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Price Reduced for Charming Cottage in Value-Trending Neighborhood of Nashville…

May 23, 2012 Posted by | Nashville, real estate | , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment

Housing Affordability Reaches Record Highs

HOUSING AFFORDABILITY REACHES RECORD HIGHS
Article by: Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine Daily News

Daily Real Estate News | Monday, May 21, 2012… For the median-income family, buying a home has never been more affordable, new surveys by the National Association of REALTORS® and National Association of Home Builders show.

Housing affordability reached a record high for the second-straight quarter in the first three months of this year, the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity index shows. Nearly 78 percent of all new and existing homes sold in the first quarter this year were affordable to families earning the national median income of $65,000, according to the index.

NAR’s quarterly Housing Affordability Index also showed a record high in affordability in the first quarter. NAR first began keeping records on affordability in 1970.

According to NAR’s index, the median-income family earning under $61,000 could afford a home costing $325,000 — more than double the national median existing single-family home price of $158,100.

“The median monthly mortgage principal and interest payment for a median-priced home would take only 13.5 percent of gross income,” according to NAR’s affordability index.

Buyers Struggle to Take Advantage

However, while affordability remains high, many home buyers are still being shut out of the market and are unable to take advantage of the deals due to tight lending conditions, housing experts say.

“For those with good credit, we’ve never seen better housing affordability conditions or market opportunities than we see at present,” says Moe Veissi, NAR’s president. “Although home prices are stabilizing and sales are rising, some buyers still have to jump through a lot of hoops to convince a lender that they are creditworthy, even for a mortgage that would be well within their means. This is especially true for self-employed buyers.”

Indeed, Barry Rutenberg, NAHB’s chairman, echoes those comments, adding that “without this significant hurdle, the housing and economic recovery could be proceeding at a much stronger pace.”

Where Affordability Is the Highest

Some of the most affordable housing markets in the first quarter, according to the NAHB/Wells Fargo Index are:

Indianapolis-Carmel, Ind. (where 95.8 percent of the homes sold during the first quarter were affordable to households earning the area’s median family income of $66,900)

1. Dayton, Ohio
2. Lakeland-Winter Haven, Fla.
3. Modesto, Calif.
4. Grand Rapids-Wyoming, Mich. (tied for fifth place)
5. Buffalo-Niagara Falls, N.Y. (tied for fifth place)

Meanwhile, the least affordable housing market continued to be New York-White Plains-Wayne, N.Y.-N.J., a title which it has held for 16-straight quarters, according to the NAHB/Wells Fargo index. Only 31.5 percent of the homes sold in the first three months were affordable to those earning the median income in the area of $68,200.

Source: Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine Daily News | Blog distribution provided by Kenneth Bargers and Bargers Solutions, member of Pilkerton Realtors, residential real estate services located in Nashville, Tennessee

May 22, 2012 Posted by | economy, real estate | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment

Positive Signs Abound for Housing

POSITVE SIGNS ABOUND FOR HOUSING
Article by: Brian Summerfield, REALTOR® Magazine

Daily Real Estate News | Thursday, May 17, 2012… The first quarter of 2012 was the best first quarter for real estate in five years, and pending contracts suggest that the second quarter of 2012 will be the best second quarter in five years, NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun said this morning at the Residential Economic Update during the NAR Midyear Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo.

Moreover, he said the second half of this year could be even better than the first, in part because of continued increases in rental costs and record affordability of homes. “Renters are getting squeezed, and they don’t want to rent anymore,” Yun explained. “This could be the year we see the release of pent-up demand.”

Home prices have been skipping along the bottom for about a year now, Yun said, a trend that has drawn investors into the market. These investors have helped housing through a couple of difficult years and partly mitigated the dysfunctional mortgage market.

“Right now is the time to buy low,” he said. “Investors are coming in to take advantage. Second homes started to recover nicely last year because of investors.”

However, home values are poised for a rebound as more traditional buyers move back into the market, Yun said. In fact, this has already started to happen in areas such as Phoenix and Miami, which have seen year-over-year (March 2011 to March 2012) double-digit percentage increases in home prices.

As real estate improves, consumer psychology around home ownership will change, he added. Coupled with the recent — if relatively modest — job growth and stock market gains, conditions are right for a sustained housing recovery.

Future Challenges

Nonetheless, there are issues that could restrain a turnaround in housing. Mortgages are still too hard to come by, the shadow inventory — while declining — remains historically high, and price inflation is rising “above the Fed’s comfort level,” Yun said.

To address that last problem, the Federal Reserve will likely raise rates in 2013 and 2014. Yet Yun contends a modest rise in interest rates wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing for the housing market. That’s because an increase in rates would cause financial institutions to focus their mortgage servicing departments on purchase loans instead of refis.

The biggest challenge, though, remains the murky political and regulatory environment, particularly the repeated threats from legislators and policymakers to alter or eliminate the mortgage interest deduction. Additionally, the country is racing toward a “fiscal cliff” on Jan. 1, 2013, the date by which a compromise federal budget must be approved. If this is delayed, there will be automatic government spending cuts, which would probably create a fallout effect in the financial markets.

U.S. Migration Patterns

In a presentation preceding Yun’s, Fed Economist Raven Molloy went over data that showed migration within the United States had fallen across practically all demographic categories since the 1980s. This has significant implications for real estate, as a decline in the number of people moving around within the country can translate into a decline in home-purchase activity.

There were no sharp moves downward in internal migration during the recession, which suggests the trend is not connected to the housing market or macro-economic cycles, Molloy said. If this was the case, migration would likely increase in the next few years as the job market improves and household formation picks up. Instead, it could remain flat or fall as the economy recovers.

In his presentation, Yun said this trend, which doesn’t have a clear source, is a problematic development.

“It’s troubling,” he said. “We want to have a very dynamic society where people can move up and trade up.”

Source: Brian Summerfield, REALTOR® Magazine; Daily Real Estate News (May 17, 2012) | Blog distribution provided by Kenneth Bargers and Bargers Solutions, member of Pilkerton Realtors, residential real estate services located in Nashville, Tennessee

May 18, 2012 Posted by | economy, real estate | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment

Housing Affordability Reaches Records

Housing Affordability Reaches Records

Daily Real Estate News | Tuesday, May 15, 2012… Housing affordability conditions for all buyers reached a milestone in the first quarter, according to the National Association of REALTORS®.

NAR’s composite quarterly Housing Affordability Index rose to a record high of 205.9 in first quarter, based on the relationship between median home price, median family income and average mortgage interest rate. The higher the index, the greater the household purchasing power. This is the first time the quarterly index broke the 200 mark; recordkeeping began in 1970.

NAR President Moe Veissi said market conditions are optimal for home buyers. “For those with good credit, we’ve never seen better housing affordability conditions or market opportunities than we see at present,” he said. “Although home prices are stabilizing and sales are rising, some buyers still have to jump through a lot of hoops to convince a lender that they are creditworthy, even for a mortgage that would be well within their means. This is especially true for self-employed buyers.”

Veissi noted home sales would be much higher if lending standards would return to normal.

The index shows the median-income family, earning just under $61,000, could afford a home costing $325,500 in the first quarter, which is more than double the national median existing single-family home price of $158,100. The median monthly mortgage principal and interest payment for a median-priced home would take only 13.5 percent of gross income.

A companion index measuring the ability of first-time buyers to purchase a home also set a record, with the first-time buyer index reaching 135.8 in the first quarter.

Assumptions for the first-time buyer index include a lower income, at 65 percent of median family income, a starter home costing 85 percent of the median price, and a down payment of 10 percent. This index means the typical entry-level buyer could afford a home costing $182,500, which is well above the overall median price.

“It’s never been easy to buy a first home because of the cash required for down payment and closing costs, but conditions for first-time buyers who are able to get a mortgage have never been better,” Veissi explained.

Most first-time buyers choose a loan with a lower down payment, often an FHA-insured loan with 3.5 percent down, and some use the VA program with no down payment.

Both home prices and mortgage interest rates are expected to edge up modestly as the year progresses, but housing affordability will remain very favorable with the median-income household well positioned to afford a median-priced home. For all of 2012 the index is projected to set an annual record, averaging 191 for the year.

Source: National Association of Realtors (NAR) | Blog distribution provided by Kenneth Bargers and Bargers Solutions, member of Pilkerton Realtors, residential real estate services located in Nashville, Tennessee

May 15, 2012 Posted by | real estate | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment

Greater Nashville Home Sales Continue to Increase…

GREATER NASHVILLE HOME SALES CONTINUE TO INCREASE

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (May 9, 2012), GNAR – There were 2,186 home closings reported for the month of April, according to figures provided by the Greater Nashville Association of REALTORS®. This represents an increase of 25 percent from the 1,747 closings reported for April 2011.

Year-to-date closings are also up compared to 2011 with 7,041. That is a 24.5 percent increase compared to the 5,655 closings reported through April 2011.

“Total sales are the best we’ve seen since June 2010, which was the initial deadline for the First Time Buyer Tax Credit,” said GNAR President Kendra Cooke. “While some of the increase can be attributed to normal seasonal trends, the high number of closings is a clear indication that the real estate market in this region is showing significant improvement. The continuation of historically low interest rates, increasing economic confidence and increasing rental rates are all factors having a positive impact on real estate sales.”

There were 2,436 sales pending at the end of the month, compared to the 1,909 pending sales at this time last year. The average number of days on the market for a single-family home was 88 days.

The median residential price for a single-family home during April was $165,120 and for a condominium it was $141,190. This compares with last year’s median residential and condominium prices of $159,070 and $148,000, respectively.

Inventory at the end of April was 19,622, down from 22,297 in 2011.

“Inventory is down, but with overall inventory at a 9-month supply and residential inventory at a very balanced 6.5-month supply. Right now, sellers will want to be sure their homes are well-prepared for showing. While market activity is increasing, buyers are very focused on properties they visit being clean and fixed-up if they are going to seriously consider making a purchase.” added Cooke.

The Greater Nashville Association of REALTORS® is one of Middle Tennessee’s largest professional trade associations and serves as the primary voice for Nashville-area property owners. REALTOR® is a registered trademark that may be used only by real estate professionals who are members of the National Association of Realtors and subscribe to its strict code of ethics.

Source: Greater Nashville Association of REALTORS® (May 9, 2012) | Blog distribution provided by Kenneth Bargers and Bargers Solutions, member of Pilkerton Realtors, residential real estate services located in Nashville, Tennessee

May 10, 2012 Posted by | economy, Nashville, real estate | , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment

Charming Move-in Ready Cottage: Home Owner or Investor’s Dream in Value-Trending Sylvan Heights!

May 10, 2012 Posted by | Nashville, real estate | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment

Survey Shows More Reason to Buy Than Rent

Survey Shows More Reason to Buy Than Rent

Daily Real Estate News (Monday, May 07, 2012)… Thirty-three percent of Americans say they expect home prices to rise in the next 12 months, the highest level in more than a year, according to Fannie Mae’s March 2012 National Housing Survey of consumer attitudes about the housing market.

The number of people who say now is a good time to buy is also on the rise, increasing to 73 percent—also the highest level in more than a year. The percentage who said it’s a good time to sell a home also increased one point to 14 percent in March.

Meanwhile, more Americans expect rental prices to rise and are projecting an increase by 4.1 percent over the next year, the highest number recorded to date.

“Conditions are coming together to encourage people to want to buy homes,” says Doug Duncan, Fannie Mae’s chief economist. “Americans’ rental price expectations for the next year continue to rise, reaching their record high level for our survey this month. With an increasing share of consumers expecting higher mortgage rates and home prices over the next 12 months, some may feel that renting is becoming more costly and that home ownership is more compelling house choice.”

Source: “Americans’ Expectations Align to Encourage Home Buying,” RISMedia (May 6, 2012); Daily Real Estate News (May 7, 2012) | Blog distribution provided by Kenneth Bargers and Bargers Solutions, member of Pilkerton Realtors, residential real estate services located in Nashville, Tennessee

May 7, 2012 Posted by | economy, real estate | , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Home Buying Gets Another Boost in Affordability

Home Buying Gets Another Boost in Affordability

Article by Daily Real Estate News (Friday, May 04, 2012)… For home buyers or refinancers, borrowing costs for home ownership just got a little cheaper as mortgage rates took another dip to new all-time record lows this week, Freddie Mac reports in its weekly mortgage market survey.

“Signs of slowing economic growth and inflation remaining subdued allowed yields on Treasury bonds to ease somewhat and brought most mortgage rates to new all-time record lows this week,” says Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac’s chief economist.

Here’s a closer look at average rates for the week ending May 3:

  • 30-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 3.84 percent, with an average 0.8 point, reaching a new historical low. The previous record for 30-year rates was 3.87 percent, which was set on Feb. 9 of this year. A year ago at this time, rates averaged 4.71 percent.
  • 15-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 3.07 percent, with an average 0.7 point, another historical low. The previous record for 15-year rates was 3.11 percent set on April 12 this year. A year ago at this time, 15-year rates had averaged 3.89 percent.
  • 5-year adjustable-rate mortgages: averaged 2.85 percent, with an average 0.7 point, holding the same as last week. Last year at this time, 5-year ARMs averaged 3.47 percent.
  • 1-year ARMs: averaged 2.70 percent this week, with an average 0.6 point, also registering at a new all-time low. Last year at this time, 1-year ARMs averaged 3.14 percent.

Source: Freddie Mac; Daily Real Estate News 050412 | Blog distribution provided by Kenneth Bargers and Bargers Solutions, member of Pilkerton Realtors, residential real estate services located in Nashville, Tennessee

May 7, 2012 Posted by | economy, real estate | , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment

Survey: Moves for Job Relocations on the Rise

Survey: Moves for Job Relocations on the Rise

Daily Real Estate News | Wednesday, May 02, 2012… After a slowdown in corporate moves the past few years, more companies are planning to get their employees moving, according to a new survey.

Twenty-six percent of companies plan to relocate more workers this year than last year, according to the 2012 Corporate Relocation Survey, conducted by Atlas Van Lines.

The top places for corporate moves is the Northeast (42 percent), followed by the Midwest (37 percent), South (31 percent), and the West (26 percent).

The Atlas Van Lines survey also found that:

  • 86% of companies plan to spend as much or more on relocation in 2012 than in 2011.
  • More companies are also now offering relocating employees full reimbursement, not just lump sum or partial reimbursement.
  • 52% of all relocations last year were for new hires.
  • The most frequently moved employees in 2011 are employees aged 36-40.

Some Employees Decline to Move:

In 2011, 57 percent of companies say that employees declined a relocation. The top reasons that employees said they did not want to relocate:

  • Housing and mortgage concerns: 71%
  • Family issues/ties: 64%
  • Personal reasons: 42%

Source: Daily Real Estate News (article Wednesday, May 02, 2012); Atlas Van Lines, 2012 Corporate Relocation Trends | Blog distribution provided by Kenneth Bargers and Bargers Solutions, member of Pilkerton Realtors, residential real estate services located in Nashville, Tennessee

May 3, 2012 Posted by | real estate, relocation | , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment

Open House Sunday, May 6th, in Highland Creek of Nashville, Tennessee

May 2, 2012 Posted by | Nashville, open house, real estate, tennessee | , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment

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