Hot Housing Market Spans the Political Spectrum, with Prices Up Double Digits in Blue, Red and Swing Counties

Rhea-AI Summary

The median home price in blue counties rose 13.1% to $346,000 during the four weeks ending September 6, 2020. Prices increased 11.5% in swing counties to $259,500, and 10.6% in red counties to $209,000. Housing supply tightened significantly, with active listings down nearly 35% in swing counties, 32% in red counties, and 22.2% in blue counties. Homes sold fastest in swing counties, with 43.5% going under contract within two weeks. Sales increased most in red counties by 15.9%. Notably, homes in blue counties sold closest to their asking price, at 99.3% of list price.

Positive

• Median home price in blue counties increased by 13.1% to $346,000.
• Active home listings decreased significantly, including a 35% drop in swing counties.
• Homes in swing counties sold fastest, with 43.5% going under contract within two weeks.
• Sales rose by 15.9% in red counties, indicating strong market demand.

Negative

• Tight housing supply may hinder first-time homebuyers, limiting market access.

SEATTLE, Sept. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- (NASDAQ: RDFN) -- The median home price in blue counties nationwide rose 13.1% from a year earlier to $346,000 during the four weeks ending September 6, according to a new analysis from Redfin (www.redfin.com). Prices rose 11.5% to $259,500 in swing counties, and they were up 10.6% to $209,000 in red counties.

"Homeowners in counties of all colors—blue, red and purple—are benefiting from a strong housing market even during this deep recession," said Redfin chief economist Daryl Fairweather. "Home values are up, which is great financial news if you're a homeowner, regardless of your politics."

"But rising prices and tight supply mean it's a tough landscape for first-time homebuyers," Fairweather continued. "Many of them have long been priced out of urban blue counties and are searching in suburban swing counties and more rural areas. This trend is being exacerbated by the pandemic-driven work-from-home culture, which is causing many homebuyers to place more emphasis on indoor and outdoor space and less on commute times."

For this analysis, counties were classified as "blue" if the 2016 Democratic presidential candidate won by more than 10 percentage points, and classified as "red" if the 2016 Republican candidate won by more than 10 percentage points. Counties were classified as "swing" if neither candidate received more than 55% of all votes.

Housing supply is tightening most and homes are selling fastest in swing counties, but blue and red counties aren't far behind

The total number of homes actively listed for sale was way down from a year earlier in all areas, with supply tightening the most in swing counties. Total housing supply dropped nearly 35% year over year in swing counties in the four weeks ending September 6, compared with a 32% dip in red counties and a 22.2% decline in blue counties.

"Supply is dropping the most in swing counties because they tend to be made up of suburban neighborhoods, where there are far more homebuyers than sellers right now," Fairweather said.

New listings were up most in blue counties (12.4% year over year) in the four weeks ending September 6, while they were up 7.1% in swing counties and 3.8% in red counties. Pent-up selling demand is one reason why new listings rose most in blue counties in August: New listings for homes in blue areas plummeted to a low of -47% year over year in the four weeks ending April 26, bigger than the 36% dip for red areas and the 43% decline for swing counties.

Additionally, homes sold fastest in swing counties, with 43.5% of homes going under contract within two weeks during the four weeks ending September 6, versus 39.6% for blue counties and 35.3% for red counties. The typical home that sold during those four weeks went under contract in 43 days in blue counties, 44 days in swing counties and 62 days in red counties.

Sales were up most in red counties, but pending sales were up more in swing and blue counties

The number of homes sold in the four weeks ending September 6 rose most in red counties (15.9% year over year), compared with an 11.6% increase in swing counties and an 11% increase in blue counties. 

Sales in blue counties were hit hardest at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, down 34.8% year over year in the four weeks ending May 31 versus a 30.9% decline in swing counties and a 23.7% decline for red counties.

Pending home sales rose most in swing counties, with a 29.6% year-over-year increase in the four weeks ending September 6, trailed closely by a 29% increase for blue counties. Pending sales were up 26.2% in red counties. The fact that pending sales are up more in swing and blue counties reflects the fact that sales in those areas took a bigger hit at the beginning of the pandemic and thus have more room to grow.

Homes in blue counties sold closest to their asking price

Homes in blue counties were slightly more competitive than other counties in the four weeks ending September 6, with the typical home selling for 99.3% of its list price, compared with 99.1% in swing counties and 97.5% in red counties.

The average sale-to-list ratio was up most from last year in swing counties, with a 1.5 percentage-point increase from the year before, compared with a 1.2-point increase for blue counties and a 1-point increase for red counties.

To read the full report, including charts, please visit: https://www.redfin.com/blog/housing-market-price-increase-politics.

About Redfin
Redfin (www.redfin.com) is a technology-powered residential real estate company, redefining real estate in the consumer's favor in a commission-driven industry. We do this by integrating every step of the home buying and selling process and pairing our own agents with our own technology, creating a service that is faster, better and costs less. We offer brokerage, iBuying, mortgage, and title services, and we also run the country's #1 real estate brokerage search site, offering a host of online tools to consumers, including the Redfin Estimate. We represent people buying and selling homes in over 90 markets in the United States and Canada. Since our launch in 2006, we have saved our customers over $800 million and we've helped them buy or sell more than 235,000 homes worth more than $115 billion.

For more information or to contact a local Redfin real estate agent, visit www.redfin.com. To learn about housing market trends and download data, visit the Redfin Data Center. To be added to Redfin's press release distribution list, email press@redfin.com. To view Redfin's press center, click here.

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SOURCE Redfin

FAQ

What was the increase in median home prices in blue counties according to the RDFN analysis?

The median home price in blue counties rose by 13.1% to $346,000.

How did home sales in red counties change during the four weeks ending September 6?

Home sales in red counties increased by 15.9% year over year.

What trend is affecting first-time homebuyers in the housing market?

First-time homebuyers are facing challenges due to rising prices and tight supply.

Which counties experienced the fastest home sales during this period?

Swing counties had the fastest home sales, with 43.5% of homes going under contract within two weeks.

What percentage of asking price did homes in blue counties sell for?

Homes in blue counties sold for 99.3% of their list price.