MARKET TRENDS - December 2018
Home prices were consistently up again in most markets in 2018 but at reduced levels compared to recent years. High demand for few homes for sale fueled price increases, but evidence is mounting that inventory will finally improve in 2019.
This may apply some downward pressure on prices for beleaguered home buyers. A fourth interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve in 2018
spooked the stock market to close out the year. The Fed has indicated that the number of rate increases in 2019 will be halved, which may be of little comfort to an already compressed consumer.
New Listings in Staten Island decreased 8.0 percent to 265. Pending Sales were down 14.1 percent to 274. Inventory levels rose 5.5 percent to 1,625 units.
Prices continued to gain traction. The Median Sales Price increased 4.9 percent to $555,000. Days on Market was up 10.5 percent to 88 days.
Buyers felt impowered as Months Supply of Inventory was up 10.3 percent to 4.5 months.
Unemployment rates remained remarkably low again in 2018, and wages continued to improve for many U.S. households. It is generally good for all parties involved in real estate transactions when wages grow, but the percentage of increase,
on average, has not kept pace with home price increases. This created an affordability crux in the second half of 2018. Housing affordability will remain an important storyline in 2019.
| Quick Facts | ||
| -16.9% | + 4.9% | +5.5% |
| 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