A recent report on Wilsonville area real estate shows a continued solid increase in local home values. Compared to last year, Wilsonville home prices are now up 8.1% over this same time last year. If this trend continues, we could be well on our way to a good year for Wilsonville real estate.
What Is And What Should Never Be (With apologies to Led Zeppelin) But the real story is that Wilsonville home values have some of the lowest increases in our entire region. On top of that, Wilsonville pending sales changed -3.8% for the recent month measured and -15.7% compared to last year! As a result, Wilsonville’s solid home prices are still creeping upward. But fewer Wilsonville homes are now being sold.
With our 8.1% annual home price increase, Wilsonville now finishes ahead of only West Portland (7.1%) and Lake Oswego/West Linn (7.9%). Every other community in our region fared better than Wilsonville for home price appreciation.
But there’s an explanation. Perhaps not surprisingly, these three areas sport some of our area’s highest average selling prices, with Tigard/Wilsonville at $306,000, West Portland at $379,900 and Lake Oswego/West Linn at $440,500.
Both Sides Now (With apologies to Judy Collins) The flip side of the equation is interesting, especially if one looks where our area’s price appreciation is greatest. As expected, those communities have lower average sales prices. They include SE Portland with 15.4% (($249,000), Milwaukie/Clackamas at 14.8% (($275,000) and Columbia County an astronomical 25.9% ($188,700).
Feeling Stronger Every Day? (With apologies to Chicago) The bottom line is that Wilsonville home prices continue to increase, and that’s one good sign of a strengthening market. There are several factors helping to boost Wilsonville area home prices. These include our area’s real estate seasonality, which brings improved home buying weather this time of year.
Gains are also due in part to a continued recovery from the Great Recession which began around December, 2007. However, perhaps the key reason to explain our real estate boost is a significantly reduced inventory of homes for sale.
According to the latest housing inventory report from the Regional Multiple Listing Service (RMLS), the greater Portland Metro area will now ‘run out of homes’ in 2.8 months. Click here for this new FREE report, with helpful information on Wilsonville area real estate.
What Does This Mean For Wilsonville Homebuyers & Homesellers? Low home inventory means there are fewer houses for sale. A main effect of having fewer homes for sale typically means less selection and higher prices. This is the classic ‘seller’s market,’ where buyers lose a significant amount of leverage. This means buyers have to compete more against one another to find a desirable home. As a result, home prices rise. If you’ve thought about selling your Wilsonville home, this may be your best opportunity for the foreseeable future. However, if Wilsonville home owners en masse begin sensing the time is right to sell, such a concomitant increase in supply could cancel projected home price gains.
Limbo, How Low Will We Go? (With apologies to Chubby Checker) Another reason for our home inventory’s newsworthy nature has to do with the time of year. We’re already trending slightly ahead of 2013 given our latest inventory figure of 2.8 months from April. Last year, the months of May, June and July were lowest for regional inventory. So the lowest number of available homes for sale may yet be ahead.
Timing The Market Based on last year’s performance, homeowners may have another few months before the supply of homes begins climbing back up. So if you’re considering a Wilsonville area home sale in 2014, acting sooner is likely to be in your favor before inventory rises and other events are factored in, like families purchasing before the school year begins.
Consult The Experts Thinking about selling your Wilsonville area home? Contact the experts! Wilsonville’s very own Certified Realty is Oregon’s choice since 1950. Contact them using the convenient form below for a FREE report on what your property could sell for now.
