Rochester WA current real estate market update

Here is the Rochester WA current real estate market update as of January 2014 (area 455 on the map below).

Rochester, WA is located in the southernmost part of Thurston County, and is best known for its Scandinavian heritage celebrations.  Rochester is also the home to the Great Wolf Lodge and the Lucky Eagle Casino operated by the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation.  Rochester features farming parcels as well as vintage homes in the downtown area.  Many residents of these towns are in the Rochester School District.

Thurston County Map 

MARKET SNAPSHOT:

Rochester (Area 455) This Year Last Year + / – / =
Average Sales Price in 2013: $180,241 $177,070 Good!
# of Homes Sold in 2013: 125 129 Stable
Absorption Rate for January (how long it takes the market to absorb the inventory): 5.7 months 3.1 months Balanced Market
# of Homes Currently Listed: 64 (slight increase from last quarter)
Current Listed Home Price Range: $15,000 to $985,000 (lower than last quarter)

Average home sales prices for Rochester saw about a 1.5% increase over last year at this time.  Although this isn’t a huge gain, this shows the Rochester market is in a slow and steady improvement, which is a good thing.  Thurston County remained flat with an average home sales price of $232,310 in 2012 and $237,854 in 2013.  Thurston County’s average home sales price for January 2014 is currently $225,006.

The number of homes sold for Rochester has remained steady.  Also a very good sign in the move towards a healthy market.

The absorption rate currently is in balance but last year was in a seller’s market with lower inventory and good buyer activity.  The average absorption rate for Thurston County is 5 months.

Market Timeline

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR SELLERS?

The bottom has hit and we are moving passed the lowest point of the market.  This doesn’t mean prices will skyrocket upward.  The market still has many months of recovery but the downward spiral has stopped.

Sellers still need to price appropriately with the market.  No matter if it’s a “hot” seller’s market or a slow buyer’s market, sellers still need to price right according to the conditions of the market in order to have a successful sale.

Less inventory.  This is good for sellers as there is less for buyers to choose, and we have seen multiple offer situations with several buyers competing for the same property.

Overall, it’s been a long time coming, but the market has improved enough for many sellers to consider their next move.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR BUYERS?

Buyers need to act – no more fence-sitting.  The luxury of waiting and watching the market are over for buyers.  With less inventory and more buyers entering the market, buyers may find themselves competing for a property.

Pay attention to where interest rates are heading.  Even though interest rates below 6% are considered very low, many buyers over the last five years have enjoyed rates at half that – 3% to 4%.  Local lenders are predicting we will squarely be at 5% by the end of 2014.  Buyers will need to stay on top of where interest rates are heading.

Be prepared.  Buyers need to be prepared financially to purchase a property.  That means working with a quality local lender and getting pre-approved so that you are ready to make an offer when you find the right house.  Secondly, buyers need to be prepared that a seller may not agree to pay a buyer’s closing costs.

See all the homes currently listed for sale in 455 Rochester.

If now is the time for you to make your next move, contact me today!

Search ALL homes for saleLocal statistics compiled by Francine Viola from NWMLS data. Statistics not compiled or published by  NWMLS (Northwest Multiple Listing Service).

Originally posted and written by Francine Viola at her blog site: www.InTuneRealEstate.com where you can learn more about the real estate market in Thurston County and get tips and advice for a smooth real estate transaction!

Click here to see the market updates for other areas of Thurston County.