If you are thinking of moving up to a larger home or moving to a better area, now is the time to sell.
According to an article called Not Your Father’s Housing Market by Trulia, which is about housing affordability over the last 40 years:
“Nationally, homes are just about the most affordable they’ve been in the last 40 years… the median household could afford a home 1.5 times more expensive than the median home price. In 1980, the median household could only afford about 3/4 of the median home price.
Despite relatively stagnant incomes, affordability has grown due to the sharp drop in mortgage rates over the last 30 years – from a high of over 16% in the 1980s to under 4% by 2016.
Of the nation’s 100 largest metros, only Miami became unaffordable between 1990 and 2016. Meanwhile, 22 metros have flipped from being unaffordable to becoming affordable in that same time frame.”
Except for the housing crash in the past 10 years, the graph shows that homes are more affordable now than in the past 40 years.
Now is the time to sell and purchase a new home if you’re thinking about it. With home prices and mortgage rates rising, affordability will also go down. Time is of the essence.
If you’ve been monitoring the market and have been waiting for the right time, this is it.
Meet with a realtor like Pete Veres, CRS – Certified Residential Specialist & ABR – Accredited Buyers and Seller Representative who can help you navigate thru the process and get the job done for you. He can provide you with a Free Market analysis when you are ready. Pete Veres has had over 25 years of Sales & Marketing experience, excellent negotiating skills and a superb track record.
You can contact him by calling or texting him at 505-362-2005 or by emailing him at [email protected].
He has a great website full of the latest information at www.NMElite.com
Here are also some Free Sellers resources. VIP-Seller-Resources
This year’s estimated average refund is at $2,840, according to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). It’s a little bit less than last year’s average at $2,895.
You’re probably thinking of what you’re going to spend it on right now but if you’re planning on buying a home this year, it can actually get you started on saving for a down payment.
Here’s a map showing the tax refunds received last year by state. (The refunds received for the 2017 tax year should continue to reflect these numbers as the new tax code will go into effect for 2018 tax filings.)
Do you need to make a 20% down payment to qualify for a mortgage? Many first time buyers think so. There are other options. Did you know that there are programs that allow you to just make a 3% down payment? These programs are from the Federal Housing Authority, Freddie Mac, and Fannie Mae. If you’re a veteran, the Veterans Affairs Loans can allow you to purchase a home for 0%!
Let’s say you started saving up for a down payment using your tax refund check. Would you be close to the 3% down payment?
The map below shows what percentage of a 3% down payment is covered by the average tax refund by taking into account the median price of homes sold by state.
As you can see, you’re not that far from owning your own home. New Mexico is almost at 50%. Now is the time to get the ball rolling and start saving up. That piece of paper in your hand can soon turn into the keys of your new home.
Meet with a realtor like Pete Veres, CRS – Certified Residential Specialist & ABR – Accredited Buyers Representative who can help you navigate thru the process and get the job done for you. Pete Veres has had over 25 years of Sales & Marketing experience, excellent negotiating skills and a superb track record. He can also help you to get a loan pre-approval at no cost.
You can contact him by calling or texting him at 505-362-2005 or by emailing him at [email protected]
He has a great website full of the latest information at www.NMElite.com
Speed of January Sales Felt More Like Spring Selling Season
DENVER – The record speed of January home sales may signal that buyers aren’t waiting around for the typical spring selling season to begin. Despite home sales being down 2.8% year-over-year, the February RE/MAX National Housing Report shows homes sold in a mere 60 days last month, marking the fewest Days on Market of any January in the nine-year history of the report.
Days on Market typically decline each month leading into the heart of the spring and summer buying season in July and start increasing monthly as fall progresses into winter.
“We recently saw the groundhog predict six more weeks of winter, but January housing numbers are telling a different story,” said RE/MAX CEO Adam Contos. “It looks like the spring selling season may have arrived early because home buyers are not slowing down. The speed of this market is on pace with what we saw in the prime of the 2017 selling season.”
The Median Sales Price of $224,000 also set a January record — up 6.7% year-over-year. Out of 53 markets, 51 posted gains, marking January as the 22nd consecutive month of year-over-year price increases dating back to April 2016.
Closed Transactions Of the 53 metro areas surveyed in January 2018, the overall average number of home sales decreased 27.4% compared to December 2017 and decreased 2.8% compared to January 2017. Twenty of the 53 metro areas experienced an increase in sales year-over-year including, Milwaukee, WI, +13.6%, Albuquerque, NM, +12.8%, Kansas City, MO, +12.5%, and Boise, ID, +12%.
Median Sales Price – Median of 53 metro median prices In January 2018, the median of all 53 metro Median Sales Prices was $224,000, down 4.7% from December 2017 but up 6.7% from January 2017. Billings, MT, was the only metro area to see a year-over-year decrease in Median Sales Price at -6.4%. Eleven metro areas increased year-over-year by double-digit percentages, with the largest increases seen in Boise, ID, +18.7%, Las Vegas, NV, +16.2%, San Francisco, CA, +14% and Orlando, FL, +13.8%.
Days on Market – Average of 53 metro areas The average Days on Market for homes sold in January 2018 was 60, up three days from the average in December 2017, and down six days from the January 2017 average. The metro areas with the lowest Days on Market were San Francisco, CA, at 31, Omaha, NE, at 34 and Nashville, TN at 36. The highest Days on Market averages were in Augusta, ME, at 109, Chicago, IL, at 96 and Hartford, CT, at 93. Days on Market is the number of days between when a home is first listed in an MLS and a sales contract is signed.
Months Supply of Inventory – Average of 53 metro areas The number of homes for sale in January 2018 was down 4.8% from December 2017, and down 14.8% from January 2017. Based on the rate of home sales in December, the Months Supply of Inventory decreased to 3.4 from December 2017 at 3.7, as well as decreased compared to January 2017 at 3.8. A 6.0-months supply indicates a market balanced equally between buyers and sellers. In January 2018, 49 of the 53 metro areas surveyed reported a months supply at or less than 6.0, which is typically considered a seller’s market. The metro areas that saw a months supply above 6.0, which is typically considered a buyer’s market, were Birmingham, AL, at 8.2, Augusta, ME, at 7.5, Miami, FL, at 7.1 and New Orleans, LA, at 6.8. The markets with the lowest Months Supply of Inventory continued to be in the west with Denver, CO, San Francisco, CA and Seattle, WA at 1.1.
Feel free to contact me and I can help break down exactly what these numbers mean for our local market and for your neighborhood.
And lastly, If you or anyone you know is thinking of buying or selling a home - please call or email me. I'm here to help!
Peter Veres
Associate Broker, CRS,ABR,CLHMS,SRES
Elite Asset Management Team - RE/MAX Elite
www.PeteVeres.com
Cell: 505-362-2005
Office: 505-798-1000
Feel free to contact me and I can help break down exactly what these numbers mean for our local market and for your neighborhood. And lastly, If you or anyone you know is thinking of buying or selling a home - please call or email me. I'm here to help!
Buying or selling a home is a big decision. It is one of the biggest decisions you’ll be making in your life. It is crucial that you know what you’re doing, but being knowledgeable may not be enough. Getting help from an experienced real estate professional can be the difference between you enjoying your new home or the equity from a sale and losing it all.
With continuous increase in mortgage rates and home prices, buying or selling on your own may not be a wise decision.
Why hire a real estate professional?
State Regulations
In each state, there are varying regulations on the contracts needed for a successful sale. It would mean a lot of paperwork. Your local real estate expert would know these regulations and make sure that everything goes smoothly.
Experience
Buying or selling a home involves a lot of steps. A real estate professional with experience can make sure that all steps are done the right way to get you in your dream home.
Negotiating
There will be a lot of negotiating in the buying or selling of a home. You need someone who can help you get what you want, someone to deal with buyers, sellers, appraisers, inspectors, etc.
What is your property or the property you want really worth?
Knowing this is very important when buying or selling a home. Your home could be worth more than you think. The home you’re buying maybe worth less than the listing price. It could mean losing thousands of dollars if you don’t know what you’re doing.
According to a study by Collateral Analytics
“FSBOs tend to sell for lower prices than comparable home sales, and in many cases below the average differential represented by the prevailing commission rate.”
Up to date
The real estate market is ever changing. You need someone who knows the past, the present and can foresee the future. A good real estate professional knows the market and would tell you what you need to hear and not what you want to hear.
Financial guru Dave Ramsey advises,
“When getting help with money, whether it’s insurance, real estate or investments, you should always look for someone with the heart of a teacher, not the heart of a salesman.”
Meet with a realtor like Pete Veres, CRS – Certified Residential Specialist & ABR – Accredited Buyers and Seller Representative who can help you navigate thru the process and get the job done for you. He can provide you with a Free Market analysis when you are ready. Pete Veres has had over 25 years of Sales & Marketing experience, excellent negotiating skills and a superb track record.
You can contact him by calling or texting him at 505-362-2005 or by emailing him at [email protected].
He has a great website full of the latest information at www.NMElite.com
Are you planning on buying a home? One of the most important things to know about is mortgage rates and what’s going to happen to it in 2018. Keep in mind, the higher rate, the higher the monthly payment.
According to Freddie Mac’s U.S. Economic & Housing Marketing Outlook’s chart, in the next 12 months, interest rates are projected to go up steadily.
How will this affect your mortgage payment?
A half percent increase can significantly increase you monthly payments. It will also depend on the amount of the loan you get.
National home prices have appreciated 7.0% from this time last year and are predicted to be 4.2% higher next year, according to CoreLogic’s latest Home Price Index.
If both scenarios come true, people would be paying more to be able to buy a home.
Meet with a realtor like Pete Veres, CRS – Certified Residential Specialist & ABR – Accredited Buyers Representative who can help you navigate thru the process and get the job done for you. Pete Veres has had over 25 years of Sales & Marketing experience, excellent negotiating skills and a superb track record.
You can contact him by calling or texting him at 505-362-2005 or by emailing him at [email protected].
He has a great website full of the latest information at www.NMElite.com
In a seller’s market, it’s crucial to avoid any mistakes as a buyer. You should have an appropriate plan ready to go.
We are now in a seller’s market and it is very important that you are prepared for it when buying a home. The rules have changed on how to place an offer and how to negotiate. Here are some major mistakes you can avoid to make sure you are on the right path to getting your dream home.
Offer not strong enough
In this market offering low is not the best option. With not much inventory available in the market, competition can be fierce. The home you have fallen in love with might be taken away buy another buyer with a stronger offer. According to David Dubin, a New York broker, “In a seller’s market, many buyers do not step up with a strong enough offer,” he also states “There is usually a shortage of inventory, and the competition is usually fierce. I always encourage a buyer to come in with a strong opening offer.” You also want to keep response times shorter and don’t counter too many times as that can allow time for a better offer to come in.
Waiting too long
It’s understandable that you would want to analyse your home purchase and want to be sure of the whole process, but you shouldn’t over analyse. Once you find the home you love, don’t be afraid to make a competitive offer. It is best to get your finances in order and get a preapproval. “Know how much you can truly afford, repair any credit issues, have your down payment in hand, and delay [other] major purchases,” says John Lazenby, president of the Orlando Regional Realtor Association in Florida. You don’t want to lose the home to a more aggressive buyer.
Inexperienced agent
Home buying can be stressful. Getting help from a real estate agent can save you time, money, and make the whole process easier and maybe even stress free. Work with an agent who has a good track record and who has experience. They can most certainly give you a better chance of getting the home you want. Michael Holt, a New York agent explains, “When you are competing against other buyers in a fast-paced market, it is vital to be ‘offer-ready,’” he also says, “Working with a real estate professional saves tons of time and stress, as they know the ins and outs of the process and can provide tremendous insight regarding upcoming inventory.” A CRS, Certified Residential Specialist may be the best agent to use as they are some of the most experienced agents out there.
Not getting Prequalified or preapproved
Getting prequalified is good then get preapproved. Getting preapproved will show sellers that you have you finances in order and that you’re ready and able to buy. Getting prequalified is a good first step to show seller’s how serious you are. “Prequalification is absolutely paramount,” says Teka Klopfenstein, a New York agent. “A buyer has zero advantage if they do not have the cash to purchase without a mortgage and haven’t taken the time to speak with a lender.” Not getting prequalified, she says, “sends a message to the seller that the buyer will lag on getting their ducks in order and aren’t taking their house hunting seriously.”
Unprepared for a bidding war
In a seller’s market, the inventory is low and competition is fierce. You should be prepared for a bidding war. There is a solution that’s presented by broker Michael Holt. “Set your search below your max budget to leave room in case of an over-asking bidding war.” This way, you get an advantage over buyers who have their bids at max.
Not knowing and understanding your mistakes
Like everything that happens in life, learning from your mistakes makes you stronger and better than you were before. In real estate, when your offer gets declined or if you lose a home to another buyer, it’s not the end of the world. With the experience you’ll gain from them, you’ll come back stronger and know what needs to be done to get the home you want. “You probably have to let a few keepers slip through your fingers, have a couple sleepless nights over it, and then come back with serious intent to lock up the next greatest opportunity in front of you.”, says Stenta who compared the home buying process to dating, particularly for first-time buyers.
Meet with a realtor like Pete Veres, CRS – Certified Residential Specialist & ABR – Accredited Buyers Representative who can help you navigate thru the process and get the job done for you. Pete Veres has had over 25 years of Sales & Marketing experience, excellent negotiating skills and a superb track record.
You can contact him by calling or texting him at 505-362-2005 or by emailing him at [email protected].
He has a great website full of the latest information at www.NMElite.com
Albuquerque, N.M. — The metro Albuquerque housing market closed out 2017 on a high note, according to the Greater Albuquerque Association of Realtors.
The association said there were 11,477 single-family home sales in 2017, a nearly 7 percent increase over the previous year. The median house price rose almost 4 percent, reaching $196,900.
The association said the number of days homes sat on the market fell from 72 days in 2016 to 54 days in 2017 in the metro area, which encompasses Bernalillo, Valenica, Sandoval, Torrance and parts of Socorro and Santa Fe counties.
Total dollar volume from single-family home sales was $2.7 billion last year, a 12 percent rise from the previous year.
Association President Danny Vigil says last year’s market was difficult for buyers because many homes sold as soon as they were listed, a situation that clearly favored sellers.
“While it’s true that inventory has remained tight all year — a little over a two-month supply at this time — buyers still were not deterred from jumping into the market and were attracted by the area’s variety of price points and property types,” especially new construction, Vigil said.
Homes that were priced right sold fast in popular locations in Albuquerque and Rio Rancho, like the Northeast Heights and the Paradise Hills and Taylor Ranch neighborhoods.
“An area that’s coming on strong is Valencia County,” particularly new housing communities in Las Lunas and Belen, said Vigil, an associate broker with Coldwell Banker Legacy. “Young families get really excited about affordable new construction; they only want to worry about landscaping.”
Condominium sales rose more than 11 percent year over year, while the median sales price of condos sold in 2017 increased almost 1.5 percent to $142,000.
While there are about 3,000 properties currently on offer in the metro area, Vigil expects that number to grow appreciably in the next few months and more “for sale” signs will pop up in yards in the spring. “I have five clients teeing up to sell,” said Vigil. “They’re painting, installing carpeting, clearing out the clutter so they can get top dollar.”
Buyers looking to start the new year with a new home will encounter rising interest rates. Rates have been trending up since mid-September, though they remain just barely under 4 percent.
The National final market data on the 2017 housing market is in. Greater Albuquerque Market data is soon to arrive, stand by. Now is the time to sell your home! We are back in a SELLERS MARKET!! YES!!!
2017 Housing Market
Highest level in new-home sales in a decade.
Highest level in previously owned homes sold in over a decade.
Applications to build single-family homes were at a quick pace since August 2007.
According to Bloomberg:
“America’s housing market is gearing up for a robust year ahead. Builders are more optimistic, demand is strong and lean inventory is keeping prices elevated.”
Buyer traffic was very strong this winter. It was stronger than buyer traffic in spring of last year according to the National Association of Realtors.
The only issue is that the market is low in inventory. A good and balanced market has six months’ worth of inventory and currently there is only four months’ worth of supply. There is a decrease in supply of 9.7% compared to last year.
With the inventory being low, prices are high. This is the opportune time to sell your home. Don’t wait for the supply to increase and prices to drop.
Meet with a realtor like Pete Veres, CRS – Certified Residential Specialist, SRS – Senior Real Estate Specialist who can help you get your home sold. He can provide you with a Free Market analysis when you are ready. Pete Veres has had over 25 years of Sales & Marketing experience and excellent negotiating skills.
You can contact him by calling 505-362-2005 or by emailing him at [email protected].
2017 Closes Strong, Record High December Home Prices
DENVER – While sales dropped slightly from a year ago, December capped off a 2017 of record home prices, speedy sales and low inventory.
The January RE/MAX National Housing Report shows the median home price rose 8.1% year-over-year, with 50 of the report’s 54 markets posting increases. At the same time, December sales dropped 3.3% from December 2016, with 39 markets reporting fewer transactions. Making sales harder was a Months Supply of Inventory of 3.7 which is the lowest December figure in the nine-year history of the report. That corresponds with a 14.6% decline in inventory, lengthening a streak of monthly declines that began in November 2008.
Also setting a report record for December was the speed of home sales: 57 days. That figured into an overall 2017 median for Days on Market of 52.5 — nearly a week less than the 2016 median of 58.5 days.
Home buyers paid record prices in 2017, led by June’s Median Price Sold of $245,000. Prices increased year-over-year in every month of 2017, with December marking the 21st consecutive month of year-over-year price increases dating back to April 2016.
“We see the median sales price of homes across the country rising every month, year-over-year, but the days on market and the supply of homes for sale hit record lows in December,” said Adam Contos, RE/MAX Co-CEO. “If inventory keeps getting tighter across the country it’ll be interesting to see how it might affect sales.”
Closed Transactions Of the 54 metro areas surveyed in December 2017, the overall average number of home sales decreased 2.5% compared to November 2017 and decreased 3.3% compared to December 2016. Fifteen of the 54 metro areas experienced an increase in sales year-over-year including, Trenton, NJ, +13.9%, Richmond, VA, +10.9%, Burlington, VT, +8.1%, and Raleigh-Durham, NC, +5.4%.
Median Sales Price – Median of 54 metro median prices In December 2017, the median of all 54 metro Median Sales Prices was $232,500, up 3.1% from November 2017 and up 8.1% from December 2016. Only four metro areas saw a year-over-year decrease in Median Sales Price; Anchorage, AK, -6.5%, Wichita, KS, -3.9%, Fargo, ND, -1.8% and Wilmington/Dover, DE, -.90%. Ten metro areas increased year-over-year by double-digit percentages, with the largest increases seen in San Francisco, CA, +17.8%, Las Vegas, NV, +17.1%, Seattle, WA, +13% and Boise, ID, +12.8%.
Days on Market – Average of 54 metro areas The average Days on Market for homes sold in December 2017 was 57, up three days from the average in November 2017, and down five days from the December 2016 average. The four metro areas with the lowest Days on Market were Omaha, NE and San Francisco, CA, at 27, Nashville, TN, at 31 and Seattle, WA, at 34. The highest Days on Market averages were in Augusta, ME, at 122 and Chicago, IL, and Miami, FL, at 86. Days on Market is the number of days between when a home is first listed in an MLS and a sales contract is signed.
Months Supply of Inventory – Average of 54 metro areas The number of homes for sale in December 2017 was down 14% from November 2017, and down 14.6% from December 2016. Based on the rate of home sales in December, the Months Supply of Inventory increased to 3.7 from November 2017 at 3.6, but decreased compared to December 2016 at 4.2. A 6.0-months supply indicates a market balanced equally between buyers and sellers. In December 2017, 52 of the 54 metro areas surveyed reported a months supply at or less than 6.0, which is typically considered a seller’s market. The metro areas that saw a months supply above 6.0, which is typically considered a buyer’s market, were Augusta, ME, at 9.5 and Miami, FL, at 8.7. The markets with the lowest Months Supply of Inventory continued to be in the west with San Francisco, CA, at 0.9, Seattle, WA, at 1.4, and Denver, CO, 1.5.
Feel free to contact me and I can help break down exactly what these numbers mean for our local market and for your neighborhood.
And lastly, If you or anyone you know is thinking of buying or selling a home - please call or email me. I'm here to help!
Peter Veres
Associate Broker, CRS,ABR,CLHMS,SRES
Elite Asset Management Team - RE/MAX Elite
www.PeteVeres.com
Cell: 505-362-2005
Office: 505-798-1000
Feel free to contact me and I can help break down exactly what these numbers mean for our local market and for your neighborhood. And lastly, If you or anyone you know is thinking of buying or selling a home - please call or email me. I'm here to help!
Peter Veres Associate Broker, CRS,ABR,CLHMS,SRES Elite Asset Management Team - RE/MAX Elite www.PeteVeres.com Cell: 505-362-2005 Office: 505-798-1000
Majority of Americans, about 91%, believe that owning a home is important (48%) or essential (43%) to achieve the American Dream of owning a home. Although the number of people who believe this is high, most people don’t know the benefits of owning their own home.
There are a huge number of benefits when owning your own home. You may think you only benefit financially, but there are actually more important benefits when owning your own home.
Findings show that homeownership positively impacts educational achievement.
According to researchers, when owning your own home, you get more involved with your community than renters.
Studies show that homeowners and their children are much happier and healthier, even after factoring in the income and educational levels which are also part of positive health outcomes.
It’s not just about the financial benefit. It’s about family, the community, and the American Dream.
Meet with a realtor like Pete Veres, CRS – Certified Residential Specialist & ABR – Accredited Buyers Representative who can help you navigate thru the process and get the job done for you. Pete Veres has had over 25 years of Sales & Marketing experience and excellent negotiating skills.
You can contact him by calling or texting him at 505-362-2005 or by emailing him at [email protected].
He has a great website full of the latest information at www.NMElite.com
