The "Number of Listings" shows the supply, or how many properties are for sale. Is the inventory of listings increasing or decreasing, and is it seasonal?
Source: MLS (Multiple Listing Service)
Our opinion of what it meansJanuary 2012: There were 239 listings as of the first week in January, down 5% from 251 listings one year ago at this time.
BACKGROUND: The number of properties for sale is seasonal. Each year, December and January have the fewest number of properties for sale, because people don't like to show their homes during the holiday season. And each year, the highest number of homes for sale is in the summer, because it is more convenient to sell your home in the summer. Note this repeating annual pattern in the above graph.
The condo/townhouse graphs do not show as smooth a transition from month to month as the house graphs. This is because there are far fewer condo and townhouse sales in Santa Cruz County than house sales. In the field of statistics, a larger quantity of numbers makes a better statistic.