Pending Home Sales Rise Along Lakeshore; data point to strong fall in housing market
GRAND HAVEN, Mich. — New pending sales data from the West Michigan Lakeshore Association of REALTORS® (WMLAR) shows continued momentum across Allegan, Ottawa, and Muskegon counties, signaling a likely increase in closed sales heading into November.
Pending sales—considered one of the strongest forward-looking indicators of future closings—rose in all three counties when measured against previous-year numbers:
- Allegan County: Pending sales rose to 1,133, a 2.6% increase from last year.
- Ottawa County: Pending activity climbed to 2,560, up 4.6% year over year.
- Muskegon County: Pending sales increased to 1,305, a 6.3% gain from last year.
“These numbers reinforce what our members are seeing in real time—buyers remain active and committed, even as the market adjusts,” said Jon Broadbooks, CEO of the West Michigan Lakeshore Association of REALTORS®.
The data is drawn from WMLAR’s Multiple Listing Service, a comprehensive database of properties for sale in the association’s three-county service area. While not every home listed as pending in the report will ultimately sell, data show that many do.
The National Association of REALTORS has not released its pending sales report for October, but in September the national association reported that nationwide pending sales slipped -.9%.
About WMLAR
The West Michigan Lakeshore Association of REALTORS® represents more than 1,200 real estate professionals across Ottawa, Muskegon, and Allegan counties. WMLAR advocates for its members and consumers by promoting professionalism, property rights and the value of REALTORS® in every transaction.
