of new homes that sold compared to May 2017, along with an 8.7% year-over-year bump in the median sales price.
Existing home sales were up just 2% from last year, but persistently low inventory and high buyer demand pushed existing home prices up 16.4%, which further contributed to the record sales volume.
Here’s a closer look at the numbers in total and by market segment:
The monthly volume of home sales exceeded $400 million for the first time in May, due to more newly constructed homes selling at an overall higher price point. This higher price point reflects the increasing costs of land, labor, and construction materials, but as the supply of existing homes stays well below demand, we will see some buyers shift to new construction for more options, even as prices rise.
GEM COUNTY HOME PRICES UP IN MAY 2018
In May 2018, 33 homes sold in Gem County, leaving 58 new and existing homes available for sale at the end of the month — down 4.9% from the same month last year, but up 31.8% from April 2018.
The median sales price for existing homes in Gem County was $188,875 as of May 2018, based on activity over the past 12 months — an increase of 12.1% over the same period last year. For new homes, the median sales price was $206,624 as of May, also based on activity over the past 12 months. This was up 11.0% over the same period in the previous year.
Specifically, in the city of Emmett, closings were down 43.9% year-over-year, as 23 homes sold in May 2018 compared to 41 in May 2017, for existing and new construction combined. Based on activity in both segments over the past 12 months, the median sales price for Emmett was at $183,084 in May 2018, a gain of 9.8% over the same period last year.
Due to the smaller number of homes listed and sold in Gem County — compared to Ada or Canyon County, for example — we look at a longer timeframe to identify trends in home prices, specifically a rolling 12-month median. This helps to smooth out variations in price that may show up in monthly comparisons if there is a very high- or low-priced sale one month and not the next. While this is helpful to understand macro market trends, a consumer who is thinking about buying or selling a home should speak to a REALTOR® to understand the micro trends specific to their specific situation.
RESOURCES:
Additional information about trends within the Boise Region, by price point, by existing and new construction, and by neighborhood, are now available in the May 2018 Ada County, Canyon County, Gem County, and City Data Market Reports. This includes an explanation of the metrics and notes on data sources and methodology.
Download the latest (print quality) market snapshot graphics for Ada County Existing/Resale, Ada County New Construction, Canyon County Existing/Resale, Canyon County New Construction, and Gem County:
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This report is provided by Boise Regional REALTORS® (BRR), a 501(c)6 trade association, representing real estate professionals throughout the Boise region. Established in 1920, BRR is the largest local REALTOR® association in the state of Idaho, helping members achieve real estate success through ethics, professionalism, and connections. BRR has two wholly-owned subsidiaries, Intermountain MLS (IMLS) and the REALTORS® Community Foundation.
If you have questions about this report, please contact Cassie Zimmerman, Director of Communications for Boise Regional REALTORS®. If you are a consumer, please contact a REALTOR® to get the most current and accurate information specific to your situation.
The data reported is based primarily on the public statistics provided by the IMLS, available at: intermountainmls.com. These statistics are based upon information secured by the agent from the owner or their representative. The accuracy of this information, while deemed reliable, has not been verified and is not guaranteed. These statistics are not intended to represent the total number of properties sold in the counties or cities during the specified time period. The IMLS and BRR provide these statistics for purposes of general market analysis but make no representations as to past or future performance. The term “single-family homes” includes detached single-family homes with or without acreage, as classified in the IMLS. These numbers do not include activity for mobile homes, condominiums, townhomes, land, commercial, or multi-family properties (like apartment buildings).
