If you’re thinking about buying or selling a home soon, you may have questions about what’s happening with prices right as the market cools. The simple answer is that the real experts don’t expect prices to come crashing down, but the level of home price moderation will depend on factors like supply and demand in each local market.
That means, moving forward, home price appreciation will continue to vary by location, with more significant changes happening in overheated areas. Here’s a quick snapshot of what the experts are saying:
Danielle Hale, Chief Economist at realtor.com, says: “The major question on the minds of homeowners and aspiring buyers alike is what will happen to home prices. . . Soaring prices were propelled by all-time low mortgage rates which are a thing of the past. As a result, home price growth is expected to continue slowing, dipping below its pre-pandemic average to 5.4% for 2023, as a whole.”
According to Mark Fleming, Chief Economist at First American: “House price appreciation has slowed in all 50 markets we track, but the deceleration is generally more dramatic in areas that experienced the strongest peak appreciation rates.”
Taylor Marr, Deputy Chief Economist at Redfin, says: For those bearish folks eagerly awaiting the home price crash, you’ll have to keep waiting. As much as demand is pulling back supply, it is also reducing downward pressure on prices in the short run.”
On Cape Cod, the median sales price for a single family home is up 1.4% comparing this November to a year ago. Prices were up 12% comparing November 2021 to November 2020! Year to date median sales prices are still up almost 22%, but the trend is stabilizing.
What Does This Mean for You?
If you’ve been playing the “waiting game” for prices to continue to increase (sellers) or decrease (buyers), time may be running out.
Potential sellers should know that Open Houses aren’t the social events that they were and, in general, bidding wars are a thing of the past. The number of days a property stays on the market is increasing, too, as are price reductions as sellers try to get the price their neighbors or friends got six months ago.
Buyers, who are hoping for prices to drop, are losing out. Some have told us that they’re waiting for interest rates to drop. They have been ticking back and the difference between 5.25% and 5.50% may not be as significant as you think, when you remember your mortgage is for 30 years and refinancing is always an option. (We’re never going to see 3% again…)
If you don’t have a relationship with a reputable lender, we can recommend several whom we have worked with over the years. It’s important to have that pre-approval letter and know how changes in interest rates impact what you can afford.
If 2023 is going to be you year and you have questions about what’s happening with home prices, let’s connect at 508-360-5664 or msennott@todayrealestate.com so we can share with you the latest information on what’s happening.
Talk soon…
Mari and Hank
