865 Real Estate

East Tennessee Real Estate & Neighborhood Source

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

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New Study Reveals One Surprising Reason for the Inventory Shortage | MyKCM

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

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Buyer Demand Surging as Spring Market Begins | MyKCM

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.

Buyer Demand Surging as Spring Market Begins | MyKCM

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.”

A Spring Maintenance Checklist For Your Knoxville Home [INFOGRAPHIC]

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Your Home’s Spring Maintenance Checklist [INFOGRAPHIC] | MyKCM

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!

4 Questions To Ask Before Selling Your Home in Knoxville

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Are you planning on selling your house in Knoxville in 2019? You will no doubt have more than 4 questions on your mind, but knowing the answers to these will get you started with confidence! Let’s get together to answer these and any other questions you may have!

Contact me, Troy Stavros with CornerStone Realty Associates at 865-999-0925 today!

How To Prepare To Buy Or Sell A Home This Spring in Knoxville

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Preparing to Spring Forward [INFOGRAPHIC] | MyKCM

Some Highlights:

  • In the majority of the country, this past weekend marks the start of Daylight Savings Time as we set our clocks forward an hour on Sunday at 2:00 AM EST.
  • Whether you plan on buying or selling this spring, these tips could help you ‘spring ahead’ of your competition!
  • Spring brings two things: more buyers & more sellers! Get prepared now to stand out in the crowd!

Have questions or want to get the process started? Contact me, Troy Stavros with CornerStone Realty Associates at 865-999-0925!

Data Confirms That Now Is a Great Time to Sell Your Home in Knoxville

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2 Reports That Say Now Is a Great Time to Sell | MyKCM

Heading into the spring buying market, there are strong trends starting to emerge.

The inventory of homes for sale has increased on a year-over-year basis for eight months in a row. Home price appreciation has continued to grow, although at a slower rate. The homeownership rate has reached heights last seen in 2014, with millennials and Generation X leading the way!

Let’s dive a little deeper into some of the recent reports that have been released and what they mean for the spring buying season!

1. National Association of Realtor’s Existing Home Sales Report

Sales of existing homes were down for the third consecutive month in January. Some of this can be explained by the natural seasonality that the real estate market experiences every year, and some can be explained even further by a lack of homes available for sale on the market.

Inventory

For the last eight months, nationally, the inventory of homes for sale has been higher when compared to the same month the year before, but what I always try to remind you is that real estate is local. In Knox County the opposite holds true, as inventory is down 10.5% compared to January of last year (we are using January’s numbers to compare directly with the time frame in the stated national report). The challenge in the market is also the mismatch of the type of home that is available for sale. First-time homebuyers looking for a starter home, are often competing with other buyers to stand out, often outbidding each other.

Lawrence Yun, NAR’s Chief Economist, agrees that the market is still experiencing an inventory shortage.

“In particular, the lower end of the market is experiencing a greater shortage, and more home construction is needed.”

Home Prices

Nationally, the median home price for homes sold in January was $247,500 ($207,450 in Knox County). This is up 2.8% from January 2018 (up 12.44% in Knox County!) and marks the 83rd consecutive month of year-over-year gains. The 2.8% growth in home prices represents the smallest year-over-year change since February 2012 but is a welcome change for buyers who had feared being priced out of the market (unfortunately for buyers in Knoxville, but not for sellers, the price appreciation in Knoxville is well outpacing what is happening nationally).

Days on the Market

Properties that sold in January were on the market for an average of 49 days (54 days in Knox County) with 38% of homes on the market for less than a month.

Yun is positive about how today’s market conditions will help buyers this spring,

 “Existing home sales in January were weak compared to historical norms; however, they are likely to have reached a cyclical low. Moderating home prices combined with gains in household income will boost housing affordability, bringing more buyers to the market in the coming months.”

2. NAR’s Pending Home Sales Report

The national Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI) rose 4.6% to 103.2 in January from 98.7 in December. An index score of 100 is considered normal. All four major regions of the country experienced gains in January, with the largest increase coming in the South.

 “The PHSI is a leading indicator for the housing sector, based on pending sales of existing homes. A sale is listed as pending when the contract has been signed but the transaction has not closed, though the sale usually is finalized within one or two months of signing.”

Increases in the PHSI often predict increases in the level of home sales in the coming months, which is great news for the housing market leading in to spring! Yun had this to say,

“Homebuyers are now returning and taking advantage of lower interest rates, while a boost in inventory is also providing more choices for consumers.”

Bottom Line

The Knoxville housing market in 2019 will, as always, require homeowners to list their house at the right price, but depending on the price point, there could be lots of buyers interested in the same property which could lead to multiple offers. If interest rates continue to stay low while wages increase, and more inventory comes to market, 2019 could be one of the best years for home sales in recent history.