Fortune reports on Zillow’s 2023 Housing Market Forecast

During the spring home buying boom Zillow made a big claim – home prices would would soar another 17.8% between February 2022 and February 2023. 

Weeks later the Pandemic fizzled.. Zillow slashed its home price outlook. 

In September, the outlook was revised down to 1.2%

Now Zillow expects the U.S. Home values to rise 1.4% 

“Back in May, Moody’s Analytics chief economist Mark Zandi told Fortune that rising mortgage rates coupled with “overvalued” home prices would push the U.S. housing market into a housing correction. A housing correction being a period where the U.S. housing market—which got priced to 3% mortgage rates—would work towards equilibrium. In every market, that’d translate into a sharp decline in home sales. It’d also, Zandi said, put frothy markets at risk of home price corrections.

That’s exactly what we saw this summer: Home sales plummeted across the nation, and frothy markets in the Western half of the country also saw declining home prices.”

Zillow researchers write, “”Across the country, affordability challenges have pushed potential buyers to the sidelines. Of course, this demand destruction has been more pronounced in some markets than in others. Markets with the highest prices a year ago saw disproportionately larger declines in active demand in the 12 months that followed.”

Heading into 2023 Zillow predicts the home price correction will loose steam in some markets while it picks up steam in other places. 

Both Knoxville and Morristown are predicted to rise 5% over the coming year. 

Read more here! 

Housing Market Predictions for the remainder of 2022

Everyone wants to know what’s gonna happen to the real estate market?

Forbes Advisor did some research and presented their opinions. 

We’ll share some below. 

Will housing prices continue to rise?

 “Inflation, high mortgage rates and record-high home prices are making it harder and harder to afford a home, and that’s not likely to change soon. Economists at Fannie Mae expect prices to be, on average, 16% higher in the coming quarter than they were a year ago.

MBA economists also expect home price gains for the foreseeable future. They forecast a 9.8% yearly increase for prices in 2022 compared to 2021 and a 2.8% gain in 2023.”

Should I buy now or wait?

“Buy based on your budget and needs. If you find a home you love in an area you love and it also fits your budget, then chances are it might be right for you. But if you make too many sacrifices just to get a house, you may end up with buyer’s remorse and an expensive albatross you have to offload.”

Forbes Advisors has some advise for buyers and sellers in this market, click here to read their article in entirety. 

July 2022: National Housing Market Update

Last week, we provided market statistics related to the local market. 

This week we’ll provide information about the national market. 

Realtor.com released their July Housing Market Report. Here’s what Sabrina Speianu, Economic Data Manager, had to say, 

“Realtor.com®’s July housing data release reveals that the housing market is continuing to move toward more balance. Inventory levels continue to rise, providing more options to homebuyers who are still actively looking for a new home and price reductions are also increasing, as sellers adjust to the new normal. However, housing remains expensive and fast-paced with the median asking price close to June’s all-time high while time on market is still slightly lower than last year and significantly lower than pre-pandemic levels. Although demand has softened greatly compared to last year, housing activity remains robust compared to pre-pandemic levels.”

 

Top takeaways from the report are:

  • Less Frenzy Means More Options for Those Still Looking to Buy a Home
  • Time on Market Higher Than Last Year in Many Metros, but Homes Are Still Moving Historically Fast in General
  • Signs of Softening Price Growth Are Emerging

 

Click here to read the entire Realtor.com July Housing Market Report

What’s going to happen to home prices?

 

What we learned this week:

  • Mortgage purchase applications are down 18% 
  • New home sales declined 17%
  • Introduction of single family homes declined by 16%

What’s that mean?

Even though we saw declines, we are still not in a balance market. 

Brian Neeley with BusinessNews says, “Inventory levels remain 49% below July 2019 levels, giving most sellers enough leverage – at least for now – to hold off on a bottom-market selloff earlier this year.”

Every quarter, Moody’s Analytics calculates an “overvalued” or “undervalued” figure for approximately 400 markets. The firm aims to find out whether fundamentals, including local income levels, can support local home prices. 

In the first quarter of 2022, Moody’s estimated that the average regional housing market was “overvalued” by 23%.

 

 

Moody’s Chief Economist Mark Zandi said Good luck The housing market being “overvalued” by more than 25% is likely to see a 5% to 10% drop in home prices. If a recession occurs, prices in those markets could fall by as much as 15% to 20%.

Click here to read more about Zandi’s predictions! 

 

What is Happening in the Real Estate Market?

We understand why you are wondering what is happening?
And probably what will happen in the near future.No one knows.

We found resources for a few pressing questions so that you can stay in the know!

Is the power shifting in the market?
Taylor Marr, the deputy chief economist at Redfin, says, “As sellers adjust their behavior it’s already changing the housing market.”

“The housing market isn’t crashing, but it is experiencing a hangover as it comes down from an unsustainable high,” Marr said in a statement to Insider, adding that a lot of home sellers are already beginning to drop their asking prices.

Will home prices come down quickly?
NextAdvisor produced an article this week that says, “Experts say it’s unlikely prices will drop in any significant way nationwide anytime soon. And while the rate at which home prices are rising will slow, that’ll likely come because fewer people can afford to shop in a pricier market. On a local level, individual markets might see prices come down, but experts say a big drop across the board is unlikely barring a big economic shift.”

The State of the Nation’s Housing Report

 

The Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University published The State of the Nation’s Housing 

The report is very interesting, but a bit dense, so we compiled a few of the most interesting pieces (with page number references) below!

 

Housing construction at an all time high (page5)

“Single Family stats hit 1.1 million in 2021, exceeding the million-unit mark for the first time in 13 years. Multifamily starts were also at a 30-year high of 470,000 units. The last time housing production was nearly as high was 1973.”

 

The outlook (page 8)

“Assuming that the Federal Reserve can take runaway inflation without causing a series downturn, the near term outlook for housing demand is largely positive. Demographic shifts are favorable, unemployment is low, and wage growth remains strong. Conditions on the supply side are also encouraging, with supply-chain delays diminishing and a record number of homes set for completion in the coming months.”

 

Home Price Appreciation Set New Records in the Past Year (Page 9)

 

“This song trajectory left home prices 38.6% above their early 2020 level and more than double the 2012 low. Indeed nominal home prices stood 59.5% above the mid-2000s peak early this year while the real home prices were up 14.4%.”

For sale inventory at an all time low (page 11)

“Fewer existing homes were available for sale in January 2022 than at any point since the late 1990s.

 

Home Equity Growth (page 27)

 

Housing Challenges (page 37)

Section 6 of the The State of the Nation’s Housing  presents some of the challenges we may face in the future.

 

Click here to read the entire State of the Nation’s Housing Report.

Five Steps to Making an Excellent Buying Decision

This week we partnered with Fairway Independent Mortgage in Knoxville, TN to answer the question “How do I make an excellent buying decision in this market?”

Branch Manager, Corey Freels shares his opinion with us:

According to a recent Gallup poll , only 30% of Americans believe it’s a “good time” to buy a home, while 69% of Americans believe it’s a “bad time”.  What’s perhaps more interesting is 7 in 10 Americans believe home prices will rise in their local areas… and as a whole, Americans believe real estate is the best long-term investment.

If 70% of us believe prices will continue to rise, and as a whole we believe housing to be the best long-term investment, then why do we also believe it’s a bad time to buy? 

Does something feel amiss here to you, too?

Well, if you work in the real estate industry OR you’ve waded into the treacherous waters of homebuying over the past two years, this might not surprise you all that much.  Interest rates are at their highest level in 13 years. 

Home prices are up 20% year over year nationally. Goodness, one study reports that half of Americans physically cried  at one point or more during the process. 

 

So, why in the world would we dip our toe into the housing market right now?? 

What was my greatest fear during the last two years of cheap mortgage rates, crippling supply, and a buying frenzy?  It was that we were subsequently pricing an entire generation (or more) out of owning their own home. 

I could write an entire article on the importance of the housing industry to the entire American economy, and its impact on net worth and social mobility.  Perhaps I will, but for now take my word for it: it’s crucial, non-negotiable, essential. 

You can make a great long-term buying decision in this market, and those that do will have taken advantage of what might be a generational buying opportunity. 

Housing is a basic human need (food, shelter, water) and there is no alternative.  You will participate in the housing market one way or another.  You can pay your own mortgage or cover your landlord’s.  The choice is yours. 

Whether or not you should buy a home, trade up, or sell your current home is far more about you individually than it is about market conditions. 

What volatile markets ARE good for, however, is making us stop and think so that we make a really good decision.  This is something we should be doing all of the time. 

 

Five Steps to Making an Excellent Buying Decision 

  1. Know your numbers – know what monthly payment you are comfortable with, how much cash you will need at closing, and how much you will have left over for a rainy day.  This is impossible without first meeting with a trusted mortgage advisor.  Put a lot of work and thought into this; it’s important. When you get comfortable with these numbers, do not waver.
  2. Manage your expectations – this is a deep concept, and you need a trusted real estate agent to walk you through it.  Maybe the home that was personally decorated by Joanna Gaines and has a pool with a waterfall in the back yard is out of reach, and that’s okay.  Think long term, which brings us to the next point.
  3. Think LONG term – some advice I got early on that has stuck and holds true: don’t buy a home you couldn’t OWN for 10 years. And I’m not talking about utopia here, I mean worse case, the world falls apart, will this house work for 10 years? 
  4. Fear scape – this is something you won’t read often as given advice.  Let your mind play out your fears.  A job loss, an illness, the market turns, etc.  Let your mind chase down those scenarios to their end, and then realistically see how prepared you are for those scenarios.  You’ll often find that the worst case isn’t all that bad, and that you could make things work. And then, LET IT GO.
  5. LET IT GO – there, we’ve given our mind time to be afraid, to think this through.  Now, we make decision on what we KNOW.  We know WHY we want our own home.  We know WHAT we’re looking for.  We also know WHAT we can afford.  Now, you’re ready. 

 

With the right counsel in a great mortgage lender and a great agent, you can absolutely make a great buying decision in this market.  And this market, unlike the past two years, will present opportunities for the majority of buyers who were left out of the frenzy. 

For two years, buyers with seemingly unlimited resources have dominated the market.  Now, they’re either all bought out or they’re afraid.  It’s your opportunity to participate in one of the greatest wealth building vehicles available to everyone. 

Feeling some fear about buying a home is completely normal.  I know I did.  But letting fear prevent you from making a wise decision is not productive, and we need to let logic lead us to the right conclusions. 

Fortune favors the bold, and this market will prove to be opportune for those that are bold. 

 

Fairway Independent Mortgage in Knoxville, TN can help with any of your mortgages needs!  

 

How will the interest rate increase effect both buyers and sellers?

Everyone is wondering, “How will interest rate increases effect both buyers and sellers?”

We’ve pulled together some statements from industry experts to help keep you informed!

For Buyers:
Business Insider provides a general rule of thumb – every percentage point increase in interest rates corresponds to a 10% decrease in purchasing power. In other words, a buyer who could afford $2,000 monthly payments on a $414,000 home with a 3% mortgage, could only afford a $320,000 house with a 6% mortgage.

Jacob Channel, LendingTree’s senior economist states, “Though it’s unlikely that home prices will majorly slump, an increase in housing supply will likely significantly slow home price growth and give would-be buyers more housing options to choose from.”

For Sellers:
Mark Zandi, the chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, says, “I don’t expect a collapse in house prices,” he says. He is not predicting a housing crash anything like what we saw 15 years ago, because of two fundamental forces supporting home prices.

The fundamental forces supporting current home prices are:
1. Supply – there is a shortage of homes available
2. We no longer have reckless mortgage lending – people can afford their loans.

Have any specific questions – email us at info@jasonwhiteteam.com and we’ll do our best to answer them!

Is the Housing Market Crashing?

Banyan Hill says, ” the Housing market isn’t crashing!”

Google searches for ” Housing crash ” have surged in recent years.

It’s easy to understand the concern- home equity accounts for 65% of the net worth of the average American.

The latest data shows why a housing market crash isn’t a concern:

Homebuilder’s got a wake up call.

New home sales dropped by 16.6% between March and April which supplied the largest inventory in new homes since 2010! It would take 9 months to sell out inventory at last month’s sales pace.

The stage is set for higher home prices

Low levels of existing inventory will continue to drive prices. 

Demand remains high

Future demand should remain strong due to to rising rents. 

Is the housing market crashing?

 

Steven Fernandez, research analyst for Strategic Fortunes, says “Keep in mind the rapid growth we’ve seen since 2020 is an anomaly. I wouldn’t bank on growth of that magnitude to continue”

 

Check out our blogs on the Sevier County, TN real estate marketing statistics and national housing market statistics.

Lumber Prices Fall!

Realtor® Magazine released an article this week acknowledged the recent tumble of lumber prices, to the lowest level in 2022!

Lumber fell below $800 per thousand board feet on Monday, and prices are down 30% to date this year.

It might not be time to celebrate yet, while lumber prices are down, they are up significantly from historical levels.

According to National Home Builders Association data, volatile lumber price swings have been blamed for pushing up the average price of a single-family home, causing more than $18,000 of that over the past year.

“We expect prices in the long term to be challenged with the affordability and rising interest rate headwinds,” Kyle Little, COO of Sherwood Lumber, told Market Insider.