NAR’s August Existing Sales Report [INFOGRAPHIC]

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House Pricing is Still about Supply and Demand

Knowing how much inventory is for sale is crucial to determining where home values are headed. Pricing of any item is determined by supply and demand: how many items are available in relationship to how many want to buy that item. The reasons for the strong year-over-year home appreciation numbers we have been seeing is simple to explain: demand for housing is up and the supply of homes for sale has been at historic lows. But that is beginning to change.

The months’ supply of available housing inventory, as reported by the National Association of Realtors, has increased from 4.3 months this past January to the current number of 5.2 months. And it seems inventory will continue to increase as we move forward.

Last week, Realtor.com released their National Housing Trend Report which looked at the movement in inventory levels of homes for sale across the country. Here are two major findings of the report:

1.) Dramatic year-over-year inventory declines have evaporated.

Nationally inventories in July are only 5.24 percent below the level of a year ago compared to being down 16.47 percent year-over-year in January.

2.) Inventory declines decrease in local markets.

The number of markets with decreases in year-over-year inventory declined from 125 in June to 118 in July. This suggests that fall inventories in some markets may return to levels of a year ago.

In the report, Steve Berkowitz, CEO of Move, Inc. explains the impact of these findings on home values:

The recovery is entering a new phase where inventory shortfalls are no longer the driving force behind changes in housing prices in many markets. Larger inventories, especially in the hotter markets that experienced rapid price increases in the spring, are expanding buyers’ choices and helping to moderate price increases.

Don’t get carried away with recent news headlines when pricing your home. Let a real estate professional explain what the above information means to the current value of your house.

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3 Reasons to Buy that House NOW!

Here are three great reasons to consider buying a home today instead of waiting.

1.) Prices Will Continue to Rise

The Home Price Expectation Survey polls a distinguished panel of over 100 economists, investment strategists, and housing market analysts. Their most recent report released last week projects appreciation in home values over the next five years to be between 12.3% (most pessimistic) and 32.8% (most optimistic).

The bottom in home prices has come and gone. Home values will continue to appreciate for years. Waiting no longer makes any sense.

2.) Mortgage Interest Rates Are Increasing

As reported by Freddie Mac, interest rates for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages have risen about one full percentage point over recent historic lows.

The National Association of Realtors, the Mortgage Bankers Association, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, in their July forecasts, have all projected 30-year-fixed mortgage interest rates to be between 4.8 and 5.1% by this time next year.

An increase in rates will impact YOUR monthly mortgage payment. Whether you are moving up or moving down, your housing expense will be more a year from now if a mortgage is necessary to purchase your next home.

3.) It’s Time to Move On with Your Life

The ‘cost’ of a home is determined by two major components: the price of the home and the current mortgage rate. It appears that both are on the rise. But, what if they weren't? Would you wait?

Look at the actual reason you are buying and decide whether it is worth waiting. Whether you want to have a great place for your children to grow up, you want your family to be safer or you just want to have control over renovations, maybe it is time to buy.

If the right thing for you and your family is to purchase a home this year, buying sooner rather than later could lead to substantial savings.

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Before Buying A Home, See What’s Right For You [INFOGRAPHIC]

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