Housing Inventory Vanishing: What Is the Impact on You?

The real estate market is expected to do very well this year as mortgage rates remain at historic lows. One challenge to the housing industry is the lack of homes available for sale. Last week, move.com released a report showing that 2020 is beginning with the lowest available housing inventory in two years. The report explains:

“Last month saw the largest year-over-year decline of housing inventory in almost three years with a dramatic 12 percent decline, pushing the number of homes for sale in the U.S. to the lowest level since January 2018.”

The report also revealed that the decline in inventory stretches across all price points, as shown in the following graph:

George Ratiu, Senior Economist at realtor.com, explains how this drop in available homes for sale comes at a time when more buyers are expected to enter the market:

“The market is struggling with a large housing undersupply just as 4.8 million millennials are reaching 30-years of age in 2020, a prime age for many to purchase their first home. The significant inventory drop…is a harbinger of the continuing imbalance expected to plague this year’s markets, as the number of homes for sale are poised to reach historically low levels.”

The question is: What does this mean to you?

If You’re a Buyer…

Be patient during your home search. It may take time to find a home you love. Once you do, however, be ready to move forward quickly. Get pre-approved for a mortgage, be ready to make a competitive offer from the start, and understand that a shortage in inventory could lead to the resurgence of bidding wars. Calculate just how far you’re willing to go to secure a home, if you truly love it.

If You’re a Seller…

Realize that, in some ways, you’re in the driver’s seat. When there is a shortage of an item at the same time there is a strong demand for that item, the seller of that item is in a good position to negotiate. Whether it is price, moving date, possible repairs, or anything else, you’ll be able to demand more from a potential purchaser at a time like this – especially if you have multiple interested buyers. Don’t be unreasonable, but understand you probably have the upper hand.

Bottom Line

The housing market will remain strong throughout 2020. And it will be very important to work with an experienced agent who can help you understand what that means to you, whether you’re buying, selling, or doing both. That’s where The Belt Team comes in…give us a call or send us an email to help you navigate this market. We’ve been in business for over 50 years and have sold over $1 Billion in transactions throughout the years. It would be our pleasure to work with you and make your dreams come true!

703-242-3975 | Info@TheBeltTeam.com

Home Sale Statistics in Our Area – December 2019

Welcome to our monthly post of home sale statistics for our region and some hyper local markets!  Below you will find the numbers for December 2019.

The 2020 spring market has already started! The buyers are out there looking for their dream homes (the stats show an increase in buyer activity from this time last year). So, if you are thinking of selling, contact us NOW (703-242-3975) to help get your home ready and to make sure you don’t miss out on this market! If you are thinking of buying a home, it is very important to work with an experienced agent to help you navigate this type of market and make your home buying dreams come true!

• 16,455 homes went under contract in the region. This is up (15%) from the same time period in 2018.

• 28% of the homes that went to settlement in December 2019, sold in 10 days or less from when they hit the market. 

• Average sold price was $354,094 (up 6% from the same time period in 2018).

• 15,573 homes came on the market. That’s down 0.7% from December 2018.

• Homes that sold (closed) averaged 48 days on market, 6 days faster than in December of 2018.

• There is currently a 2.1 month supply of homes (remember, in a balanced market – the demand from buyers equals the supply from sellers – there is a 5-6 months supply) in the Mid Atlantic Region – and 50,094 homes for sale (townhouse, condo and single family).

Additional Year-End Stats – 2018 vs 2019:

Average sold price increased by 4.05% ($338,130 vs $351,834)

Total units sold increased by 3.8%

Average sales price to original list price ratio remained the same – 97%

OVERALL: The Mid-Atlantic Region remains in a Seller’s Market.  No major changes during December but like last month, the number of homes that went under contract and the number of homes to hit the market decreased (which is not unexpected during the holiday season).

As we look back at the past year, the 2019 real estate market was healthy bolstered by conditions like the strong economy, low interest rates and low unemployment.  We saw an emergence of what we call a “segmented” market…the more affordable price points were definitely in a Seller’s Market as inventory was low, homes were selling much faster and we saw some appreciation in prices, while the upper-end price points in some areas experienced a more Balanced Market (even Buyers Market in some areas).  Prices did not appreciate and properties sat on the market longer.  We believe this segmented market continuing through 2020.

Buyers and Sellers…make sure you are working with an agent that will provide you with the data you need to make good decisions. The reality is that Buyers & Sellers who are successful in today’s market look at the data and act accordingly. All of this data about the variances in different price ranges is a perfect example of why.  If you’re looking to buy, and you “make an offer” below list price – you might be successful in the upper ranges where there is a more abundant supply of homes. Taking that same action in the lower price range will likely mean you don’t get the house of your dreams. Someone else will.

To see what the conditions are like in your community, click on the link to your desired city below! 

• Vienna: December 2019 Home Sales
• Oakton: December 2019 Home Sales 
• McLean: December 2019 Home Sales 
• Great Falls: December 2019 Home Sales 
• Reston: December 2019 Home Sales 
• Falls Church: December 2019 Home Sales 
• Arlington: December 2019 Home Sales 
• Alexandria: December 2019 Home Sales  

*Data compiled from SmartCharts, MarketStats by ShowingTime, whose data comes directly from the Multiple Listing Service (MLS).

Our CEO, Terry Belt recaps the 2019 Real Estate Market and what’s ahead for 2020.

Our CEO, Terry Belt, recaps the 2019 real estate market and discusses what he thinks 2020 will look like. 2019 was a healthy market bolstered by conditions like the strong economy, low interest rates, low unemployment, etc. There was also the emergence of what he calls a “segmented” market in 2019 and he anticipates it to continue into 2020. He also talks about stats that show why the spring market has already hit!

Watch Terry’s complete message for more specifics and learn why it is so important to work with experienced agents like The Belt Team to navigate this market. Call TODAY (703-242-3975) to make sure you don’t miss out on the market and talk with one of our agents…we have been in business for over 50 years and have closed over $1 Billion in transactions.

703-242-3975

info@TheBeltTeam.com

http://www.TheBeltTeam.com

National Cut Your Energy Costs Day

Some Highlights:

• On January 10^th of each year, “National Cut Your Energy Costs Day” encourages consumers to reduce their overall energy costs by improving home efficiency.
• According to Freddie Mac, a typical U.S. family spends $2,200 per year on energy bills. By making energy efficient upgrades, you could reduce your energy bills by up to 30%.
• To assess the energy efficiency of your home and see how it measures up, take a moment to check out Home Energy Yardstick to calculate your estimated opportunity. Don’t forget to have your energy bills nearby!

The New Spring Real Estate Market is Here. Are You Ready?

Which month do you think most people who are considering buying a home actually start their search? If you’re like most of us, you probably think the surge happens in the spring, likely in April. Not anymore. According to new research, January 2019 was only 1% behind February for the most monthly views per listing on realtor.com.

So, what does that mean? The busiest season in real estate has just begun.

The same research indicates,

“Historically, April launched the kickoff of the home shopping season as buyers would come out of their winter hibernation looking for their new home. However, the spring shopping season now starts in January for many of the nation’s largest markets.”

With the reality of fewer homes on the market in the winter, and that supply naturally increases as we head to the spring market, waiting for more competition to list in your neighborhood this year might put you behind the curve. Perhaps now is the time to jump into the market.

George Ratiu, Senior Economist at realtor.com says,

“As shoppers modify their strategies for navigating a housing market that has become more competitive due to rising prices and low inventory, the search for a home is beginning earlier and earlier.”

There is a lot of speculation in the market about why the search for a home is shifting to an earlier start. The one thing we do know is if you’re thinking about buying or selling a home this year, the earlier you get started, the better.

Reminder: When should you sell something? When there is less of that item for sale and the greatest number of buyers are in the market. That’s exactly what is happening in real estate right now.

Bottom Line

The new spring market for real estate is underway! If you’re considering buying or selling, NOW is the time to connect, so you have the advantage in this competitive market. Give us a call at 703-242-3975 or email info@thebeltteam.com.