MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Despite fewer bidding wars among home-buyers, Seattle-area real estate prices continue to climb

Jul 20, 2022, 4:05 PM

bidding wars...

(Chris Schmich via Flickr)

(Chris Schmich via Flickr)

The home buying bidding wars are starting to subside in the Seattle area.

The share of homes, listed by Redfin, that faced competition in June was 41%, down from 61% in May, and nearly 72% in June of 2021.

Even so, home prices kept climbing in June. The national median home price jumped 13.4% in June, compared to the year before.

Here in the Seattle area, Redfin says the “year over year” median sale price of a home increased 11.2%.

The Seattle-based real estate brokerage says high inflation and rising interest rates are taking a “bite” out of home-buyers’ budgets.

“This is definitely unprecedented. This is the fastest mortgage rates have gone up. And it was during a time when housing market demand was incredibly hot. So I think it’s It goes to show how important mortgage rates are in terms of the competitiveness of the housing market. And it’s not surprising, but it is dramatic,” Daryl Fairweather, chief economist for Redfin, told KIRO Newsradio.

Real estate investment firms buy up nearly 10% of King County’s residential homes in 2021

Tampa, Florida saw the lowest “bidding war rate” in June at 29%. On the other side of the spectrum, Providence, Road Island, and Boston, Massachusetts both saw rates above 70%.

MyNorthwest News

katie wilson mayor recall...

KIRO Newsradio staff

Mayor Katie Wilson recall effort petition withdrawn as couple pursues further charges

The Seattle couple that's behind a recall effort against Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson has withdrawn their petition.

3 minutes ago

sr 104 brush fire jefferson...

Jason Sutich

SR 104 shut down after brush fire spreads to wires in Jefferson County

The westbound direction of SR 104 near Southpoint Road is blocked Thursday due to a brush fire that has spread to telephone wires.

28 minutes ago

Rain streaks the glass of a window overlooking a gray city. (Photo: Dmitry_Rukhlenko via Envato)...

Meteorologist Nick Allard, KIRO 7 News

Rain, it has been a while!

The weather pattern is finally starting to change after a long stretch of warm and dry weather — rain is back.

2 hours ago

Olympia program...

KIRO Newsradio staff

Olympia launching pilot program allowing people to live in their cars

The City of Olympia is launching a pilot program allowing people to live in RVs and other vehicles for up to six months with a permit.

2 hours ago

wa recall salmonella e. coli...

Jason Sutich

WA among 15 states hit by alfalfa sprout recall over E. coli, Salmonella

Alfalfa sprouts grown by Everything Sprouts were recalled on Saturday due to E. coli and Salmonella contamination across 15 states, including Washington.

3 hours ago

dead whale...

Lexi Herda, KIRO 7 News

Necropsy: Dead whale found in Commencement Bay was likely alive when ship hit it

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife said a fin whale found decaying in Commencement Bay was likely alive when it was hit by a ship.

3 hours ago

Despite fewer bidding wars among home-buyers, Seattle-area real estate prices continue to climb