Real Estate Information Archive

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I thought the article about Spring home maintenance projects was great.  Also, if you are thinking of replacing your roof soon, you might start by getting the basics for your research on this site.

Existing home sales are up in 2010 compared to the same time a year ago. According to the National Association of REALTORS (NAR), existing homes sales -- including single family, condominiums, townhomes and co-ops -- were up 11.5 percent from January 2009 levels. At the current pace, NAR is projecting existing home sales of 5.05 million units for the year. Total housing inventory is down 0.5 percent to 3.27 million units nationally.

NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun is watching the sales data very closely. "Activity should be picking up strongly in late spring as buyers take advantage of the tax credit, which is critical to absorb distressed properties reaching the market and to continually chip away at inventory," Yun said. "With a downtrend in the number of homes on the market, especially in the lower price ranges, values are beginning to firm but with great variance around the country."

Mortgage backer Freddie Mac reported an average commitment rate for a 30-year, conventional, fixed-rate mortgage of 5.03 percent in January. This is up slightly from 4.93 percent available in December 2009, but down overall from a year ago when the rate was 5.05 percent in January 2009.

National Market Trends

Existing Home Sales are at their highest levels in over 2 years, according to an October report published by the National Association of REALTORS (NAR). Fueled by increased activity among first time home buyers, the existing housing market has shown gains in five of the last six months. Based on the recent 9.4 percent increase from August to September, NAR is predicting annual sales volume of 5.57 million units for 2009, up from the earlier prediction of 5.10 million units.

Buyers are taking advantage of low interest rates and a first time buyers tax credit available through the end of November. "Much of the momentum is from people responding to the first-time buyer tax credit, which is freeing many sellers to make a trade and buy another home," said Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist. "We are hopeful the tax credit will be extended and possibly expanded to more buyers, at least through the middle of next year, because the rising sales momentum needs to continue for a few additional quarters until we reach a point of a self-sustaining recovery."

Total housing inventory is trending down across the country, reaching its lowest level in two and a half years. Inventory fell to 3.6 million homes available for sale at the end of September. This represents a 7.8 month supply at our current sales pace. "If we could continue to absorb inventory at this pace, home prices would return to normal, modest appreciation patterns next year," Yun said.

Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors (NAR), indicates that the outlook for housing and and the economy appear headed for a sustainable recovery.

He credits the home buyer tax credit and its enhanced expansion to more home buyers into the middle of 2010 with this optimistic assessment.  "Given the success of the first-time buyer tax credit to date, and the need for qualified buyers to continue to absorb inventory that will include additional foreclosures over the coming year, we are hopeful about the impact of the expanded tax credit because it will stabilize home prices," he said.  In fact, the credit is working better than first projected -  it now looks like we'll have 2.3 to 2.4 million first-time buyers this year."

In 2009, the NAR Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers reported that first-time home buyers accounted for 47% of all home sales.  In 2006, 36% sold to first-time buyers.

Yun believes that there will continue to be a steady draw down of inventory which will also help to stabilize home prices and increase the number sold by approximately 13.6% in 2010.  The biggest risk is caused by unemployment, which the government expects to peak at about 10%.

He predicts that mortgage rates for a 30 year fixed rate will average about 5.3% in the fourth quarter of this year and gradually rise in 2010, ending at around 5.8%.  Because of the decline in home prices, the NAR housing affordability index has risen by 30 points this year...meaning many more families can afford a home.  The biggest deterrent to buying is currently a lack of down payment or low credit scores.

Existing home sales are up 3.4 percent over the same time last year, according to a recent report by the National Association of Realtors® (NAR). Helped by the $8,000 tax credit to first time buyers, existing home sales are on pace to reach 5.1 million units for 2009, up from the 4.93 million units projected in August 2008. 

For the first time in five years, existing home sales have increased for four months in a row, according to an August report by the The National Association of Realtors® (NAR). Existing home sales - including single-family, townhomes, condominiums, and co-ops - increased 7.2 percent in July, which is the largest monthly sales gain recorded since 1999. Analysts are projecting an increase in 2009 of existing home sales to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.24 million units, which is 5 percent above the 4.99 million-unit pace set in July 2008.