What it means: After several months of declining real estate sales, transaction levels spiked in November, reaching 50 monthly sales for the first time since Oct 2016. These sale levels are much higher than expected, especially considering that last November saw only 34 transactions. High sale levels were helped by 7 property closings down in the Snake River Sporting Club, including 4 sales/reservations for the soon-to-be-built Fairway Lodges – 3 and 4 bedroom cabins that are zoned for short term rentals. With the spike in sale transactions, sale volume also increased, reaching a level higher than anything seen this past summer. The median sales price in November ($900,000) was identical to last month, however the average sales price in November dropped nearly $200,000 as a significant number of sales occurred in the sub $1 million market. Six properties sold for under $500,000 (including several 2 bedroom condos in the Town of Jackson), and an additional 11 properties sold between $500,000 – $750,000, currently a hot market for local buyers. The overall sales price to list price ratio continues to hover around 95%, meaning buyers are purchasing homes for a 5% average discount. However, well priced and/or high demand properties continue to sell quickly (many times fetching multiple offers) as available quality inventory remains low. The average marketing time dropped slightly to 145 days (on average), even with several properties selling after being on the market close to a year. In November, 21 sales occurred within 90 days of hitting the market, illustrating that buyers are well-educated and are ready to jump quickly when they see something they like that is well priced. (Note: As a seller, it is important to list your property competitively (based on recent comps) in order to capture these ready-to-move buyers. Contact me if you’d like to discuss the marketability and market value of your home or complete the Home Valuation Form.)
