Tag: property management

When shopping for a house, you have to choose from the homes that are for sale at the time you’re looking. In other words, unless you’re having a house custom built to your specifications, you’re going to have to make do with what’s on the market now. These days, that’s become more challenging in some areas due to the fact that there aren’t as many homes for sale as is historically normal. So why is that? Well, there are a couple of different factors behind current inventory levels. One is homes that have yet to recover their value. If a homeowner purchased their home just before the housing crash, they may be waiting for prices to reach pre-crash levels before selling. Another is mortgage rates. Many homeowners were able to refinance their loans while rates were low and – though they remain lower than historical norms – these potential sellers fear they won’t be able to get as good a deal, if they move now. Finally, and perhaps most significantly, current homeowners are less likely to put their homes on the market if they feel they won’t be able to find a house they like in their price range. However, despite the factors keeping more homeowners from putting their homes up for sale, there are also some reasons to believe that homeowners who have been waiting may end up selling sooner than later. Among them, surging buyer demand, higher prices, and mortgage rates still hovering near historic lows top the list. More here.

It’s always good to prepare before you set out to buy a house. But that’s especially true in a tight market. If there are more buyers than homes for sale, there’s naturally also going to be competition. And where there’s competition, buyers need to be ready. So what can buyers do to make sure they don’t lose the home of their dreams or blow up their budget? Well, the first thing is to set some boundaries. You’ll need to have a firm idea of what you’re willing to spend, so that you don’t get in a bidding war and buy more house than you can comfortably afford. You’ll also need to know where you’re able to compromise. If there aren’t as many homes to choose from, chances are you’re not going to get everything you wanted in a house. Make sure that you’re focused on things that can’t be remedied later. For example, if you don’t like the kitchen cabinets, they can change but you won’t be able to add more outdoor space, if the yard is small. Buyers in competitive markets should also expect to act fast. You won’t have the luxury of thinking things over once you’ve found a good house. Be prepared to make an offer quickly, as there will likely be other buyers interested in the same property. For this reason, it’s also good to bid competitively. You may want to see if you can get a lower offer accepted but, if you’re trying to beat out other buyers, it’s a better idea to put in an attractive offer than to try and steal a deal. Generally, the more focused and prepared you are, the better your chances will be for successfully navigating a tight market. More here.

Among the many barometers of housing-market health, one of the more significant indicators is new home construction. Especially in areas where there are more buyers than homes for sale, the number of new homes being built can make a difference in how quickly prices rise and how many choices buyers have to choose from. One way to gauge how well the new home market is doing is to look at the National Association of Home Builders’ Housing Market Index. The Index – which measures builder confidence on a scale where any number above 50 indicates more builders view conditions as good than poor – is a monthly look at how builders feel about current and upcoming market conditions. According to the latest results, builder confidence has now risen to its second highest level since the housing crash, hitting 70 in May. Robert Dietz, NAHB’s chief economist, says there is growing confidence in the market for new homes. “The HMI measure of future sales conditions reached its highest level since June 2005, a sign of growing consumer confidence in the new home market,” Dietz said. “Especially as existing home inventory remains tight, we can expect increased demand for new construction moving forward.” More here.

In recent years, there’s been an increasing number of older Americans who rent rather than own their own home. But is renting really a better choice for retirees looking to reduce costs and obligations? Well, not necessarily. While it’s true that homeownership brings with it ongoing expenses like routine maintenance and property taxes that continue even after you’ve paid off your mortgage, renting can’t offer some of the benefits that homeownership alone provides. For example, equity. Once you’ve built up equity in your home, you can take out a line of credit and borrow money from your home’s value. Obviously, this can be a good option for older homeowners on a fixed income. Also, provided you have a fixed-rate mortgage, your house payment isn’t subject to the ups-and-downs of the market the way rent can be. As a renter, you’re at the mercy of your landlord. After all, they own the house or building you’re living in and can set the price to their liking. Like anything, there are pros and cons to owning a home during retirement. However, homeownership provides a valuable asset that can be advantageous for retired homeowners in a position to benefit from it. More here.

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Applications Survey, demand for home purchase loans was at its highest level since October 2015 last week. The increase was credited to Americans feeling better about their job security and financial situation. “Continuing strength in the job market and improving consumer confidence drove overall purchase applications to increase last week,” Joel Kan, an MBA economist, told CNBC. “The index for purchase applications reached its highest level since the beginning of October 2015, which was the week prior to the implementation of the federal government’s ‘know before you owe’ rule.” Overall, demand for applications for loans to buy homes rose 2 percent from the week before and are now 6 percent higher than at the same time one year ago. Also, in the report, average mortgage rates were up and down last week, with rates flat for 30-year fixed-rate loans with conforming loan balances, up for jumbo loans and those backed by the Federal Housing Administration, and down for 15-year fixed-rate loans. The MBA’s weekly survey has been conducted since 1990 and covers 75 percent of all retail residential mortgage applications. More here.

Last year, first-time home buyers spent 22 percent more renovating their new house than buyers the year before. The increase shows a significant spike in younger buyers who are willing to take on the challenge of buying a fixer-upper. But what’s behind the surge? Well, one obvious reason to buy a house in need of some work is price. Naturally, if you’re going to find a bargain, it’s likely going to be because the house isn’t in the best shape. Depending on how handy you are – or how much savings you’ve built up – you may be inclined to grab a lower-priced house with a plan to upgrade it to your liking. The other reason, which would help explain the recent spike, are current market conditions. Since inventory in many markets is low, there are fewer homes available for buyers to choose from. That means, more buyers are going to have to look at homes that may need a little help. Nino Sitchinava, principal economist for Houzz, the company who conducted the survey, says recent buyers are always a big share of renovations and low inventory of affordable homes is helping to boost those numbers. “Younger and cash-constrained first-time buyers are responding to the low inventory of affordable homes by purchasing properties that require more than just cosmetic upgrades,” Sitchinava said. More here.

When home prices were low and mortgage credit was tighter, hopeful home shoppers worried they might not be able to qualify for a home loan. These days, mortgage credit is more available and home price increases have taken the lead as the biggest affordability concern among potential home buyers. The latest evidence of that can be found among the most recent results of Fannie Mae’s monthly Home Purchase Sentiment Index. April’s survey found a record number of respondents who said they thought they’d have an easy time getting a mortgage. Combined with job stability and higher income, the news means Americans are feeling optimistic about their finances and the prospect of buying a home. Doug Duncan, Fannie Mae’s senior vice president and chief economist, says things are trending in the right direction. “Historically strong inflation-adjusted house price gains are tempering consumer sentiment, whereas consumer optimism regarding the ease of getting a mortgage reached a survey high,” Duncan said. “On balance, housing continues on a gradual growth track.” Overall, five of the index’s six components saw increases and the number of participants who said they felt now was a good time to buy a house was up 5 percent over the month before. More here.

There’s new evidence that younger Americans are beginning to form households of their own at a faster rate than before. And, though young adults are more likely to become renters before they become buyers, the rate at which millennials are pursuing homeownership really depends more on where they live than anything else. Proof of that can be found in the latest Ellie Mae Millennial Tracker, which tracks the mortgage application activity of Americans born between the years 1980 and 1999. According to the latest results, the most popular metro areas among millennial buyers were those in the Midwest. But does that really mean young Americans are flocking to small, Midwestern cities? Well, not exactly. “What this data shows is where there is an inventory of affordable homes, the millennial buyers are ready to enter the market,” Joe Tyrrell, Ellie Mae’s executive vice president of corporate strategy, said. In other words, because affordability conditions are more favorable for buyers in the Midwest, there are more young Americans deciding to buy rather than rent. However, regardless of where you live, the results indicate a strong desire for homeownership among millennials, which should help keep buyer demand healthy for years to come. More here.