The housing market typically slows down at the end of the year. The reasons for this aren’t difficult to understand. Between harsher weather and the holidays, not a lot of people have moving on their mind during the month of December. But while the market has been experiencing a typical seasonal slowdown, it remains hot when compared to pre-pandemic levels. For example, a look at recently released numbers shows that the number of homes for sale with an accepted offer within one week was nearly double what it was during the same period in 2019, jumping from 15.8 percent two years ago to 29.6 percent in 2021. Similarly, the median number of days homes were on the market has nearly doubled from 2019. New listings and pending sales have also spiked compared to their pre-pandemic level. Simply put, the winter market has slowed down but continues to run hotter than normal, when compared to an average year. (source)

There’s a natural inclination at the beginning of the year to look forward. The new year offers us a fresh start and a great time to set goals. For a lot of us, one of those goals will be to buy a house. But what should we expect out of the housing market in 2022? Well, according to a survey of more than 20 top economic and housing experts conducted by the National Association of Realtors, we can expect the market to normalize. “Overall, survey participants believe we’ll see the housing market and broader economy normalize [this] year,†Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist, said of the survey’s results. “Though forecasted to rise 4 percent, inflation will decelerate after hefty gains in 2021, while home price increases are also expected to ease with an annual appreciation of less than 6 percent.†Survey participants expect home sales to fall slightly from 2021 but they also see an uptick in the number of new homes built. And, while they expect mortgage rates to move higher, the increases aren’t expected to push rates higher than their pre-pandemic level. (source)

If you’re like most Americans, your monthly mortgage payment will be among your biggest bills. That’s why it’s important for prospective home buyers to crunch the numbers before shopping for a house. Knowing how much you can comfortably afford will help you avoid buying a house that causes you financial stress. And these days, that’s a factor. The pandemic has led to more economic uncertainty and it has a lot of us thinking about our bills. For example, in one recent survey, nearly 50 percent of participants said they’ve worried about their house payment during the past month. And those worries – along with increasing opportunities for remote work – have many of us looking to move somewhere more affordable. In fact, the same survey found 45 percent of respondents considering a move to a less expensive area. It’s a common theme, lately. Since the beginning of the pandemic, many surveys have found a growing number of Americans interested in moving to smaller metros, suburbs, exurbs, and anywhere else they can get more house for their money. (source)

New-home sales surged in November, rising 12.4 percent from the month before, according to new numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The increase pushed sales to their highest level since April. Combined with the recently reported increase in existing-home sales, the improvement is further evidence that buyer demand remains high, even at a time of year when home sales typically slow due to winter weather, fewer listings, and the holidays. But while winter usually sees buyers putting their home search on hold until spring, this year, buyers remain active. One possible explanation is the expectation that mortgage rates will move higher next year. And while the expected rate increases should be modest, buyers may still be looking to lock in a low rate before they go any higher. Regionally, the report found the biggest improvement in the West, where sales rose 53.2 percent. The Northeast saw a 15.6 percent increase, while the South gained 2.6 percent. Only the Midwest saw a decline, with sales dropping 25.4 percent month over month. (source)

In November, the typical home for sale was on the market just 18 days, according to new numbers from the National Association of Realtors. That’s down from 21 days in November 2020 but unchanged from the month before. Overall, 83 percent of homes sold in less than a month. The numbers are evidence that the lack of available inventory means home buyers continue to face a challenging, fast-paced market. In fact, the NAR found there was only a 2.1-month supply of existing homes available for sale in November. A 6-month supply is generally considered healthy. Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist, says buyers remain motivated, though, due to the expectation that mortgage rates will rise in 2022. “Locking in a constant and firm mortgage payment motivated many consumers who grew weary of escalating rents over the last year,” Yun said. “Mortgage rates are projected to jump in 2022, however, I don’t expect the imminent increase to be overly dramatic.” Motivated buyers pushed sales of previously owned homes up 1.9 percent month over month. It was the third consecutive month sales increased.