Shrinking Halloween Sales is a Sign of a Recovering Economy, Housing Prices and Sales Still Moving Fast

Halloween is an escape from troubled times, and as Oct. 31 has rolled around in recent years, Americans have spent several simoleons on the spooky holiday. But as the economy has turned a corner this year, Americans are projected to spend 13.9 percent less on costumes, candy, and decorations this year.

According to this story in the Richmond Times-Dispatch, the National Retail Federation’s Halloween Spending Survey shows 25.2 percent of Americans plan to spend less this Halloween than last year, and projections show a 13.9 percent dip in overall spending from a year ago ($8 billion to $6.9 billion). Still, that’s more than twice what America spent on ghoulish goods in 2005 ($3.2 billion).

That’s good news for Realtors who often anticipate fall as a seasonal slowing of the Real Estate Market. This post on the Ebby Halliday Realtors Blog breaks down the numbers from NTREIS, showing that while temperatures are cooling in North Texas, the real estate market is still very hot.

A few of the highlights from the NTREIS numbers for September 2013 vs. September 2012 include:

* Days on Market were down 26.6% to 59 days on average.

* Percent of original list price received was up 1.2% to 94.7% of asking price.

* Closed sales were up 10.2%.

* Finally, the median sales price was up 8.5%.

Amazing news, and it’s incredible how well our market is performing with single-family homes in such short supply. What are you seeing in your neighborhood this fall?