A large number of home owners may be erroneously perceiving themselves as underwater on their mortgage, suggests a new analysis by economists at the University of California, Berkeley. Between mid-2011 and the fourth quarter of 2014, home prices nationally have risen about 20 percent. But in a recent Fannie Mae National Housing Survey, the percentage of home owners who perceived they were underwater on their mortgage averaged about 6 percentage points more than estimates from other national surveys. According … [Read more...]
Average Time to Build a House: 6 Months
January 14, 2015 by 1 Comment
The time it takes to build a house in the U.S. varies by year and region. Experts ponder what factors have the biggest impact on construction. Want to get your house built as quickly as possible? Buy land in the South and nail down a construction crew? According to data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau, in 1973 it took, on average, six months to build a single-family home. In 1980, that number was up to 6.9 months, and in 2009 it was up to 7.9. In 2013, the latest data available, it was back down to six … [Read more...]
There is a Light at the End of the Phoenix Recovery Tunnel
October 13, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Phoenix may have to wait another two years to make it out of the prolonged recovery following the worst economic calamity in four generations. The word from speakers at the SRP Economic Forecast 2015 presented by thePhoenix Business Journal is that 2016 is year of full recovery. A group of more than 700 business professionals gathered at the J.W. Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa to hear the advice. It’s been a long, slow climb, and the light at the end of the tunnel has been seen for over a … [Read more...]
Wall Street: Home price appreciation still expected to hit 7%
April 29, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Despite a weak first quarter, home prices are still expected to rise by 7% in 2014, according to Wall Street analysts. “We continue to expect home price appreciation to moderate from the torrid pace of mid-2012-13, supported by improving employment and growth prospects,” said analysts from Morgan Stanley (MS). “We leave our 2014 projections for new home sales (450-500 thousand units) and home prices (up 5-7% for the year) unchanged.” Analysts from Barclays (BCS) agree. “Our base case projection for 2014 US … [Read more...]
Pending Home Sales Gain for First Time in 9 Months
April 29, 2014 by Leave a Comment
The housing market is showing signs of picking up again after a sluggish few months. Pending home sales rose 3.4 percent in March over February, according to the National Association of REALTORS®’Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings. Contracts were most on the rise in the West and South, increasing 5.7 percent and 5.6 percent in March, respectively. The Northeast saw an uptick of 1.4 percent in contracts month-over-month, while contracts in the Midwest fell by 0.8 … [Read more...]
Study: Buyers, Sellers Will Jump Off the Fence This Year
February 13, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Consumers are more committed to buying or selling this year, according to Prudential Real Estate's fourth quarter Consumer Outlook Survey. Of the 2,500 consumers surveyed, 78 percent held a favorable view of real estate, a five-point jump from the previous quarter and 15 points higher than at the end of 2012. Sixty-three percent said they were more committed to buying and selling in 2014. One generation in particular has a favorable perception of real estate right now: Millennials. The generation peaked at 87 … [Read more...]
Home Prices Back at Peaks in Some Areas
December 30, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Recovery Remains Uneven as Cities Spared in Bust Soar, but Many Others Struggle Home prices have zipped back into record territory in a handful of American cities, a milestone that comes seven years after the housing bust ravaged the market and the broader economy. Values are up more than 13% from their 2007 high in Oklahoma City and by more than 6% in the Denver metro area. Prices are back to all-time highs in 10 of the nation's 50 largest metropolitan areas, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis of … [Read more...]
Condo Boom? Market Shows Signs of a Revival
September 13, 2013 by 1 Comment
This headline rings especially true for the immediate area surrounding our offices here in old town Scottsdale. There are currently 4 projects underway within a mile radius. And with an estimated 3,000 or so units available in the next few years, there should be a good mix of baby boomers and first time buyers flooding the area. This mass influx of residents to the old town area should have a significant impact on the area's infrastructure and commerce options - and we are already seeing the beginning of it … [Read more...]
10 Safest Cities in the U.S. (hint: 2 Arizona cities made the list)
July 29, 2013 by Leave a Comment
For the first time since 2006, violent crime was on the rise last year, according to FBI data. But in some cities, violent crime remains well below national averages. AOL Real Estate recently analyzed the FBI’s report on crime to find the cities with populations of more than 200,000 that have violent crime rates “substantially” below the national average. Here are the top 10 “safe zones” that made its list: Irvine, Calif. (ninth consecutive year named safest city in the nation) Fremont, Calif. Plano, … [Read more...]
