Market Insights: An Unpredictable Housing Landscape
The housing market is anything but predictable right now. While spring and summer are typically the busiest seasons for buying and selling, this year is already shaping up to be an unconventional one. A recent survey from Bright MLS reveals that agents are feeling the chill.
Buyer Behavior Shifts
More Buyers Are Pausing Their Search: The Bright MLS study, surveying over 1,000 agents, found that 73% had a client pause their home search in the last six months. High borrowing costs and competition from cash-heavy buyers are significant hurdles.
Extended Search Periods: Buyers are spending months on their home search, with affordability challenges and multiple offer situations contributing to longer timelines. About 28% of agents reported that their buyers spent 3-6 months searching, while 24% said their clients spent more than six months.
Multiple Bids: On average, buyers who reached the closing table in April bid on nearly three different homes before securing one.
Seller Sentiments
High Satisfaction Among Sellers: Despite buyer frustrations, 84% of agents reported that their sellers were satisfied with the price they got in April.
Hesitant Sellers: However, 32% of agents had sellers who decided not to sell. The main reasons were difficulty in finding a new home and reluctance to give up favorable mortgage rates.
Seller Concessions: Despite the seller’s market, many offered concessions during April closings:
34% provided a credit for repairs.
Nearly 20% assisted with closing costs.
16% offered a home warranty.
Market Outlook
Mixed Views on Activity: About 46% of agents expect buyer and seller activity to be average over the next three months. However, there is a shift in buyer expectations:
40% anticipate high or very high buyer activity, down from 47% last month.
14% predict low or very low buyer activity.
On the listing side:
43% of agents expect seller activity to be low or very low.
Only 11% foresee high seller activity.
Stay tuned as we navigate these unpredictable times, offering insights and updates to help you make informed decisions in this dynamic market.
Most real estate agents look at the most recent closed transactions and base their decisions on what the most recent homes have sold for.
These comparable homes, or “comps,” are essential indicators for pricing a home that might be of similar style, size, condition, and age.
We also consider factors such as school districts, proximity to the subject property, and other relevant details.
However, I go beyond just looking at comps. Here are a couple of additional steps I take that many agents might overlook:
Active Listings:
Understand Your Competition: Active listings show who you’re competing against. Are your neighbors pricing their properties too high? Are they pricing them too low? How long have these properties been on the market?
Evaluate Property Condition: Compare the condition of your property to those currently listed. Is your property in better shape?
Pending Transactions:
Market Trends: Pending transactions are a strong indicator of where the market is heading. Are there many properties under contract, or are there very few? This can signal whether the market is shifting.
Market Stability:
Even if the overall market seems stable, pending transactions can reveal more about the current trends. They help us understand if the market is still favorable for sellers or if buyers are gaining an advantage.
By considering both active listings and pending transactions, in addition to comps, I can provide a more accurate and competitive pricing strategy for your home.
Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need assistance with your real estate needs. I’m here to help!
The Power of Experience
One such skill is the agent’s experience. But not just any experience – I’m talking about the agent’s reputation among their peers and their track record of closing deals. This is something that many buyers and sellers often overlook, yet it can significantly impact the outcome of your real estate journey.
Imagine you have a listing and a buying agent you’ve worked with before shows interest. Your first thought is likely about your past experiences with them. Did they make the closing process smooth? Were they accommodating and professional? These questions reflect an often unseen but vital part of an agent’s skill set: their ability to facilitate a seamless transaction due to positive past interactions.
Competence: The True Competitive Edge
Another often underrated aspect is an agent’s competence. An experienced agent brings a level of proficiency and insight that can provide a significant competitive advantage. They know the intricacies of the market, the potential pitfalls in transactions, and the best strategies to achieve your goals.
This competence isn’t just about knowledge; it’s about applying that knowledge effectively to benefit you.
In conclusion, when selecting a real estate agent, consider not just their visible qualifications but also these hidden skills. An agent with a solid reputation and proven competence can make all the difference in your real estate experience.
Market Insights: An Unpredictable Housing Landscape Read More »