MARKET TRENDS - AUGUST 2018

Rising home prices, higher interest rates and increased building material costs have pressured housing affordability to a ten-year low, according to the National Association of Home Builders. Keen market observers have been watching this situation take shape for quite some time. Nationally, median household income has risen 2.6% in the last 12 months, while home prices are up 6.0%. That kind of gap will eventually create fewer sales due to affordability concerns, which is happening in several markets, especially in the middle to high-middle price ranges.

New Listings in Staten Island decreased 3.9 percent to 560. Pending Sales were down 18.0 percent to 406. Inventory levels rose 2.5 percent to 1,983 units.

Prices continued to gain traction. The Median Sales Price increased 2.8 percent to $545,000. Days on Market was down 3.8 percent to 71 days. Buyers felt empowered as Months Supply of Inventory was up 1.5 percent to 5.2 months.

While some are starting to look for recessionary signs like fewer sales, dropping prices and even foreclosures, others are taking a more cautious and research based approached to their predictions. The fact remains that the trends do not yet support a dramatic shift away from what has been experienced over the last several years. Housing starts are performing admirably if not excitingly, prices are still inching upward, supply remains low and consumers are optimistic. The U.S. economy is under scrutiny but certainly not deteriorating.

 

Monthly Indicators
-8.1% + 2.8% +2.5%
One-Year Change in Closed Sales One-Year Change in Median Sales Price One-Year Change in Inventory
Click here for full report about the entire Staten Island housing market.

Click links below for detailed housing information on the different geographic areas of Staten Island:

East Shore – Includes data from Arrochar, Grasmere, Old Town, South Beach, Dongan Hills,  Dongan Hills below Hylan, Grant City and Midland Beach

Gateway – Includes data from New Dorp, Oakwood, Oakwood Beach, Oakwood Heights, Bay Terrace, Great Kills and Eltingville

Greater St. George –  Includes data from Ft. Wadsworth, Concord, Shore Acres, Rosebank, Clifton, Stapleton, Thomkinsville, St. George, Ward Hill, Park Hill and Grymes Hill

Heartland – Includes data from Willowbrook, Manor Heights, Bulls Head, New Springville , Heartland Village, Travis and LaTourette.

North Shore – Includes data from New Brighton, Snug Harbor, Livingston, Randall Manor, West Brighton, Port Richmond, Mariners Harbor, Graniteville, Arlington, Bloomfield and Elm Park

South Shore – Includes data from Annandale, South East Annandale, Arden Heights, Rossville, Woodrow, Huguenot, Princess Bay, Pleasant Plains, Charleston, Richmond Valley and Tottenville

The Hills – Includes data from Emerson Hill, Todt Hill, Lower Todt Hill, Light House Hill, Richmondtown, High Rock, Dongan Hills Colony and Emerson Hill

The Lakes – Includes data from Westerleigh, Sunset Hill, Sunnyside, Royal Oak, Silver Lake, Clove Lakes and Castleton