More Homes, Slower Price Growth – What It Means for You as a Buyer

There are more homes on the market right now than there have been in years – and that could be a game changer for you if you’re ready to buy. Let’s look at two reasons why.

You Have More Options To Choose From

An article from Realtor.com helps explain just how much the number of homes for sale has gone up this year:

“There were 29.2% more homes actively for sale on a typical day in October compared with the same time in 2023, marking the twelfth consecutive month of annual inventory growth and the highest count since December 2019.”

And while the number of homes on the market still isn’t quite back to where it was in the years leading up to the pandemic, this is definitely an improvement (see graph below):

With more homes available for sale now, you have more options to choose from. As Hannah Jones, Senior Economic Research Analyst at Realtor.com, explains:

“Though still lower than pre-pandemic, burgeoning home supply means buyers have more options . . .”

That means you have a better chance of finding a house that meets your needs. It also means the buying process doesn’t have to feel quite as rushed, because more options on the market means you’ll likely face less competition from other buyers.

Home Price Growth Is Slowing

When there aren’t many homes for sale, buyers have to compete more fiercely for the ones that are available. That’s what happened a few years ago, and it’s what drove prices up so quickly.

But now, the increasing number of homes on the market is causing home price growth to slow down (see graph below):

In certain markets, the number of available homes has not only bounced back to normal, but has even surpassed pre-pandemic levels. In those areas, home price growth has slowed or stalled completely. As Lance Lambert, Co-Founder of ResiClub, explains:

“Generally speaking, housing markets where active inventory has returned to pre-pandemic 2019 levels have seen home price growth soften or even decline outright from their 2022 peak.”

Slower or stalled price growth could give you a better chance of finding something within your budget. As Dr. Anju Vajja, Deputy Director at the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), says:

“For the third consecutive month U.S. house prices showed little movement . . . relatively flat house prices may improve housing affordability.”

But remember, inventory levels and home prices are going to vary by market.

So, having a real estate agent who knows the local area can be a big advantage. They can help you understand the trends in your community, which can make a real difference in finding a home that fits your needs and budget.

Bottom Line

More housing options – and the slower home price growth they bring – can help you find and buy a home that works for your lifestyle and budget. So don’t hesitate to reach out to a local real estate agent if you want to talk about the growing number of choices you have right now.

Read more at KeepingCurrentMatters.com

Related Links

• When To Sell Your House: 6 Surefire Signs Now Is the Time

• Renting vs. Buying: The Net Worth Gap You Need To See

• How to Create a Cozy Wintertime Bedroom

If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

Search Homes in Colorado

Search Homes in North Carolina

Search Homes in Oklahoma

Search Homes in Minnesota

Average age of first-time homebuyers is 38, an all-time high. Here’s what that says about the real estate market

First-time homebuyers in the U.S. are getting older.

The median first-time homebuyer has reached an all-time high age of 38 years old, three years older than in July 2023, according to the National Association of Realtors’ 2024 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers report. This summer, the NAR polled 5,390 buyers who purchased a primary residence between July 2023 and June 2024.

In the 1980s, the typical first-time buyer was in their late 20s.

“The first-time homebuyer who can enter into today’s market is older, has a higher income [and] is wealthier,” said Jessica Lautz, deputy chief economist at NAR, pointing out that higher home prices require bigger down payments.

Additionally, the share of first-time homebuyers on the market decreased over the past year from 32% to 24%, the lowest since NAR began collecting data in 1981.

Factors including the nationwide housing shortage, competition against wealthier buyers and high rent prices make it more difficult for younger adults to buy their first home, according to experts.

‘The biggest issue of housing today’

The housing shortage in the U.S. is “the biggest issue of housing today,” said Orphe Divounguy, senior economist at Zillow.

As of mid-2023, there is a housing shortage of four million homes, according to the NAR. Construction of new homes has been slow in recent years, and more buyers are competing for available homes, pushing up prices.

“We do need affordable housing,” said Jonathan Scott, co-host of the HGTV series “Property Brothers.” “It’s going to affect all of us if we don’t start acting now.”

During a recent CNBC Your Money event, Scott said a sustained housing shortage could dramatically influence first-time buyers over the long run. “Give it another 20 years and literally no young person will be able to afford to purchase a home, period,” Scott said.

Building activity has somewhat improved. Single-family housing starts in the U.S., a measure of new homes that began construction, grew to 1,027,000 in September, according to U.S. Census data. That is a 2.7% jump from August.

Yet, “we are still in a very, very constrained market,” said Selma Hepp, chief economist at CoreLogic. “Because of fewer homes on the market, you have more pressure on home prices.”

In August, the cost of a typical starter home was $250,000, up from $240,000 a year prior, according to Redfin.

‘The winners in today’s housing market’

The housing market is dominated by repeat homebuyers and sellers, or those who have owned and sold homes more than once. Prior homeownership gives them access to home equity to tap, in some cases enough to buy homes outright.

About a quarter, or 26%, of homebuyers paid cash for their home, an all-time high for cash buyers, the NAR found.

U.S. homeowners with mortgages have a net homeowner equity of more than $17.6 trillion in the second quarter of 2024, according to CoreLogic. Home equity increased in the second quarter of this year by $1.3 trillion, an 8.0% growth from a year prior.

Baby boomers and retirees are “the winners in today’s housing market,” said Lautz. The typical repeat homebuyer is now 61 years old, and sellers are typically 63, per the NAR report.

“When we look at the average homebuyer, for older buyers, they have about $300,000 in home equity versus younger millennial buyers,” Hepp said.

‘We’re seeing renters staying renters for longer’

Other factors such as high rent costs and elevated debt-to-income ratios make it hard for would-be buyers to save for a home, experts say. 

Rent prices increased faster than tenants’ wages during the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2022, rent growth peaked at 16% at an annual basis, Divounguy said. That same year, wage growth peaked at 9.3%, according to data from Indeed.

The price jump meant the typical renter spent about 31% of their income on rent. About half of renter households were “cost burdened,” meaning they spent more than 30% of their income on housing.

“We’re seeing renters staying renters for longer because affordability has been so squeezed,” he said.

High rent prices not only affect your ability to save money to buy a home, but it can also affect your ability to pay down any existing debt, Lautz said.

For instance, if a potential buyer has outstanding student loans, their monthly rent cost could make it harder for them to make larger payments toward their debt balance, she said.

That in turn influences your debt-to-income ratio, or how much money you’re paying every month toward debt. That is an important factor when qualifying for a mortgage. Essentially, lenders consider the DTI to see if a borrower can sustain a mortgage payment on top of existing loan obligations.

“All of these things snowball, especially in an inflationary environment,” Lautz said.

Read more at CNBC.com

Related Links

• What To Look For From This Week’s Fed Meeting

• Why Home Sales Bounce Back After Presidential Elections

• How to Pick a Color Scheme

If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

Search Homes in Colorado

Search Homes in North Carolina

Search Homes in Oklahoma

Search Homes in Minnesota

Avoid These Top Homebuyer Mistakes in Today’s Market

No one likes making mistakes, especially when they happen in what’s likely the biggest transaction of your life – buying a home.

That’s why partnering with a trusted agent is so important. Here’s a sneak peek at the most common missteps buyers are making in today’s market and how a great agent will help you steer clear of each one.

Trying To Time the Market

Many buyers are trying to time the market by waiting for home prices or mortgage rates to drop. This can be a really risky strategy because there’s so much at play that can have an impact on those things. As Elijah de la Campa, Senior Economist at Redfin, says:

“My advice for buyers is don’t try to time the market. There are ​a lot of swing factors, like the upcoming jobs report and the presidential election, that could cause the housing market to take unexpected twists and turns. If you find a house you love and can afford to buy it, now’s not a bad time.”

Buying More House Than You Can Afford

If you’re tempted to stretch your budget a bit further than you should, you’re not alone. A number of buyers are making this mistake right now.

But the truth is, it’s actually really important to avoid overextending your budget, especially when other housing expenses like home insurance and taxes are on the rise. You want to talk to the pros to make sure you understand what’ll really work for you. Bankrate offers this advice:

“Focus on what monthly payment you can afford rather than fixating on the maximum loan amount you qualify for. Just because you can qualify for a $300,000 loan doesn’t mean you can comfortably handle the monthly payments that come with it along with your other financial obligations.”

Missing Out on Assistance Programs That Can Help 

Saving up for the upfront costs of homeownership takes some careful planning. You’ve got to think about your closing costs, down payment, and more. And if you don’t work with a team of experienced professionals, you could miss out on programs out there that can make a big difference for you. This is happening more than you realize.

According to Realtor.com, almost 80% of first-time buyers qualify for down payment assistance – but only 13% actually take advantage of those programs. So, talk to a lender about your options. Whether you’re buying your first house or your fifth, there may be a program that can help.

Not Leaning on the Expertise of a Pro

This last one may be the most important of all. The very best way to avoid making a mistake that’s going to cost you is to lean on a pro. With the right team of experts, you can easily dodge these missteps.

Bottom Line

The good news is you don’t have to deal with any of these headaches. Connect with a local real estate agent so you have a pro on your side who can help you avoid these costly mistakes.

Read more at KeepingCurrentMatters.com

Related Links

• Durable Meets Chic: Designing a Stylish Home That Will Last Forever

• What To Expect from Mortgage Rates and Home Prices in 2025

• What Is a Contingent Offer? What It Means When Buying a Home

If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

Search Homes in Colorado

Search Homes in North Carolina

Search Homes in Oklahoma

Search Homes in Minnesota

This Is the Sweet Spot Homebuyers Have Been Waiting For

After months of sitting on the sidelines, many homebuyers who were priced out by high mortgage rates and affordability challenges finally have an opportunity to make their move.

With rates trending down, today’s market is a sweet spot for buyers—and it’s one that may not last long.

So, if you’ve put your own move on the back burner, here’s why maybe you shouldn’t delay your plans any longer.

As you weigh your options and decide if you should buy now or wait, ask yourself this: What do you think everyone else is going to do?

The truth is, if mortgage rates continue to ease, as experts project, more buyers will jump back into the market. A survey from Bankrate shows over half of homeowners would be motivated to buy this year if rates drop below 6% (see graph below):

With rates already in the low 6% range, we’re not terribly far off from hitting that threshold. The bottom line is, that when they drop into the 5s, the number of buyers in the market is going to go up – and that means more competition for you.

That increased demand will likely push home prices up, which could potentially take away from some of the benefits you’d gain from a slightly lower interest rate. As Nadia Evangelou, Senior Economist and Director of Real Estate Research at the National Association of Realtors (NAR), explains:

“The downside of increased demand is that it puts upward pressure on home prices as multiple buyers compete for a limited number of homes. In markets with ongoing housing shortages, this price increase can offset some of the affordability gains from lower mortgage rates.”

So, while waiting to buy may seem like a smart move, it could backfire if rising prices outpace your savings from slightly lower rates.

What This Means for You

Right now, you’ve got the chance to get ahead of all of that. Today’s market is a buyer sweet spot. Why? Because a lot of other buyers are waiting – which means not as many people are actively looking for homes. That means less competition for you.

At the same time, affordability has already improved quite a bit. Recent easing in mortgage rates has made homeownership more accessible. As Mike Simonsen, Founder of Altos Research, says:

“Mortgage payments on the typical-price home are 7% lower than last year and are 13% lower than the peak in May 2024.”

And while the supply of homes for sale is still low, it’s also higher than it’s been in years. According to Ralph McLaughlin, Senior Economist at Realtor.com:

“The number of homes actively for sale continues to be elevated compared with last year, growing by 35.8%, a 10th straight month of growth, and now sits at the highest since May 2020.”

This means you now have more options to choose from than you’ve had in quite a while.

With fewer buyers in the market, improving affordability, and more homes to choose from, you have the chance to find the right one before the competition heats up.

Why Waiting Could Cost You

If you’re waiting for the perfect time to buy, it’s important to understand that timing the market is nearly impossible. The longer you wait, the higher the risk that market conditions will shift—and not necessarily in your favor. As Greg McBride, Chief Financial Analyst at Bankrate, says:

“It’s one of those things where you should be careful what you wish for. A further drop in mortgage rates could bring a surge of demand that makes it tougher to actually buy a house.”

Bottom Line

Don’t wait until you have to deal with more competition and higher prices – you already have the chance to buy a home while we’re in the sweet spot today. Connect with an agent to make sure you’re taking advantage of it.

Read more at KeepingCurrentMatters.com

Related Links

• The Down Payment Assistance You Didn’t Know About

• Why Buying Now May Be Worth It in the Long Run

• Signs of housing demand surge after interest rate cut

If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

Search Homes in Colorado

Search Homes in North Carolina

Search Homes in Oklahoma

Search Homes in Minnesota

Real Estate’s Sluggish Summer Will Give Buyers a Jump in the Fall

High mortgage rates put the real estate market in a slump in the final month of summer—but, they could also provide a runway for buyers to jump into a less competitive market in the fall.

Homes spent 53 days on the market in August, the longest time for the month in five years, according to Realtor.com® data. There were also a staggering 19.3% of listings with price cuts, the highest level for the month in five years.

It’s not all bad news, though, and it means that buyers can now take their time shopping for a new home in the fall.

“This fall could be busier for the housing market than this season typically is, but it’s still likely to be a less competitive time, which makes it ideal for flexible buyers,” says Realtor.com Chief Economist Danielle Hale.

And there might be a silver lining for sellers as well.

What happened in August?

The record slowdown in August can be firmly blamed on high mortgage rates.

“The housing market slowed considerably as both buyers and sellers patiently wait for a lower mortgage rate environment,” says Realtor.com® senior economist Ralph McLaughlin in his analysis.

The Federal Reserve’s mid-September policy meeting is quickly approaching, and rates are expected to drop. (While the Fed doesn’t set mortgage rates, the two numbers often move in the same direction.)

Realtor.com economists predict rates will fall to 6.3% by the end of 2024. And once rates drop, expect the market to kick up a notch.

Here’s what to look for in the autumn real estate season.

Housing stock will increase this fall

A not-so-buyer-friendly thing that happened in August? New listings fell.

Home sellers pulled back, with 0.9% fewer new homes listed on the market compared with last August, marking the first negative reading in nearly a year.

However, as rates tumble, more homeowners might finally be willing to part with their existing low rates and put their homes on the market.

“There’s a stalemate in the marketplace due to the higher differential of 2024 interest rates versus 2021 interest rates,” says Realtor.com. “That 4% spread has homeowners holding on to the current rate like Gollum held onto his precious ring in ‘The Lord of the Rings.'”

Indeed, a recent Realtor.com analysis found that 86% of homeowners have mortgage rates below 6%—so many feel “locked in” until rates dip.

This fall, the number of homes for sale is likely to climb, “but part of why we’ll see this is because it will take homes longer to sell,” explains Hale.

Market pace is expected to pick up

In August, homes lingered on the listing pages for nearly a week longer than was typical last year.

In the fall, “time on market typically increases, so buyers are likely to have even more time to make decisions,” says Hale.

Even though falling rates could bring a slew of home shoppers back to the market, that doesn’t necessarily mean houses will instantly start selling like hotcakes.

In fact, the presidential election just might make some buyers hold off until Inauguration Day 2025.

“Many buyers are seeking stability and may choose to wait until there is more certainty about who will be in office before making any major financial commitments,” says Realtor.com.

However, buyers who are ready to act now have “a prime opportunity to secure a property while competition is slightly lower and rates are trending downward,” they added.

Home prices could see a bump in the fall

When mortgage rates take a dip, competition ramps up, and so do prices, since bidding wars will likely resume, according to Realtor.com.

But buyers offering the asking price won’t happen right away.

In the fall, “you will have a slight increase in confidence from both homebuyers and sellers,” they said. And that, in turn, might bump prices up slightly.

Sellers will need to stand out

High home prices and low housing stock have supported a seller’s market for years now, but that might be on the brink of change.

“The data reflects that buyers are pickier in the housing market today, and sellers have to adjust in order to stand out,” says Hale.

This might mean slashing prices further, upping curb appeal, and remaining patient for offers.

Buyers, save your searches!

Fall could be frustrating if you’re a home shopper with specific needs. It might seem like you’re looking at the same homes over and over.

Buyers can channel this frustration to reevaluate their must-have versus nice-to-have list and then use these findings to save a specific real estate search.

“They’ll be notified when listings that meet their criteria hit the market, and they won’t be distracted by homes that just aren’t a good fit,” advises Hale.

The growing number of homes for sale and the potential for further mortgage rate declines on the horizon might mean that buyers feel less pressure to buy now or else miss the opportunity entirely.

“While this may mean slower market sales activity, it likely also means shoppers who do buy in this environment have more time to make decisions and may feel more confident in their purchase if they choose to make one,” says Hale.

Read more at Realtor.com

Related Links

• Why Pre-Approval Should Be at the Top of Your Homebuying To-Do List

• Creating a Cozy Home: Tips for Transitioning from Summer to Fall

• Should You Sell Now? The Lifestyle Factors That Could Tip the Scale

If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

Search Homes in Colorado

Search Homes in North Carolina

Search Homes in Oklahoma

Search Homes in Oregon

Search Homes in Minnesota