Home buyers looking to buy a house this year have been met with a more challenging housing market than in years past. Following the housing crash, supply outweighed demand and the market favored buyers. With more homes than buyers, prices were low and buyers had all the negotiating power. This year, on the other hand, higher home prices, fewer choices, and more competition from other buyers have led to increasing concerns about affordability and the likelihood of finding the right house. According to a recent gathering of housing economists at the annual convention of the National Association of Real Estate Editors, low inventory is at the root of all of these issues. That’s because, when there are more buyers than there are homes for sale, home prices increase and sellers have the upper hand. Speakers at the convention, including the National Association of Realtors’ chief economist, Lawrence Yun, and Realtor.com’s, Jonathan Smoke, pointed to inventory as key to balancing the market and helping moderate home price increases. “One thing holding back the market is supply,” Smoke said. “Inventory continues to be constrained despite demand.” Yun agreed, calling inventory, “grossly inadequate.” Fortunately, high buyer demand and still-low mortgage rates have helped affordability levels and kept home sales numbers up despite low inventory in many markets. More here.
