MARKET TRENDS - MARCH 2018

New residential real estate activity has been relatively slow in the first quarter of 2018, yet housing is proving its resiliency in a consistently improving economy. Some markets have had increases in signed contracts, but the vast majority of the nation continues to experience fewer closed sales and lower inventory compared to last year at this time. Despite there being fewer homes for sale, buyer demand has remained strong enough to keep prices on the rise, which should continue for the foreseeable future.

New Listings in Staten Island increased 1.4 percent to 578. Pending Sales were down 8.5 percent to 357. Inventory levels fell 1.7 percent to 1,542 units.

Prices continued to gain traction. The Median Sales Price increased 9.8 percent to $547,900. Days on Market was down 4.2 percent to 97 days. Sellers were encouraged as Months Supply of Inventory was down 3.8 percent to 4.1 months.

The Federal Reserve raised its key short-term interest rate by .25 percent in March, citing concerns about inflation. It is the sixth rate increase by the Fed since December 2015, and at least two more rate increases are expected this year. Borrowing money will be more expensive, particularly for home equity loans, credit cards and adjustable rate mortgages, but rising wages and a low national unemployment rate that has been at 4.1 percent for five months in a row would seem to indicate that we are prepared for this. And although mortgage rates have risen to their highest point in four years, they have been quite low for several years.

Monthly Indicators
-12.9% + 9.8% -1.7%
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