Birmingham, AL housing market

Is it a buyer’s or seller’s market in Birmingham, AL?

It is considered a balanced market right now. Housing inventory is up since last year, which means supply is less constrained. Mortgage rates are 7.3%, making the average house payment $1,257, which is $402 higher than a year before.

Total months of housing supply available for sale is 5 months, up 22% from 4.1 month(s) in October 2023.

Months of Supply

The Months of Supply housing metric is an estimate of how long it would take to sell all the homes for sale relative to the number of homes sold each month. Historically, 5 to 6 months is the average. You may also hear this metric referred to as the "absorption rate."

Lower months of housing supply typically signal a seller’s market whereas when months of supply is greater than 6 months typically signal a buyer’s market.

Sales to Listing Ratio

Sales to Listing Ratios are an indicator of supply and demand. It is all the completed sales in the past month divided by the total number of active listings.

In a balanced real estate market, the total number of home sales to active listings ratio is between 0.12 and 0.2 while markets with a ratio higher than 0.2 favors seller’s, as homes are selling fast and there is limited inventory, while markets below 0.12 favor home buyers because there is a larger supply of homes to purchase.

Selling a house in Birmingham, AL

Home values have increased by 28.6% since last year, and the number of days it takes to sell a home has increased from 44 days in October 2023 to 49 days in October 2024.

The best time to sell your home in Birmingham is in March, when homes sell fastest and for the most money.

Sellers typically pay the commission of both the listing and buyer’s agents, which typically total 5-6% of the home sale price. That’s $9,840 paid in commission to the real estate agents. You’d also need to factor in closing costs, plus other fees and your mortgage payoff amount, to calculate the net proceeds from your home sale.

Buying a house in Birmingham, AL

Homes in Birmingham have a median price of $164,000, which means you’ll need $16,400 for a 10% down payment. Housing costs have increased 28.6% in the past year. When you’re several months out and have your down payment saved, make sure to get pre-approved for a mortgage and find a real estate agent.

Home values are only one part of the home affordability equation. When buying a house in Birmingham, don’t forget to also account for closing costs, which are typically 3-4% of the home cost. In addition to a down payment of $16,400 you should have $6,560 as well as budget for cash reserves, moving expenses and ongoing homeownership costs for home maintenance and repairs or HOA fees.

Birmingham home values are 70.7% cheaper than Tuscaloosa and 68.8% cheaper than the state median home value.

Birmingham, AL housing market FAQs

• Are Birmingham home prices dropping or rising?

  Home prices in Birmingham are dropping overall. Median home prices are up 28.6% since October 2023 but they’re down 31.6% in the past 3 years.

• Is Birmingham a seller’s market in October 2024?

  The Birmingham housing market is not a seller’s market, it’s considered a balanced market. Homes in Birmingham stayed on the market for 49 days in October 2024.

• Is Birmingham a buyer’s market in October 2024?

  The Birmingham housing market is is not a buyer’s market, it’s considered a balanced market. Homes in Birmingham stayed on the market for 49 days in October 2024, slower than 45 days a year prior.

• When is the best time to buy a house in Birmingham?

  The best time to buy a house in Birmingham is in October when homes sell for 94.9% of the list price.

• When is the best time to sell a house in Birmingham?

  The best time to sell a house in Birmingham is in March when homes sell for 97.1% of the list price and go pending in 41 days.