Right now, the housing market is full of outstanding opportunities for both buyers and sellers. Whether you’re thinking of buying your first home, moving up to a bigger one, or selling so you can downsize this spring, there are perks today that are powering big moves for people across the country. Here are the top two to keep on the radar this season.
The Biggest Perk for Buyers: Low Mortgage Rates
Today’s most compelling buyer incentive is low mortgage interest rates. The 30-year fixed-rate is now averaging just over3%. While that’s slightly higher than the record-lows from 2020 and earlier this year, it’s still way lower than historic norms, making purchasing a home an ongoing perk for hopeful buyers(See graph below):
This is a huge advantage for buyers and helps to make owning a home attainable for more households – and there’s good reason to strive for homeownership. The latestHomeowner Equity ReportfromCoreLogicshows how homeowners saw majorgainsin their net worth last year, all thanks to owning a home. Frank Martell,President and CEOofCoreLogic,explains:
“Positive factors like record-low interest rates and a booming housing market encouraged many families to enter homeownership.This growing bank of personal wealth that homeownership affords was noticed by many but in particular for first-time buyers who want a piece of the cake. As a result, we may see more of those currently renting start to enter the market in the near future.”
Low mortgage rates are a plus for buyers right now, but expertsforecastwe’ll see them continue to rise as the year goes on. If you’re ready to purchase a home, it’s wise to get started on the process soon so you can secure today’s comparatively low rate.
The Biggest Perk for Sellers: Low Inventory
Today, there are simply not enough houses on the market for the number of buyers looking to purchase them, and it’s creating a serioussellers’ market. According to Danielle Hale,Chief Economistatrealtor.com:
“Total active inventory continues to decline, dropping 50 percent.With buyers active in the market and sellers still slow to put homes up for sale, homes are selling quicklyand the total number actively available for sale at any point in time continues to decline.” (See map below):
The lack of houses for sale continues to challenge the market, and with low mortgage rates fueling buyer demand, homes are hard for buyers to find today. According to the latestRealtors Confidence Index Surveyby theNational Association of Realtors(NAR), the average house is now receiving4.1 offersand is on the market for only20 days.
Buyers are clearly eager to purchase, and because of the shortage of inventory available, they’re often entering bidding wars.This is one of the factors keeping home prices strong and giving sellersleveragein the negotiation process.
Homeowners who are in a position to sell shouldn’t wait to make their move. There’s alightat the end of the tunnel for today’s inventory shortage, so listing this spring will get your house on the market when conditions are most favorable. With low inventory and high buyer demand, homeowners can potentially earn a greaterprofit on their houses and sell them quickly in the fast-paced spring market.
Ready to start enjoying your perks? the Kester property team (913) 563-8783 [email protected]