In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending April 21:

• New Listings increased 13.9% to 1,677

• Pending Sales increased 41.2% to 1,281

• Inventory decreased 28.4% to 17,447

For the month of March:

• Median Sales Price increased 7.1% to $149,900

• Days on Market decreased 9.7% to 144

• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 3.8% to 92.1%

• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 37.6% to 4.7

The weekly scorecard showcases that home buyers were more active compared to the same week last year. Buyers have been taking advantage of an affordable market, but sellers in many areas have been lazing in the tall grass like lions as the herd moves past. Watch for a changing landscape this spring and summer. Even skeptical sellers are sensing a need to get back into the hunt.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending March 31:

• New Listings decreased 12.1% to 1,532

• Pending Sales increased 25.2% to 1,113

• Inventory decreased 27.2% to 17,274

For the month of March:

• Median Sales Price increased 6.4% to $149,000

• Days on Market decreased 10.0% to 144

• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 3.7% to 92.1%

• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 39.2% to 4.6

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending March 3:

• New Listings decreased 23.2% to 1,402

• Pending Sales increased 29.7% to 940

• Inventory decreased 22.9% to 17,818

For the month of February:

• Median Sales Price decreased 1.1% to $138,500

• Days on Market decreased 9.0% to 145

• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 2.6% to 90.6%

• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 36.5% to 4.6

Those who follow the numbers already know that 2012 is shaping up to be a year of encouraging change in the market. Since all real estate is local, recovery won't occur evenly across all areas or segments. People are watching closely for signs of bottom and signs of recovery without fully knowing exactly what to look for. Fewer for-sale signs is a good tip-off, so is an improving jobs picture. Absorption rates heading back down toward the four-to-seven month range is also a welcoming omen. Slowly but surely, sellers will start to see more of their asking price as they face less competition – particularly from banks. Low interest rates should prevail through 2014 but high-quality inventory may not.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending February 25:

• New Listings increased 1.2% to 1,250

• Pending Sales increased 49.5% to 957

• Inventory decreased 23.5% to 17,755

For the month of January:

• Median Sales Price decreased 3.4% to $140,000

• Days on Market decreased 8.6% to 142

• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 3.3% to 91.2%

• Months' Supply of Inventory decreased 33.7% to 4.8

For Week Ending January 14, 2012

Last week, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported that mortgage applications increased more than 23.0 percent from the week prior. The fine print stated that most of the increase was driven by refinancing activity, given record low rates. Residential construction data also provided glimmers of hope. By now, many have surely noticed that the supply-demand balance is changing. What some may not realize is that this is a leading indicator, while home prices are a lagging indicator. Price appreciation is the final phase of recovery. Excess supply is down–in some areas, it's way down. Purchase demand in most areas strengthened throughout the second half of 2011. For sellers, it's less scary out there. For buyers, it's still a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending January 14:

• New Listings decreased 5.2% to 1,216

• Pending Sales increased 28.4% to 728

• Inventory decreased 23.8% to 17,690

For the month of December:

• Median Sales Price decreased 6.5% to $145,000

• Days on Market decreased 2.5% to 140

• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 1.7% to 90.6%

• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 35.6% to 4.6

For Week Ending January 7, 2012

Publish Date: January 17, 2012 • All comparisons are to 2011

The first full week of 2012 shows that buyers were off to a busy start while seller activity cooled down. Sales volumes easily beat the same week in 2011. The inventory drops that many communities saw during the second half of last year should translate into further positive news for sellers. Interest rates are expected to hold the low ground, enriching the buying environment for consumers. It's early now. The spring market will ultimately be the major tell as to the rate of recovery throughout the year. Today's lesson: Maintain a long-term perspective and watch trends develop beyond one week of data.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending January 7:

• New Listings decreased 14.6% to 1,266

• Pending Sales increased 13.8% to 561

• Inventory decreased 24.5% to 17,302

For the month of December:

• Median Sales Price decreased 6.5% to $145,000

• Days on Market decreased 2.5% to 140

• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 1.7% to 90.6%

• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 35.6% to 4.6

Publish Date: January 9, 2012 • All comparisons are to 2011

Most observers would agree that this year's housing recovery was not as robust as many had hoped. That said, a handful of things went right. Supply-side market correction took the guise of inventory declines and a pullback in listing activity. Consequently, sellers generally faced fewer challenges than in the past. Driven by improvements in the economy and record-low mortgage rates, purchase demand strengthened organically, independent of government incentives. Those sales gains dovetailed with falling inventories to move the market back toward balance. Nobody knows what 2012 will bring, but it's a safe bet that these positive developments will continue to evolve.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending December 31:

• New Listings decreased 11.6% to 593

• Pending Sales increased 41.7% to 564

• Inventory decreased 24.9% to 18,341

For the month of December:

• Median Sales Price decreased 5.6% to $145,000

• Days on Market decreased 2.4% to 140

• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 1.8% to 90.6%

• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 36.2% to 4.6

If you follow our weekly notes with even a sidelong glance, you know that the story of the market in 2011 has been increased sales and decreased inventory. That's all well and good, but consumers and the media want to talk about one thing: Price. Ideally, sellers seek multiple offers. This signals strong demand and competitive bidding. Buyers want to know that purchasing a home is a financially sound investment. Consumers, whether buyer or seller, want to know when we'll be establishing a stable real estate foundation again. Which is exactly why the tale of increased sales activity and healthy inventory absorption matters.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending December 24:

• New Listings decreased 9.6% to 596

• Pending Sales increased 48.4% to 607

• Inventory decreased 24.4% to 18,666

For the month of November:

• Median Sales Price decreased 10.2% to $149,000

• Days on Market decreased 1.8% to 135

• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 1.0% to 90.9%

• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 29.8% to 5.7

Today's housing market is like Minnesota Golden Gophers sports. If football's your game, it doesn't look great and hasn't for a number of years. If you're a basketball fan, the results are positive even if you're missing key inventory. If you're into hockey, past glory appears to be on the horizon. It all depends on your angle and how you look at it. Sub-4.0 percent mortgage rates and a 40-percent discount off 2006 prices may make buyers happy, but bank-mediated properties pose challenges to traditional sellers akin to playing a Big 10 schedule without Trevor Mbakwe. Moral of the story? Your level of enthusiasm is dictated by which set of bleachers you're sitting on.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending December 10:

• New Listings decreased 11.3% to 911

• Pending Sales increased 31.7% to 761

• Inventory decreased 23.2% to 19,380

For the month of November:

• Median Sales Price decreased 10.2% to $149,000

• Days on Market decreased 1.9% to 135

• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 1.0% to 90.9%

• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 30.2% to 5.7

As another new year approaches, we find ourselves settling in for the holidays, which typically come with slowed real estate activity. In the first week of the full holiday shopping season, we saw sales increase. We're talking about residential real estate, of course, although retail performed surprisingly well, too. Sellers listed fewer properties during the week, choosing instead to hunker down in their living rooms rich with the aromas of pine-scented candles and cinnamon cider sticks.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending December 3:

• New Listings decreased 9.3% to 1,006

• Pending Sales increased 36.4% to 885

• Inventory decreased 22.9% to 20,031

For the month of November:

• Median Sales Price decreased 9.9% to $149,500

• Days on Market decreased 1.8% to 135

• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 1.0% to 90.9%

• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 30.5% to 5.7