Friday, November 7, 2008

Utah Market Facts

UTAH'S POPULATION IS GROWING
  • In 2007, Utah had population growth of nearly 84,500 people, the highest single year increase in the state's history.
  • Utah's population increased 3.2 percent from 2006 to 2007, the highest growth rate Utah has experienced since the early 1990s.
    25,000 to 30,000 new households were formed in 2007.
  • Utah is expected to add another 84,000 people in 2008.
  • In 2007, the state added more persons due to natural increase than in any previous year in its history, the result of nearly 54,000 births.

UTAH'S GROWTH OUTPACES THE NATION

  • Utah population growth from 2006-07 was 3.2 percent while U.S. population growth was only 0.9 percent during the same time period.
  • Utah population growth from 2007-08 is expected to be 3.1 percent. U.S. population growth is only expected to be 0.9 percent for the same period.
  • According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Utah ranked third among states with a population growth rate of 2.6 percent from 2006 to 2007. The U.S. rate of growth was 1 percent.

NET MIGRATION IS AT RECORD LEVELS

  • Utah had about 44,000 people move to the state in 2007.
  • The state is expected to have about 41,000 new residents in 2008.

NEW JOBS ARE ATTRACTING NEW RESIDENTS

  • From December 2006 to December 2007, about 44,800 new jobs were created in Utah.
  • Utah job growth in December was up 3.6 percent compared to U.S. job growth of 0.9 percent.
  • Utah's job growth rate in 2007 was estimated at 4.5 percent, compared to 1.3 percent nationally, and no other state in the nation experienced a growth rate that was higher than 4 percent.
  • Employment is expected to grow 3.2 percent in 2008.

UTAHNS' INCOMES ARE RISING

  • Utah wages and incomes have been increasing between 5 and 10 percent over the past few years.
  • Utah wages are expected to increase nearly 5 percent in 2008.
  • Utahns' personal incomes are expected to rise almost 8 percent in 2008.
  • In 2007, Utah's average annual pay growth increased 5.5 percent from 2006, exceeding inflation for the fourth year in a row.
  • Personal income growth was 9 percent in 2007.

UNEMPLOYMENT IS LOW

  • The Utah unemployment rate has averaged about 2.7 percent over the past year, down from 2.9 percent in 2006.
  • The U.S. unemployment rate has averaged about 4.6 percent over the past year.
  • Utah unemployment in 2008 is expected to remain low at 2.9 percent.

Sources: Utah Population Estimates Committee, Economic data chart from the state of Utah, 2008 Economic Report to the Governor , Utah Population Estimates Committee, Utah Department of Workforce Services

Sunday, November 2, 2008

YTD Housing Statistics

The purpose of this blog is to keep people informed about Cache Valley's real estate market. As most of the locals know, Cache Valley does not always follow the national trend in anything. Because of our different economy here, it can leave people with a distorted view of what really is happening in our valley. Real estate is currently one of the hot topics on the big news stations, but is it as bad as everyone says?

2008 Statistics

Q1

Q2

Q3

Average sales price:

$195,439

$202,130

$199,470

Avg price per sq/ft:

$84

$85

$83

List vs. sold price:

99%

98%

98%

# of homes sold:

194

277

297

Avg days on market:

63

66

83

# of new listings:

554

661

614



2007 Statistics

Q1

Q2

Q3

Average sales price:

$198,542

$190,140

$208,274

Avg price per sq/ft:

$80

$82

$84

List vs. sold price:

99%

99%

99%

# of homes sold:

228

360

336

Avg days on market:

71

62

53

# of new listings:

504

634

604