SEATTLE, Aug. 19, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- (NASDAQ: RDFN) — Alexandria and Arlington, VA are the most competitive housing markets in the U.S., according to a new report from Redfin (www.redfin.com), the technology-powered real estate brokerage. Both cities neighbor Crystal City, home of Amazon's upcoming second headquarters (HQ2).

The report ranked cities by Redfin Compete Score, which rates how tough it is for buyers to win a home using Redfin data on the number of competing offers and waived contingencies, as well as multiple listing service (MLS) data on how quickly homes are going under contract and for how much above list price. Both with a Compete Score of 96, Alexandria and Arlington buyers face the most intense competition anywhere in the country.

In the HQ2-adjacent cities, homes are going under contract far faster than the national rate or even the D.C. metro as a whole. Homes sold in July went off the market in a median 11 days in Arlington and 14 days in Alexandria, about a week less than last July in both, and far lower than the 27-day median for the D.C. metro and 38 days nationally. More than half (57 percent) of all homes for sale in both Arlington and Alexandria went off the market in two weeks or less. That was true of just 40 percent of homes in the D.C. metro and just 29 percent of homes nationwide.

"The Amazon HQ2 effect has become a permanent factor in the Arlington and Alexandria housing markets," said local Redfin listing agent Marcia Burgos-Stone. "Some sellers are still opting to hold on to their homes and wait until it becomes a more concrete reality in the hopes that they'll get more money. This has led to a shortage of homes for sale, which puts pressure on buyers who are concerned that they'll be left behind if they can't find a home before things get too heated up."

In both Arlington and Alexandria, the number of homes for sale fell by about 50 percent year over year in July. Without enough supply to meet demand, more homes are selling above list price. Nearly half (46 percent) of Arlington homes sold in July went for more than list price, versus just 27 percent a year ago. In Alexandria, 36 percent sold for more than list, up from 24 percent a year ago. That can be compared to 32 percent in the D.C. metro and 24 percent nationwide. Median home sale prices in Arlington and Alexandria are more volatile, especially with a declining volume of sales due to the increased competition, and are currently flat or down from a year ago.

"A market can become highly competitive when buyers agree that home values will increase steeply in the future," said Redfin chief economist Daryl Fairweather. "If you believe home values will go up hundreds of thousands of dollars in the next five years, you will race to bid five or ten thousand dollars above asking price today. So, even though it may take a decade for Amazon's HQ2 to grow the size of the Seattle headquarters, attracting high-earners and driving economic growth in the surrounding area, homebuyers and home sellers are already operating under the assumption that there will be strong demand for homes going forward."

Compared to last summer when Redfin debuted the Redfin Compete Score, only Oakland and Tacoma have retained their positions in the top five most-competitive markets. Amazon is also likely a major factor in Tacoma, the fourth-most-competitive market. Buyers in nearby Seattle who have been priced out are looking to their neighbor to the south for more affordable options.

In addition to the HQ2 cities shooting to the top of the list, Grand Rapids is also one of the most competitive markets in the country, thanks to its affordability. The median home in Grand Rapids in July sold for just $215,800, well below the national median price of $318,100.

To read the full report, including a map and additional insight from local Redfin agents, please visit: https://www.redfin.com/blog/amazon-hq2-real-estate-virginia.

For the rest of the top 10 most competitive markets, visit our national housing market stats page: https://www.redfin.com/us-housing-market.

About Redfin
Redfin (www.redfin.com) is a technology-powered real estate brokerage, combining its own full-service agents with modern technology to redefine real estate in the consumer's favor. Founded by software engineers, Redfin has the country's #1 brokerage website and offers a host of online tools to consumers, including the Redfin Estimate, the automated home-value estimate with the industry's lowest published error rate for listed homes. Homebuyers and sellers enjoy a full-service, technology-powered experience from Redfin real estate agents, while saving thousands in commissions. Redfin serves more than 90 major metro areas across the U.S. and Canada. The company has helped customers buy or sell homes worth more than $85 billion.

For more information or to contact a local Redfin real estate agent, visit www.redfin.com. To learn about housing market trends and download data, visit the Redfin Data Center. To be added to Redfin's press release distribution list, subscribe here. To view Redfin's press center, click here.

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SOURCE Redfin