Nov 21, 2012 | Housing Analysis
After a small decline in September, Existing Home Sales rebounded in October, increasing a modest 2.1%.
The housing market’s slow, steady recovery continues as sales volume in all four regions expanded last month with the exception of the Hurricane Sandy-affected Northeast.
The National Association of REALTORS® monthly Existing Home Sales Report comprises completed sales of single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums, and co-ops. The Existing Home Sales report is compiled on a seasonally-adjusted, annualized basis. It shows a 10.9 percent sales increase as compared last year.
Sales volume might otherwise be higher, however, if not for a lack of homes for sale.
Total housing inventory fell 1.4 percent to 2.14 million homes last month which, at the current sales pace, represents a 5.4-month national supply — the lowest in more than 6 years.
The lack of supply amid burgeoning demand has led home prices higher nationwide. October’s median existing home sale price was $178,600 — an 11.1% increase from October 2011 and the eighth consecutive month during which the median sales price rose.
The last time that occurred was during the eight months ending May 2006.
In addition, the Existing Home Sales report showed that the median time on market in October rose to 71 days, up 1 day from September 2012. As compared to October 2011, however, median time on market is down 26% from 96 days.
Other noteworthy statistics from the October Existing Home Sales report include :
- Foreclosures and short sales accounted for 24% of sales
- Foreclosures sold for an average discount of 20% to market
- Short sales sold for an average discount of 14% to market
Furthermore, thirty-two percent of homes sold in October were on the market for less than one month. 20% were on the market for six months or longer.
Record-low mortgage interest rates continue to spur housing, as do low prices. Neither will last indefinitely. If you plan to purchase a home in Worcester County area in 2013, therefore, consider moving up your time frame. Home ownership will likely increase in cost as the year moves on.
Oct 24, 2012 | Housing Analysis
As the third quarter closed, home resales showed considerable momentum nationwide.
The National Association of REALTORS® reports Existing Home Sales at 4.75 million units in September 2012 on a seasonally-adjusted, annualized basis, an 11 percent increase from one year ago.
An “existing home” is a home that’s been previously occupied; a resale.
The reading marks the second-highest tally of the year — second only to August 2012 when 4.83 million homes were sold on a seasonally-adjusted, annualized basis. The real estate trade association reports that there are now just 2.32 million previously-occupied homes for sale nationwide.
It’s the thinnest national home supply since March 2005 and, at today’s sales pace, all 2.32 million homes would sell in 5.9 months.
A 6.0-month home supply is thought to represent a market in balance. September’s home supply, therefore, suggests a market which favors sellers. Buyers in many U.S. markets may have noticed this shift. Multiple-offer situations are increasingly common and “right-priced” homes are selling quickly.
The median Time on Market is down 31 percent from last year to 70 days nationwide.
Meanwhile, for purchasers of foreclosures and short sales, September Existing Home Sales report included interesting data on the relative value of buying “distressed” property :
- Foreclosures sold at an average discount of 21% to market value last month
- Short sales sold at an average discount of 13% to market value last month
And, although distressed homes remain a large part of the U.S. housing market, their relative size is shrinking.
In September, foreclosures and short sales accounted for roughly 1 in 4 home sales. Earlier this year, that figure was 1 in 3.
For today’s Worcester County area home buyer, September’s Existing Home Sales report may be a “buy signal”. With home supplies down and demand for homes rising, home prices are poised to increase through the last three months of 2012 and into the start 2013.
Sep 25, 2012 | Housing Analysis
The home resale market put forth another strong data set last week. Home sales prices are higher nationwide and sales volume has moved to a 2-year high.
According to the National Association of REALTORS®, 4.82 million “existing homes” sold on a seasonally-adjusted, annualized basis in August, representing a near 8 percent improvement from the month prior and a nine percent jump from August 2011.
An existing home is a home which has been previously occupied.
Home sales were unevenly split across price tiers, with more than half of all homes selling for less than $250,000. This suggests that the first-time home buyers and real estate investors continue to be active in today’s market as a foundation for growth is built.
According to the Existing Home Sales data :
- First-time buyers accounted for 31% of all home sales
- Real estate investors accounted for 18% of all home sales
- Other, repeat buyers accounted for 51% of all home sales
Also noteworthy is that “distressed homes” accounted for the smallest percentage of overall home sales since the real estate trade group starting tracking such data.
In August, homes in various stages of foreclosures accounted for 12% of all sales and sold at an average discount of 19 percent below market value. Short sale homes accounted for 10% of all sales and sold at an average discount of 13 percent below market value.
Of all the data in the August Existing Home Sales report, though, perhaps most relevant to today’s buyers is the shrinking national housing supply.
At August’s end, there were 2.47 million homes listed for sale nationwide, a three percent increase from the month prior. However, because the pool of available home buyers is increasing more rapidly than the number of homes for sale, housing supplies fell 0.3 months to 6.1 months.
This means that at the current pace of sales, the entire housing supply would be sold by March 2013.
For today’s home buyers, home affordability appears poised to worsen. Mortgage rates and home prices remain low today, but market conditions like these rarely last long. Talk to your real estate agent about what options you have ahead of you. 2012 is coming to a close.
By 2013, the housing recovery may be fully underway.
Sep 17, 2012 | mortgage-rates-whats-ahead-september-17-2012
Mortgage markets improved last week as the Federal Reserve introduced new economic stimulus. The move trumped bond-harming action from the Eurozone, and a series better-than-expected U.S. economic data.
The 30-year fixed rate mortgage rate dropped last week for most loan types, including for conforming, FHA and VA loans. 15-year fixed rate mortgage rates improved, as well.
Mortgage rates are back near their lowest levels of all-time.
Last week’s main event was the Federal Open Market Committee’s sixth scheduled meeting of 2012. Wall Street expected the Fed to launch a third round of quantitative easing (QE3) after its meeting and the nation’s central banker did not disappoint.
It launched QE3 and did so with such scale that even Wall Street was shocked.
The Federal Reserve announced a plan to purchase $40 billion monthly of mortgage-backed bonds indefinitely, a move aimed at lowering U.S. mortgage rates in order to stimulate the housing market which can create more jobs in construction and other related industries. (more…)
Aug 23, 2012 | Housing Analysis
Home resales climbed 2% last month as the housing market continues its measured, steady recovery.
According to the National Association of REALTORS®, Existing Home Sales rose to 4.47 million units in July on a seasonally-adjusted, annualized basis.
An “existing home” is a home that cannot be classified as new construction and, despite a reduction in the national homes inventory, the number of previously-occupied homes sold in July was higher by 10% as compared to one year ago.
The Existing Home Sales also reported the folliowing :
- First-time buyers accounted for 34% of all purchasers, down from 34% in June
- Real estate investors accounted for 16% of all purchasers, down from 19% in June
- Cash buyers accounted for 27% of all purchasers, down from 29% in June
In addition, the real estate trafde group reports that distressed sales accounted for a smaller percentage of the overall home resale market in July. Just 24% of home resales were for homes in various forms of foreclosure or short sale. (more…)
