Economists' Outlook

Housing stats and analysis from NAR's research experts.

December 2020 NAR SentriLock Home Showings Report Highlights

The new December 2020 NAR SentriLock Home Showings Report indicates that there was a decrease in nationwide foot traffic on a month-over-month basis. Nationally, Sentrilock home showings were up 24% year-over-year. Sentrilock showings were 644,548, up from the 519,857 recorded in December 2019. Showings rose in the South, West, and Northeast regions, but continued to decline in the Midwest region, according to data from SentriLock, LLC, a lockbox company. Total U.S. SentriLock cards rose 9% year-over-year to 200,655. At a national level, showings per card increased 14% year-over-year.

Line graph: Percent Year-Over-Year Change in U.S. SentriLock SentriKey® Showings, January 2009 to January 2020
Line graph: Historical U.S. SentriLock SentriKey® Showings, January 2009 to January 2020

The diffusion index is an indication of the diffusion of growth in showings across MLS boards. The index increased by 14.8 points to 44.2, with 44% of roughly 200 MLSs boards reporting a y/y increase in showings with Sentrilock® lockboxes. An index above 50 means more boards reported a y/y increase in showings than the number of boards that reported a decrease.

Line graph: Historical U.S. Sentrilock Sentrikey® Showings Diffusion Index, January 2009 to January 2020

The Northeast recorded the largest y/y percent change in showings of all regions with 113%

Northeast region year-over-year showings for December represent a 113% increase. December’s y/y percent change in showings shows a rebound from November, (87%), as it nears a record high.

Line graph: Northeast Region Year Over Year Percent Change in Sentrilock Sentrikey® Showings, January 2009 to January 2020

Midwest showings decreased 6% y/y

Midwest Region showings decreased 6% year-over-year in November. Showings decreased from 201,655 in November to 161,158 in December. Although the Midwest region recorded a y/y decrease in showings, the region did go from November’s (-9%) to (-6%) in December.

Line graph: Midwest Region Year-Over-Year Percent Change in Sentrilock Sentrikey® Showings, January 2009 to January 2020

South showings increased 4% y/y

The Southern Region recorded 121,783 showings in December, down from 152,013 recorded the prior month and represents a 4% increase on a year-over-year basis. On a month-over-month basis, the South region pivoted from (-1%) y/y percent change in showings to (4%).

Line graph: South Region Year-Over-Year Percent Change in Sentrilock Sentrikey® Showings, January 2009 to January 2020

West showings increased 51% y/y

The West Region recorded a 51% year-over-year increase in showings. The West Region’s 51% is more than double the national level for December and outpaces the national level for the fifth consecutive month.

Line graph: West Region Year-Over-Year Percent Change in Sentrilock Sentrikey® Showings, January 2009 to January 2020

View this report in its entirety.

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