Home Prices: Where Will They Be in 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.
Americans Are on The Move [INFOGRAPHIC]
![Americans Are on The Move [INFOGRAPHIC] | Simplifying The Market](https://files.keepingcurrentmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/MovingAcrossAmerica2016-STM.jpg)
Some Highlights:
- For the 4th year in a row, the Northeast saw a concentration of High Outbound activity.
- Oregon held on to the top stop of High Inbound states for the 3rd year in a row.
- Much of this Outbound activity can be attributed to Boomers relocating to warmer climates after retiring.
Will Increasing Mortgage Rates Impact Home Prices?
There are some who are calling for a decrease in home prices should mortgage interest rates begin to rise rapidly. Intuitively, this makes sense as the cost of a home is determined by the price of the home, plus the cost of financing that home.
Selling in the Winter Attracts Serious Buyers
A recent study of more than 7 million home sales over the past four years revealed that the season in which a home is listed may be able to shed some light on the likelihood that the home will sell for more than asking price, as well as how quickly the sale will close.
When Is a Good Time to Rent? Not Now!
People often ask if now is a good time to buy a home. No one ever asks when a good time to rent is. However, we want to make certain that everyone understands that today is NOT a good time to rent.
4 Reasons to Buy Your Dream Home This Winter
As the temperature in many areas of the country starts to cool down, you might think that the housing market will do the same. This couldn’t be further from the truth! Here are 4 reasons you should consider buying your dream home this winter instead of waiting for spring!
New Home Sales Race to Keep Up with Demand [INFOGRAPHIC]
![New Home Sales Race to Keep Up with Demand [INFOGRAPHIC] | Simplifying The Market](https://files.keepingcurrentmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/New-Construction-STM.jpg)
Some Highlights:
- Many buyers who are searching for their dream homes are turning to new home construction after 10% of all new home buyers sighted a lack of inventory of existing homes as their reason for purchase.
- The median home price decreased slightly from September’s high of $314,100 to $304,500 in October.
- The West saw the largest month over month jump in sales at 28.7%.
5 Reasons Why Homeownership Is a Good Financial Investment
According to a recent report by Trulia, “buying is cheaper than renting in 100 of the largest metro areas by an average of 37.7%.” That may have some thinking about buying a home instead of signing another lease extension, but does that make sense from a financial perspective?
Is Getting a Home Mortgage Still Too Difficult?
There is no doubt that mortgage credit availability is expanding, meaning it is easier to finance a home today than it was last year. However, the mortgage market is still much tighter than it was prior to the housing boom and bust experienced between 2003 - 2006.
Mortgage Interest Rates Just Went Up… Should I Wait to Buy?
Mortgage interest rates, as reported by Freddie Mac, have increased over the last several weeks. Along with Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, the Mortgage Bankers Association and the National Association of Realtors are all calling for mortgage rates to continue to rise over the next four quarters.
5 Reasons to Hire a Real Estate Professional When Buying & Selling!
Whether you are buying or selling a home, it can be quite an adventurous journey; you need an experienced Real Estate Professional to lead you to your ultimate goal. In this world of instant gratification and internet searches, many sellers think that they can For Sale by Owner or FSBO.
Existing Home Sales Surge Forward Through Fall [INFOGRAPHIC]
![Existing Home Sales Surge Forward Through Fall [INFOGRAPHIC] | Simplifying The Market](https://files.keepingcurrentmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/20161125-EHS-Report-STM.jpg)
Some Highlights:
- The National Association of Realtors (NAR) recently released their latest Existing Home Sales Report.
- First-time homebuyers made up 33% of all sales in October.
- Homes are selling quickly with 43% of homes on the market for less than a month.
- A limited supply continues to drive up prices for the 56th consecutive month.
Why Are Mortgage Interest Rates Increasing?
According to Freddie Mac’s latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey, the 30-year fixed rate mortgage interest rate jumped up to 3.94% last week. Interest rates had been hovering around 3.5% since June, and many are wondering why there has been such a significant increase so quickly.
From Empty Nest to Full House… Multigenerational Families Are Back!
Multigenerational homes are coming back in a big way! In the 1950s, about 21%, or 32.2 million Americans shared a roof with their grown children or parents.
You Can Never Have TMI about PMI
When it comes to buying a home, whether it is your first time or your fifth, it is always important to know all the facts. With the large number of mortgage programs available that allow buyers to purchase a home with a down payment below 20%, you can never have Too Much Information (TMI) about Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI).
The Truth About Housing Affordability
From a purely economic perspective, this is one of the best times in American history to buy a home. Black Night Financial Services discusses this in their most recent Monthly Mortgage Monitor.
The Dangers of “Tight Mortgage Credit” Headlines
The availability of mortgage credit is not at the same level that it was during the boom in housing (2005), and that’s good news.
It’s Not Always Marriage Before Mortgage
There are many people sitting on the sidelines trying to decide if they should purchase a home or sign a rental lease. Some might wonder if it makes sense to purchase a house before they are married and have a family.
The Difference an Hour Makes This Fall [INFOGRAPHIC]
![The Difference an Hour Makes This Fall [INFOGRAPHIC] | Simplifying The Market](https://files.keepingcurrentmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/20161104-ENG-STM.jpg)
Every Hour in the US Housing Market:
- 633 Homes Sell
- 253 Homes Regain Positive Equity
- Median Home Values Go Up $1.43
Think All Millennials Live in Their Parent's Basement? Think Again!
According to the Census Bureau, millennials have overtaken baby boomers as the largest generation in U.S. History. Millennials, or America's youth born between 1982-2000, now represent more than one quarter of the nation’s population, totaling 83.1 million.
How Long Do Families Stay in a Home?
The National Association of Realtors (NAR) keeps historic data on many aspects of homeownership. One of the data points that has changed dramatically is the median tenure of a family in a home.
Buying a Home? 4 Demands to Make on Your Real Estate Agent
Are you thinking of buying a home? Are you dreading having to walk through strangers’ houses? Are you concerned about getting the paperwork correct? Hiring a professional real estate agent can take away most of the challenges of buying. A great agent is always worth more than the commission they charge, just like a great doctor or great accountant.
Taking the Fear out of the Mortgage Process
A considerable number of potential buyers shy away from jumping into the real estate market due to their uncertainty about the buying process. A specific cause for concern tends to be mortgage qualification.
Buying a Home Can Be Scary... Know the Facts [INFOGRAPHIC]
![Buying a Home Can Be Scary... Know the Facts [INFOGRAPHIC] | Simplifying The Market](https://files.keepingcurrentmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/20161028-ENG-STM.jpg)
Some Highlights:
- 36% of Americans think they need a 20% down payment to buy a home.
- 44% of Millennials who purchased a home this year have put down less than 10%.
- 71.8% of loan applications were approved last month.
- The average credit score of approved loans was 731 in September.
Percentage of Homeownership by Decade and by State
There has been a lot of talk about the falling homeownership rate in the United States. In December 2004, the homeownership rate reached an all-time high of 69.4%, while the current rate is 62.9%. When comparing these two figures, there is some room for concern regarding the difference.
