August 13, 2012


HARRY’S WEEKLY UPDATE
A CURRENT LOOK AT THE COLORADO SPRINGS RESIDENTIAL real estate MARKET


NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTOR QUARTERLY REPORT SHOWS COLORADO SPRINGS HOME PRICES RISING FASTER THAN MOST OF THE NATION
NAR - WASHINGTON (August 9, 2012)

The recent NAR report for the Second Quarter of 2012 shows that home sale prices increased nationally by a healthy 7.3%. However, the same report shows that Colorado Springs prices increased 11.3% during the same period. That’s great news for our local homeowners and sellers.

This puts Colorado Springs in the top 14% of the top 147 major metro areas in the U.S. Only 21 of the major metro areas had records better than 10% in the last quarter.

This news, combined with record-low interest rates, has created a flurry of contacts in our office from prospective buyers and sellers. So, better give us a call now to explore how this hot market can be used to your advantage. We will always have time to chat with our readers about the opportunities that are currently available.

The numbers show that, as usual, our local area is better off than almost any other part of the country. Hooray for us!!!

Some of the other interesting data from the NAR report are:

Median existing single-family home prices are rising in more metropolitan areas, but a lack of inventory – notably in lower price ranges – is limiting buyer choices in an increasing number of markets around the country.

In the first quarter of 2012 there were 74 areas showing price gains from a year earlier, as opposed to 2011, when only 41 metros were up.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said home prices are set to rise in even more markets during upcoming quarters. “It’s most encouraging to see a growing number of metro areas with rising median prices, which is improving the equity position of existing homeowners. Inventory has been trending down and home builders are still under-producing in relation to growing demand,” he said. “Some of the improvement in prices is due to a smaller share of sales in low price ranges where inventory is tight.”

The national median existing single-family home price was $181,500 in the second quarter, up 7.3 percent from $169,100 in the second quarter of 2011. This is the strongest year-over-year increase since the first quarter of 2006 when the median price rose 9.4 percent (but even with the gain, the current price is 20.1 percent below the record set in 2006).

Total existing-home sales, including single-family and condo, were 8.6 percent above the 4.18 million pace during the second quarter of 2011.

At the end of the second quarter there were 2.39 million existing homes available for sale, which is 24.4 percent below the close of the second quarter of 2011 when there were 3.16 million homes on the market. There has been a steady downtrend since inventories set a record of 4.04 million in the summer of 2007.

NAR President Moe Veissi, said buying power is historically high. “Home buyers today can stay well within their means. Record low mortgage interest rates and an over-correction in home prices have opened the door to many potential buyers,” he said.

A breakout of incomes needed to purchase a median-priced existing single-family home by metro area shows the typical buyer has ample income. The national median family income was $61,000 in the second quarter. However, to purchase a home at the national median price, a buyer making a 5 percent down-payment would only need an income of $39,900. With a 10 percent down-payment the required income would be $37,800, while with 20 percent down the necessary income would only be $33,600.

“Because the income required to buy to a typical home is very manageable by historical standards, any further decline in mortgage interest rates will have little effect. Changes in underwriting guidelines would have a far greater impact,” Yun said.

Click here to see this very positive NAR Quarterly Report.

 

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL REPORTS HOME PRICES CLIMBING …. AS SUPPLIES DWINDLE
The Wall Street Journal – August 8, 2012

Home prices rose by their largest percentage in at least seven years during the second quarter, propelled by low inventories of properties for sale and high demand for bargain-priced foreclosures, according to two reports Tuesday.
Prices rose by 2.5% in June from a year ago, and by 6% from the previous quarter, said CoreLogic Inc., a Santa Ana, Calif., data firm. The quarterly jump was the largest since 2005.

Separately, Freddie Mac, which uses a different methodology, said home prices during the second quarter jumped by 4.8% from the previous quarter. That was the largest jump since 2004.

The main force behind the home-price gains appears to be a shortage of homes for sale. The number of properties on the market is sharply down from a year ago.. Meanwhile, demand is up, as mortgage rates have dropped to their lowest levels in at least 60 years. With every passing month, distressed homes are being absorbed at better and better prices.

Inventories are low for a number of reasons.
• Investors have been scooping up homes and converting them into rentals
• Banks have slowed their foreclosure processes
• New home construction has been at depressed levels for years
• Many traditional sellers are sitting on the sidelines because they are unwilling or unable to sell.

Meanwhile, as inventories have shrunk, demand has picked up. Many areas have gone to multiple offers. Price increases appear to be broad-based, with 71 of the nation’s top metropolitan areas showing rising prices on a year-over-year basis in May, compared with just 19 markets in December. This was the largest number of rising metro areas since November 2006, when area home prices began to decline.


8 SIGNS HOUSING IS ON THE MEND
Daily real estate News | Monday, August 06, 2012

Some Americans are still jittery over the housing market, but here are eight positive signs that should quell some of their fears.
1. Housing prices are on the rise across the country.
2. Foreclosures have slowed, so Buyers are being forced into higher-price properties.
3 Inventories of for-sale homes on the market are decreasing…down 24 percent from a year ago.
4. Mortgage rates are at ultra-record level lows, for those who can qualify.
5. Existing-home sales were up 4.5 percent higher in June compared to one year ago.
6. Home building stocks are on the rise and housing starts rose 6.9 percent in June.
7. For investors, rents are soaring. Rental prices are at a 10-year high.
8. Home affordability is at record highs, due to falling home values and super low mortgage rates.

In fact, a recent study found that it is cheaper to buy a home than rent in basically every major city in the U.S. For those who buy, you can save the cost of renting by owning the home for five years or less.

The Wall Street Journal concludes in a recent article that if you take into account all the positive signs lately in the housing market, “Housing presents an attractive long-term investment that should hold steady or even have upside surprise in the short term.”

BY THE WAY …DID YOU KNOW THIS??


In a report that was released by Bankrate.com on Aug 6, Colorado has the 3rd lowest “mortgage closing costs” in the USA.

On average it costs $ 3,199 to close on a mortgage in Colorado compared with the national average of $ 3,754.

Just one more reason to buy your Colorado Springs home, now !!!


And, please remember, I would be honored to serve as your Broker for all of your residential real estate needs. I want to help you, my reader, make the most prudent and accurate Real Estate business decision. …

Also if you know of anyone who desires to buy or sell local real estate, or, who is moving in or out of the Pikes Peak region, remember that, with over 40 years of providing relocation and Real Estate services to clients throughout the country, I am uniquely qualified to assist them with the relocation process, including buying and/or selling their homes on both ends of their move. Please allow me to implement my negotiating skills on your behalf. Call us at 598-3200, or, 800 677-MOVE (6683).


SALES AND LISTING STATISTICS

Click here to see the most recent Sales and Listing information for the Pikes Peak area. These statistics are published by the Pikes Peak Association of Realtors and can be helpful to you in evaluating and comparing current listings in the various neighborhoods in our area. If you would like to ask any questions about this data, please give us a call at 598-3200, 0r, 800 677-6683 (MOVE).
 

JOKE OF THE WEEK

MY TRIP TO THE STORE

There was a bit of confusion at the store this morning. When I was ready to pay for my groceries, the cashier said, "Strip down facing me."

Making a mental note to complain to my congressman about Homeland Security running amok, I did just as she had instructed.

When the hysterical shrieking and alarms finally subsided, I found out that she was referring to my credit card.

I have been asked to shop elsewhere in the future.

They need to make their instructions to us seniors a little clearer!