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Seattle Months Supply of Inventory
The data above tracks the past 10 years of Months of Inventory in the City of Seattle.
What is Months of Inventory (MOI)?
Months of Inventory is a key real estate metric that measures how long it would take to sell all current homes on the market at the current pace of sales. Calculated by dividing the number of active listings by the average number of homes sold per month, this figure provides a clear snapshot of market balance. For example, if there are 600 homes for sale and 200 sell each month, that's a three-month supply.
Generally, a balanced market has about three to six months of supply, where neither buyers nor sellers have a significant advantage. When supply drops below three months, it signals a seller's market where competition is fierce and prices tend to rise. When supply exceeds six months, it indicates a buyer's market where homes sit longer and buyers have more negotiating power.
0 to 3 Months - Seller's Market
3 to 6 Months - Balanced Market
6+ Months - Buyer's Market
This metric is particularly valuable because it combines both inventory levels and sales velocity into a single, easy-to-understand number that helps buyers and sellers quickly assess current market conditions and adjust their strategies accordingly.
Key Takeaways
Seattle has not seen a true Balanced Market for well over a decade. The last time the Months of Inventory (MOI) for Single Family Homes (SFH) was over 3 months was back in September 2012. MOI quickly trended downward over the following years and the market has remained favorable to Sellers ever since.
There have been points when the SFH market in Seattle approached a balanced state but the market continues to favor sellers. The market particularly favors a sellers when their home is best presented, marketed, and priced to attract as many buyers as possible.
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Kayvon Mohammadian
Broker | Licensed Agent
Windermere West Metro
