By Dennis Norman, on March 30th, 2023 According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 estimates of population and components of change report released yesterday, Lincoln County was the Missouri county that experienced the highest percentage gain in population from 2020 – 2022. As the list below shows, Lincoln County saw a 6.0% increase in popular during the period from 2020 to 2022, with Wright County coming in 2nd at 5.3% and another St Louis MSA county, Warren County, coming in 3rd on the list with a 4.8% increase in population.
At the other end of the list was the City of St Louis which saw a 5.0% decline in population during the period giving it the rank of 113 of the 115 counties in Missouri that were ranked.
Missouri Population Change 2020-2022 By County
Top 10 Counties by Percentage Growth In Population
(click on list to see entire list showing all Missouri Counties)
Access the complete list HERE.
By Dennis Norman, on July 27th, 2022 According to the latest data from HUD and the US Census Bureau, there is a 9.3 month supply of new homes for sale in the U.S. as of June, 2022. As the chart below illustrates, this is the largest supply of new homes for sale since May 2010 when there was also a 9.3 month supply. It wasn’t that long ago, August 2020 to be exact, when the supply hit a record low level of 3.3 months.
St Louis New Home Supply is a little lower…
It’s a little hard to pinpoint the new home supply in St Louis for several reasons. One, not all new homes that are for sale are listed in the MLS and then the MLS allows new homes to be listed in two categories, both new construction and normal residential, so that can skew the data as well. Nonetheless, we do the best we can to sort through the data. As our table at the bottom shows, there is currently a little over a 7-month supply of new homes for sale in St Louis, so still higher than a historical “norm” but about 2-months less than at the national level.
Continue reading “Supply of New Homes For Sale Reaches Highest Level In Over 12 Years“
By Dennis Norman, on July 27th, 2016  New home sales in the midwest region of the U.S. , like the temperature during the period, soared in June 2016 to a seasonally-adjusted, annual rate, of 85,000 new homes, an increase of 44.1 percent from June 2015 when new homes in the midwest sold at an annual rate of 59,000 homes, according to a report just released by the US Census Bureau.
Last month, new homes were sold in the Midwest at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 85,000 new homes, and an increase of 10.4% from the month before when new homes sold in the midwest at a rate of 77,000 homes.
On a national level, new homes sales last month were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 592,000 homes, an increase of 3.5% from the month before and an increase of 25.4% from a year ago. Nationally, there is a 4.9 month supply of new homes, down slightly from 5.1 months in May and from 5.5 months a year ago.
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By Dennis Norman, on April 25th, 2016 New home sales in the midwest region of the U.S. during March rose 10.3 percent from March 2015, according to a report just released by the US Census Bureau. In March 2016, new homes were sold in the Midwest at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 64,000 new homes, an increase of 18.5 percent from February, when the rate was 54,000 homes and a 10.3 percent increase from March 2015 when the rate of new home sales in the midwest was 58,000 homes annually.
On a national level, new homes sales in March were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 511,000 homes, down 1.5% from February and up just 5.4% from a year ago.
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By Dennis Norman, on May 28th, 2014 According to the US Census Bureau data today, May 28th, kicks off the busiest moving season of the year. According to Census Bureau data, one of every eight people will change their address this year with almost two-thirds of the people moving staying within the same country. Fewer than 5% of movers move to another state.
Young people (in their 20’s) are most apt to move, usually driven by wanting a better place to live, marriage, the birth of a child or a job change. Not surprising is that renters are more likely to move than homeowners.
As for state to state moves, the most common are New York to Florida and California to Texas.
Are you ready to move? Start your home search here.
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By Dennis Norman, on February 25th, 2014 At least three of the “largest earthquakes ever recorded in the continental United States” are believed to have occurred in Southeast Missouri during the period of 1811-1812, according to the Missouri Department of Insurance. At the source of the problem is the New Madrid Seismic Zone which is located in southeast Missouri and is the nation’s most active earthquake zone east of the Rocky Mountains.
The Missouri Department of Insurance is encouraging homeowners to check their insurance policies to see if they have earthquake coverage and, if not, are “encouraged to buy this extra protection“. The interesting thing is just over 1 out of every 4 homeowners (26%) in New Madrid county had earthquake coverage as of 2012.
Earthquake frequency and facts…
The table below shows the number, and magnitude of, earthquake in the United States during the period of 2000 -2010. The table also shows the top states for earthquake activity…you’ll have to look to see if Missouri made the list.
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By Dennis Norman, on December 10th, 2013  St Louis, like the rest of the country, began the build up to the housing bubble around 2000 only to see the bubble burst in 2008 and then where we find the St Louis market today; in recovery mode. So, during this period , which St Louis area county saw the most home value appreciation overall? Well, the “winner” isn’t even a county per se, it’s the City of St Louis with a 86.85 percent increase in median home values from 2000 to 2012, according to data from the US Census Bureau. As the table below shows, the median home value in the city of St Louis in 2000 was $63,900 and in 2012 was $119,400. See the table below for data for the other St Louis Counties.
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By Dennis Norman, on December 9th, 2013
In the thirty year period from 1980 to 2010 the number of housing units in St Charles county tripled from 49,523 units to 141,016 units. St Charles’ growth has been fueled in part by an abundance of affordable new homes but that doesn’t mean St Charles county doesn’t have it’s share of luxury homes though! According to the latest housing data from the US Census Bureau, about 3 percent of the housing units in St Charles, or about 3,300 units, are valued at $500,000 or above.
Below is a slide show revealing St Charles County Most Expensive Homes For Sale:
Continue reading “St Charles County Most Expensive Homes For Sale“
By Dennis Norman, on April 23rd, 2013  New home sales continued the upward trend in March with new homes in the US selling at a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 417,000 homes, an increase of 1.5 percent from the month before and an 18.5 percent increase from a year ago, according to the US Census Bureau and HUD.
New home sale prices declined in March to a median price of $247,000, down 6.7 percent from February’s median new home price of $264,900 but up 3 percent from a year ago when the median new home sales price was $239,800. The inventory of new homes for sale remained steady with a 4.4 month supply, the same as the month before but down from a 4.9 month supply a year ago.
By Dennis Norman, on March 7th, 2013  Tyler Frank,
Paramount Mortgage
NMLS ID 942420 Nationwide 30-year fixed mortgage rates have climbed to their highest level of the last five weeks according to last week’s rate survey conducted by Bankrate.com.
This has spurred concern from many home refinancers and potential homebuyers who “worry the low rates won’t last much longer as they try to beat the clock on rising mortgage fees and policy changes on low down payment loans,” reports Polyana da Costa, Bankrate.com.
Continue reading “St. Louis Borrowers in a Rush for Low Mortgage Interest Rates and Fees“
By Dennis Norman, on February 2nd, 2013  Almost 3 of every 4 housing units (73.8 percent) in St. Louis is occupied by a homeowner making St. Louis 4th in terms of homeownership of the 75 largest major metropolitan areas in the U.S. In spite of the real estate market meltdown that began back in 2007, homeownership in St. Louis has remained fairly steady falling just one-half of one percent since 4th quarter 2006 when the rate was 74.3 percent. Homeownership rates in St. Louis are 3 percent higher than those for the state of Missouri which, for the 4th quarter of 2012, was at 70.8 percent. On a national level, the homeownership rate in 4th quarter of 2012 was 65.4 percent which is down from 68.9 percent in the 4th quarter of 2006. Continue reading “St. Louis Has 4th Highest Homeownership Rate of Major Metros in U.S.“
By Dennis Norman, on September 27th, 2012 If you’ve been waiting to buy a new home thinking that prices will continue to fall as builders get more desperate to sell homes, I think you may have missed the boat, er, house. The bruised new home market continues to show signs that the worst is over including numbers just released showing new home sales in the U.S. in August were up almost 28 percent from a year ago and new home prices were up 17 percent during the same period in the U.S. Here in St. Louis, the St. Louis HBA just reported that building permits for new homes in St. Louis are 15% through August compared with this time last year and St Louis new home prices, as you can see from the chart below, while down slightly August from July, are up significantly in the past year from a media price of $228,000 in August 2011 to a median price of $268,000 in August 2012.
 Be sure to click “more” to see the chart.. Continue reading “St Louis new home construction and sales showing signs of life“
By Dennis Norman, on October 7th, 2011  Yesterday, statistician’s from the U.S. Census Bureau gave a briefing on highlights of the housing characteristics data contained in the 2010 Census. Several interesting facts came out, but the one that I found most interesting was that the data shows the U.S., at 65.1 percent, has the second highest homeownership rate on record for the period (see chart below). It’s not that all the recent talk about the decline in homeownership was unfounded however as the census data did show that the drop in the rate of homeownership during this last census period (2000-2010) of 1.1 percent is the largest decrease since the period from 1930-1940. Continue reading “2010 Census Data Shows Second Hightest Homeownership Rate on Record Despite Largest Decrease since 1940“
By Dennis Norman, on February 25th, 2011  It’s hard to miss the fact that the US Census Bureau just released some of the results of the 2010 census for our area. It’s been all over the media about St. Charles County’s population surpassing the City of St. Louis and moving it into the spot of the third largest county in the State.
Being the data junkie I’ve become I decided to tear into the numbers and see how the 2010 data compared with the 2000 data to see what changes have taken place in the last decade and see what I could glean from the data to perhaps get a little insight on the impact of these changes on the St. Louis real estate market. Also, since I have been somewhat of a contrarian in saying the that reports of low housing starts is a good thing as I don’t think we need to add housing units in this market, I thought it would make sense to see if my theory holds water. Continue reading “2010 Census data disappointing for St. Louis; what is effect on the St. Louis Real Estate market?“
By Dennis Norman, on October 4th, 2010
Dennis Norman I saw an interesting tidbit that came from the US Census Bureau that shows just how much things have changed in the real estate world in the past 60+ years in the U.S. The piece I saw was from the census bureau’s “Profile America” series and discussed one of the first communities built in our country by a real estate developer back in 1947. The place was the town of Levittown, on New York’s Long Island and aptly named for the developers, William and Alfred Levitt.
Eventually the town contained more than 17,000 Cape Code and ranch style homes that soldiers returning from World War II snapped up…..apparently there was a housing shortage at the time (oh what I wouldn’t give for another housing shortage :). Continue reading “The country’s first home developer“
By Dennis Norman, on September 17th, 2010 Dennis Norman According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Americans, for the most part, are very satisfied with the neighborhoods they live in. According to the Census Bureau “American Housing Survey”, more than tw0-thirds of people across the country rate the quality of their neighborhood as eight or higher on a 10-point scale. Just over 15 percent report crime as a problem in their neighborhoods.
Hmm…perhaps if people weren’t so happy with their neighborhoods they would be more inclined to move and give the housing market a much needed boost?
By Dennis Norman, on June 28th, 2010
 Dennis Norman While there are many factors that go into what makes for a good or bad housing market and ultimately how well an investment in real estate will do in a market, two things in my book are key; population growth and job growth. Actually job growth brings population growth so perhaps it is the most important factor, but I think one could argue that population growth also brings jobs. Those states that, for one reason or another, attract people to live there (ie; no, or low state income tax, good public education, low crime rates, etc) are many of the same things that may attract an employer as well.
The Census Bureau just this month released the latest population estimates for 2009 so I decided to look at the 10-year period of 2000 – 2009 and see where people were going during the real estate boom, and then the bust. Some of the states that attracted many people during the housing boom may have lost some of their luster at this point, so over the next few years the rankings could change, but here are where things stand now.
Missouri didn’t make the “top-ten” chart for most growth but, on a positive note, didn’t make the “top-ten” chart for lowest growth either! Missouri’s population in 2000 was 5,605.065 and in 2009 was estimated to be 5,987,580 for a growth of 381,515 people during the period which ranks Missouri as 18th in the U.S. As for percentage of population growth, Missouri had 6.81 percent growth during the period putting it at number 25 in the U.S. The percentage growth for the U.S. as a whole during the period was 8.80 percent.
3 of the 4 States With The Most Foreclosures Made Both “Top-Ten” Population Growth Charts – Nevada, Arizona and Nevada….California Only Made One Chart –
States with The Smallest Population Growth-
By Dennis Norman, on April 29th, 2010 Dennis Norman According to a report issued by the U.S. Census Bureau earlier this week, the percentage of Americans that own a home in the U.S. in the first quarter of 2010 dropped to 67.1 percent, the lowest rate of homeownership since the same quarter of 2000. The homeownership rate for 4th quarter 2009 was 67.2 percent, the low for 2009.
REGIONAL HOMEOWNERSHIP:
The Midwest Region has the highest rate of homeownership, as of the 1st quarter of 2010, at 70.9 percent with the South region not far behind at 69.2 percent. The Northeast homeownership rate was 64.4 percent and the West had the lowest at 61.9 percent.
HOMEOWNERSHIP DEMOGRAPHICS:
- Traditionalists Generation, 65 years and above, 80.6 percent.
- Highest rate for this group since first quarter 2007
- Older Boomers, 55 to 64 years, 79.1 percent.
- Highest rate for this group since third quarter 2009
- Younger Boomers, 45 to 54 years, 74.8 percent.
- Highest rate for this group since third quarter 2008
- Generation X’ers, 35 to44 years, 65.3 percent
- Lowest rate for this group in over 5 years
- Generation Y’ers, under 35 years, 38.9 percent.
- Lowest rate for this group in over 5 years
What is interesting about the age of homeowners is that, while first-time home sales have been propping up the market, partially as a result of the first-time homebuyer tax credit, the younger population’s percentage of homeownership has dropped dramatically. It seems that the X’ers and Y’ers either don’t value home ownership as much as their parents did, don’t trust a home as an investment, or perhaps cannot afford to buy a house. If this trend continues I would think it will definitely drag down the homeownership numbers in the future as well.
Homeownership by Race and Ethnicity:
- Non-Hispanic White – 74.5 percent
- Black – 45.6 percent
- Hispanic (of any race) – 48.5 percent
- All Other Races – 57.2 percent
By Dennis Norman, on November 19th, 2009 
Even with a decline in the Midwest in new home starts and completions, new home construction activity is still outpacing new home sales potentially leading to inventories increasing again.
The US Census Bureau and US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued a their report on New Residential Construction for October 2009 showing a decrease in new home construction activity in the Midwest from September.
The report shows the following for the Midwest Region: Continue reading “New home construction in Midwest down in October; New home completions still outpacing sales by over 50 percent“
By Dennis Norman, on October 13th, 2009 Dennis Norman Statistics and reports are flying at us from every direction about the real estate market nowadays. Some reports say we have hit bottom, some even say the housing market has started a recovery others say worse times are ahead. Since I don’t think anyone can really tell us what the future has in store for the housing market I thought now may be a good time to look at history…at least short term history, to see where things stand at this point. Along the way we may see a trend or perhaps even feel like we can hazard a guess as to where things are headed in the short term, at least in the St. Louis housing market.
Since many analysts, including those at the National Association of REALTORS(R) use 2001 as a “base” year frequently for the housing market, I guess because it was a market that proceed the “boom” (or bubble, your pick) and was sort of a “normal” year in terms of market conditions. I figured if it’s good enough for real analysts it’s good enough for me so I have used date for the St Louis real estate and housing market from 2001 in my comparison with where we stand now. Continue reading “The St. Louis Real Estate Market Bubble and Burst; St. Louis County hurt the worst in the area“
By Dennis Norman, on September 22nd, 2009
 - Dennis Norman
By: Dennis Norman
Today the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) reported that U.S. home prices rose 0.3 percent on a seasonally-adjusted basis from June to July and are down 4.2 percent for the past year. Missouri is included by the FHFA in the West North Central division which was right on target with the US with an increase of 0.3 percent from June to July. Our region was only down 1.5 percent from last year according the report.
Many of the reports I’ve seen in the press on this are saying this is a sign of the housing market recovering:
The Wall Street Journal, on WSJ.Com, Reported “U.S. Home prices climbed in July as some of the country’s worst-hit housing markets showed signs of recovering.”
The AP reported “U.S. home prices rose slightly in July from a month earlier, according to a government index, further evidence the housing market is stabilizing.”
By Dennis Norman, on September 17th, 2009 
By: Dennis Norman
This morning the US Census Bureau and US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued their report on New Residential Construction for August 2009 showing a slight decrease in new home construction activity from July in the US, but an increase in new home construction activity here in the Midwest.
The report shows the following for the Midwest Region: Continue reading “New home construction in Midwest on the rise; Construction outpacing sales“
By Dennis Norman, on August 18th, 2009
This morning the US Census Bureau and US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued a their report on New Residential Construction for July 2009 showing a slight increase in new home construction activity from June in the U.S.
For the Midwest region of the U.S. the report showed the following:
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