Negative housing headlines should be read with calm or skepticism, not alarm. National housing trends, like the steady rise in home prices and decline in inventory, should certainly be observed with care, but tracking wider economic conditions is also necessary. Buyers want to get into the market, but unlike the rising-price sales environment of ten years ago, people are not diving headlong into risky mortgages or uncomfortable situations. This carefulness should be celebrated, not feared.

New Listings in the Charlotte region decreased 0.2 percent to 5,582. Pending Sales were up 20.0 percent to 4,864. Inventory levels fell 27.8 percent to 10,145 units.

Prices continued to gain traction. The Median Sales Price increased 3.7 percent to $198,000. List to Close was down 5.4 percent to 122 days. Sellers were encouraged as Months Supply of Homes for Sale was down 36.4 percent to 2.8 months.

Employment figures are positive, wages are going up and employers are hiring. Consumers are holding for the right deal, even in the face of extremely low mortgage rates. As seller and builder confidence increases, we should see more activity in Q2 2016. The second quarter tends to rank as the best time to list a home for sale. But if inventory stays low, it will be difficult to sustain sales increases in year-over-year comparisons. Prices are seemingly not so high as to stall the market completely. Demand is present but an abundance of choice is not, and therein lies the rub.

The primary story, both nationally and in local submarkets, is a dwindling months’ supply of inventory. The cure, of course, is more inventory. But new construction has been lagging during this opportune moment, and sellers of existing homes are not yet hitting the market in droves. The heart of the selling season has yet to begin, so we’re still optimistically watching for an increase in activity in the coming months.

New Listings in the Charlotte region decreased 0.2 percent to 3,993. Pending Sales were up 22.2 percent to 3,814. Inventory levels fell 26.4 percent to 9,935 units.

Prices continued to gain traction. The Median Sales Price increased 2.2 percent to $182,000. List to Close was down 3.8 percent to 126 days. Sellers were encouraged as Months Supply of Homes for Sale was down 34.9 percent to 2.8 months.

National housing starts were up by 10.8 percent at the end of 2015 when compared to 2014, and the unemployment rate is holding low and steady at or near 4.9 percent. Meanwhile, mortgage rates continue to astound below 4.0 percent and we have witnessed an unprecedented 70 consecutive months of private-sector job growth. As consumers navigate their options, competition for the best available properties should be profound, especially if the market remains hobbled by a lack of supply.

The natural ending point that is each December gives way every year to the optimism of January. This is particularly pronounced when the economy is strong and economists across the land are predicting increases in both prices and home sales. Granted, there has been some measured language surrounding the positive thinking. Although we are looking forward to a mostly decent year in real estate, it should be the kind of activity akin to a sure and steady life being lived rather than the jolt of a lottery win, which is just the way we want it.

New Listings in the Charlotte region decreased 5.9 percent to 3,733. Pending Sales were up 13.0 percent to 3,356. Inventory levels fell 23.9 percent to 10,350 units.

Prices continued to gain traction. The Median Sales Price increased 7.8 percent to $179,500. List to Close was down 7.6 percent to 121 days. Sellers were encouraged as Months Supply of Homes for Sale was down 31.8 percent to 3.0 months.

Other than the change of another month and year, little else is changed in residential real estate both nationally and locally. Unemployment is solidly about the same, housing metric trends are running about the same for now and the sunny outlook is still at about high noon. Same is the sound of 2016, so get curled up and comfy with the song, because we are likely to sing it a lot this year.

The natural ending point that is each December gives way every year to the optimism of January. This is particularly pronounced when the economy is strong and economists across the land are predicting increases in both prices and home sales. Granted, there has been some measured language surrounding the positive thinking. Although we are looking forward to a mostly decent year in real estate, it should be the kind of activity akin to a sure and steady life being lived rather than the jolt of a lottery win, which is just the way we want it.

New Listings in the Charlotte region decreased 5.9 percent to 3,733. Pending Sales were up 13.0 percent to 3,356. Inventory levels fell 23.9 percent to 10,350 units.

Prices continued to gain traction. The Median Sales Price increased 7.8 percent to $179,500. List to Close was down 7.6 percent to 121 days. Sellers were encouraged as Months Supply of Homes for Sale was down 31.8 percent to 3.0 months.

Other than the change of another month and year, little else is changed in residential real estate both nationally and locally. Unemployment is solidly about the same, housing metric trends are running about the same for now and the sunny outlook is still at about high noon. Same is the sound of 2016, so get
curled up and comfy with the song, because we are likely to sing it a lot this year.

In 2015, national residential real estate, by and large, had a good year. Supply and demand were healthy in an environment rife with low interest rates and improved employment. The Federal Reserve finally increased short-term rates in December, and more increases are expected in 2016. Housing markets have shown a willingness to accept this. Save for a few expensive outliers where low inventory and high prices have become the norm, a balanced market is anticipated for much of the country for the foreseeable future. Improved inventory and affordability remain key factors for continued optimism.

New Listings in the Charlotte region decreased 11.7 percent to 2,396. Pending Sales were up 14.1 percent to 2,540. Inventory levels fell 24.2 percent to 10,445 units.

Prices continued to gain traction. The Median Sales Price increased 2.8 percent to $190,000. List to Close was down 7.0 percent to 119 days. Sellers were encouraged as Months Supply of Homes for Sale was down 33.3 percent to 3.0 months.

Gross Domestic Product increased at an annual rate near 2.0 percent to close 2015, and that rate is expected to increase next year. Residential real estate is considered a healthy piece of the national economy. Contributing factors from within the industry include better lending standards and foreclosures falling back to more traditional levels. Declining unemployment, higher wages and low fuel prices have also conspired to improve personal budgets.

Residential real estate is experiencing its best year since the recession. Housing demand is healthy, and that is expected to continue until the end of the year. Home sales are actually set to have their best national showing since 2006. More of the same is anticipated in 2016, but inventory and affordability
challenges coupled with mortgage rate increases will likely keep any sort of monster growth in check. This should be a good thing for keeping home prices from increasing too rapidly to maintain economic stability.

New Listings in the Charlotte region decreased 4.7 percent to 3,042. Pending Sales were up 18.1 percent to 3,000. Inventory levels fell 22.5 percent to 11,666 units.

Prices continued to gain traction. The Median Sales Price increased 9.4 percent to $197,000. List to Close was down 7.3 percent to 115 days. Sellers were encouraged as Months Supply of Homes for Sale was down 34.0 percent to 3.3 months.

Unemployment rates across the nation changed little last month, which bodes well for an increase in buying activity. The national jobless rate was 5.0 percent in October, which was 0.7 percent lower than the year prior. Although housing and employment data are quite positive at this juncture, it is still certainly
possible for listings and sales to be down in year-over-year comparisons. Bad weather and the mix of housing available to buyers tend to have a greater effect on trends at the end of the year than during the midsummer months.