In the world of costs and benefits, no good deed goes unpunished and every rain cloud has a silver lining. The Commerce Department recently reported that consumer retail spending had risen the most in seven months. That bodes well for residential real estate – an industry sensitive to consumer confidence and spending levels.

But it could force the Federal Reserve’s hand in tapering stimulatory monetary policy sooner than later, something that could push interest rates off their current lows.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending August 10:

• New Listings increased 19.1% to 1,650
• Pending Sales increased 10.1% to 1,197
• Inventory decreased 11.3% to 15,990

For the month of July:

• Median Sales Price increased 16.8% to $208,000
• Days on Market decreased 31.4% to 72
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 2.6% to 97.5%
• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 21.7% to 3.6

Click here for the full Weekly Market Activity Report.From The Skinny.

Nationwide, local markets have become stable enough to withstand mortgage rate increases. Improving job and other economic sectors have fortified real, organic housing growth. Bargain-basement deals have given way to multiple offers, stiff bidding wars and lickety-split days on market. Inventory may still be thin, but traditional home sellers are stepping up to the plate with new listings. It won’t be long now until the housing recovery is once again referred to as just housing.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending July 20:

• New Listings increased 25.1% to 1,731
• Pending Sales increased 6.2% to 1,171
• Inventory decreased 14.3% to 15,623

For the month of June:

• Median Sales Price increased 17.5% to $210,000
• Days on Market decreased 34.5% to 74
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 2.5% to 97.5%
• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 25.0% to 3.6

Click here for the full Weekly Market Activity Report.From The Skinny.

Housing isn’t just housing. That may have a strange ring to it. But housing includes building, inspecting, remodeling, lending, refinancing, furnishing and a host of other functions tied to the physical space of home. Each of these functions is tied to job growth and interest rates, and each has seen some spectacular highs and lows over the past eight years. There has been a recent sense of stability brewing in all of housing. Here’s to making the most of it.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending July 13:

• New Listings increased 25.1% to 1,921
• Pending Sales increased 26.5% to 1,352
• Inventory decreased 15.6% to 15,390

For the month of June:

• Median Sales Price increased 17.5% to $210,000
• Days on Market decreased 34.5% to 74
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 2.5% to 97.5%
• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 25.0% to 3.6

Click here for the full Weekly Market Activity Report.From The Skinny.

A fellow named Newton once said that a body in motion tends to stay in motion. Presently, the housing market is going to be in a state of anti-motion, otherwise known as inertia. Each year, the activity around Independence Day collides with market trends because the summer holiday season ends up being more about family fun than housing fuss. As the market shifts from under us, things like historically low interest rates and rising rents cause pause for those with a clear idea of what they want despite the lack of funding to achieve it.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending June 29:

• New Listings increased 22.8% to 1,738
• Pending Sales increased 22.4% to 1,405
• Inventory decreased 16.8% to 15,405

For the month of June:

• Median Sales Price increased 17.5% to $210,000
• Days on Market decreased 33.6% to 75
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 2.5% to 97.5%
• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 27.1% to 3.5

Click here for the full Weekly Market Activity Report.From The Skinny.

Consumer confidence, prices, sales and percent of list price received at sale are all generally on the ups. This has been a nice place to be for real estate practitioners. In terms of expecting the unexpected trends, economists suggest tuning into indicators such as jobs, stocks and Federal Reserve policy decisions. The keen industry professional deserves the most up-to-date stats for daily decision making. Read on for this week’s deserved sneak peek.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending June 22:

• New Listings increased 28.9% to 1,797
• Pending Sales increased 14.1% to 1,214
• Inventory decreased 18.2% to 15,195

For the month of May:

• Median Sales Price increased 14.8% to $194,000
• Days on Market decreased 29.8% to 87
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 2.5% to 97.0%
• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 30.6% to 3.4

Click here for the full Weekly Market Activity Report.From The Skinny.