MEMORIAL DAY 2023

Memorial Day is a day to remember and honor our country's fallen heroes.

All gave some... some gave all.

While Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial beginning of summer and is typically a time spent celebrating with family and friends, it's important to reflect on the true meaning of the day and take time to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect the freedoms we cherish.   

 

 

Remember and honor.

Today... and always.

MEMORIAL DAY LINKS:
Memorial Day History
American Widow Project
The Origin of Sounding Taps 
Arlington Remembrance by Trace Adkins
Buglers at Arlington National Cemetery
God Bless the USA by the Texas Tenors

The Worst Home Price Declines Are Behind Us [INFOGRAPHIC]

Infographic Courtesy of Keeping Current Matters/The KCM Blog

Some Highlights

While home prices vary by local area, they’ve already hit their low point nationally, and now they’re starting to rise again.

Last July, prices started to decline, but around February, they began climbing back up.

If you put your plans to move on hold waiting to see what would happen with home prices, reach out to a local real estate expert to discuss if now’s the right time to jump back in.

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How Homeowners Win When They Downsize

Article Courtesy of Keeping Current Matters/The KCM Blog

Downsizing has long been a popular option when homeowners reach retirement age. But there are plenty of other life changes that could make downsizing worthwhile. Homeowners who have experienced a change in their lives or no longer feel like their house fits their needs may benefit from downsizing too. U.S. News explains:

“Downsizing is somewhat common among older people and retirees who no longer have children living at home. But these days, younger people are also looking to downsize to save money on housing . . .”

And when inflation has made most things significantly more expensive, saving money where you can has a lot of appeal. So, if you’re thinking about ways to budget differently, it could be worthwhile to take your home into consideration.

When you think about cutting down on your spending, odds are you think of frequent purchases, like groceries and other goods. But when you downsize your house, you often end up downsizing the bills that come with it, like your mortgage payment, energy costs, and maintenance requirements. Realtor.com shares:

“A smaller home typically means lower bills and less upkeep. Then there’s the potential windfall that comes from selling your larger home and buying something smaller.”

That windfall is thanks to your home equity. If you’ve been in your house for a while, odds are you’ve developed a considerable amount of equity. Your home equity is an asset you can use to help you buy a home that better suits your needs today.

And when you’re ready to make a move, your team of real estate experts will be your guides through every step of the process. That includes setting the right price for your house when you sell, finding the best location and size for your next home, and understanding what you can afford at today’s mortgage rate.

What This Means for You

If you’re thinking about downsizing, ask yourself these questions:

• Do the original reasons I bought my current house still stand, or have my needs changed since then?
• Do I really need and want the space I have right now, or could somewhere smaller be a better fit?
• What are my housing expenses right now, and how much do I want to try to save by downsizing?

Once you know the answers to these questions, meet with a real estate advisor to get an answer to this one: What are my options in the market right now? A local housing market professional can walk you through how much equity you have in your house and how it positions you to win when you downsize.

Bottom Line

If you’re looking to save money, downsizing your home could be a great help toward your goal. Talk with a real estate agent about your goals in the housing market this year.

 

NEW FANNIE MAE & FREDDIE MAC MORTGAGE RULES

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New Mortgage Rules announced by FHFA on 1/19/23 go into effect on May1.  FHFA Announces Updates to the Enterprises’ Single-Family Pricing Framework FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 1/19/2023 ​​​​​​​​​​Washington, D.C. – The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today announced further changes to Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s (the Enterprises) single-family pricing framework by introducing redesigned and recalibrated upfront fee matrices for purchase, rate-term refinance, and cash-out refinance loans. “These changes to upfront fees will strengthen the safety and soundness of the Enterprises by enhancing their ability to improve their capital position over time,” said Director Sandra L. Thompson. “By locking in the upfront fee eliminations announced last October, FHFA is taking another step to ensure that the Enterprises advance their mission of facilitating equitable and sustainable access to homeownership.”​​ READ MORE     With new mortgage rules for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac conventional loans going into effect May 1, many are wondering if the changes will lead to a housing crisis similar to the 2008 subprime mortgage crisis that led to an unprecedented number of foreclosures in the years that followed.  Sources vary (see some below) on their take on the new mortgage rules that penalize people with good credit and favor those with poorer credit.  It will take a while before we can assess the actual results of the changes, but the concerns that come with these new rules will undoubtedly continue for some time.

National Association of REALTORS®: NAR Advocates for FHFA to Maintain Affordability for All Homebuyers Mortgage News Daily:  Some BIG Changes to Mortgage Costs Were Just Announced   Business Insider:  New fee structure on May 1 will make mortgages cheaper for some and pricier for others.   RISMedia:  New Federal Mortgage Rule Aims to Benefit the Less Affluent, but Good Credit Borrowers Will Pay More   CBS News:  Mortgage fee structure for some homebuyers is changing this month. Here's how. U.S. Representative Ralph Norman (SC-5):

According to the Wall Street Journal and numerous other outlets, if you’re a new homebuyer with good credit (above 680), and you apply for a mortgage backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac – which guarantee the vast majority of all mortgages – then you’re likely to pay hundreds of dollars more in fees known as “loan-level price adjustments.” These fees will be even higher for those who put at least 20% down on their homes!

There are four things I believe this new policy does:

• It penalizes those who have made the choices necessary to achieve good credit, while rewarding those who have not.
• It’ll make home ownership even less affordable for those who have demonstrated their ability to live within their means and pay their debts on time.
• Using other people's money to subsidize loans for lower creditworthy borrowers adds tremendous risk and dysfunction to the housing market.
• And on top of everything else, it disincentivizes people to save for a larger down payment.

 

END OF APRIL UPDATE

End of April Stats

SCCL Single Family Residences (SFRs)

•   6 CURRENTLY ACTIVE
  
• 12 WENT UNDER CONTRACT IN APRIL
  
•  4 CLOSED IN APRIL
  

SCCL Carriage Homes and Villas

•   2  CURRENTLY ACTIVE
  
•   1  WENT UNDER CONTRACT IN APRIL
  
•   0  CLOSED IN APRIL

TreeTops

•   4  CURRENTLY ACTIVE (INCLUDES ONE THAT'S "COMING SOON")
  
•   2  WENT UNDER CONTRACT IN APRIL
  
•   3  CLOSED IN APRIL

There has been quite a range in the number of Days on Market (DOM) for properties that  have closed since the first of the year.  Some homes sold in just a few days, while others lingered for months.  Typically, homes that show really well (uncluttered, fresh paint, great curb appeal) and are priced appropriately for the current market sell faster and at prices closer to asking price - some, at or above list price.  If you look closely at the charts below, you'll notice two columns showing the ratio of Close Price to List Price.  The first CP/LP is based on the most current list price for the property when it sold.  The second, CP/OLP, shows the ratio for the "Original" List Price on the property (when it was first listed) and would indicate that, at some point, there had a price change on the property.

PROPERTIES that have CLOSED since January 1, 2023
Click to enlarge.

SCCL SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCES

SCCL CARRIAGE HOMES AND VILLAS

TREETOPS

DDP = Due Diligence Period
UCS = Under Contract Show / UCNS = Under Contract No Show
DOM = Days on Market
BR = Bedrooms
BA = Bathrooms
HLA = Heated Living Area (Square Footage)
Price/SF = Price Per Square Foot
UC Date = Under Contract Date

Why Today's Foreclosure Numbers Are Nothing Like 2008

Article Courtesy of Keeping Current Matters/The KCM Blog

You’ve likely seen headlines about the number of foreclosures climbing in today’s housing market. That may leave you with a few questions, especially if you’re thinking about buying a house. Understanding what they really mean is mission-critical if you want to know the truth about what’s happening today.

According to a recent report from ATTOM, a property data provider, foreclosure filings are up 6% compared to the previous quarter and 22% since one year ago. As media headlines call attention to this increase, reporting on just the number could actually generate worry and may even make you think twice about buying a home for fear that prices could crash. The reality is, while increasing, the data shows a foreclosure crisis is not where the market is headed. 

Let’s look at the latest information with context so we can see how this compares to previous years.

It Isn’t the Dramatic Increase Headlines Would Have You Believe

In recent years, the number of foreclosures has been down to record lows. That’s because, in 2020 and 2021, the forbearance program and other relief options for homeowners helped millions of homeowners stay in their homes, allowing them to get back on their feet during a very challenging period. And with home values rising at the same time, many homeowners who may have found themselves facing foreclosure under other circumstances were able to leverage their equity and sell their houses rather than face foreclosure. Moving forward, equity will continue to be a factor that can help keep people from going into foreclosure.

As the government’s moratorium came to an end, there was an expected rise in foreclosures. But just because foreclosures are up doesn’t mean the housing market is in trouble. As Clare Trapasso, Executive News Editor at Realtor.com, says:

“There’s no reason to panic, at least not yet. Foreclosure filings began ticking up . . . after the federal foreclosure moratorium ended. The moratorium was enacted in the early days of COVID-19, when millions of Americans lost their jobs, to prevent a tsunami of homeowners losing their properties. So some of these proceedings would have taken place during the pandemic but got delayed due to the moratorium. This is a bit of a catch-up.”

Basically, there’s not a sudden flood of foreclosures coming. Instead, some of the increase is due to the delayed activity explained above while more is from economic conditions. As Rob Barber, CEO of ATTOM,explains:                                       

“This unfortunate trend can be attributed to a variety of factors, such as rising unemployment rates, foreclosure filings making their way through the pipeline after two years of government intervention, and other ongoing economic challenges. However, with many homeowners still having significant home equity, that may help in keeping increased levels of foreclosure activity at bay.”

To further paint the picture of just how different the situation is now compared to the housing crash, take a look at the graph below. It shows foreclosure activity has been lower since the crash by looking at properties with a foreclosure filing going all the way back to 2005.

 While foreclosures are climbing, it’s clear foreclosure activity now is nothing like it was during the housing crisis. In addition to all of the factors mentioned above, that’s also largely because buyers today are more qualified and less likely to default on their loans. 

Today, foreclosures are far below the record-high number that was reported when the housing market crashed.

Bottom Line

Right now, putting the data into context is more important than ever. While the housing market is experiencing an expected rise in foreclosures, it’s nowhere near the crisis levels seen when the housing bubble burst, and that won’t lead to a crash in home prices.

The Three Factors Affecting Home Affordability Today

 Article Courtesy of Keeping Current Matters/The KCM Blog

There’s been a lot of focus on higher mortgage rates and how they’re creating affordability challenges for today’s homebuyers. It’s true that rates climbed dramatically since the record-low we saw during the pandemic. But home affordability is based on more than just mortgage rates – it’s determined by a combination of mortgage rates, home prices, and wages.

Considering how each one of these factors is changing gives you the full picture of home affordability today. Here’s the latest.

1. Mortgage Rates

While mortgage rates are higher than they were a year ago, they’ve hovered primarily between 6% and 7% for nearly eight months now (see graph below):

 

As the graph shows, mortgage rates have experienced some volatility during that time. And even a small change in mortgage rates impacts your purchasing power. That’s why it’s so important to lean on your team of real estate professionals for expert advice to stay up to date on what’s happening in the market. While it’s hard to project where mortgage rates will go from here, many experts agree they’ll likely continue to remain around 6%-7% in the immediate future. 

2. Home Prices

Over the past few years, home prices appreciated rapidly as the record-low mortgage rates we saw during the pandemic led to a surge in buyer demand. The heightened buyer demand happened while the supply of homes for sale was at record lows, and that imbalance put upward pressure on home prices. However, today’s higher mortgage rates have slowed down price appreciation.

And, the truth is, home price appreciation varies by market. Some areas are seeing slight declines while others have prices that are climbing. As Selma Hepp, Chief Economist at CoreLogic, explains:

“The divergence in home price changes across the U.S. reflects a tale of two housing markets. Declines in the West are due to the tech industry slowdown and a severe lack of affordability after decades of undersupply. The consistent gains in the Southeast and South reflect strong job markets, in-migration patterns and relative affordability due to new home construction.”

To find out what’s happening with prices in your local market, reach out to a trusted real estate agent.

3. Wages

The most positive factor in affordability right now is rising income. The graph below uses data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to show how wages have grown over time: 

Higher wages improve affordability because they reduce the percentage of your income it takes to pay your mortgage since you don’t have to put as much of your paycheck toward your monthly housing cost.

Home affordability comes down to a combination of rates, prices, and wages. If you have questions or want to learn more, reach out to a real estate professional who can explain what’s happening locally and how these factors work together.

Bottom Line

If you’re planning to buy a home, knowing the key factors that impact affordability is important so you can make an informed decision. To stay up to date on the latest on each, connect with a trusted real estate professional today.

 

 

 

 Check out this informative article from SCRIPPS NEWS:  

Home selling mistakes that can cost you thousands of dollars

 

"The home buying market remains hot due to low inventory. But rookie mistakes can cost homeowners thousands of dollars at sale time."

Commonly Overlooked Spring Cleaning Tasks

Articles Courtesy of National Association of REALTORS®/houselogic

Spring Cleaning

• 3 Spring Cleaning Tips and Ideas to Save Money and Time in April
• 9 No-Sweat Hacks to Deep Clean the Cruddiest Things
• ‘Yikes!’ 7 Filthy Spots Everyone Sees but You
• 9 Spring Cleaning Tasks That Homeowners Tend to Overlook

The Big Advantage If You Sell This Spring

 Article Courtesy of Keeping Current Matters/The KCM Blog

Thinking about selling your house? If you’ve been waiting for the right time, it could be now while the supply of homes for sale is so low. HousingWire shares:

“. . . the big question is whether we are finally starting to see the seasonal spring increase in inventory. The answer is no, because active listings fell to a new low last week for 2023 . . .”

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) confirms today’s housing inventory is low by looking at the months’ supply of homes on the market. In a balanced market, about a six-month supply is needed. Anything lower is a sellers’ market. And today, the number is much lower:

“Total housing inventory registered at the end of February was 980,000 units, identical to January and up 15.3% from one year ago (850,000). Unsold inventory sits at a 2.6-month supply at the current sales pace, down 10.3% from January but up from 1.7 months in February 2022.”

Why Does Low Inventory Make It a Good Time To Sell?

The less inventory there is on the market when you sell, the less competition you’re likely to face from other sellers. That means your house will get more attention from the buyers looking for a home this spring. And since there are significantly more buyers in the market than there are homes for sale, you could even receive more than one offer on your house. Multiple offers are on the rise again (see graph below): 

If you get more than one offer on your house, it becomes a bidding war between buyers – and that means you have greater leverage to sell on your terms. But if you want to maximize the opportunity for a bidding war to spark, be sure to lean on your expert real estate advisor. While we’re still in a strong sellers’ market, it isn’t the frenzy we saw a couple of years ago, and today’s buyers are focused on the houses with the greatest appeal. Clare Trapasso, Executive News Editor at Realtor.com, explains:

“Well-priced, move-in ready homes with curb appeal in desirable areas are still receiving multiple offers and selling for over the asking price in many parts of the country. So, this spring, it’s especially important for sellers to make their homes as attractive as possible to appeal to as many buyers as possible.”

Bottom Line

If you’ve been waiting for the right time to sell your house, low inventory this spring sets you up with a big advantage. Reach out to a local real estate professional today to make sure your house is ready to sell.