What Record-Low Housing Inventory Means for You

What Record-Low Housing Inventory Means for You 

The real estate market is expected to do very well in 2021, with mortgage rates that are hovering at historic lows and forecasted by experts to remain favorable throughout the year. One challenge to the housing industry, however, is the lack of homes available for sale today. Last week, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) released their Existing Home Sales Report, which shows that the inventory of homes for sale is currently at an all-time low. The report explains:

Total housing inventory at the end of December totaled 1.07 million units, down 16.4% from November and down 23% from one year ago (1.39 million). Unsold inventory sits at an all-time low 1.9-month supply at the current sales pace, down from 2.3 months in November and down from the 3.0-month figure recorded in December 2019. NAR first began tracking the single-family home supply in 1982.
(See graph below):

What Does This Mean for 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 prepared to make a competitive offer from the start, and know that a shortage in inventory could mean you'll enter a bidding war. Calculate just how far you're willing to go to secure a home and lean on your real estate professional as an expert guide along the way. The good news is, more inventory is likely headed to the market soon, Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at NAR, notes:

“To their credit, homebuilders and construction companies have increased efforts to build, with housing starts hitting an annual rate of near 1.7 million in December, with more focus on single-family homes However, it will take vigorous new home construction in 2021 and in 2022 to adequately furnish the market to properly meet the demand.”

If You're a Seller:

Realize that, in some ways, you're in the drivers seat. When there's a shortage of an item at the same time there's a strong demand for it, the seller is in a good position to negotiate the best possible terms. Whether its the price, moving date, possible repairs, or anything else, you'll be able to request 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 2021. Know what that means for you, whether you're buying, selling, or doing both.

 

Villa Del Lago At Lake Olympia

Villa Del Lago At Lake Olympia Real Estate Homes For Sale, Rent & Price Trends

Shayne Stone "Your Rock Solid Choice Realtor" that helps Home Sellers make a Profit and Home Buyers Equity in Villa Del Lago At Lake Olympia neighborhood / subdivision / community which is located in Missouri City Texas 77459 zip code in Fort Bend county. Villa Del Lago At Lake Olympia has 54 single family properties with a median build year of 2001 and a median size of 3,424 Sqft., these home values range between $262 - $316 K. The sqft. price change data is available through 1998. The median appraised value is $ 84.37/ sqft. View homes for sale or rent in Villa Del Lago At Lake Olympia and see new homes, trending properties, Foreclosures and much more.

Sometimes there's nothing listed For Sale in Villa Del Lago At Lake Olympia - Bookmark the page and check back often or create your own Listing Alert System to Notify you when a property in Villa Del Lago At Lake Olympia Missouri City Texas 77459 hits the Market!

Find Villa Del Lago At Lake Olympia Real Estate and Villa Del Lago At Lake Olympia Homes For Sale. Villa Del Lago At Lake Olympia in Fort Bend County can be found using Neighborhood Information Finder. Detailed information includes Villa Del Lago At Lake Olympia Real Estate Profile, Villa Del Lago At Lake Olympia Trending Homes, Schools Nearby Villa Del Lago At Lake Olympia , Places Nearby Villa Del Lago At Lake Olympia and Events Nearby Villa Del Lago At Lake Olympia. Click here to find recently sold properties in Villa Del Lago At Lake Olympia , Foreclosures in Villa Del Lago At Lake Olympia , recently listed homes in Villa Del Lago At Lake Olympia.

Villa Del Lago At Lake Olympia is a subdivision located in Fort Bend County which is within the Texas. The Villa Del Lago At Lake Olympia subdivision is surrounded with restaurants, education opportunities, entertainment venues, shopping and more. See below for more information on the surrounding resources for the Villa Del Lago At Lake Olympia subdivision.

 

Can't FIND what you are looking for, ASK ME - I CAN HELP!

 

Villa Del Lago At Lake Olympia Real Estate Overview:

• The average price of the homes for sale in Villa Del Lago At Lake Olympia is $ 395,000.
• The average square feet of the homes in Villa Del Lago At Lake Olympia is 3,424 sqft.

 

For more info on Villa Del Lago At Lake Olympia of Missouri City Texas or any of the other Communities within the Fort Bend County area CLICK HERE or Text / Call 832-449-6060

 

Your #LocalRealtor #ShayneStone of #ChampionsRealEstateGroup #HomeSelling #HomeBuying in #VillaDelLagoAtLakeOlympia of #MissouriCityTexas

Vicksburg Village Of Shiloh

Vicksburg Village Of Shiloh Real Estate Homes For Sale, Rent & Price Trends

Shayne Stone "Your Rock Solid Choice Realtor" that helps Home Sellers make a Profit and Home Buyers Equity in Vicksburg Village Of Shiloh neighborhood / subdivision / community which is located in Missouri City Texas 77459 in Fort Bend County. Vicksburg Village Of Shiloh has 201 single family properties with a median build year of 1990 and a median size of 2,920 Sqft., these home values range between $169 - $283 K. The sqft. price change data is available through 1998. The median sold price/sqft is $81.71 while the median appraised value is $ 78.38/ sqft. View homes for sale or rent in Vicksburg Village Of Shiloh and see new homes, trending properties, Foreclosures and much more.

Sometimes there's nothing listed For Sale in Vicksburg Village Of Shiloh - Bookmark the page and check back often or create your own Listing Alert System to Notify you when a property in Vicksburg Village Of Shiloh Missouri City Texas 77459 hits the Market!

Find Vicksburg Village Of Shiloh Real Estate and Vicksburg Village Of Shiloh Homes For Sale. Vicksburg Village Of Shiloh in Fort Bend County can be found using Neighborhood Information Finder. Detailed information includes Vicksburg Village Of Shiloh Real Estate Profile, Vicksburg Village Of Shiloh Trending Homes , Schools Nearby Vicksburg Village Of Shiloh , Places Nearby Vicksburg Village Of Shiloh and Events Nearby Vicksburg Village Of Shiloh. Click here to find recently sold properties in Vicksburg Village Of Shiloh, Foreclosures in Vicksburg Village Of Shiloh, recently listed homes in Vicksburg Village Of Shiloh.

Vicksburg Village Of Shiloh is a subdivision located in Fort Bend County which is within the Texas. The Vicksburg Village Of Shiloh subdivision is surrounded with restaurants, education opportunities, entertainment venues, shopping and more. See below for more information on the surrounding resources for the Vicksburg Village Of Shiloh subdivision.

 

Can't FIND what you are looking for, ASK ME - I CAN HELP!

 

Vicksburg Village Of Shiloh Real Estate Overview:

• The average price of the homes for sale in Vicksburg Village Of Shiloh is $ 239,800.
• The average square feet of the homes in Vicksburg Village Of Shiloh is 2,920 sqft.

 

For more info on Vicksburg Village Of Shiloh of Missouri City Texas or any of the other Communities within the Fort Bend County area CLICK HERE or Text / Call 832-449-6060

 

Your #LocalRealtor #ShayneStone of #ChampionsRealEstateGroup #HomeSelling #HomeBuying in #VicksburgVillageOfShiloh of #MissouriCityTexas

How to Make the Dream of Homeownership a Reality This Year

 How to Make the Dream of Homeownership a Reality This Year

In 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr. inspired a powerful movement with his famous I Have a Dream speech. Through his passion and determination, he sparked interest, ambition, and courage in his audience. Today, reflecting on his message encourages many of us to think about our own dreams, goals, beliefs, and aspirations. For many Americans, one of those common goals is owning a home: a piece of land, a roof over our heads, and a place where we can grow and flourish.

If you're dreaming of buying a home this year, start by connecting with a local real estate professional to understand what goes into the process. With a trusted advisor at your side, you can then begin to answer the questions below to set yourself up for homebuying success.

1. How Can I Better Understand the Process, and How Much Can I Afford?

The process of buying a home is not one to enter into lightly. You need to decide on key things like how long you plan on living in an area, school districts you prefer, what kind of commute works for you, and how much you can afford to spend.

Keep in mind, before you start the process to purchase a home, you'll also need to apply for a mortgage. Lenders will evaluate several factors connected to your financial track record, one of which is your credit history. They'll want to see how well you've been able to minimize past debts, so make sure you've been paying your student loans, credit cards, and car loans on time. If your financial situation has changed recently, be sure to discuss that with your lender as well. Most agents have loan officers they trust and will provide referrals for you.

According toConsumerReports.org:

Financial planners recommend limiting the amount you spend on housing to 25 percent of your monthly budget.

2. How Much Do I Need for a Down Payment?

In addition to knowing how much you can afford on a monthly mortgage payment, understanding how much you'll need for a down payment is another critical step. Thankfully, there are many different options and resources in the market to potentially reduce the amount you may think you need to put down.

If you're concerned about saving for a down payment, start small and be consistent. A little bit each month goes a long way. Jumpstart your savings by automatically adding a portion of your monthly paycheck into a separate savings account or house fund. AmericaSaves.org says:

Over time, these automatic deposits add up. For example, $50 a month accumulates to $600 a year and $3,000 after five years, plus interest that has compounded.

Before you know it, you'll have enough for a down payment if you're disciplined and thoughtful about your process.

3. Saving Takes Time: Practice Living on a Budget

As tempting as it is to pass the extra time you may be spending at home these days with a little retail therapy, putting that extra money toward your down payment will help accelerate your path to homeownership. Its the little things that count, so start trying to live on a slightly tighter budget if you aren't doing so already. A budget will allow you to save more for your down payment and help you pay down other debts to improve your credit score.

A survey of millennial spending shows, 68% reported that shelter in place orders helped them save for their down payment. Danielle Hale, Chief Economist at realtor.com, also notes:

“If there is any silver lining to the current economic landscape, it’s that mortgage rates are hanging around record lows Additionally, shelter-in-place orders helped many who were fortunate enough to keep their jobs save for a down payment — one of the largest hurdles of buying a home. The combination of low rates and the opportunity to save is enabling many millennials to move up their home buying timeline.”

While you don't need to cut all of the extras out of your current lifestyle, making smarter choices and limiting your spending in areas where you can slim down will make a big difference.

Bottom Line

If homeownership is on your dream list this year, take a good look at what you can prioritize to help you get there. To determine the steps you should take to start the process, lets connect today.

Vicksburg Village Of Cumberland

Vicksburg Village Of Cumberland Real Estate Homes For Sale, Rent & Price Trends

Shayne Stone "Your Rock Solid Choice Realtor" that helps Home Sellers make a Profit and Home Buyers Equity in Vicksburg Village Of Cumberland neighborhood / subdivision / community which is located in Missouri City Texas 77459 in Fort Bend County. Vicksburg Village Of Cumberland has 307 single family properties with a median build year of 1990 and a median size of 2,564 Sqft., these home values range between $170 - $236 K. The sqft. price change data is available through 1998. The median sold price/sqft is $87.02 while the median appraised value is $ 79.83/ sqft. View homes for sale or rent in Vicksburg Village Of Cumberland and see new homes, trending properties, Foreclosures and much more.

Sometimes there's nothing listed For Sale in Vicksburg Village Of Cumberland - Bookmark the page and check back often or create your own Listing Alert System to Notify you when a property in Vicksburg Village Of Cumberland Missouri City Texas 77459 hits the Market!

Find Vicksburg Village Of Cumberland Real Estate and Vicksburg Village Of Cumberland Homes For Sale. Vicksburg Village Of Cumberland in Fort Bend County can be found using Neighborhood Information Finder. Detailed information includes Vicksburg Village Of Cumberland Real Estate Profile, Vicksburg Village Of Cumberland Trending Homes , Schools Nearby Vicksburg Village Of Cumberland , Places Nearby Vicksburg Village Of Cumberland and Events Nearby Vicksburg Village Of Cumberland. Click here to find recently sold properties in Vicksburg Village Of Cumberland, Foreclosures in Vicksburg Village Of Cumberland, recently listed homes in Vicksburg Village Of Cumberland.

Vicksburg Village Of Cumberland is a subdivision located in Fort Bend County which is within the Texas. The Vicksburg Village Of Cumberland subdivision is surrounded with restaurants, education opportunities, entertainment venues, shopping and more. See below for more information on the surrounding resources for the Vicksburg Village Of Cumberland subdivision.

 

Can't FIND what you are looking for, ASK ME - I CAN HELP!

 

Vicksburg Village Of Cumberland Real Estate Overview:

• The average price of the homes for sale in Vicksburg Village Of Cumberland is $ 221,875.
• The average square feet of the homes in Vicksburg Village Of Cumberland is 2,564 sqft.

 

For more info on Vicksburg Village Of Cumberland of Missouri City Texas or any of the other Communities within the Fort Bend County area CLICK HERE or Text / Call 832-449-6060

 

Your #LocalRealtor #ShayneStone of #ChampionsRealEstateGroup #HomeSelling #HomeBuying in #VicksburgVillageOfCumberland of #MissouriCityTexas

Should I Wait for Lower Mortgage Interest Rates?

Should I Wait for Lower Mortgage Interest Rates?

Historically low mortgage rates are a big motivator for homebuyers right now. In 2020 alone, rates hit new record-lows 16 times, and the trend continued into the early part of this year. Many hopeful homebuyers are now wondering if they should put their plans on hold and wait for the lowest rates imaginable. However, the reality is, acting sooner rather than later may be the actual win if you're ready to buy a home.

According to Greg McBride, Chief Financial Analyst for Bankrate:

As vaccines become more widely available and a return to normal starts to come into view, well see mortgage rates bounce off the record lows.

While only a slight increase in mortgage rates is projected for 2021, some experts believe they will start to rise. Over the past week, for example, the average mortgage rate ticked up slightly, reaching 2.79%. This is still incredibly low compared to the trends we've seen over time. According to Freddie Mac:

Borrowers are smart to take advantage of these low rates now and will certainly benefit as a result.

Here's why.

As mortgage rates rise, the increase impacts the overall cost of purchasing a home. The higher the rate, the higher your monthly mortgage payment, especially as home prices rise too. Sam Khater, Chief Economist at Freddie Mac, says:

The forces behind the drop in rates have been shifting over the last few months and rates are poised to rise modestly this year. The combination of rising mortgage rates and increasing home prices will accelerate the decline in affordability and further squeeze potential homebuyers during the spring home sales season.

What does this mean for buyers?

Right now, the inventory of houses for sale is also at a historic low, making it more challenging than normal to find a home to buy in many areas. As more buyers hit the market in the typically busy spring buying season, it may become even harder to find a home in the coming months. With this in mind, Len Keifer, Deputy Chief Economist for Freddie Mac, recommends taking advantage of both low mortgage rates and the opportunity to buy:

If you've found a home that fits your needs at a price you can afford, it might be better to act now rather than wait for future rate declines that may never come and a future that likely holds very tight inventory.

Bottom Line

While todays low mortgage rates provide great opportunities for homebuyers, we may not see them stick around forever. If you're ready to buy a home, lets connect so you can take advantage of what todays market has to offer.

Owning a Home Is Still More Affordable Than Renting One

Owning a Home Is Still More Affordable Than Renting One

If spending more time at home over the past year is making you really think hard about buying a home instead of renting one, you're not alone. You may be wondering, however, if the dollars and cents add up in your favor as home prices continue to rise. According to the experts, in many cases, its still more affordable to buy a home than rent one. Here's why.

ATTOM Data Solutions recently released the 2021 Rental Affordability Report, which states:

Owning a median-priced three-bedroom home is more affordable than renting a three-bedroom property in 572, or 63 percent of the 915 U.S. counties analyzed for the report.

That has happened even though median home prices have increased more than average rents over the past year in 83 percent of those counties and have risen more than wages in almost two-thirds of the nation.

 

How is this possible?

The answer: historically low mortgage interest rates. Todd Teta, Chief Product Officer with ATTOM Data Solutions, explains:

Home-prices are rising faster than rents and wages in a majority of the country. Yet, home ownership is still more affordable, as amazingly low mortgage rates that dropped below 3 percent are helping to keep the cost of rising home prices in check.

In 2020, mortgage rates reached all-time lows 16 times, and so far, they're continuing to hover in low territory this year. These low rates are a big factor in driving affordability. Teta also notes:

Its startling to see that kind of trend. But it shows how both the cost of renting has been relatively high compared to the cost of ownership and how declining interest rates are having a notable impact on the housing market and home ownership. The coming year is totally uncertain, amid so many questions connected to the Coronavirus pandemic and the broader economy. But right now, owning a home still appears to be a financially-sound choice for those who can afford it.

Bottom Line

If you're considering buying a home this year, lets connect today to discuss the options that match your budget while affordability is in your favor.