Home prices are rising too fast in much of the country. In Dallas and Denver, prices have surpassed their prior peak and have risen over the past two years by 18% and 20%, respectively. Similar gains were recorded in many Western cities, including Seattle and San Francisco, regaining most of the price declines during the bust years to reach very close to their prior peak. Nationwide , home prices have risen by 10% over the past two years, according to the Case-Shiller repeat price index, and by 13% in the median … [Read more...]
Fixer Uppers: A Pot Of Gold Or A Money Pit?
Realtor.com identifies the U.S. cities whose homes on the market offer the biggest price break for buyers willing to put in a little work. Feeling handy? Take a look at Clarksville, Tenn. According to numbers from Realtor.com, the city offers the country’s biggest price break for home buyers willing to put in a little work. The median price for a fixer-upper in Clarksville is $69,900, an almost 70% discount off the $226,000 median price for a home in good condition. (The analysis focused on houses in the … [Read more...]
Study: Buyers, Sellers Will Jump Off the Fence This Year
Consumers are more committed to buying or selling this year, according to Prudential Real Estate's fourth quarter Consumer Outlook Survey. Of the 2,500 consumers surveyed, 78 percent held a favorable view of real estate, a five-point jump from the previous quarter and 15 points higher than at the end of 2012. Sixty-three percent said they were more committed to buying and selling in 2014. One generation in particular has a favorable perception of real estate right now: Millennials. The generation peaked at 87 … [Read more...]
5 ways the jumbo mortgage market will change in 2014
Big changes are coming to jumbo mortgages. Wealthy home buyers signed up for these loans in droves last year because of their low rates and flexible repayment options. The total dollar amount of originated private jumbo mortgages—which exceed $417,000 in most parts of the country and $625,500 in pricey housing markets such as New York and San Francisco—was on track to be the highest since 2007. But the jumbo-mortgage landscape is shifting this year. New mortgage rules from the Consumer Financial … [Read more...]
Is The Phoenix Real Estate Market In Another Bubble?
According to Michael Orr, Director of Real Estate at W.P. Carey school of business at Arizona State, we are not even close to a bubble at this point. Michael has thus put together a 'top ten' list of reasons why we are not currently in a bubble. CLICK HERE to read his findings. … [Read more...]
Metro Phoenix luxury home sales on the rise
The number of metro Phoenix luxury houses for sale is on the rise, something real estate analysts say is a good sign for the market because fewer of the houses are foreclosures or short-sale listings. At the beginning of April, there were 2,267 houses listed at $500,000 or more on the market, a 3 percent increase from March, according to the latest report from a local real estate firm and Arizona State University housing analyst Mike Orr. Of the upscale houses for sale, 90 were short sales. That compares … [Read more...]
Selling your home? The cards are in your favor
Selling your home? In most parts of the country, you have finally regained the upper hand. So says Beth Braverman, CNN Money on April 8, 2013: 4:33 PM ET. To get your best price, though, you need to finesse your timing, list competitively and match your marketing strategy to local conditions. Lower your sights to make more money. Rising prices breed rising hopes: In a recent poll, brokers complained that 75% of homeowners think their agent's recommended listing price is too low. Pricing your property above … [Read more...]
7 Metros With Fastest Rising List Prices
Nationwide, median asking prices continue to rise, reaching $189,900 in February. Meanwhile, inventories of for-sale homes on the market are reaching record lows, Realtor.com reports in its latest analysis of February MLS data. The markets seeing some of the largest increases in asking prices are the areas seeing some of the largest declines in inventories. California housing markets continue to post some of the largest price increases in the past year, but other strong performing markets also include Phoenix, … [Read more...]
Homes Selling Faster As Buyers Outweigh Supply
According to Realtor.com, homes sold faster this February than any other February since 2007. This should be very familiar to Phoenicians who have sold or bought a home in the last year within the valley. Homes in Phoenix, Arcadia, Scottsdale and most cities within Maricopa County have seen days on market numbers plunge and within certain price ranges, seen multiple offers the day a property is listed. Investors have definitely exacerbated the situation as they have come into the market with cash offers making … [Read more...]
5 Cities Where Houses Are Still Cheap
Buyers have been rushing into Phoenix in search of big deals. Short-sale purchases increased 43% during the fourth quarter of 2012 compared with a year prior, according to RealtyTrac. It’s not just investors who are behind the trend. Owner occupants are also competing for these properties. Given the competition, experts say, buyers looking to pick up a short sale will have a better shot if they come to the table with an all-cash offer. But real-estate agents warn that the window of opportunity to snatch up … [Read more...]