Question: Have you seen a drop in demand and buyer activity recently?
Answer: There has been a modest, but noticeable drop in the intensity of demand and buyer activity over the last 3-4 weeks. I’m seeing fewer showings/offers and more price reductions and cases of homes lasting through the first week on the market. I saw signs of it in the second half of April, but it became most noticeable in May.
But let me be clear, we are still very much in a seller’s market. I expect prices to hold in many cases and continue increasing in some, but the frequency and number of escalations should start to ease (already have) and buyers may find themselves able to secure some contract protections (contingencies) they couldn’t before.
DC Area Demand Index Tapers, Arlington Remains Strongest Market
Below you will see the Bright MLS Home Demand Index for the DC area. From July 2021 through February 2022, demand trailed its year-over-year (YoY) counterpart and even came close to matching the YoY demand reading in February 2022. However, you’ll see a noticeable separation in YoY demand taking place in March and especially April. I expect these lines to separate even further in May.
It’s worth noting that, with a demand reading of 227, Arlington has the highest demand reading in this index amongst the nine jurisdictions included in the Washington DC area index, followed by Alexandria at 190 and Fairfax at 151.
Arlington Showing Activity Drops
I pulled data on total showings and showings per listing for Feb 1-May 23 2021 and 2022 on homes priced from $500k to $1.7M, with combined data for all price points at the top of each table. For those not interested in examining the data in detail, here are the highlights:
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Activity surged at the beginning of the year and shifted in April/May (I think this started in mid/late April)
- Showings per listing increased 20-26% YoY from February-April 2022 but decreased 12% YoY in May 2022
- Total showings were up a more modest 9% and 3% YoY in February and March 2022, respectively, but dropped by 11% and 25% YoY in April and May 2022, respectively
- Showings per listing increased 20-26% YoY from February-April 2022 but decreased 12% YoY in May 2022
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Historically, we have seen showings slowdown from April to May, but the rate of the slowdown in 2022 compared to 2021 is significant
- From April 2021 to May 2021, showings per listing dropped 21%, but from April 2022 to May 2022, showings per listing dropped 43%
- From April 2021 to May 2021, total showings dropped 31%, but from April 2022 to May 2022, total showings dropped 42%
- From April 2021 to May 2021, showings per listing dropped 21%, but from April 2022 to May 2022, showings per listing dropped 43%
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In February and March, nearly every price range experienced a YoY increase in showings per listing and most experienced an increase in total showings as well. By April, the changes were split evenly between increased and decreased activity, but in May nearly every price range experienced a YoY decrease.
I will continue to track market data for you and in a couple of months, once most of the spring contracts have closed, we will be able to measure how some of these early indicators of weaker demand affect price metrics.
If you’d like to discuss buying, selling, investing, or renting, don’t hesitate to reach out to me at [email protected].
If you’d like a question answered in my weekly column or to discuss buying, selling, renting, or investing, please send an email to [email protected]. To read any of my older posts, visit the blog section of my website at EliResidential.com. Call me directly at (703) 539-2529.
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Eli Tucker is a licensed Realtor in Virginia, Washington DC, and Maryland with RLAH Real Estate, 4040 N Fairfax Dr #10C Arlington VA 22203. (703) 390-9460.
