2016 Home Sales: A Year in Review

Home sales in 2016 reached their highest levels in 8-years despite a slowdown in the month of December, according to the RE/MAX National Housing Report.

The median national sales price of $216,000 was 4.9% above one year ago and only 1.8% below November’s, while the average days a home was on the market was 53. In terms of sales volume, there were 6.1% more closed transactions in December 2016 than in December 2015.

The markets with the largest increase in sales volume included:

  • Wilmington/Dover, DE +21.4%;
  • Honolulu, HI +19.7%;
  • Augusta, ME +16.1%;
  • Las Vegas, NV +7.9%; and
  • Providence, RI +7.3%.

The largest double-digit price increases were seen in:

  • Birmingham, AL +17.1%;
  • Tampa, FL +16.8%;
  • Charlotte, NC +13.2%;
  • Seattle, WA 12.9%; and
  • Orlando, FL +12.3%.

The two metro areas (tie) with the lowest Days on Market were:

  • Omaha, NE 36 days; and
  • Denver, CO 36 days

The most Days on Market averages continued to be in

  • Augusta, ME at 141 days; and
  • Burlington, VT 101 days

The markets with the lowest Months Supply of Inventory continued to be in the West:

  • San Francisco, CA at 1.2 months;
  • Seattle, WA at 1.5 months; and
  • Denver, CO at 1.6 months.