King County housing market remains hot

Lennox Scott, chairman and CEO of John L. Scott Real Estate says the housing market continued to be frenzy hot in June but there was a short breath of fresh air for home buyers.

  • BY Wire Service
  • Wednesday, July 6, 2016 7:16pm
  • News
The housing market remained hot in June in Kent and King County.

The housing market remained hot in June in Kent and King County.

Lennox Scott, chairman and CEO of John L. Scott Real Estate says the housing market continued to be frenzy hot in June but there was a short breath of fresh air for home buyers.

More inventory came on the market, and that, coupled with the continuation of historically low interest rates, brought some welcome relief to the backlog of buyers who have been waiting to purchase a home. The median home price in King County jumped from $560,000 in May to $573,000 last month and price appreciation continues to be extremely positive.

“We are seeing fewer multiple offers for each new listing,” Scott said in a media release. “However, we are still seeing 80 percent of new listings sell within the first 30 days in the price ranges where 90 percent of the sales activity is taking place. Buyers are poised and buyer ready, and are taking advantage of the increase in inventory by snapping up every available new listing.”

Scott says the market is also encouraging for homeowners who have been considering a move. It’s a cause and effect situation; they find a home to buy and then put their home on the market, thus adding to the inventory, and so forth. The best opportunity for buyers to purchase will be within the next four month because of the inventory increase and lower interest rates.

Looking forward, Scott expects to see this frenzy market of sales activity for at least another 12 months.

The sales of luxury homes continues to be brisk in areas close to job centers and condo sales in King and Snohomish Counties is hot, with inventory hovering at less than one month’s supply.

In King County, which accounted for about 40 percent of the sales, the median price surged 13.3 percent from a year ago, rising from $450,000 to $510,000, according to Northwest Multiple Listing Service. For single family homes only (excluding condos), prices in King County rose 14.7 percent, from $500,000 to $573,522. Condo prices skyrocketed nearly 22 percent compared to a year ago. The median sales price last month was $350,000; 12 months ago the buyer of a median-priced condo in King County paid $287,000.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website http://kowloonland.com.hk/?big=submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in News

Photos from the United States Attorney's Office Western District of Washington press release.
Kent man arrested in connection to violent drug trafficking gang investigation

Law enforcement seized more than 20 kilograms of fentanyl, 60 firearms, and more than $130,000 in cash.

Courtesy Photo, King County
Son accused of fatally shooting mother’s boyfriend in Kent back in jail

Dondre Butler has 3 violations in 13 months of electronic home detention after charged with murder in 2022

t
Kent Police targeted street patrols result in arrest of two felons

One driver spotted in a vehicle with no plates; another driver reportedly in a stolen vehicle

t
Kent cold case murder suspect back in state after governor’s warrant | Update

Kenneth Kundert fought extradition from Arkansas after August arrest in 1980 killing of Dorothy Silzel

t
City of Kent eyes November opening for Reith Road roundabouts

Two more roundabouts will bring total in city to six; three more in future plans

t
Kent-based Puget Sound Fire honors this year’s 20 retirees

17 firefighters and 3 staff members retire; firefighters served between 24 and 35 years

t
Pedestrian dies in Kent after being struck by a vehicle | Update

Des Moines man, 61, identified; reportedly tried crossing highway late at night but wasn’t in a crosswalk

t
‘Drivers going too fast’ led to 45-vehicle collision in Kent on I-5

State Patrol says drivers need to ‘slow down;’ nobody seriously injured in Sunday afternoon incident

T
Sound Transit to feature glass art in Kent at Star Lake Station

Part of agency’s light rail art program at two stations in Kent and one in Federal Way

Emergency vehicles respond Oct. 21 to the State Route 18 crash in Maple Valley that killed a Kent baby. COURTESY PHOTO, Puget Sound Fire
Federal Way man faces vehicular homicide charge in death of Kent baby

19-year-old also charged with vehicular assault for injuring boy’s mother in SR 18 crash

t
Kent mother arrested after reportedly driving drunk with baby in vehicle

22-month-old baby uninjured after witnesses report woman asleep at the wheel and blocking traffic

Puget Sound Fire, King County Medic One, and Washington State Patrol on location of the accident. Photo from Puget Sound Fire X account
Baby dies in crash on SR 18

Incident occurred at about 2:58 p.m. Oct. 21.