Glencoe-North Shore Market Trends: Update November-December2012

Once again, Continued gains for Chicago-North Shore home sales volume, according to a recent report by the Illinois Association of REALTORS®. October sales soared 37.3% over previous-year real estate conditions, and statewide median prices increased 3.0%.

The October median price reflects a 12.9 percent gain from the year’s low. The median is a typical market price where half the homes sold for more and half sold for less. On the North Suburban Shore we are seeing strong sales and decreased market times as we enter the last quarter of this year. Listings Under Contract were up 52.7 percent to 643. Inventory levels shrank 34.6 percent to 3,315 units. Market Times were down 4.6 percent to 152 days. Absorption rates improved as the Month’s Supply of Inventory was down 49.7% to 5.8 months. In addition,  the monthly average commitment rate for a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage for the North Central region was 3.36 percent in October 2012, down from 3.49 percent during the previous month, according to the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. Last October it averaged 4.07 percent. These figures are encouraging for buyers and sellers alike who appear to be more confident about the housing market. See supporting data from NORTH SHORE BARRINGTON ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® and MIDWEST REAL ESTATE DATA LLC below (click to enlarge):

Statewide home sales (including single-family homes and condominiums) in October 2012 totaled 11,775 homes sold, up from 8,577 in October 2011. The last time this many houses sold in October in Illinois was in 2006 when 13,067 homes were sold.

Sixty-eight (68) of 101 Illinois counties including Chicago’s North Shore reporting showed year-over-year home sales volume increases in October 2012. More than half (53) counties showed year-over-year median price increases including Cook, up 3.4%. See supporting analysis below (Click to enlarge):

Sales and price information is generated by Multiple Listing Service closed sales reported by 31 participating Illinois REALTOR® local boards and associations including Midwest Real Estate Data LLC data as of Nov. 7, 2012 for the period Oct. 1 through Oct. 31, 2012 reflected into November 2012. The Chicago PMSA, as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, includes the counties of Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry and Will.

The Illinois Association of REALTORS® is a voluntary trade association whose 41,000 members are engaged in all facets of the real estate industry. Find Illinois housing stats, data and the University of Illinois REAL forecast at http://www.illinoisrealtor.org/marketstats.

Let our high performing, best ranking, optimal producing North Shore Realtors be a steady resource. Our Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate office is located in the downtown district of Glencoe, Illinois-60022(640 Vernon Ave). Stop in and feel free to discuss this report and any other real estate topics that affect the North Shore area of Chicago.

Real Estate Outcomes October2012: Chicago’s North Shore

Property Sales

Reports reflecting Chicago North Shore real estate market action in October show sales were down -25.0% from October of 2011 data and -10.0% lower than sales figures last month. October 2012 North Shore housing sales were at their lowest level compared to October of 2011 and 2010 conditions. October YTD sales are running 11.9% ahead of last year’s year-to-date sales volume.

Prices

The North Suburban Chicago Median Sales Price in October was down -18.9% from October of 2011 and up 25.8% from last month. The Average North Shore Sales Price in October was up 17.4% compared to October of 2011 data and up 47.9% based on real estate analysis from last month. October 2012 ASP was at highest level compared to October of 2011 and 2010 North Shore homes for sale.

 

Inventory & MSI

The total North Shore Chicago Inventory of Properties available for sale as of October 2012was down -8.5% from last month’s data and down -31.8% from figures calculated in October of last year. October 2012 North Shore real estate Inventory was at the lowest level compared to October of 2011 and 2010 trends.

A comparatively lower MSI is more beneficial for North Shore sellers while a higher MSI is better for North Shore buyers. The October 2012 MSI was at its lowest level compared with October of 2011 and 2010.

Market Time

The average Days on Market (DOM) shows how many days the average North Shore Property is on the Market before it sells. An upward trend in DOM tends to indicate a move towards more of a Buyer’s market, a downward trend a move towards more of a Seller’s market. The DOM for October was up 21.9% from last month’s compiling data and down -20.5% in October of last year. The October 2012 DOM was at its lowest level compared with October of 2011 and 2010 closed sales data.

Inventory / New Listings / Sales

‘The link/image above shows the market data combining monthly inventory of North Shore Properties for sale along with New Listings and Sales along the North Shore of Chicago. The graph shows the basic annual seasonality of the North Shore real estate market as well as the relationship between these items. The number of New Listings in October 2012 was up 16.7% from last month’s formulated data.

Gloria Matlin, based in the high ranking downtown Glencoe, Illinois Coldwell Banker office; can help answer questions on North Shore Chicago real estate reports, conditions, outcomes, forecasts, and calculations. Feel free to stop in.

What to do if or When an Appraisal is Low: North Shore Real Estate

Whether you are buying or selling on Chicago’s North Shore, the cost of the home is important. North Shore real estate agents often do their own market analysis to price a property—and many times do an outstanding job, but often the use of an appraiser can be beneficial to provide an independent, unbiased opinion to further ensure the price is right on target.

The other side of the coin is that there are still great deals to be had, even with prices increasing. But, if an appraisal doesn’t make the cut, it’s important to be prepared in advance for this scenario. With this in mind, here are the three main tips to consider when the appraisal comes in lower than expected:

1. Create an effect on the money

While adjusting the price up or down may not feel good for the buyer or the seller, it may be a smart move, depending on your situation.

North Shore Buyers, if the long-term value is there and the home is the “love of your life,” it will truly benefit you in the end.

North Shore Sellers, if you need to make the sale and are running out of time, a compromise may be essential. Buyers may also have to spend even more because a decrease in equity could cause you to fall below the lender’s required down-payment threshold, possibly requiring the purchase of private mortgage insurance.

The main question to ask … is it worth it?

2. Consider renegotiation

Just because the appraisal is not what is expected doesn’t mean the sale will not close. However, in a low-inventory North Shore market, sellers may not want to conduct a second appraisal, which means that buyers and sellers have to decide if they want to work together to seal the deal — whether the seller adjusts the price to the appraised value or the buyer and seller renegotiate a new price. Look at how far you’ve come and worked together. It may have taken you both some time to get to this point. Keep in mind that both sides have something to lose by not moving forward after investing time and money in the purchase. If a compromise can be made, it most likely will be. On the flip side, if the North Shore property is in demand, the seller may opt out of negotiating down as they may want to take a chance on someone else paying the difference or going for a cash buyer.

3. Check the report for accuracy

Appraisal reporting can be long, complicated documents, but they can be very revealing if you take the time to read them thoroughly. Make a note of anything that looks off, and verify that the information is correct, not only for the property itself but also for the properties that compare to your own. Confirm that ALL comps are listed — some may not be included on the MLS, and your real estate agent may have to research. Your agent will work with the buyer’s mortgage professional to ensure any discrepancies are relayed to the appraiser. While there is no guarantee that the report will change, it certainly helps to clarify any errors and understand why an appraisal reached a certain price point. Appraisals also point out if there are any secrets lurking within the property’s walls, such as unpermitted additions that add square footage but cannot contribute toward the property’s value. For this reason it’s important that sellers are honest and upfront from the beginning and that buyer’s do a little research before putting in an offer. More information HERE

For more information on this and other North Shore real estate topics, feel free to stop by Gloria Matlin’s real estate office located at 640 Vernon Ave in the downtown district of Glencoe, Illinois 60022. Allow our 40+ years of Chicago North Suburban expertise, guidance, trust, assurance, superior performance, and top-tier volume to be at your disposal.