Where Are Prices Headed Over The Next 5 Years?

Today, many real estate conversations center on housing prices and where they may be headed. That is why we like the Home Price Expectation Survey. Every quarter, Pulsenomics surveys a nationwide panel of over one hundred economists, real estate experts and investment & market strategists about where prices are headed over the next five years. They then average the projections of all 100+ experts into a single number.   The results of their latest survey Home values will appreciate by 4.8% in 2014. The cumulative appreciation will be 23.5% by 2019. That means the average annual appreciation will be 3.6% over the next 5 years. Even the experts making up the most bearish quartile of the survey still are projecting a cumulative appreciation of 15.1% by 2019. Individual opinions make headlines. I believe the survey is a fairer depiction of future values.

Happy Thanksgiving...From My Family To Yours

The Importance Of Using An Agent When Selling Your Home

When a homeowner decides to sell their house, they obviously want the best possible price with the least amount of hassles. However, for the vast majority of sellers, the most important result is to actually get the home sold. In order to accomplish all three goals, a seller should realize the importance of using a real estate professional. We realize that technology has changed the purchaser’s’ behavior during the home buying process. Today, 92% of all buyers use the internet in their home search according to the National Association of Realtors’ 2013 Profile of Home Buyers & Sellers. However, the report also revealed that 96% percent of buyers that used the internet when searching for a home purchased their home through either a real estate agent/broker or from a builder or builder’s agent. Only 2% purchased their home directly from a seller whom the buyer didn’t know. Buyers search for a home online but then depend on the agent to find the actual home they will buy (52%) or to help them handle the paperwork (24%) or understand the process (24%). It is true that the percentage of buyers that are using the internet to search for homes and information on the home buying process has increased dramatically over the last decade. But the plethora of information now available has also resulted in an increase in the percentage of buyers that reach out to real estate professionals to “connect the dots”. This is obvious as the percentage of overall buyers who used an agent to buy their home has steadily increased from 69% in 2001. BOTTOM LINE If you are thinking of selling your home, don’t underestimate the role a real estate professional can play in the process.

The Importance of Using A Professional When Selling Your Home

When a homeowner decides to sell their house, they obviously want the best possible price with the least amount of hassles. However, for the vast majority of sellers, the most important result is to actually get the home sold. In order to accomplish all three goals, a seller should realize the importance of using a real estate professional. We realize that technology has changed the purchaser’s behavior during the home buying process. For the past two years, 92% of all buyers have used the internet in their home search according to the National Association of Realtors’ 2014 Profile of Home Buyers & Sellers. However, the report also revealed that for the second year in a row 96% percent of buyers that used the internet when searching for a home purchased their home through either a real estate agent/broker or from a builder or builder’s agent. Only 2% purchased their home directly from a seller whom the buyer didn’t know. Buyers search for a home online but then depend on an agent to find the actual home they will buy (53%) or negotiate the terms of the sale & price (31%) or understand the process (63%). Stephen Phillips, the Chief Operating Officer for HSF Affiliates LLC, put it best: “Home buyers are more informed than ever with their Internet searches and ongoing research; however, there’s a critical need to transform that information into analysis and advice that helps consumers make the best home-buying and selling decisions.” The plethora of information now available has resulted in an increase in the percentage of buyers that reach out to real estate professionals to “connect the dots”. This is obvious as the percentage of overall buyers who used an agent to buy their home has steadily increased from 69% in 2001.  Bottom Line If you are thinking of selling your home, don’t underestimate the role a real estate professional can play in the process.

Proof That Now Is A Good Time To Sell!

Most homeowners believe that the winter is not a good time to sell. This belief is based on the fact that historically the number of buyers decreases in the winter and then increases dramatically during the spring buying market. Though this is still true, there is an interesting pattern developing over the last few months. The number of prospective purchasers actively looking at a home (foot traffic) has remained strong going into the fall. As a matter of fact, the foot traffic far exceeds the numbers reported for the same months last year (see chart):  At the same time, the National Association of Realtors revealed that the months’ supply of housing inventory has decreased from 5.5 months to 5.3. That equates to less competition for homeowners selling today as compared to next spring when many homeowners will decide to put their home on the market. Bottom Line Since buying activity is still strong, this might be a great time to put your house on the market.

First Time Homebuyers...

Recently we’ve seen sales go up, foreclosures and mortgage rates go down and lending standards begin to ease, yet something is still not right in the real estate market. Despite these recent improvements, a new study has found that first time buyers’ market share has dropped to a 30 year low, leaving many to wonder what needs to change before the market can return to full swing.

According to an annual homebuyer survey from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the number of first-time homebuyers has continued to drop this year – now reaching its lowest point in over three decades. As reported by the study, first-time homebuyers combined for a total of 33% of the market share this year, down 5% from the previous year and 7% lower than the average dating back to 1981.

What’s holding these buyers back? According to the survey, over half the respondents stated that the mortgage process – both the application and approval – was more difficult than they had anticipated.

Many would-be buyers are also turned away due to sticker shock. Following the all-cash investor fueled run-ups of last year, home prices have remained higher than many buyers can afford. Rents continue to rise as well, and while some believe this will help convert renters into buyers, for some this will prolong saving the necessary funds for a down payment.

For some though, the choice to rent is simply that – a choice. Renting has become a choice rather than a necessity, providing the flexibility that many renters desire. On top of this, renting no longer carries the same stigma is once did, making it a more appealing choice for both first-time buyers and returning ones.

What do you think is holding back first-time buyers? What needs to change to get them back on the market?

Buying A Home Remains 38% Less Expensive than Renting!

In Trulia’s latest Rent vs. Buy Report, they explained that homeownership remains cheaper than renting with a traditional 30-year fixed rate mortgage throughout the 100 largest metro areas in the United States. The updated numbers actually show that the range is from an average of 17% in Honolulu, all the way to 63% in Detroit, and 38% Nationwide! This is up from an average of only 5% cheaper in Honolulu in April. The other interesting findings in the report include: Rents have continued to increase nationally even as home price increases are starting to slow. Current low mortgage rates have kept homeownership from becoming more expensive than renting. Some markets might tip in favor of renting next year if home prices increase at a greater rate than rents and if – as most economists expect – mortgage rates rise, due to the strengthening economy. Nationally, rates would have to rise to 10.6% for renting to be cheaper than buying – and rates haven’t been that high since 1989. Bottom Line Buying a home makes sense. Rental costs have historically increased at a higher rate of inflation. Lock in a mortgage payment now before home prices and mortgage rates rise as experts expect they will.