Home Selling Archives - Page 16 of 28

A Tale Of 2 Knoxville Real Estate Markets: Luxury vs. Starter/Trade-Up

May 10, 2019 By Troy Stavros

Some Highlights:

An emerging trend in Knoxville for some time now has been the difference between available inventory and demand in the premium and luxury markets and that in the starter and trade-up markets and what those differences are doing to prices!
Inventory in Knoxville continues to rise in the luxury and premium home markets which is causing prices to cool.
Demand continues to rise with lower-than-normal inventory levels in the starter and trade-up home markets, causing prices to rise on a year-over-year basis for 85 consecutive months.

Wondering Where All The Missing Houses Are? I Think We Found Them!

April 24, 2019 By Troy Stavros

There has been a great amount written on millennials and their impact on the housing market. However, the headlines often contradict each other. Some claim this generation is becoming the largest share of first-time home buyers, while others claim millennials don’t want to own a home, blaming them for the dip in homeownership rate.

While it is true that millennials as a group have achieved milestones like getting married, having kids, and buying homes later in life than their parents and grandparents did, they are not solely to blame for today’s housing market trends.

Freddie Mac’s Insight Report explored the impact of the Silent and Baby Boomer Generations on the housing market.

If millennials are unable to find a home to buy at a young age like their predecessors, then who is living in those homes?

The answer: Seniors born after 1931 are staying in their homes longer than previous generations, instead choosing to “age in place.”

Freddie Mac found that,

“this trend accounts for about 1.6 million houses held back from the market through 2018, representing about one year’s typical supply of new construction, or more than half of the current shortfall of 2.5 million housing units estimated in December’s Insight.

Older Americans prefer to age in place because they are satisfied with their communities, their homes, and their quality of life.”

According to the National Association of Realtors, inventory of homes for sale is currently at a 3.5-month supply, which means that nationally we are in a seller’s market. A ‘normal’ housing market requires 6-7 months inventory, a level we have not achieved since August 2012.

“The most important fundamental in today’s housing market is the lack of houses for sale. This shortage has been identified as an important barrier to young adults buying their first homes.”

Bottom Line

If you are one of the many seniors in Knoxville who desires to retire in the same area you’ve always lived, you’re not alone. Will your current house fit your needs throughout retirement? If you have any questions about demand for your house, or what other housing options might be out there for you, let’s get together to discuss the opportunities available today!

Call Troy Stavros with CornerStone Realty Associates at 865-999-0925 and let’s schedule a time to sit down and talk.

Buyer Demand Surging in Knoxville as Spring Market Begins

April 18, 2019 By Troy Stavros

Last fall, some predicted that the 2019 residential real estate market would be a disaster. There was even belief we might experience a housing crash like the one that occurred during the last decade.

However, according to two separate reports*, buyer demand dramatically increased over the last three months, leading into this spring buyers’ market (the March data is not yet available).

Both the ShowingTime Showing Index and the National Association of REALTORS Buyer Traffic Index show that buyer demand has increased in each of the last three months.

Why the increase in demand? The simple answer… Increased buying power.

According to the National Association of Realtors’ Economists’ Outlook Blog, purchasing a home has become more affordable, which has led to increased demand.

“Due to the combination of falling home prices and mortgage rates, the income needed to make an affordable mortgage payment (mortgage no more than 25% of income) on a median-priced home with 10% down payment and 30-year fixed rate mortgage decreased from $60,425 in June 2018 to $53,783 as of February 2019, and the difference of $6,642 represents a gain in buying power because one can afford a home purchase at a lower level of income.”

Bottom Line

It appears the spring buyers’ market in Knoxville is going to be much stronger than many had projected. Whether you are selling or buying a home in Knoxville, this is important news. Contact me, Troy Stavros with CornerStone Realty Associates today, to sit down and form a game plan to achieve your real estate goals.

*The methodology behind the indices:

The ShowingTime Showing Index

“The ShowingTime Showing Index® tracks the average number of buyer showings on active residential properties on a monthly basis, a highly reliable leading indicator of current and future demand trends.”

The National Association of REALTORS® Buyer Traffic Index

“In a monthly survey of REALTORS®, NAR asks respondents ‘Compared to the same month last year, how would you rate the past month’s traffic in neighborhood(s) or area(s) where you make most of your sales?’ NAR compiles the responses into an index, where an index above 50 indicates that more respondents reported “stronger” traffic than “weaker” traffic.”

Why Now Is A Good Time To Sell A Home In Knoxville

April 16, 2019 By Troy Stavros

Every month, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) releases their Seller Traffic Index as a part of their Realtors Confidence Index. In the latest release, NAR reported that homeowners have been reluctant to sell their houses. This is reflected when broken down by state. Only 11 states have a stable level of seller traffic compared to the remainder of the country, which came in with a weak rating.

As we can see in the following table, the number of people who moved last year is half of what the rate was in the 1980s.

This does not come as a surprise, as tenure length (the number of years someone owns a home before moving again) among existing homeowners has increased. It has risen from an average of 6 years from 1985 to 2008, up to 9.5 years over the last few years. This is shown in the graph below:

As we can see, there is a pent-up seller demand!

What led to this change in behavior? Falling prices during the housing crisis led to many homeowners having negative equity in their home, meaning they owed more on their mortgage than the home was worth. Others were able to secure a low interest rate on their mortgage and have not been quick to obtain a new mortgage with a higher rate.

Will this trend continue?

Recently NAR reported that “69% of people believe now is a good time to sell a home.”

With a strong economy, low interest rates, and wages continuing to rise, some homeowners will be ready to put their house on the market and move up to the home of their dreams!

Bottom Line

There is a great opportunity for sellers to take advantage of the current real estate market before new inventory comes to market. If you are considering selling your house or would like to know your options, let’s get together today to help you understand the possibilities available to you! Contact me, Troy Stavros with CornerStone Realty Associates at 865-999-0925.

A Spring Maintenance Checklist For Your Knoxville Home [INFOGRAPHIC]

April 10, 2019 By Troy Stavros

Some Highlights:

Every spring, your Knoxville area home needs some extra TLC!
Whether you plan on selling your home in Knoxville this spring or not, conducting this maintenance will help ensure your home functions well for the rest of the year.
Your Knoxville real estate agent will have a list of specific suggestions for getting your house ready for market and is a great resource for finding local contractors who can help!

Thinking about buying or selling? Let’s get together and formulate a plan for your specific situation. Contact me, Troy Stavros with CornerStone Realty Associates at 865-235-1333 today!

March Knoxville Area Housing Market Snapshot

April 9, 2019 By Troy Stavros

Here’s how the current real estate market is doing through the end of March, all around Knoxville, compared to last year. Remember, real estate is hyper local, meaning your county may show one thing but your specific subdivision or home may be doing something completely different. Contact me for a personal analysis!

Here is what is happening in the West Knoxville/Farragut real estate market compared to last year. Home sales are down fairly considerably in Farragut, compared to the same time last year. Median sales price is also down, and we’ve seen a small uptick in the amount of available inventory. This is good if you are looking to buy in Farragut!

The 37922 zip code in West Knoxville saw a nice jump in price, but home sales are down, most likely because of the decline in available inventory.

Not seeing your particular zip code referenced above? View the stats for your specific zip code by clicking HERE.

Interested in what your personal home analysis would look like? Call or text me at 865-999-0925!