Note: Last year, our May 2020 market report showed a nearly 30% drop in sales year-over-year in Ada County, the largest drop since 2008. Sales were down because REALTORS^® and consumers heeded the statewide stay-home order that was in place at that time, and sales quickly rebounded as we moved through the phased re-opening plan. Since there will be stark fluctuations when comparing activity this year to last year, we will focus on month-over-month changes instead.  

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The median sales price for homes in Ada County reached a new record of $523,250 in May, up 8.7% compared to April 2021. Crossing this threshold may have been anticipated by some, considering the recent report from realtor.com shared by the Idaho Statesman noting that the Boise metro's price growth was the highest in the country over the past four years.

The Boise region has faced insufficient supply for years, which has been the main driver of home prices, but several factors have accelerated the growth in recent months. Buyer demand remains high due to historically low mortgage rates, and the added ability for more people to work remotely has likely increased in-migration due to our relative comparative affordability in comparison to more expensive metro areas.

Further, the supply of homes for sale continues to be restricted by longer homeownership tenure, baby boomers aging in place, and hesitancy from potential sellers who may be concerned about finding another home in these competitive market conditions.

New construction has often been an option for those looking to sell their existing home; however, due to rapid increases in material costs — especially lumber — coupled with supply chain disruptions, not only are new construction homes more expensive, some builders have held back available inventory until they are closer to delivery so they can price the property based on final materials costs. As a result, new construction home prices reached a median sales price record of $544,986 in May 2021 — an increase of 16.0% from the previous record of $469,900 in April 2021.

With delays in new home delivery, demand for existing homes that are ready to move-into, further increased. Prices followed suit with nearly 70% of buyers willing to pay over list price for existing homes in May 2021, compared to 30% from a year ago. This led to a new record median sales price for the existing segment of $523,250, up 8.7% from the previous record of $481,208 in April 2021.

However, the amount buyers were willing to pay over list price varied by the price point of the home, with the most expensive homes selling for the highest amount over list. For homes that sold at or above $750,000, buyers were willing to pay nearly $80,000 beyond list price, on average, in May 2021, putting additional upward pressure on the overall median sales price.

The speed at which Ada County homes went under contract also accelerated, as the average number of days between when a home was listed for sale and an offer was accepted dropped to a record low of 12 — two days faster than in April 2021. Existing homes had accepted offers within just nine days, on average, the shortest amount of time on record, and 10.0% faster than last month.

The drastic rise in home prices and competitive market conditions can be challenging for those looking to get into the market, particularly at the lower price points. Some may decide to wait awhile before starting their home search or continue to save for a down payment to improve their purchase options, while others may consider expanding their search area for homes farther from the Boise metro. But for those who are ready to buy, we want to stress that while it's taking more work to purchase a home right now, it isn't impossible to buy a home in the Treasure Valley. We have hundreds of sales closing just in Ada County every month and working with a REALTOR® is your best bet to help guide you through the fast and complex process.

When you're ready to start your home search, your REALTOR^® will likely present a buyer representation agreement, giving them permission to work on your behalf, including the ability to write, present, and negotiate offers for you, once you find a home you'd like to purchase. Additionally, your agent can advise you on search strategies to find homes that fit your needs and budget and discuss the financial and legal implications of presenting offers over list price or that may waive certain contingencies like an inspection or appraisal, and whether those tactics are right for you and your specific situation.

In each of our reports in 2021, BRR is focusing on the various phases of a real estate transaction to help consumers be prepared before, during, and after a real estate transaction, showing them what their REALTOR^® will be doing for them along every step, and the key data points they can look for to make sense of the market.