New Study Reveals One Surprising Reason for the Inventory Shortage

There has been a great amount written on millennials and their impact on the housing market. However, the headlines often contradict each other. Some claim this generation is becoming the largest share of first-time home buyers, while others claim millennials don’t want to own a home, blaming them for the dip in homeownership rate.

While it is true that millennials have achieved milestones like getting married, having kids, and buying homes later in life than their parents and grandparents did, they are not solely to blame for today’s housing market trends.

Freddie Mac’s Insight Report explored the impact of the Silent and Baby Boomer Generations on the housing market.

If millennials are unable to find a home to buy at a young age like their predecessors, then who is living in those homes?

The answer: Seniors born after 1931 are staying in their homes longer than previous generations, instead choosing to “age in place.”

Freddie Mac found that,

“this trend accounts for about 1.6 million houses held back from the market through 2018, representing about one year’s typical supply of new construction, or more than half of the current shortfall of 2.5 million housing units estimated in December’s Insight.
Older Americans prefer to age in place because they are satisfied with their communities, their homes, and their quality of life.”

According to the National Association of Realtors, inventory of homes for sale is currently at a 3.5-month supply, which means that nationally we are in a seller’s market. A ‘normal’ housing market requires 6-7 months inventory, a level we have not achieved since August 2012.

“The most important fundamental in today’s housing market is the lack of houses for sale. This shortage has been identified as an important barrier to young adults buying their first homes.”

Bottom Line

If you are one of the many seniors who desires to retire in the same area you’ve always lived, you’re not alone. Will your current house fit your needs throughout retirement? If you have any questions about demand for your house, let’s get together to discuss the opportunities available today!

Need help navigating the market? Call/text us at 703-242-3975!

Home Sale Statistics in Our Area – March 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 March.

Please call or text The Belt Team at (703) 242-3975 or email info@thebeltteam.com to discuss in more detail what is happening in your market or if you are interested in buying and/or selling…we’d love to hear from you!

Mid-Atlantic Region March 2019 home sales:

• 11,647 homes went under contract in the region. This is up significantly (30.59%) from the same time period in 2018!

• 26% of the homes that went to settlement in March 2019, sold in 10 days or less from when they hit the market.

• Average sold price was $404,518 (up 2.6% from the same time period in 2018 when it was $394,114)

• 20,338 homes came on the market. That’s down 1.4% from March 2018.

• Homes that sold (closed) averaged 70 days on market, 11 days faster than in March of 2018.

• There is currently a 2.5 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 28,094 homes for sale (townhouse, condo and single family).

OVERALL: The Mid-Atlantic Region remains in a Seller’s Market. The inventory continues to be low favoring sellers.

Let’s take a deeper dive into the numbers of our local market areas, and see if there continues to be segments that are experiencing a somewhat different market. The upper-end price points in some areas have been experiencing more of a Balanced (even Buyers in some cases) market where prices are not appreciating and properties are sitting on the market longer. Whereas the lower price points have less inventory and homes are selling much faster.

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

Remember…if you are thinking of buying and/or selling, contact us NOW (703-242-3975) to 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.

3 Graphs that Show What You Need to Know About Today’s Real Estate Market

The Housing Market has been a hot-topic in the news lately. Depending on which media outlet you watch, it can start to be a bit confusing to understand what’s really going on with interest rates and home prices!

The best way to show what’s really going on in today’s real estate market is to go straight to the data! We put together the following three graphs along with a quote from Chief Economists that have their finger on the pulse of what each graph illustrates.

Interest Rates:

“The real estate market is thawing in response to the sustained decline in mortgage rates and rebound in consumer confidence – two of the most important drivers of home sales. Rising sales demand coupled with more inventory than previous spring seasons suggests that the housing market is in the early stages of regaining momentum.” – Sam Khater, Chief Economist at Freddie Mac

Income:

“A powerful combination of lower mortgage rates, more inventory, rising income and higher consumer confidence is driving the sales rebound.” – Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at NAR

Home Prices:

“Price growth has been too strong for several years, fueled in part by abnormally low interest rates. A mild deceleration in home sales and Home Price Index growth is actually healthy, because it will calm excessive price growth — which has pushed many markets, particularly in the West, into overvalued territory.” – Ralph DeFranco, Global Chief Economist at Arch Capital Services Inc.

Bottom Line

These three graphs indicate good news for the spring housing market! Interest rates are low, income is rising, and home prices have experienced mild deceleration over the last 9 months. If you are considering buying a home or selling your house, let’s get together to chat about our market!

Thinking of selling or buying? Give us a call at 703-242-3975!

Every time a home sells in your neighborhood the equity in your home rises. Text BELTVALUE to 59559 for your current home valuation!

Your Tax Refund Is The Key To Homeownership!

According to data released by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Americans can expect an estimated average refund of $3,143 this year when filing their taxes. This is down slightly from the average refund of $3,436 last year.

Tax refunds are often thought of as ‘extra money’ that can be used toward larger goals. For anyone looking to buy a home in 2019, this can be a great jump start toward a down payment!

Your Tax Refund Is The Key To Homeownership! | MyKCM

The map below shows the average tax refund Americans received last year by state.Many first-time buyers believe that a 20% down payment is required to qualify for a mortgage. Programs from the Federal Housing Authority, Freddie Mac, and Fannie Mae all allow for down payments as low as 3%. Veterans Affairs Loans allow many veterans to purchase a home with 0% down.

If you started your down payment savings with your tax refund check this year, how close would you be to a 3% down payment?

The map below shows what percentage of a 3% down payment is covered by the average tax refund by taking into account the median price of homes sold by state.

The darker the blue, the closer your tax refund gets you to homeownership! For those in Virginia looking to purchase their first homes, their tax refund could potentially get them 40% closer to that dream!

Bottom Line

Saving for a down payment can seem like a daunting task. But the more you know about what’s required, the more prepared you can be to make the best decision for you and your family! This tax season, your refund could be your key to homeownership!

Thinking about buying or know someone thinking about buying? Share this with them. They could be closer to their down payment than they think & we would love to help them along the way.

Give us a call at 703-242-3976 or email us at info@thebeltteam.com

Think you are ready to sell? Text BELTVALUE to 59559 for a FREE valuation of your home!

Home Sale Statistics in Our Area – February 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 February.

Please call The Belt Team at (703) 242-3975 or email info@thebeltteam.com to discuss in more detail what is happening in your market or if you are interested in buying and/or selling…we’d love to hear from you!

11,840 homes went under contract in the region. This is down 1.94% from the same time period in 2018.

19% of the homes that went to settlement in February 2019, sold in 10 days or less from when they hit the market.

14,043 homes came on the market. That’s down 3.07% from February 2018.

Homes that sold (closed) averaged 78 days on market, 9 days slower than in February of 2018.

There is currently a 2.4 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 26,637 homes for sale (townhouse, condo, and single family).

OVERALL: The Mid-Atlantic Region remains in a Seller’s Market. The inventory continues to be low favoring sellers.

However, as you dig deeper into the numbers of our local market areas, you will find segments that are experiencing somewhat different market conditions. The upper-end price points in some areas are experiencing more of a Balanced (even Buyers in some cases) market where prices are not appreciating and properties are sitting on the market longer. Whereas the lower price points are less inventory and homes are selling much faster.

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

And…if you are thinking of buying and/or selling, contact us NOW (703-242-3975) to 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.

BUYERS: Did you know that Belt Team Buyers are eligible for our FREE Priority Notification List for new listings not yet in the MLS?! Call 703-242-3975 for details.

SELLERS: Call The Belt Team at 703-242-3975 for our FREE Report “42 Questions To Ask Your Realtor BEFORE You Sell”. And find out how our listings sell FASTER and for MORE MONEY than the average agent’s listings. Or Text BELT to 59559 for a FREE home valuation!

4 Reasons to Buy a Home in the Spring

Spring has sprung, and it’s a great time to buy a home! Here are four reasons to consider buying today instead of waiting.

1. Prices Will Continue to Rise

CoreLogic’s latest U.S. Home Price Insights reports that home prices have appreciated by 4.4% over the last 12 months. The same report predicts that prices will continue to increase at a rate of 4.6% over the next year.

Home values will continue to appreciate for years. Waiting no longer makes sense.

2. Mortgage Interest Rates Are Projected to Increase

Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey shows that interest rates for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage came in at 4.41% last week. Most experts predict that rates will rise over the next 12 months. The Mortgage Bankers Association, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the National Association of Realtors are in unison, projecting rates will increase by this time next year.

An increase in rates will impact YOUR monthly mortgage payment. A year from now, your housing expense will increase if a mortgage is necessary to buy your next home.

3. Either Way, You Are Paying a Mortgage

Some renters have not yet purchased a home because they are uncomfortable taking on the obligation of a mortgage. Everyone should realize that unless you are living with your parents rent-free, you are paying a mortgage – either yours or your landlord’s.

As an owner, your mortgage payment is a form of ‘forced savings’ that allows you to have equity in your home that you can tap into later in life. As a renter, you guarantee your landlord is the person with that equity.

Are you ready to put your housing cost to work for you?

4. It’s Time to Move On with Your Life

The ‘cost’ of a home is determined by two major components: the price of the home and the current mortgage rate. It appears that both are on the rise.

But what if they weren’t? Would you wait?

Examine the actual reason you are buying and decide if it is worth waiting. Whether you want to have a great place for your children to grow up, greater safety for your family, or you just want to have control over renovations, now could be the time to buy.

Bottom Line

If the right thing for you and your family is to purchase a home this year, buying sooner rather than later could lead to substantial savings.

Give us a call with any questions you have. We are here to help! We can also connect you with some of the industries best lenders & title companies.

703-242-3975 or info@thebeltteam.com

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Tips For Getting Your House Ready For Sale

It is a sellers market! If you want to sell your home soon, it’s worth putting in the work now. Let’s get together to chat and start the process!

The Belt Team specializes in creating real estate success stories, and we would love to be a part of yours! If you, a friend, or family member are looking to buy or sell we would love to connect.

Thinking about selling? Visit http://www.TheBeltTeam.com

Thinking about buying? Visit http://www.BeltTeamRealEstate.com

Or give us a call at 703-242-3975

3 Reasons Why We Are Not Heading Toward Another Housing Crash

With home prices softening, some are concerned that we may be headed toward the next housing crash. However, it is important to remember that today’s market is quite different than the bubble market of twelve years ago.

The Belt Team, CEO, Terry Belt says, A difference now compared to the last cycle is that the economy is bustling at levels not seen since the mid/late 1980s and jobs are being created and consumer confidence and real wages are increasing. The last cycle all of these factors were all trending negative and also amidst a higher mortgage/interest rate environment.

Here are three key metrics that will explain why:

Home Prices
Mortgage Standards
Foreclosure Rates

HOME PRICES

A decade ago, home prices depreciated dramatically, losing about 29% of their value over a four-year period (2008-2011). Today, prices are not depreciating. The level of appreciation is just decelerating.

Home values are no longer appreciating annually at a rate of 6-7%. However, they have still increased by more than 4% over the last year. Of the 100 experts reached for the latest Home Price Expectation Survey, 94 said home values would continue to appreciate through 2019. It will just occur at a lower rate.

MORTGAGE STANDARDS

Many are concerned that lending institutions are again easing standards to a level that helped create the last housing bubble. However, there is proof that today’s standards are nowhere near as lenient as they were leading up to the crash.

The Urban Institute’s Housing Finance Policy Center issues a quarterly index which,

“…measures the percentage of home purchase loans that are likely to default—that is, go unpaid for more than 90 days past their due date. A lower HCAI indicates that lenders are unwilling to tolerate defaults and are imposing tighter lending standards, making it harder to get a loan. A higher HCAI indicates that lenders are willing to tolerate defaults and are taking more risks, making it easier to get a loan.”

Last month, their January Housing Credit Availability Index revealed:

“Significant space remains to safely expand the credit box. If the current default risk was doubled across all channels, risk would still be well within the pre-crisis standard of 12.5 percent from 2001 to 2003 for the whole mortgage market.”

FORECLOSURE INVENTORY

Within the last decade, distressed properties (foreclosures and short sales) made up 35% of all home sales. The Mortgage Bankers’ Association revealed just last week that:

“The percentage of loans in the foreclosure process at the end of the fourth quarter was 0.95 percent…This was the lowest foreclosure inventory rate since the first quarter of 1996.”

Bottom Line

After using these three key housing metrics to compare today’s market to that of the last decade, we can see that the two markets are nothing alike.

It is always a good time to buy or sell, and we are here to help! Let’s chat. Give us a call at 703-242-3975 or send us an email at info@thebeltteam.com .

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Home Sale Statistics in Our Area – January 2019

On The Belt Team, we take pride in being your local real estate “experts”! Part of that involves staying on top of market stats & trends. In this post, and on a monthly basis, we will share with you some of the home sale statistics we watch in our region and in our own backyard.

10,689 homes went under contract in the region. This is down 1.54% from the same time period in 2018.

16% of the homes that went to settlement in January 2019, sold in 10 days or less from when they hit the market.

Average sold price was $396,337 (up 6.69% from the same time period in 2018 when it was $371,497)

12,625 homes came on the market. That’s up 3.14% from January 2018.

Homes that sold (closed) averaged 78 days on market, 12 days slower than in January of 2018.

There is currently a 2.3 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 26,560 homes for sale (townhouse, condo and single family).

OVERALL: The Mid-Atlantic Region is still in a Seller’s Market. The inventory remains low…advantage Sellers!

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

BUYERS: Did you know that Belt Team Buyers are eligible for our FREE Priority Notification List for new listings not yet in the MLS?! Call 703-242-3975 for details.

Why Homeownership matters NOW more than EVER

Study after study shows that no matter what generation Americans belong to, the vast majority believe that homeownership is an important part of their American Dream. The benefits of homeownership can be broken into two main categories: financial and non-financial (often referred to as emotional or social reasons.)

For Americans approaching retirement age, one of the greatest benefits to homeownership is the added net worth they have been able to achieve simply by paying their mortgage!

The Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University focused on homeowners and renters over the age of 65. Their study revealed that the difference in net worth between homeowners and renters at this age group was actually 47.5 times greater, with nearly half their net worth coming from home equity!

Homeowners over the age of 65 are much more financially prepared for retirement and often own their homes outright if they were fortunate enough to purchase their homes before the age of 36.

Their 30 years of mortgage payments have paid off as they gained equity through their monthly payments and as home values appreciated.

It is no surprise that lifelong renters have had a hard time accruing net worth as the latest Census report shows that the Median Asking Rent has been climbing consistently over the last 30 years.

Bottom Line

Your monthly mortgage payment is a form of ‘forced savings’ building your net worth with every payment!

Think you’re ready to buy? Or no someone that should look into buying? Let’s connect. Give us a call at 703-242-3975 or Email us at info@thebeltteam.com

Check out the latest Northern Virginia Listings Here

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Interest Rates:

Income:

Home Prices:

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If you started your down payment savings with your tax refund check this year, how close would you be to a 3% down payment?

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1. Prices Will Continue to Rise

2. Mortgage Interest Rates Are Projected to Increase

3. Either Way, You Are Paying a Mortgage

4. It’s Time to Move On with Your Life

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Here are three key metrics that will explain why:

HOME PRICES

MORTGAGE STANDARDS

FORECLOSURE INVENTORY

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