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I was pretty excited last month when I used a graphic of cotton swabs to illustrate the absorption rate. It was not all that long ago that I was using toilet paper, paper towels, super absorbent diapers and even a wet dry vac to help absorb  all that inventory.  There isn't much to absorb now and it is slim pickings in some price ranges.

It wasn't easy but I found something less absorbent than cotton swabs.   I think these rocks will do the job for this months inventory and if the absorption rate goes lower next month I will have to use industrial grade toilet paper as that is the only thing I can think of that would be less absorbent than these rocks.

Absorption rates are a  calculation of how long it will take for all the homes on the market to be sold, or absorbed, at the current rate of sales.

I do love numbers, and these are in months, the data used came from the RMLS, (MLS) and is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.  It doesn't come with a warranty either. Maybe an implied warranty but what do I know? I am a Realtor not an attorney.  These numbers covers what is referred to as the 7 county metro area not to be confused with the 13 county metro are which covers the same area, plus six more counties.  

Anoka County 4.9 Months
Carver County 6.1 Months
Dakota County  4.8 Months
Hennepin County 4.5 Months
Ramsey County  4.3  Months
Scott County  5.6  Months
Washington County 5.9 Months

The absorption rates are slightly lower than they were last month.  Normally a six month absorption rate is indicative of a balanced market that does not favor buyers or sellers, an absorption rate of less than six months is indicative of a sellers market.  This market still favors buyers and I am going to call it a buyers market, except in the very lowest price ranges where we are now seeing multiple offers as banks continue the clearance sale they are having on foreclosures.  The percentage of homes on the market that are in foreclosure has gone down but I expect that to change soon.  If you don't believe that it is a buyers market just ask the traditional who has had their home on the market for six months or someone who has had to reduce the price a few times.They will tell you that the buyers are still in charge and they are looking for bargains.

I'll predict that for next month I will be able to use the cotton swabs again, and don't believe that I will ever have to pull out the industrial grade toilet paper. . . . but we shall see.