Local Market Update – September 2019 With the kids back in school and the weather cooling, the housing market begins its annual cooldown as well. Nationally, buyer and seller activity remained strong, buoyed by low mortgage rates and a strong economy. The market fundamentals suggest no significant changes from recent trends, other than the seasonally […]
Market Update
Inventory Remains Low, Home Prices Push Higher
Local Market Update – August 2019 As the summer draws to a close, multiple opposing factors and trends are competing to define the direction of the real estate market. After the Federal Reserve lowered its benchmark interest rate on July 31, 30-year mortgage rates continued to decline, approaching all-time lows last seen in 2016. Yet […]
Record-Setting Economic Growth Not Enough to Offset Rising Home Prices
Local Market Update – July 2019 In July, the U.S. economic expansion that began in June 2009 became the longest in the nation’s history, marking 121 straight months of gross domestic product growth and surpassing the 120-month expansion from 1991 to 2001. The average rate of growth during this expansion has been a milder 2.3 […]
Residential Real Estate Performing Well; Fed Mulls Rate Cut
Local Market Update – June 2019 As was widely expected, the Federal Reserve did not change the target range for the federal funds rate – currently set at 2.25 to 2.5 percent – during their June meeting. Although the economy is still performing well due to factors such as low unemployment and solid retail sales, […]
Housing Markets Move Toward Middle Ground
Local Market Update – May 2019 At this point in the year, we are getting a good sense for how the housing market is likely to perform for the foreseeable future. And although it is not a particularly exciting forecast, it is a desirable one. Markets across the country are regulating toward a middle ground […]
Strong Competition for Well-Priced Homes
Local Market Update – April 2019 For much of the country, the first quarter of 2019 provided several disruptive weather patterns that contributed to less foot traffic toward potential home sales. Coupled with low affordability, higher prices and an inventory situation in its infancy of recovering from record lows – not to mention several more […]
Local Market Update – March 2019
Strong Market for Sellers; Steady Interest Rates Good for Buyers In addition to the quandary of ongoing housing price increases and affordability concerns in many U.S. markets, the first quarter of 2019 saw a fair share of adverse weather as well. Sales totals were mixed across the nation and sometimes dependent on what was a […]
Local Market Update – February 2019
Despite the Weather, Housing Markets Prove Resilient It is worthwhile to mention the weather when discussing residential real estate for large portions of the U.S. for February 2019, because this month has turned in some impressively cold, rainy and snowy days that have stalled some buying and selling actions. Nevertheless, housing markets have proven to […]
Local Market Update – January 2019
The Fed Holds Interest Rates Steady; Local Inventory Increases Despite a strong U.S. economy, historically low unemployment and steady wage growth, home sales began to slow across the nation late last year. Blame was given to a combination of high prices and a steady stream of interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve. This month, […]
Local Market Update – December 2018
Home prices were consistently up again in most markets in 2018 but at reduced levels compared to recent years. High demand for few homes for sale fueled price increases, but evidence is mounting that inventory will finally improve in 2019. This may apply some downward pressure on prices for beleaguered home buyers. A fourth interest rate hike by the […]
Local Market Update – November 2018
Triangle Housing Market on Steady Course The booming U.S. economy continues to prop up home sales and new listings in much of the nation, although housing affordability remains a concern. Historically, housing is still relatively affordable. Although Freddie Mac recently reported that the 30-year fixed rate is at its highest average in seven years, reaching […]
Local Market Update – October 2018
Market Balance Emerging If the last few months are an indication of the temperature of housing markets across the country, a period of relative calm can be expected during the last three months of the year. A trend of market balance is emerging as we approach the end of 2018. Prices are still rising in […]