Real Estate Information Archive

Some Highlights:

• The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) recently released their latest Quarterly Home Price Index report.
• In the report, home prices are compared both regionally and by state.
• Based on the latest numbers, if you plan on relocating to another state, waiting to move may end up costing you more!

Your home may be worth more than you think. Find out how much it could sell for.
Get a FREE, INSTANT home valuation. Click HERE.

If you are thinking of selling your home, let's discuss your options. Contact The Gary & Nikki Team today or call - 727-787-6995.

In today’s housing market, where supply is very low and demand is very high, home values are increasing rapidly. Many experts are projecting that home values could appreciate by another 5%+ over the next twelve months. 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 selling 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.

Bottom Line

Every house on the market has to be sold twice; once to a prospective buyer and then to the bank (through the bank’s appraisal). With escalating prices, the second sale might be even more difficult than the first. If you are planning on entering the housing market this year, let’s get together to discuss this, and any other obstacle that may arise -  contact The Gary & Nikki Team today.

Curious about what your home may sell for? Get an instant estimate of the market value of your home.

For a complete, in depth market analysis, from one of our Seller Team members, visit Tampa-Bay-Home-Values.com

CoreLogic released their most current Home Price Index last week. In the report, they revealed home appreciation in three categories: percentage appreciation over the last year, over the last month and projected over the next twelve months.

Here are state maps for each category: 

The Past – home appreciation over the last 12 months

The Present – home appreciation over the last month

The Future – home appreciation projected over the next 12 months

Bottom Line

Homes across the country are appreciating at different rates. If you plan on relocating to another state and are waiting for your home to appreciate more, you need to know that the home you will buy in another state may be appreciating even faster.

If you don't have an agent and are thinking selling your home, let's discuss your options -  contact The Gary & Nikki Team today.

Curious about what your home may sell for? Get an instant estimate of the market value of your home.

Get a more in-depth market analysis of your home from a real estate professional.

For a complete, in depth market analysis, from one of our Seller Team members, visit Tampa-Bay-Home-Values.com

There are some homeowners that have been waiting for months to get a price they hoped for when they originally listed their house for sale. The only thing they might want to consider is... If it hasn't sold yet, maybe it's not priced properly.

After all, 14,767 houses sold yesterday, 14,767 will sell today and 14,767 will sell tomorrow.

14,767!

That is the average number of homes that sell each and every day in this country, according to the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) latest Existing Home Sales Report. NAR reported that sales are at an annual rate of 5.39 million. Divide that number by 365 (days in a year) and we can see that, on average, over 14,767 homes sell every day.

The report from NAR also revealed that there is currently only a 4.7-month supply of inventory available for sale, (6-months inventory is considered ‘historically normal’).

This means that there are not enough homes available for sale to satisfy the buyers who are out in the market now in record numbers.

Bottom Line

We realize that you want to get the fair market value for your home. However, if it hasn't sold in today's active real estate market, perhaps you should reconsider your current asking price. 

Zillow can be over 15% inaccurate in Pinellas County. Get a free, professional home valuation. It only takes a few minutes. Visit: www.tampa-bay-home-values.com 

Did you know that Zillow can be over 15% inaccurate in Pinellas County? Get a comprehensive, accurate, value of your home from our experienced real estate professionals. It only takes a couple minutes and there's no obligation.
Visit www.tampa-bay-home-values.com 

Today, many real estate conversations center on housing prices and where they may be headed. That is why we like the Home Price Expectation Survey.

Every quarter, Pulsenomics surveys a nationwide panel of over one hundred economists, real estate experts and investment & market strategists about where they believe prices are headed over the next five years. They then average the projections of all 100+ experts into a single number.

The results of their latest survey:

Home values will appreciate by 3.9% by the end of 2015, 3.4% in 2016 and 3.1% in each of the following four years (as shown below). That means the average annual appreciation will be 3.2% over the next 5 years.

The prediction for cumulative appreciation rose from 18.1% to 21.6% by 2020. Even the experts making up the most bearish quartile of the survey still are projecting a cumulative appreciation of 13.8%.

Bottom Line

Individual opinions make headlines. We believe the survey is a fairer depiction of future values.

Thinking of buying or selling? Contact The Gary & Nikki Team today. Put our 30 years of experience to work for you. 727-787-6995

Last month, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported that housing inventory was down 4.7% from the same time last year and that the month’s inventory of homes for sale stood at 4.8 - far below the six months necessary for a normal housing market. Why is there such a shortage of inventory?

The recently released Homeowner Sentiment Survey suggests that the American homeowner may not be fully aware of the opportunities that exist in the current real estate market. The survey, conducted by Edelman Berland for HSF Affiliates, also reports that many homeowners would be placing their home up for sale if they were better informed about today’s market.

Since the housing industry is facing a shortage of housing inventory, the survey’s findings are crucially important.

The survey reported that 23% of current homeowners questioned are considering selling their home, but haven’t yet put it up for sale. That’s almost one out of every four houses. This is the inventory necessary to normalize the balance between “supply & demand” in the current market.

Why are potential sellers hesitating?

The survey shows that 55% of the 23% contemplating selling “would be more likely to put their homes on the market if given more information about the process”. What information do they need?

Here are a few of the challenges that potential sellers perceive to exist according to the survey along with what is actually happening in today’s market:

1. More than half (53%) don’t realize that “the number of homes for sale on the market is lower, giving buyers fewer choices”. As a matter of fact, only 6% of potential sellers believe that listing inventory has recently decreased.

In reality, as we mentioned before, inventory is down from last year.

2. 80% think credit scores make it difficult to get a loan.

In reality, though other studies have shown that many Americans believe that you need a credit score of at least 780 to get a loan when the actual median scores on closed loans are demonstratively lower than that.

3. 76% believe stricter lending requirements make it more difficult to get a mortgage.

In reality, the Mortgage Credit Availability Index shows lending standards have been consistently easing over the last year.

4. 68% think that current homeowners are trapped into their mortgages and are unable to sell their current homes.

In reality, a recent Fannie Mae study revealed that 32% of Americans are dramatically underestimating the current equity in their homes. Many more can afford to make the move they desire.

What’s the answer?

Every family should feel confident when they are buying or selling a home. In order to feel confident they need to truly understand their options and opportunities. Let The Gary & Nikki Team help you make an informed decision. We have over 30 years of experience in Tampa Bay real estate -
Call Today: 727-787-6995

Highlights:

• The national median home price for Q2 is up 8.2% to $229,400
• The income needed to afford the median home in each region is directly impacted by the amount of the down payment. The larger the down payment the lower the income needed to pay the monthly mortgage payment.
• The West led the way with the highest median home price at $325,200.

What an amazing time in our history where mortgage rates and affordability remain at near historic lows. Mortgage rates are under 4%. In 2014, it only took 15% of a typical family's income to pay their monthly principal and interest payment. What an incredible opportunity to invest in real estate. What an incredible time to buy that first home, sell your current home and move up to your dream home or to simply build your wealth by building your real estate portfolio.

2015 has gotten off to a quick start in the Tampa Bay area. Sales are up by over 20% in Pinellas and Pasco Counties compared to 2014. Active listing inventory is down by 7.5% year over year. Properly priced inventory is creating bidding wars and multiple offers in some price positions. There is demand for inventory as we approach the peak selling months of the year. If you have thoughts of selling your home, now could be a great time for you. 
CALL THE GARY & NIKKI TEAM TODAY. 727-787-6995

Information Graphs

An excerp from a recent article posted on The Real Deal about Zillow and the accuracy of it's home price "Zestimates". 

...Are Zestimates accurate? And if they’re off the mark, how far off? Zillow CEO Spencer Rascoff answered that they’re “a good starting point,” but that nationwide Zestimates have a “median error rate” of about 8 percent.

Whoa. That sounds high. On a $500,000 house, that would be a $40,000 disparity — a lot of money on the table — and could create problems. Read full post here.