Now that much of the dust has settled and the panic has waned, let’s take a look at what impact Britain’s exit from the European Union may have on the U.S. housing market.
The most immediate impact of Brexit will be on mortgage interest rates. Interest rates have remained at historic lows for the last several years. Contrary to what many experts believed, rates have remained low throughout the first half of 2016.
Possible impact of Brexit on mortgage rates?
In a recent article, the Washington Post explained:
“Brexit has spawned the recent bout of volatility in global financial markets. That has anxious investors scurrying for safety -- and few assets are safer than U.S. Treasuries. High demand for government debt pulls down interest
In today’s housing market, where supply is very low and demand is very high, home values are increasing rapidly. One major challenge in such a market is the bank appraisal.
If prices are surging, it is difficult for appraisers to find adequate, comparable sales (similar houses in the neighborhood that closed recently) to defend the price when performing the appraisal for the bank.
Every month, Quicken Loans measures the disparity between what a homeowner believes their house is worth as compared to an appraiser’s evaluation in their Home Price Perception Index (HPPI). Here is a chart showing that difference for each of the last 12 months.
The gap between the homeowner vs. appraiser’s opinion has started to head in the right direction
As the temperature rises, buyers are coming out ready to purchase their dream homes. The summer is a great time to list your home for sale. Here are five reasons why:
1. Demand Is Strong
The latest Buyer Traffic Report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows that buyer demand remains very strong throughout the vast majority of the country. These buyers are ready, willing and able to purchase… and are in the market right now!
Take advantage of the buyer activity currently in the market.
2. There Is Less Competition Now
According to NAR’s latest Existing Home Sales Report, the supply of homes for sale is still under the 6-month supply that is needed for a normal housing market at 4.7-months.
Grand, updated brick colonial great for entertaining. 6 bedrooms, 5.5 baths with 2 car garage on quiet cul-de-sac just over the DC line! 2 story foyer, curved stairway, gourmet kitchen & breakfast room with wall of windows, living room with fireplace, formal dining room opens to patio, large family room, office with built-in book cases & deck. Lower level rec room, exercise room & kitchenette. Move in Condition!
Super sunny, updated 2 level, 3 bedroom with 2 full baths and 2 separate entrances. Fabulous eat-in kitchen, windows on three sides, wood floors & central air. Pool, BBQ areas, tot lot, public tennis, dog park, garden & playground. Around the corner from the new Cathedral Commons Shopping Center. Grocery, pharmacy, restaurants and more. 1 dog plus 1 cat or 2 cats permitted. Parking available for $35,000, monthly maintenance $42.41.
Monthly condo fee: $783.65 includes management, general maintenance of common areas, landscaping, trash & snow removal, master insurance policy, reserves, gas, water & sewer.
According to NAR's Profile of Home Buyers & Sellers:
88% of buyers look for their new home online.
Using a real estate agent can net you $39,000 more than FSBO'ing.
There is a long list of people that you will have to negotiate with when you decide to sell your home, using an experienced professional can help ease the process.
That headline might be a little aggressive. However, as the data on the 2016 housing market begins to roll in, we can definitely say one thing: If you are considering selling, IT IS TIME TO LIST YOUR HOME!
The May numbers are not in yet, but the April numbers were sensational. Jonathon Smoke, Chief Economist at realtor.com, explained:
“We had a triple crown of April home sales reports, so 2016 is in the pole position to earn best year of home sales in a decade.”
And Freddie Mac also expressed a tremendous optimism regarding home sales for the rest of the summer:
“Home sales typically rise in the spring and summer months, and we anticipate acceleration in home sales that will surpass 2007’s pace by late summer.”
Yesterday, we reported that according to CoreLogic’s latest Equity Report, nearly 268,000 homeowners regained equity and are no longer underwater on their mortgage in the first quarter. Homes with negative equity have decreased by 21.5% year-over-year.
A study by Fannie Mae suggests that many homeowners are not aware of how their equity position has changed as their home has increased in value.
For example, their study showed that 23% of Americans still believe their home is in a negative equity position when, in actuality, CoreLogic’s report shows that only 8% of homes are in that position.
The study also revealed that only 37% of Americans believe that they have “significant equity” (greater than 20%), when in actuality, 74% do!
CoreLogic’s latest Equity Report revealed that 92% of all mortgaged properties are now in a positive equity situation, while 74% now actually have significant equity (defined as more than 20%)! The report also revealed that 268,000 households regained equity in the first quarter of 2016 and are no longer under water.
Price Appreciation = Good News for Homeowners
Frank Nothaft, CoreLogic’s Chief Economist, explains:
“In just the last four years, equity for homeowners with a mortgage has nearly doubled to $6.9 trillion. The rapid increase in home equity reflects the improvement in home prices, dwindling distressed borrowers and increased principal repayment.
These are all positive factors that will provide support to both household
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