Tag: Bronx Property Management

The real estate market is constantly evolving. What is true one day may not be the next. For example, this past winter many forecasts for the upcoming spring season predicted buyers might be scared off by rising interest rates and a lack of homes for sale. However, now that spring has arrived, mortgage rates have come down a bit and the housing market has been among the strongest sectors of the economy. For example, Fannie Mae’s Economic & Strategic Research Group’s latest housing forecast notes both a stronger-than-usual February and the prospects for a good spring. “February fared better than other hard economic indicators partly due to the warm winter weather, and the ESR group expects that a seasonal uptick in listings going into the spring selling season will help alleviate extremely tight inventory,†the group’s latest release reads. In other words, despite higher rates and low inventory, the housing market performed well in February and trends going forward indicate conditions may be even more favorable now. As more homeowners put their homes up for sale, buyers will find improving conditions for a spring home search. More here.

According to the Survey of Consumers conducted by the University of Michigan, Americans are feeling more optimistic about economic conditions. In fact, Richard Curtin, Survey of Consumers chief economist, says optimism is at its highest point since 2000. “The Current Economic Conditions Index rose to its highest level since 2000 and nearly reached its all-time peak of 121.1 set in 1999,†Curtin said in the most recent release. So how will all that optimism affect the housing market this year? A lot depends on builders and current homeowners. So far this year, buyer demand has been high and the number of homes available for sale has been lower than usual. As economic confidence builds, however, builders may start building more new homes to meet the growing demand. Current homeowners could also decide that it’s a great time to sell a house and put their home up for sale. If this happens and inventory begins to climb, the market will become more balanced, prices will begin to moderate, and home sales will increase. In other words, as long as Americans are feeling confident about their financial situation, there’s a good chance they’ll be thinking about a move. More here.

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Applications Survey, mortgage rates were mostly down last week. Rates fell for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances, loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration, and 15-year fixed-rate mortgages. Rates for jumbo loans were unchanged from the week before. The decline brought mortgage rates to their lowest level so far this year. Michael Fratantoni, MBA’s chief economist, told CNBC the spring season is off to a good start. “The spring housing market is off to a solid start,†Fratantoni said. “Despite the relatively weak job report for March, job growth is averaging almost 180,000 [a month] so far this year, providing a strong support for the home purchase market.†The survey found demand for loans to buy homes was up 3 percent from the week before and is now 3 percent higher than at the same time last year. Refinance demand, on the other hand, was virtually unchanged from the previous week, despite falling interest rates. The MBA’s weekly survey has been conducted since 1990 and covers 75 percent of all retail residential mortgage applications. More here.

Historically, townhouses were the city homes the wealthy used when they needed to be in town for social events. These days, however, they’re popular with a wider array of buyers and there are a number of reasons why. First off, their small footprint and vertical design means they require less maintenance and are more likely to be located in trendier, walkable neighborhoods close to amenities and jobs. For that reason, townhouses appeal to both first-time buyers and baby boomers looking to downsize. Townhomes are also appealing because they tend to sell for less than the typical, detached single-family home. That combination of a lower price tag and the ability to be close to retail, entertainment, schools, and amenities have led to a bit of a townhouse building boom over the past few years. In fact, recent numbers from the National Association of Home Builders show a nearly 18 percent increase in the number of townhomes built between 2014 and 2015. But though it may not be the first time they’ve experienced a wave of popularity since their 18^th century heyday, with more and more Americans indicating a preference for them, they’re increasingly a desirable option for prospective buyers looking for a house to buy. More here.

For first-time home buyers, saving enough money for a down payment is among the top obstacles blocking their jump to homeownership. Where current homeowners can often use the sale of their house to help fund the upfront costs of buying another home, first timers have to come up with the money by budgeting and staying disciplined. But is it better to put off buying a home until you can come up with a full 20 percent down payment or should you buy now and put less down? This can be a complicated equation – especially since it ultimately depends on how much prices and mortgage rates rise or fall in the future. Despite this, a new calculator from mortgage insurer MGIC hopes to show new buyers that sometimes waiting a year or two to save up money can actually cost more. Vance Edwards, MGIC’s marketing program director, says that – while they don’t want to encourage anyone to buy before they can afford to – they want to help counter the notion that buyers have to save 20 percent before they can think about homeownership and help show that, not only are there other options, it sometimes costs more not to explore them. More here.

This year’s housing market depends a lot on whether or not current homeowners decide now’s the time to put their home up for sale. With inventory low in many markets, home prices have been climbing and causing affordability concerns for buyers. But there are two ways to relieve upward pressure on prices. One is more new home construction. The other is more homeowners putting their homes on the market. Doug Duncan, Fannie Mae’s senior vice president and chief economist, says the market may get a boost, if current homeowners become more active. “The housing market could get some tailwinds from a seasonal rise in for-sale inventory, particularly as some sellers seek to lock in profits from recent rapid home price gains,†Duncan said. “The market could also get a boost from homebuyers who decide to jump into the market before rates rise further.†The good news is there are an increasing number of Americans who believe this is the time to sell. In fact, Fannie Mae’s most recent Home Purchase Sentiment Index saw a 9 percent jump in the number of survey participants who said they feel it’s a good time to sell a house. If more homeowners begin to list their homes this spring, it’ll offer buyers better choices. It’ll also help moderate future price increases. More here.