More Good News
November 23rd, 2009 categories: Real Estate News, Relocating
Invariably, in the course of conversations with friends, one of the topics that normally arises, is the subject of the homes. Usually, the mention comes in the form of, “How’s the housing market?”
Other than the dramatic shock to financial markets during the year following the height of the housing market and subsequent rapid fall in home prices, the sales market has been fairly predictable. Once lenders got a grip on the deluge of foreclosures and short sales, and this glut of properties began to be adequately handled by them (O.K…so, they’ve still got problems with Short Sales, but they’re getting there), the housing market has been relatively stable.
Today’s latest news on the surge in home sales isn’t news to those of us in the business. As one prospective home buyer in the latest USA Today article mentioned, the market is “insane….I’ve never seen a market like this before.”
That, after having finally securing a home following unsuccessful offers on 20 Las Vegas homes. And, while the rush to “get in” and take advantage before the First Time Home Buyers tax credit offer expired can partly be credited with the robust sales numbers, it doesn’t hurt that home prices, in many locations nationwide are 30-50% less than they were in 2005, or that interest rates are rock bottom.
Many believe that home prices have stabilized. But, with more foreclosures and Short Sale properties landing on the market weekly, we may not have seen the bottom quite yet. With extension of the tax credit, and mortgage rates in a low holding pattern, the surge in home sales numbers may, if we’re fortunate, become a trend instead.
