National home sales perked up in spring. Did the Seattle area follow?
By Mina Mina · Real Broker, LLC
Late spring brought a bit of good news nationally. Existing home sales picked up as affordability improved slightly and more buyers came off the sidelines. The natural question for us is whether the Seattle area moved with the country or to its own beat.
The local read
Our region tends to have its own rhythm because of tech employment, limited land, and strong demand in certain pockets. Local reports through the spring showed rising inventory and generally steady prices, which is a different flavor than the national story of muted growth. In practice that has meant more choice for buyers here without a price collapse.
Why national headlines can mislead you
A national median blends thousands of very different markets. It is useful for direction, but it is a poor guide for pricing a home in Kirkland or Marysville. For that you need current local comparable sales, not a country wide average.
Want the real numbers for your neighborhood instead of a national headline? Ask me and I will pull them.