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East Tennessee Real Estate & Neighborhood Source

Baby Boomers Are Taking The Lead In The Current Knoxville Housing Market

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The Knoxville real estate market has been on a wild ride over the past year, with prices skyrocketing and inventory at record lows. However, one generation has remained relatively insulated from the volatility, and they are now proving to be the biggest movers in the market: baby boomers.

According to the National Association of REALTORS®’ 2023 Home Buyers and Sellers Generational Trends Report, baby boomers, defined as people between the ages of 58 and 76, made up 53% of sellers and 39% of buyers between July 2021 and June 2022. This makes them the largest group of buyers and sellers in the market.

Jessica Lautz, NAR’s deputy chief economist and vice president of research, notes that baby boomers have the upper hand in the homebuying market. “The majority of them are repeat buyers who have housing equity to propel them into their dream home, be it a place to enjoy retirement or a home near friends and family. They are living healthier and longer lives and making housing trades later in life.”

One reason for the boom in baby boomer real estate activity is their desire to downsize and move closer to family. Many are selling their larger homes in East Tennessee and using the equity to buy smaller homes in areas where they can be closer to loved ones. Additionally, they are drawn to newer Knoxville homes that require less maintenance and fewer potential problems with household systems, like plumbing or electricity.

On the other hand, millennials, who were once the leading drivers of the East Tennessee housing market, are now playing second fiddle, comprising about 28% of buyers. They were the largest homebuying force from 2014 to 2022 but have now been overtaken by baby boomers.

First-time home buyers in Knoxville have also faced headwinds in the latest housing cycle, with higher mortgage rates making it harder for them to enter the market. 70% of younger millennials, ages 24 to 32, and 46% of older millennials, ages 33 to 42, were first-time home buyers, according to the report.

In conclusion, baby boomers are proving to be the driving force behind the East Tennessee real estate market, with their equity and motivation making them the most active buyers and sellers in the market. While other generations are still active, baby boomers are leading the charge and are likely to continue doing so in the years to come.

Have questions? Ready to get the process of buying or selling a home started? Contact Troy Stavros with CornerStone Realty Associates today at 865-999-0925. We look forward to serving you!

2023 National Housing Market Forecast

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2023 Housing Market Forecast [INFOGRAPHIC] | MyKCM

Some Highlights

  • From home sales to prices, the 2023 housing market will be defined by mortgage rates. And where rates go depends on what happens with inflation.
  • If you’re thinking of buying or selling a home this year, let’s connect so you understand where the housing market is headed in 2023.

Contact the Troy Stavros TEAM at CornerStone Realty Associates at 865-999-0925 today.

Expert Forecasts on Mortgage Rates for 2022 and 2023

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If you’ve been thinking of buying a home in East Tennessee, you may have been watching what’s happened with mortgage rates over the past year. It’s true they’ve risen dramatically, but where will they go from here, especially as the market continues to slow?

As you think about your homeownership goals and decide if now’s the time to make your move, the best place to turn to for that information is the professionals. Here’s a summary of the latest mortgage rate forecasts from housing market experts.

Experts Project Mortgage Rates Will Stabilize

While mortgage rates continue to fluctuate due to ongoing inflationary pressures and economic uncertainty, experts project they’ll start to stabilize in the months ahead. According to the latest projections, mortgage rates are expected to hover in the low to mid 5% range initially, and then potentially dip into the high 4% range by later next year (see chart below):

Expert Forecasts on Mortgage Rates | MyKCM

That could bring you some welcome relief. So far this year, mortgage rates have climbed over two percentage points due to the Federal Reserve’s response to inflation, and that’s made it more expensive to buy a home. And wondering if the rise in rates will continue is keeping some prospective buyers on the sidelines.

But now that experts say mortgage rates should stabilize, this gives you a bit more certainty about what they think the future holds, and that may help you feel more confident about your decision to buy a home.

Bottom Line

Whether you’re looking to buy your first home in East Tennessee, move up to a larger home, or even downsize, you need to know what’s happening in the East Tennessee housing market so you can make the most informed decision possible. Let’s connect to discuss your goals and determine the best plan for your move.

Have questions or want to talk about buying or selling a property in East Tennessee? Contact the Troy Stavros TEAM today at 865-999-0925. We look forward to serving you!

Homes for sale in East Tennessee : MAY Knoxville TN Housing Market Update

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All of the data is in through the end of May. Let’s take a look at what’s happening in the East Tennessee housing market.

In today’s video we dive into the East Tennessee real estate data for the month of May 2022 to see how the East Tennessee housing market is doing compared to one year ago. We will look at the inventory of active homes for sale in East Tennessee. Homes for sale in Knoxville TN, homes for sale in Farragut TN, homes for sale in Knox County TN, homes for sale in Loudon County TN, homes for sale in Anderson County TN, homes for sale in Roane County TN, homes for sale in Blount County TN, and homes for sale in Sevier County TN. We will also at what has happened to the median sales price of homes over the last year in those areas of East Tennessee. We will discuss the real estate data and how it affects buyers and sellers in today’s East Tennessee housing market.

Here is some basic real estate data and news in regards to the East Tennessee housing market not covered in the video:

  • Mortgage rates continue to rise as financial markets anticipate U.S. monetary policy changes amid higher-than-expect inflation. The 30Y FRM finished 2021 at 3.11% but remained well above 5% throughout the month of May.
  • Knoxville’s rental market occupancy rate hovered around 98.8% in Q1 2022, more than a full percentage point above the 97.5% occupancy rate nationally. Effective rents in the Knoxville metro area (MSA) were up 19.21% year-over-year as of April 2022, significantly higher than the 15.23% rate nationally.

  • Have questions or need help in today’s crazy East Tennessee housing market? Contact the Troy Stavros team at CornerStone Realty Associates at 865-999-0925 today. We are here to serve you!

History Proves Recession Doesn’t Equal a Housing Crisis

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Some Highlights:

-It’s important to understand history proves an economic slowdown does not equal a housing crisis.

-In 4 of the last 6 recessions, home prices actually appreciated. Home prices only fell twice – minimally in the early 90s and then by nearly 20% during the housing crash in 2008.

If you have questions, let’s connect to discuss why today’s housing market is nothing like 2008.

The Perks of Putting 20% Down When Buying a Home in East Tennessee

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The Perks of Putting 20% Down on a Home | MyKCM

If you’re thinking of buying a home in East Tennessee, you’re probably wondering what you need to save for your down payment. Is it 20% of the purchase price, or could you put down less? While there are lower down payment programs available that allow qualified buyers to put down as little as 0%, it’s important to understand the many perks that come with a 20% down payment.

Here are 4 reasons why putting 20% down may be a great option if it works within your budget.

1. Your Interest Rate May Be Lower

A 20% down payment vs. a 3-5% down payment shows your lender you’re more financially stable and not a large credit risk. The more confident your lender is in your credit score and your ability to pay your loan, the lower the mortgage interest rate they’ll likely be willing to give you.

2. You’ll End Up Paying Less for Your Home

The larger your down payment, the smaller your loan amount will be for your mortgage. If you’re able to pay 20% of the cost of your new home in East Tennessee at the start of the transaction, you’ll only pay interest on the remaining 80%. If you put down 5%, the additional 15% will be added to your loan and will accrue interest over time. This will end up costing you more over the lifetime of your home loan.

3. Your Offer Will Stand Out in a Competitive Market

In the East Tennessee market where many buyers are competing for the same home, sellers often like to see offers come in with 20% or larger down payments. The seller gains the same confidence as the lender in this scenario. You are seen as a stronger buyer with financing that’s more likely to be approved. Therefore, the deal will be more likely to go through.

4. You Won’t Have To Pay Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)

What is PMI? According to Freddie Mac:

“For homeowners who put less than 20% down, Private Mortgage Insurance or PMI is an added insurance policy for homeowners that protects the lender if you are unable to pay your mortgage.

It is not the same thing as homeowner’s insurance. It’s a monthly fee, rolled into your mortgage payment, that’s required if you make a down payment less than 20%. . . . Once you’ve built equity of 20% in your home, you can cancel your PMI and remove that expense from your monthly payment.”

As mentioned earlier, if you put down less than 20% when buying a home, your lender will see your loan as having more risk. PMI helps them recover their investment in you if you’re unable to pay your loan. This insurance isn’t required if you’re able to put down 20% or more.

Many times, home sellers looking to move up to a larger or more expensive home are able to take the equity they earn from the sale of their house to put 20% down on their next home. With the equity homeowners have today, it creates a great opportunity to put those savings toward a larger down payment on a new home.

Bottom Line

If you’re looking to buy a home in East Tennessee, consider the benefits of 20% down versus a smaller down payment option. Let’s connect so you have expert advice to help make your homeownership goals a reality.

Contact the Troy Stavros TEAM at CornerStone Realty Associates today at 865-999-0925.

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