Hat tip to daytrip who sent in this article on housing inventory growth, which appears to be growing nationwide, at least in the higher-end markets:

Homebuyers in the U.S. have plenty to grouse about these days. Prices have climbed steeply in many metro areas, mortgage rates are rising and inventory is thin. But for people looking to purchase their first home, it’s ugly out there.

“Starter homes have become scarcer, pricier, smaller, older and more likely in need of some TLC” than they were six years ago, the real estate website Trulia reported Wednesday after analyzing housing stock across the country. Trulia began tracking prices and inventory in 2012.

It’s grim all over. American homes are at their least affordable in the report’s history. But the median listing price of available starter homes has risen 9.6 percent in the past year, easily beating out the trade-up and premium categories, while starter-home supply has fallen to a new low this quarter, Trulia reported.

Link to Article

How are we doing locally?

Here are the number of new listings between Carlsbad and La Jolla that hit the MLS between January 1st and March 15th – there will be a few stragglers to add to this year’s count:

NSDCC Detached-Home Listings Between Jan 1 – March 15

Price Range
2016
2017
2018
Under $1M
332
287
203
$1M to $1.5M
327
268
280
$1.5M to $2M
203
179
177
Over $2M
371
327
361
Totals
1,233
1,061
1,021
Closed Sales
435
460
415

If there were some breakout numbers here, I’d be concerned that a flood of inventory could cool off the market quickly. The only thing close is the $2M+ inventory being 10% higher than last year – but it’s less than 2016, and prices have gone up since then, so not a big deal.

The lower-end listings have really dried up – houses for sale that are listed under $1,000,000 have shrunk 39% since 2016.

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