Boston Real Estate for Sale
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Boston Condo Buyers and Sellers Good News for 2021
Right now, the housing market is full of outstanding opportunities for both buyers and sellers. Whether you’re thinking of buying your first home, moving up to a bigger one, or selling so you can downsize this spring, there are perks today that are powering big moves for people across the country. Here are the top two to keep on the radar this season.
The Biggest Perk for Buyers: Low Mortgage Rates
Boston condos Buyers and Sellers
Today’s most compelling buyer incentive is low mortgage interest rates. The 30-year fixed-rate is now averaging just over 3%. While that’s slightly higher than the record-lows from 2020 and earlier this year, it’s still way lower than historic norms, making purchasing a home an ongoing perk for hopeful buyers (See graph below):This is a huge advantage for buyers and helps to make owning a home attainable for more households – and there’s good reason to strive for homeownership. The latest Homeowner Equity Report from CoreLogic shows how homeowners saw major gains in their net worth last year, all thanks to owning a home. Frank Martell, President and CEO of CoreLogic, explains:
“Positive factors like record-low interest rates and a booming housing market encouraged many families to enter homeownership. This growing bank of personal wealth that homeownership affords was noticed by many but in particular for first-time buyers who want a piece of the cake. As a result, we may see more of those currently renting start to enter the market in the near future.”
Low mortgage rates are a plus for buyers right now, but experts forecast we’ll see them continue to rise as the year goes on. If you’re ready to purchase a home, it’s wise to get started on the process soon so you can secure today’s comparatively low rate.
The Biggest Perk for Sellers: Low Inventory
Today, there are simply not enough houses on the market for the number of buyers looking to purchase them, and it’s creating a serious sellers’ market. According to Danielle Hale, Chief Economist at realtor.com:
“Total active inventory continues to decline, dropping 50 percent. With buyers active in the market and sellers still slow to put homes up for sale, homes are selling quickly and the total number actively available for sale at any point in time continues to decline.” (See map below):
Buyer & Seller Perks in Today’s Housing Market
The lack of houses for sale continues to challenge the market, and with low mortgage rates fueling buyer demand, homes are hard for buyers to find today. According to the latest Realtors Confidence Index Survey by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the average house is now receiving 4.1 offers and is on the market for only 20 days.
Buyers are clearly eager to purchase, and because of the shortage of inventory available, they’re often entering bidding wars. This is one of the factors keeping home prices strong and giving sellers leverage in the negotiation process.
Homeowners who are in a position to sell shouldn’t wait to make their move. There’s a light at the end of the tunnel for today’s inventory shortage, so listing this spring will get your house on the market when conditions are most favorable. With low inventory and high buyer demand, homeowners can potentially earn a greater profit on their houses and sell them quickly in the fast-paced spring market.
Boston Real Estate and the Bottom Line
Whether you’re thinking about buying or selling a home, there are major perks available in today’s housing market. Let’s connect today to discuss how these favorable conditions play to your advantage in our local area.
Boston Real Estate for Sale
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Boston Condo Buyers and Sellers 2020
So far, 2020 hasn’t been the year we’ve been expecting. The most apparent event plaguing the Boston condo for sale market is the coronavirus pandemic. This change in our daily operations has had a major impact on economies in countries in every corner of the globe, including the U.S. Companies had tough decisions to make, such as laying off workers, transitioning to remote work, or closing their doors for good.
This economic shift has impacted the local Boston real estate market, which means buyers and sellers are in a unique situation compared to years past. Whether you’re looking to buy or sell a Boston condo, it’s important to understand the current state of affairs in the housing market. Take a look at all you need to know about the 2020 buyer and seller’s market below.
Boston Real Estate Mortgage Interest Rates
Most homebuyers take out a mortgage in order to pay for their downtown Boston condo. Mortgage lenders make most of their money by charging an interest rate, which can cost buyers more money over the course of their loan. Most buyers look for mortgages with low-interest rates, as this typically means they’ll have to spend less money on their home. Due to the current housing market conditions and economy, mortgage interest rates are at the lowest they’ve been in seven years, dropping to 2.6 percent in June 2020 for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages.
What low mortgage interest rates mean for Boston condo buyers
So, why do low mortgage interest rates affect buyers? Because it means you’ll spend less money on interest over the course of your mortgage. Purchasing a Boston condo for sale is one of the most expensive purchases you’ll make in your life, which means you most likely won’t have a few hundred thousand dollars on hand to pay in full right away. If you take out a mortgage with a high-interest rate, you’ll be spending more money.
What low mortgage interest rates mean for Boston condo sellers
Low-interest rates are important for sellers, too. Because interest rates are so low, more buyers might be willing to buy a home before interest rates begin to rise. So, with more people looking to take out a mortgage to finance a home, you might be able to sell your home for more money due to an increase in demand. However, it’s important to keep an eye on these interest rates. Once they begin to rise, you may end up having your house on the market for a longer period of time.
Boston Millennials
Millennials are adults that are aged anywhere between 23 and 39 years old in 2020, which means they were born between 1981 and 1997. This generation is much different than previous generations, such as Baby Boomers and Gen Xers. There are plenty of reasons why Millennials are different than generations older than them, such as having unsurmountable student loan debt, dealing with higher costs of living, and facing a tumultuous economy. This has resulted in Millennials delaying marriage, living with their parents longer, and delaying homeownership.
Why being a Millennial buyer matters
If you’re a Millennial looking for a home, it’s safe to say you’re going to have some competition, especially if you’re looking in cities and suburbs. As you head into the market, make sure you have a list of wants and needs. While wants are nice to have, it’s important to make sure your needs are met first, such as proximity to public schools and your place of employment, rather than having a pool or a finished basement.
Along with knowing what you want, consider getting the help of a real estate agent. They can do all of the hard work for you by finding a home that meets your needs and negotiating a fair price.
Why Millennial buyers matter to sellers
Millennials grew up in the age of information. It was during their time in which the internet was invented, and mobile communication took off. Today, they’re virtually all online, which means you need to put your listing up on the world wide web.
Posting your home on popular sites like Zillow and Trulia will be seen by more buyers, which means you’ll get more offers. You also want to make sure you include plenty of photos with your posting because, in the age of Instagram, appearance means everything. According to the National Association of Realtors 2020 Generational Trends Report, it was found that 98 percent of Millennials use the internet to search for a home, with 78 percent of them using a mobile device.
Boston condo home prices
The price of homes is one of the biggest factors when it comes to selling and buying a house. With social distancing in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19, along with high unemployment rates, fewer people are looking for a home. In fact, Fannie Mae is predicting a 15 percent drop in home sales in 2020, compared to 2019, which results in low home prices. Here’s why this matters for buyers and sellers this year.
Why Boston condo prices matter for buyers
Low home prices matter for buyers because they mean buyers will spend less money on a home. However, this doesn’t mean you should jump the gun and buy a new home just to get a good deal. As stated, buying a home is pretty expensive. If you’re a buyer, make sure you have at least 15 to 20 percent saved up for a down payment, and continue saving until you can afford a home without accruing too much debt. This means you may need to sacrifice some of your wants and focus on your needs.
Why Boston condo prices matter for sellers
If you’re looking to sell your home, you’re probably not too happy about low home prices. This means you might not get what you’re asking for, resulting in a loss of money. If you can, you may want to consider waiting for home prices to creep back up to put your home back on the market. Or, you may have to bite the bullet and settle for less.
Boston Real Estate and the Bottom Line
The year of 2020 is filled with economic uncertainty, which is having a major impact on the buyer and seller’s market. With social distancing measures in place due to the coronavirus pandemic, real estate transactions are becoming more difficult. Additionally, people’s lifestyles are changing, which is resulting in fewer homes on the market. Whether you’re a buyer or a seller, it’s important to keep these real estate market trends in mind to ensure you’re making the right decision.
