865 Real Estate

East Tennessee Real Estate & Neighborhood Source

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.

What Are Experts Saying About The 2022 Housing Market?

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As we move into 2022, both buyers and sellers in East Tennessee are wondering, what’s next? Will there be more homes available to buy? Will East Tennessee home prices keep climbing? How high will mortgage rates go? For the answer to those questions and more, we turn to the experts. Here’s a look at what they say we can expect in 2022.

Odeta Kushi, Deputy Chief Economist, First American:

“Consensus forecasts put rates at about 3.7% by the end of next year. So, that’s still historically low, but certainly higher than they are today.”

Danielle Hale, Chief Economist, realtor.com:

“Affordability will increasingly be a challenge as interest rates and prices rise, but remote work may expand search areas and enable younger buyers to find their first homes sooner than they might have otherwise. And with more than 45 million millennials within the prime first-time buying ages of 26-35 heading into 2022, we expect the market to remain competitive.”

Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist, National Association of Realtors (NAR):

“With more housing inventory to hit the market, the intense multiple offers will start to ease. Home prices will continue to rise but at a slower pace.”

George Ratiu, Manager of Economic Research, realtor.com:

“We also expect a growing number of homeowners to bring properties to market, taking some pressure off high prices and offering buyers more options.”

Mark Fleming, Chief Economist, First American:

“Strong demographic demand will continue to act as the wind in the housing market’s sails.”

What Does This Mean for Buyers in East Tennessee?

Hope is on the horizon for 2022. You should see your options grow as more homes are listed and some of the peak intensity of buyer competition starts to ease. Just remember, rising rates and prices are a great motivator for you to find the home of your dreams sooner rather than later so you can buy while today’s affordability is still in your favor.

What Does This Mean for Sellers?

Make no mistake – this sellers’ market in East Tennessee will remain in 2022 as home prices are projected to continue climbing, just at a more moderate pace. Selling your house in East Tennessee while buyer demand is so high will truly put you in the driver’s seat. But don’t wait too long. With more listings projected to become available, your ideal window of opportunity to stand out from the crowd won’t last forever. Work with an agent who knows your local market and current inventory conditions to ensure you have the support you need to make an educated and informed decision about selling in the coming year.

Bottom Line

If you’re thinking of buying or selling, 2022 may be your year. Let’s connect to discuss your goals and the unique opportunities you have in today’s housing market.

Contact the Troy Stavros TEAM at CornerStone Realty Associates today at 865-999-0925 with questions or to get the process started.

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.

The Average Homeowner in Tennessee Gained $53,000 in Equity over the Past Year

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When you think of homeownership, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Chances are you might focus on the non-financial benefits, like the security or stability that a home provides. But what about equity? While it can be overlooked, a homeowner’s equity helps build long-term wealth over time. Here’s a look at what equity is and why it matters.

For a homeowner, your equity is the current value of your home minus what you owe on the loan. So, as home values climb, your home equity does too. That’s exactly what’s happening today. There aren’t enough homes on the market to meet buyer demand, so bidding wars and multiple offers are driving prices up. That’s because people are willing to pay more to buy a home. Right now, this low supply and high demand are giving current homeowners a significant equity boost.

Dr. Frank Nothaft, Chief Economist at CoreLogic, explains it like this:

“Home price growth is the principal driver of home equity creation. The CoreLogic Home Price Index reported home prices were up 17.7% for the past 12 months ending September, spurring the record gains in home equity wealth.”

To find out just how much rising home values have impacted equity, we turn to the latest Homeowner Equity Insights from CoreLogic. According to that report, the average homeowner’s equity has grown by $56,700 over the last 12 months.

The Average Homeowner Gained over $56,700 in Equity over the Past Year | MyKCM

Curious how your Tennessee stacks up? Check out the map above and you’ll see our average is $53,000 in equity gained.

How Rising Equity Impacts You

If you’re already a homeowner in East Tennessee, equity not only builds your wealth, it also opens doors for you to achieve your goals. It works like this: when you sell your house, the equity you built up comes back to you in the sale. You can use those proceeds to fuel your next move, especially if you’ve decided your needs have changed and you’re looking for something new.

If you’re thinking about becoming a homeowner in East Tennessee, understanding the importance of equity can help you realize why homeownership is a worthwhile goal. It builds your wealth and gives you peace of mind that your investment is a wise one, not just from a lifestyle perspective, but from a financial one too.

Bottom Line

Whether you’re a current homeowner in East Tennessee or you’re ready to become one, it’s important to know how equity works and why it matters. If this inspires you to make a move, let’s connect to explore your options and find out what steps you need to take next.

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

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