Is Moving Up More Affordable in 2018?

Posted on by Andrea T. Fowler

If you are considering selling your current home, to either move up to a larger home or into a home in an area that better suits your current family needs, great news was just revealed.

Last week, Trulia posted a blog, Not Your Father’s Housing Market, which examined home affordability over the last 40+ years (1975-2016). Their research revealed that:

“Nationally, homes are just about the most affordable they’ve been in the last 40 years… the median household could afford a home 1.5 times more expensive than the median home price. In 1980, the median household could only afford about 3/4 of the median home price.

Despite relatively stagnant incomes, affordability has grown due to the sharp drop in mortgage rates over the last 30 years – from a high of over 16% in the 1980s to under 4% by 2016.

Of the nation’s 100 largest metros, only Miami became unaffordable between 1990 and 2016. Meanwhile, 22 metros have flipped from being unaffordable to becoming affordable in that same time frame.”

Here is a graph showing the Affordability Index compared to the 40-year average:

Moving up Is MORE Affordable Now Than Almost Any Other Time in 40 Years | Keeping Current Matters

 

The graph shows that housing affordability is better now than at any other time in the last forty years, except during the housing crash last decade.
(Remember that during the crash you could purchase distressed properties – foreclosures and short sales – at 20-50% discounts.)

In DFW, the median sales price for February 2018 was $248,250 which is an increase of 5.6% of appreciation whereas normal appreciation rates are between 2-4% per year.

There is no doubt that with home prices and mortgage rates on the rise, the affordability index will continue to fall. That is why if you are thinking of moving up, you probably shouldn’t wait.

Bottom Line
If you have held off on moving up to your family’s dream home because you were hoping to time the market, that time has come. Let New Avenue Realty at Keller Williams help you learn your options to your future. Contact us at 972-813-9788 or [email protected].

Still Have a Starter Home? You Can Move-Up Now.

Posted on by Andrea T. Fowler

 

I will have to admit that I don’t like calling homes a starter home because what is the first home for most is the second home or third home for others. However, if you or your family have outgrown the home you currently reside in, this is the perfect time to move-up. Why so? Well entry-level or starter homes are still flying off the shelf in DFW. Homes that can sell under $250,000 are high in competition. The homes in the $300,000s and up are taking their time to sell and prices are being slashed left and right. The time to move-up is happening now.

Tell me more Drea. 

Well, you can sell your home at top dollar and use the proceeds from the sale to move-up putting 10-20% down on that home. Interest rates are still incredibly low and your payments will still be in range of affordability. There’s an affordable payment and more home for you or your family.

If that condo is getting too small and you want a house, this is a good time to move up to a house. If the house is 1500-1600 square feet and you now need about 2500-3000 square foot, look into selling and moving up to your next home.

If your house no longer fits your needs and you are planning on buying a luxury home, now is a great time to do so! Data from Trulia’s Market Mismatch Study which showed that in today’s premium home market, buyers are in control.

The inventory of homes for sale in the luxury market far exceeds those searching to purchase these properties in many areas of the country. This means that homes are often staying on the market longer which can eventually lead to a price change.

Those who have a starter or trade-up home to sell will find buyers competing, and often entering bidding wars, to be able to call your house their new home.

The sale of your starter or trade-up house will aid in coming up with a larger down payment for your new luxury home. Even a 5% down payment on a million-dollar home is $50,000.

But not all who are buying luxury properties have a home to sell first.

In a Washington Post article, Daryl Judy, an associate broker with Washington Fine Properties, gave some insight into what many millennials are choosing to do:

“Some high-earning millennials save money until they are in their early 30s to buy a place and just skip over that starter-home phase. They’ll stay in an apartment until they can afford to pay for the place they want.”

Bottom Line

The best time to sell anything is when demand is high and supply is low. If you are currently in a starter or trade-up house that no longer fits your needs and you are looking to step into a luxury home, now’s the time to list your house for sale and make your dreams come true.

How to Sell & Buy a New Home Simultaneously Using Your Equity

Posted on by Andrea T. Fowler

 

How does one sell their current home and buy a new one? With the inventory being really low right now, some sellers are nervous about selling their home. If they sell quickly, where will they go?

The key here is to discover how much equity is currently in your home and is it enough to move-up to the next home. Can you do it simultaneously? The answer is yes you can. The timing for doing so requires being pre-approved for your next home, knowing how much you can get with the sale of the current home, and where you want to go.

There are resources for sellers such as a bridge loan to secure their next home without paying two mortgages or worse case scenario, being homeless.

My past client, Saron, sat down with me to talk about her selling experience for the first time and buying for the second time.

Watch below.

 

Want to discuss how we can market your home in the Dallas real estate market? You can contact us at 972-813-9788 or [email protected] or Book An Appointment.

No Matter Which Groundhog You Listen To, You Should Buy or Sell Before Spring!

Posted on by Andrea T. Fowler

Tulip Garden

Is spring closer than we think? Depending on which Groundhog you witnessed a few days ago, you may have less time than you think to get your home on the market before the busy spring season.

Many sellers feel that the spring is the best time to place their home on the market as buyer demand traditionally increases at that time of year. However, the next six weeks before spring hits also have their own advantages.

Here are five reasons to sell now. 

1. Demand is Strong

Foot traffic refers to the number of people out actually physically looking at homes right now. The latest foot traffic numbers show that buyers are still out in force looking for their dream home. These buyers are ready, willing and able to buy…and are in the market right now!

Take advantage of the strong buyer activity currently in the market. 

2. There Is Less Competition Now

Housing supply just dropped to 3.9 months, which is well under the 6 months’ supply that is needed for a normal housing market. This means, in many areas, there are not enough homes for sale to satisfy the number of buyers in that market. This is good news for home prices. However, additional inventory is about to come to market.

There is a pent-up desire for many homeowners to move, as they were unable to sell over the last few years because of a negative equity situation. Homeowners are now seeing a return to positive equity as real estate values have increased over the last three years. Many of these homes will be coming to the market in the near future.

Also, new construction of single-family homes is again beginning to increase. A study byHarris Poll revealed that 41% of buyers would prefer to buy a new home while only 21% prefer an existing home (38% had no preference).

The choices buyers have will increase in the spring. Don’t wait until all this other inventory of homes comes to market before you sell.

3. The Process Will Be Quicker

One of the biggest challenges of the housing market has been the length of time it takes from contract to closing. Banks are requiring more and more paperwork before approving a mortgage. There is less overall business done in the winter. Therefore, the process will be less onerous than it will be in the spring. Getting your house sold and closed before the spring delays begin will lend itself to a smoother transaction.

4. There Will Never Be a Better Time to Move-Up

If you are moving up to a larger, more expensive home, consider doing it now. Prices are projected to appreciate by 5.4% over the next 12 months according to CoreLogic. If you are moving to a higher priced home, it will wind-up costing you more in raw dollars (both in down payment and mortgage payment) if you wait. You can also lock-in your 30-year housing expense with an interest rate below 4% right now. Rates are projected to rise by three-quarters of a percent by the end of 2016.

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

Look at the reason you decided to sell in the first place and determine whether it is worth waiting. Is money more important than being with family? Is money more important than your health? Is money more important than having the freedom to go on with your life the way you think you should?

Only you know the answers to the questions above. You have the power to take back control of the situation by putting your home on the market. Perhaps, the time has come for you and your family to move on and start living the life you desire.

That is what is truly important.

On the other side, here is the top reasons why you should buy before Spring.

  1. Serious Sellers with Serious Deadlines.

There are less people moving out or buying during winter season because of Christmas and  End of the year activities that needs to be done. This means there are a lot of great properties which were listed during winter but was not sold, sometimes that also means price reduction.

2. New year New you

A lot of people believes in starting fresh at the start of the year, some of these individuals have just started looking around and do not have everything they need to get ahead of the home buying process which is why they normally end up buying in Spring. Get ahead of the herd by getting pre-qualified and talking with a lender to know your buying limit and save time.

3.Get a Great Price for Listed Properties from Winter

Like mentioned above, lots of properties are still in the market from winter. This is the time where sellers are usually active and likely to be in negotiating mood for their property. Try to contact a seller immediately if you see a house that suits your needs.

4. Vacation time is over

Tried to contact a seller during Christmas time and did not get a reply? This is the best time to send a follow up as most people are back to business. You are more likely to get a  home if you follow up with a seller to let them know that you were first in line if there are others who are interested in the property as well.

5. Less Competition

Do not get caught in the Spring Trend of the Real Estate market. Prices go up and great properties are being sold by the minute. Get first pick of the best property by getting a headstart!

 

 

For more information about selling your home, contact New Avenue Realty (Keller Williams Realty – Dallas Preston Road) via email or phone at [email protected] or 972.813.9788.

New Construction: Hear Those Hammers in the Background?

Posted on by Andrea Fowler
New Construction: Hear Those Hammers in the Background? | Keeping Current Matters
If you are planning on selling your home over the next two years, now may be the time to act. Demand is high, supply is low and many homeowners are benefiting from an almost auction atmosphere with several buyers fighting for their house in the current multi-bid environment. Higher prices and less stringent contingencies are making it easier for the seller and their family.
However, there may be more (and better) competition about to hit the market in the form of newly constructed homes. This may put an end to the buyers’ frenzy over the limited inventory of existing homes which has been below normal levels for over a year.
According to the latest report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the forecast for new housing starts and sales will increase significantly over the next two years:
  • NAR is forecasting 1.1 million new housing starts in 2015, jumping to 1.4 million in 2016.
  • New home sales are projected to increase from the 437,000 in 2014 to 570,000 this year and 720,000 in 2016.

Bottom Line

In major urban areas across the country, building cranes are again stretched across the city skyline. In many suburbs, you can again hear the thumping of a carpenter’s hammer in the background. Those are the sights and sounds that inform us that it may be time to sell.

5 Demands to Make on Your Listing Agent

Posted on by Andrea Fowler

5 Demands to Make on Your Listing Agent | Keeping Current Matters

Are you thinking of selling your house? Are you dreading having to deal with strangers walking through the house? Are you concerned about getting the paperwork correct? Hiring a professional real estate agent can take away most of the challenges of selling. A great agent is always worth more than the commission they charge just like a great doctor or great accountant.
You want to deal with one of the best agents in your marketplace. To do this, you must be able to distinguish the average agent from the great one.
Here are the top 5 demands to make of your Real Estate Agent when selling your house:

1. Tell the truth about the price

Too many agents just take the listing at any price and then try to the ‘work the seller’ for a price correction later. Demand that the agent prove to you that they have a belief in the price they are suggesting. Make them show you their plan to sell the house at that price – TWICE! Every house in today’s market must be sold two times – first to a buyer and then to the bank.
The second sale may be more difficult than the first. The residential appraisal process has gotten tougher. Surveys show that there was a challenge with the appraisal on almost 20% of all residential real estate transactions. It has become more difficult to get the banks to agree on the contract price. A red flag should be raised if your agent is not discussing this with you at the time of the listing.

2. Understand the timetable with which your family is dealing

You will be moving your family to a new home. Whether the move revolves around the start of a new school year or the start of a new job, you will be trying to put the move to a plan.
This can be very emotionally draining. Demand from your agent an appreciation for the timetables you are setting. Your agent cannot pick the exact date of your move, but they should exert any influence they can, to make it work. 

3. Remove as many of the challenges as possible

It is imperative that your agent knows how to handle the challenges that will arise. An agent’s ability to negotiate is critical in this market.
Remember: If you have an agent who was weak negotiating with you on the parts of the listing contract that were most important to them and their family (commission, length, etc.), don’t expect them to turn into a super hero when they are negotiating for you and your family with the buyer.

4. Help with the relocation

If you haven’t yet picked your new home, make sure the agent is capable and willing to help you. The coordination of the move is crucial. You don’t want to be without a roof over your head the night of the closing. Likewise, you don’t want to end up paying two housing expenses (whether it is rent or mortgage). You should, in most cases, be able to close on your current home and immediately move into your new residence.

5. Get the house SOLD!

There is a reason you are putting yourself and your family through the process of moving.
You are moving on with your life in some way. The reason is important or you wouldn’t be dealing with the headaches and challenges that come along with selling. Do not allow your agent to forget these motivations. Constantly remind them that selling the house is why you hired them. Make sure that they don’t worry about your feelings more than they worry about your family. If they discover something needs to be done to attain your goal (i.e. price correction, repair, removing clutter), insist they have the courage to inform you.

Good agents know how to deliver good news. Great agents know how to deliver tough news. In today’s market, YOU NEED A GREAT AGENT!




“5 Demands to Make on Your Listing Agent.” Keeping Current Matters. N.p., 13 Jan. 2015. Web. 16 Jan. 2015.

4 Reasons to Buy Before Spring!

Posted on by Andrea Fowler
The holiday season is behind us, time to focus on what exciting new experiences 2015 can bring! If you are planning on becoming a homeowner, or moving up to the home of your dreams in 2015, here are four great reasons to consider buying a home now, instead of waiting until spring.

1. Prices Will Continue to Rise

The Home Price Expectation Survey polls a distinguished panel of over 100 economists, investment strategists, and housing market analysts. Their most recent report projects appreciation in home values over the next five years to be between 15.1% (most pessimistic) and 32.8% (most optimistic).
The bottom in home prices has come and gone. Home values will continue to appreciate for years. Waiting no longer makes sense. 

2. Mortgage Interest Rates Are Projected to Increase

Although Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey shows that interest rates for a 30-year mortgage have softened recently, most experts predict that they will begin to rise over the next 12 months. The Mortgage Bankers Association, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac & the National Association of Realtors are in unison projecting that rates will be up almost a full percentage point by the end of 2015.
An increase in rates will impact YOUR monthly mortgage payment. Your housing expense will be more a year from now if a mortgage is necessary to purchase your next home.

3. Either Way You are Paying a Mortgage

As a paper from the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University explains:
“Households must consume housing whether they own or rent. Not even accounting for more favorable tax treatment of owning, homeowners pay debt service to pay down their own principal while households that rent pay down the principal of a landlord plus a rate of return. That’s yet another reason owning often does—as Americans intuit—end up making more financial sense than renting.”

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?
Look at the actual reason you are buying and decide whether it is worth waiting. Whether you want to have a great place for your children to grow up, you want your family to be safer or you just want to have control over renovations, maybe it is time to buy.
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.
To get started on buying this winter in the metroplex, contact me via phone or email at 972.813.9788 or [email protected].
“4 Reasons to Buy Before Spring!” Keeping Current Matters. N.p., 07 Jan. 2015. Web. 07 Jan. 2015.

The REAL Reasons Americans Buy a Home

Posted on by Andrea Fowler

As I browsed through the internet, I found one article that talks about homeownership as a tool to build wealth. On the finanical tip, the New York Times wrote about “Homeownership and Wealth Creation“.

Source: Gap in Net Worth by New York Times: analysis by Center for Responsible Lending of Federal Reserve Board’s Survey of Consumer Finances

Home ownership is that for me BUT it will represent so many different things to people. According to Keeping Current Matters, there are four reasons why Americans buy a home. 

The REAL Reasons Americans Buy a Home | Keeping Current Matters
Source: Keeping Current Matters

There’s No Place Like Home

The top 4 reasons to own a home cited by respondents were not financial.

1. It means having a good place to raise children & provide them with a good education

From the best neighborhoods to the best school districts, even those without children at the time of purchasing their home, may have this in the back of their mind as a major reason for choosing the location of the home that they purchase.

2. You have a physical structure where you & your family feel safe

It is no surprise that having a place to call home with all that means in comfort and security is the #2 reason.

3. It allows you to have more space for your family

Whether your family is expanding, or an older family member is moving in, having a home that fits your needs is a close third on the list.

4. It gives you control over what you do with your living space, like renovations and updates

Looking to actually try one of those complicated wall treatments that you saw on Pinterest? Want to finally adopt that puppy or kitten you’ve seen online 100 times? Who’s to say that you can’t in your own home?
The 5th reason on the list, is the #1 financial reason to buy a home as seen by respondents:

5. Owning a home is a good way to build up wealth that can be passed along to my family

Either way you are paying a mortgage. Why not lock in your housing expense now with an investment that will build equity that you can borrow against in the future?

Bottom Line

Whether you are a first time homebuyer or a move-up buyer who wants to start a new chapter in their life, the holiday season is a great time to reflect on the intangible factors that make a house a home.

“The REAL Reasons Americans Buy a Home.” Keeping Current Matters. N.p., 23 Dec. 2014. Web. 02 Jan. 2015.