1 in 4 U.S. Home Sales in 2017 Sold Above List Price

Buyers paid more than the asking price in nearly one quarter (24 percent) of U.S. home sales in 2017, netting sellers an additional $7,000 each. Five years ago, 17.8 percent of final sale prices were higher than the asking price, according to a new Zillow® analysisi.

Over the past year the American housing market has been struck by the combination of strong demand and limited supply. Young adult renters are increasingly feeling confident enough to buy, but they are entering a market with very few homes for sale, as inventory has been steadily declining for almost three years. Low interest rates have buoyed buyers’ budgets, raising the limits on what they can afford – and may be willing – to pay.

Homes sell quickly in such a competitive market, with the typical U.S. home selling in 80 days, including the time it takes to close on the sale. In San Jose, San Francisco and Seattle, the average home sells in less than 50 days. Fierce competition means buyers may not win a home on their first offer. The typical buyer spends more than four months home shopping and has to make multiple offers before an offer is accepted, according to the 2017 Zillow Group Consumer Housing Trends Report.

 

List Price

“Low interest rates and strong labor markets with high-paying jobs have allowed home buyers in some of the country’s priciest housing markets to bid well over asking price,” said Zillow Senior Economist Aaron Terrazas. “In the booming tech capitals of the California Bay Area and Pacific Northwest, paying above list price is now the norm. In the face of historically tight inventory, buyers have had to be more aggressive in their offers. We don’t expect this inventory crunch to ease meaningfully in 2018, meaning buyers will be facing many of the same struggles this year.”

In San Jose, Calif., San Francisco, Salt Lake City and Seattle, more than half of all homes sold last year went for above the list price. The average home sold above list in San Jose netted sellers an additional $62,000, the largest difference between list and sale price of the metros analyzed.

Over the past five years, Seattle saw the greatest increase in the share of sales that were above the asking price, from 20 percent of home sales in 2012 to 52 percent of sales in 2017. The amount over asking price grew as well, from 2.5 percent to 5.3 percent above the listed price.

Miami homes were least likely to sell for more than the listed price last year, followed by Virginia Beach and New Orleans.

Metropolitan Area Share of Sales
Above List
Price – 2012
Share Of Sales
Above List
Price – 2017
Median Amount
Paid Over List
Price – 2017 (%)
Median Amount
Paid Over List
Price – 2017 ($)
United States 17.8% 24.1% 3.1% $7,000
New York / Northern
New Jersey
6.8% 20.2% 3.3% $12,000
Los Angeles, CA 27.0% 37.5% 2.6% $14,100
Chicago, IL 13.1% 18.5% 2.6% $5,100
Dallas, TX 35.0% 38.9% 5.7% $12,023
Philadelphia, PA 6.1% 16.8% 2.4% $5,100
Houston, TX 27.2% 32.6% 5.0% $9,796
Washington, DC 18.8% 25.4% 1.9% $6,100
Miami, FL 19.0% 11.8% 4.2% $9,100
Atlanta, GA 19.3% 19.6% 2.4% $5,000
Boston, MA 13.4% 40.6% 3.7% $15,001
San Francisco, CA 43.0% 64.5% 6.0% $41,000
Detroit, MI 22.6% 24.0% 2.8% $5,000
Riverside, CA 32.8% 28.8% 1.8% $5,100
Phoenix, AZ 29.0% 16.0% 1.8% $3,600
Seattle, WA 20.3% 52.4% 5.3% $20,100
Minneapolis, MN 16.3% 35.3% 3.0% $6,100
San Diego, CA 24.4% 32.1% 2.1% $10,100
Saint Louis, MO 13.5% 26.2% 4.3% $6,748
Tampa, FL 13.5% 15.6% 2.7% $5,000
Baltimore, MD 10.0% 19.5% 2.2% $5,100
Denver, CO 17.9% 39.5% 2.9% $10,000
Pittsburgh, PA 7.6% 13.7% 2.7% $4,100
Portland, OR 19.6% 41.0% 3.1% $10,100
Charlotte, NC 9.4% 27.0% 2.7% $5,000
Sacramento, CA 34.6% 41.2% 2.5% $9,000
San Antonio, TX 38.9% 42.2% 5.8% $10,913
Orlando, FL 22.3% 16.9% 2.6% $5,000
Cincinnati, OH 9.3% 16.4% 2.3% $3,500
Cleveland, OH 8.6% 18.8% 3.2% $4,300
Kansas City, MO 31.5% 37.8% 4.4% $7,500
Las Vegas, NV 31.4% 25.4% 2.2% $5,000
Columbus, OH 10.1% 32.9% 3.0% $5,100
Indianapolis, IN 34.5% 24.4% 4.1% $5,846
San Jose, CA 49.1% 68.5% 6.8% $62,000
Austin, TX 36.3% 32.7% 6.3% $15,311

 

 

 

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