Weekly Market Activity Report

Buyers and sellers were less active in the closing week of 2010 than they were during the final week of 2009. Following three consecutive weeks of increases, sellers pulled back and listed 677 new properties or 1.6 percent fewer than they did last year at this time. This is slightly below the three-month average but up from the holiday week.

Buyer activity continued along its seasonal decline. The 279 purchase agreements signed for the week were down 26.2 percent from the year prior. While the number "26.2" may pique the interest of marathoners, the rest of us are ready to see the market sustain gains in purchase demand. On average over the last three months, the year-over-year decline is a frigid 20.3 percent.

The number of active listings available for purchase rose 10.5 percent from last year to 21,597 properties. That gain came in slightly under the three-month average change in inventory levels but is in line with historical seasonal changes.