Feb. 27, 2024

2024 Two Months Does not a Market Make

We are only 60+ days into 2024 and we are studying every market indicator looking for clues as to what this year is likely to bring.  The problem is that trends require sufficient time and strong signals.  We have neither to date.  

The fact that this is an election year leads most people to assume that the election will be an outsized influence on housing, specifically mortgage rates and pricing.  We love hearing the theories, but it is not true.  To quote the Cromford Report “the main influence on the housing market comes from policies, not the elections themselves”.  Now there is a market that responds to elections – the stock market.  The last four elections saw the stock market respond positively afterwards.  That in turn can affect a portion of the housing market.  Both the luxury market as well as the 55+ market rely more heavily on cash purchases. Positive changes in portfolios can benefit demand.  Could we see the election affect the stock market again this year? Likely.

 But if housing fundamentals are not directly affected by elections then it leads us right back to the basics – supply and demand.  

 𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱

It comes as no shock that demand was tepid at best in 2023 (we are in search of a better description - abysmal?) The good news is it appears demand hit bottom in 2023. The bad news? Demand is still fairly anemic.  The Cromford Report expounds further:

 “Although demand has improved a little since late 2023, it remains very subdued and is having difficulty catching up to last year, which was pretty poor in the first place. With typical 30-year fixed mortgage rates over 7% again, we are not seeing much enthusiasm among buyers, who were clearly hoping rates would fall below 6.5% at least. Last year the market caught a second wind in April but ran out of puff 2 months later. It is by no means clear what it will do in 2024, but so far it is merely ticking over, providing very little to get excited about.”

𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆

While low demand was grabbing the headlines in 2023, most missed that the supply of homes for sale was actually lower and exerted a greater influence on the market than demand.  Sellers hung on to their low interest rates homes and stepped to the sidelines at the same time demand was dropping due to soaring interest rates.  The result was a very low volume of homes sold.  The annual rate of homes sold (sales rate) has stopped falling – but the bad news is it hasn’t risen significantly. The Cromford Report shares this:

Listing under contract counts continue to be underwhelming, only reaching 8,182 after 7 weeks of the year. The same time last year we had 8,877 and 12,131 the year before…

 We appear to be stuck at the very low rate of between 72,100 and 72,600 closed listings per year across all areas & types. Just 2 years ago we were at 110,000, so we are missing some 38,000 deals compared with then. Mortgage interest rates have been rising again for the last 3 weeks, so a volume breakout is looking unlikely in the short term.If we were sailors we would call this the doldrums.

𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗴𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀

Real estate markets can perform differently based on geography as well as price points.  Currently, 10 of the 17 largest areas are favoring sellers.  They are in descending strength: Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Fountain Hills, Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe, Avondale, Scottsdale, & Peoria. 3 Cities are balanced: Cave Creek, Paradise Valley, & Surprise 4 are buyer markets:  Goodyear, Queen Creek, Buckeye and Maricopa.

 Price point also seems to be dictating the experience for buyers and sellers. The healthiest price segment is the mid-range homes closer to the center of Phoenix. Mid-range homes in the more distant areas are getting too much supply to perform as in town properties. Luxury which performed strongly in 2023 is now experiencing surging supply.  As the Cromford Report shares: “We still see weakness in the top end of the market. Demand remains relatively healthy but supply is much stronger than in 2023, especially for homes over $2 million. Cave Creek is doing better, but is recovering from very weak 4Q of 2023.”

𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆

Having read this far, you may rightfully ask for clarity. What does this information bode for the 2024 market?  Exactly – not much - a rather mixed bag with no significant changes yet.  As the Cromford Report sagely states:

 “Messages from the data are giving us mixed signals. The signals are weak too. Demand is improving but so is supply. Normally this would lead to greater volume but any growth in sales is so slow that it is almost imperceptible, when seasonality is taken into account.

 Last year we saw 60.6% growth in listings under contract on February 11 compared with the start of the year. This year the growth is 59.9%, very slightly worse and starting at a lower base point.

 Altogether there is not much to get excited about if you are longing for positive movement. On the other hand, there is also not much to get excited about if you are hoping for the market to crash. I have nothing to satisfy either of these positions. Arizona is famous for its boom and bust real estate cycles, but at this moment it is very much stuck in neutral.

2024 so far looks likely to be a version of 2023 but with stability in home appreciation and maybe even improved affordability as incomes rise. Interest rates remain the wildcard.  As always we will continue to track 2024 trends and report it here first.

 Russell & Wendy

Mostly Wendy

 

 

Posted in Market Conditions
Feb. 21, 2024

Market Update February 2024

2024… So Far

We are only 45+ days into 2024 and we are anxiously trying to read the tea leaves for what this year will bring.  The fact that this is an election year leads most people to assume that the election will be an outsized influence on housing, specifically mortgage rates and pricing.  We love hearing the theories, but it is not true.  To quote the Cromford Report “the main influence on the housing market comes from policies, not the elections themselves”.  Now there is some truth that the stock market responds to elections – at least the last 4 elections saw the stock market respond positively afterwards.  The stock market influences the luxury market as well as the 55+ market.  Could we see the election affect the stock market again this year? Likely.

 But if housing is not directly affected by elections, it leads us right back to the basics – supply and demand.  It comes as no shock that demand was tepid at best in 2023 (we are in search of a better description - abysmal?) The good news it appears demand reached bottom in 2023. Demand is now somewhat improved, even if still fairly anemic. 

 While low demand was grabbing the headlines in 2023, most missed that the supply of homes for sale was actually lower than demand and a greater influence on the market.  Sellers hung on to their low interest rates homes and stepped to the sidelines as demand was reacting to soaring interest rates.  The result was a very low volume of homes sold.  The annual rate of homes sold (sales rate) has stopped falling – but the bad news is it hasn’t risen significantly. The Cromford Report shares this:

 We appear to be stuck at the very low rate of between 72,100 and 72,600 closed listings per year across all areas & types. Just 2 years ago we were at 110,000, so we are missing some 38,000 deals compared with then. Mortgage interest rates have been rising again for the last 3 weeks, so a volume breakout is looking unlikely in the short term.

If we were sailors we would call this the doldrums.

 What do we expect in 2024?  Likely a version of 2023 but with stability in home appreciation and maybe even improved affordability as incomes rise. The below 400K market remains strong for sellers with limited inventory while the luxury market is currently swelling with new supply.  Price point seems to be dictating the experience for buyers and sellers.  As always we will continue to track 2024 trends and report it here first.

 Russell & Wendy

Mostly Wendy

 

Posted in Market Conditions
Jan. 15, 2024

Market Update January 2024

The Housing Market Shifts Slightly Towards Sellers

 2024 began with a slight advantage for home sellers.  Why?  December typically ends with less active listings every year as a number of listings expire on the 31st.  Additionally, we saw a little bump in buyer demand as interest rates became more attractive.  Those two small changes pushed the market out of the balanced zone (which only lasted 7 weeks) to one that slightly favors sellers.

 But saying we are in a slight sellers’ market is still misleading as most generalities are. The luxury market has performed completely differently than the rest of the market – as the luxury market is not interest rate sensitive.  Beyond price points, geographic submarkets can also perform uniquely.  As of the writing of this article, here is where the geographic submarkets stand according to the Cromford Report:

 “Not all cities are in a seller’s market, the distribution is as follows from strongest-to-weakest:

 Seller’s Markets: Tolleson, Apache Junction, Fountain Hills, Chandler, Gilbert, Laveen, El Mirage, Anthem, Glendale, Sun Lakes, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Avondale

 Balanced Markets: Tempe, Litchfield Park, Sun City West, Peoria, Goodyear, Surprise, Paradise Valley, Arizona City

 Buyer’s Markets: Cave Creek, Gold Canyon, Queen Creek, Sun City, Casa Grande, Buckeye, Maricopa

 Most cities are either gradually improving or holding steady in their market measures. “

 This remains a muted market with contract activity well below normal (making this a good time to hug your real estate agent). As the Cromford Report states:  “We are starting 2024 with one of the lowest counts of listings under contract we have ever recorded for the start of any year (5,127). We measured 5,456 last year and 9,393 in 2022. We have to go back all the way to the dark days of 2008 to find a lower count (3,468). 2007 was also very bad, but at 5,197 it just beats the 2024 reading.” Gulp.  If we compare unfavorably to 2007 that is anemic indeed.

 What will 2024 bring?  The Cromford Report offers this: “It’s not reasonable to expect another insane market with skyrocketing prices like 2020-2021, or another 12.5% drop in values like 2022. It could be quite boring in terms of price for the first quarter, but uplifting with more traditional home buyers getting back in the game. “ Boring sounds kind of nice, doesn’t it?

 Russell & Wendy Shaw

(Mostly Wendy)

Posted in Market Conditions
Dec. 28, 2023

Crystal Ball for 2024

With very few exceptions, the housing market begins every year with a question:  what will this year’s housing market bring?  The truth is that projecting beyond a few months enters one into the field of guessing, as there is no real estate Nostradamus.  But there are data points (courtesy of the Cromford Report) that tell us where we are and what the next few months may look like. 

 The 2023 Housing Market ended the year in “balance”.  Of course that is a bit misleading – as there are parts of the valley favoring buyers (think outlying areas such as Buckeye, Maricopa, Pinal County) and others favoring sellers (Tolleson, Anthem, Apache Junction, El Mirage, Sun Lakes, Chandler, Laveen, and Fountain Hills).  Blending two out of balance areas doesn’t really create overall balance in the market place.  This is why knowing the actual conditions in the submarkets is critical for good buying and selling decision making. 

 December is seasonally the slowest time of year for real estate and supply drops as homes come off the market for the holidays or expire by year’s end. 2023 was no exception.  But rates declining from 8.0% in October to 7% presented an opportunity for buyers to buy without too much competition and for motivated sellers to sell despite the holidays.  That drop in rates spurred demand even if only mildly and stopped the market from sliding into a buyer’s market. 

 Interest rates

Interest rates have been the driving force in 2023, affecting equally both supply and demand.  Buyer demand is regulated largely by affordability, which is a combination of wages, interest rates and prices. The most volatile of these of late being interest rates. But a less visible component in the decision to buy also comes from rental rates.  The valley rental rates have been flat for the last two years courtesy of the increased rental supply from multifamily building as well as entire build to rent housing communities.   When rents are lower than the cost of purchasing – buyers become or remain renters.

 Interest rates equally affect supply. Sellers are largely unwilling to replace their current 3% loans only to have to double when purchasing.  This leads to constricted supply.  Less supply combined with less demand amounts to a “shrunken market” and the number of transactions (sales) drop accordingly.  The market went from 110,435 yearly transactions in 2021 to only 86,534 in 2022 and then to an anemic 72,432 sales in 2023.  As the Cromford Report states:

 “In a good strong market this number is over 100,00. We are currently below 72,600 and despite the improving interest rate picture, the annual sales rate is drifting slightly lower. This measure is free of seasonal effects, because it measures a whole year of sales activity, so if the market is improving we should see a rising trend, no matter what time of year. Admittedly closed sales counts are a trailing indicator, but it would be reasonable to expect something better than 73,000 if the market is starting to recover its mojo.”

 Prices

 

 Supply moves slowly, whereas demand is swift and responsive. If rates drop to 6% or lower we likely will see a spike in demand.  However, Sellers who are not already motivated by personal reasons to move, will be unlikely to move unless rates drop to 5% or lower.  Hence our personal belief that demand will rise before supply will meet it.   This creates the possibility that the market will shift to favor sellers again in 2024.  That is only our speculation, what seems certain is that prices are not headed downward.  The Cromford Report confirms this:

 “The last 20 years have shown us that for home prices to go significantly down, we have to have an excess of homes for sale chasing too few buyers. Right now, buyers are indeed thin on the ground, but we still have overall supply well below normal and heading lower. For a housing crash we would need a flood of new homes for sale. The reason it might occur is not important, but without this flood, price will remain stable at worst…

To conclude we have any credible evidence of an imminent crash would be simply illogical. With the CMI (Cromford Market Index which indicates a balanced market at 100) above 100 we should not be seeing significant weakness in pricing, so I hope buyers are not waiting for overall price drops. Individual listings give us price cuts all the time, but these are balanced by new listings coming in at higher levels. Any price weakness is likely to be concentrated in the areas with the lowest CMI, such as Maricopa, Buckeye, Queen Creek (including San Tan Valley), Cave Creek and Surprise. Among the smaller cities, Casa Grande, Gold Canyon and Sun City look the weakest. In contrast we see strength building in Apache Junction and Litchfield Park.”

 

Summary

What is the takeaway for 2024?  To quote the Cromford Report:

 The important stuff will happen in January. Will more than the usual number of buyers emerge due to falling mortgage rates, or will we see a surge in new listings. The balance between these two measures will determine the direction of prices in the first quarter of 2024 and anyone who tells you they already know what will happen is selling you a lie.”

 For buyers, we suggest buying sooner than later as we see low probability for price drops.  For sellers, the best advice is one that works in any market:  price properly, spruce up your home to its best showing condition, and assist buyers with closings costs.  Further, as the Cromford Report sagely states:  These are the markets where quality marketing, exposure, and agent representation truly make a difference. We couldn’t agree more.

 Russell & Wendy Shaw

(Mostly Wendy)

Posted in Market Conditions
Dec. 18, 2023

Market Update December 2023

Market Balance

 

“The bad news is nothing lasts forever. The good news is nothing lasts forever” J. Cole

 

The 2023 Housing Market is closing out in “balance”.  Of course that is a bit misleading – as there are parts of the valley favoring buyers (think outlying areas such as Buckeye, Maricopa, Pinal County) and others favoring sellers (Tolleson, Anthem, Apache Junction, El Mirage, Sun Lakes, Chandler, Laveen, and Fountain Hills).

 

What will 2024 bring?  Interest rates seems to be the crystal ball that will answer that question.  December is seasonally the slowest time of year for real estate. But rates declining from 8.0% in October to 7% has presented an opportunity for buyers to buy without too much competition and from sellers motivated to sell despite the holidays.  That drop in rates spurred demand and stopped the market from sliding in to a buyer’s market.  If rates drop below 7% in 2024, we could well see the market shift to favor sellers again. As Tina Tamboer of the Cromford Report states:

 

“The rapid decline of rates is preventing Greater Phoenix from dropping entirely into a buyer’s market at this stage, which is causing analysts to question how long the opportunity will last. The combination of a sustained balanced market and the weakest month of the year seasonally means that the best thing buyers can do is stay vigilant in their search for a home and take advantage of this quiet time. Once the New Year begins, the market could heat up quickly.”

 

For sellers selling now, the best advice is to price properly, spruce up your home to its best showing condition, and assist buyers with closings costs.  As the Cromford Report sagely states:  These are the markets where quality marketing, exposure, and agent representation truly make a difference.

 

We hope you have a happy and joyous holiday season and New Year.  We look forward to serving you in 2024.

 

Russell & Wendy Shaw

(Mostly Wendy)

Posted in Market Conditions
Nov. 17, 2023

Mareket Update November 2023

Market Shifts

 The Greater Phoenix market has been steadily shifting away from sellers.  Within a few days of this writing we will be in a balanced market overall.  Eleven cities already are balanced or favor buyers – eighteen favor sellers but are eroding.

If you are a buyer – this is a wonderful time to buy.  Seasonally, there are less buyers shopping in the 4th quarter than any other time of year.  Additionally, interest rates have had the largest drop in 2023 last week – resulting in a rise in loan applications. In addition, sellers have been subjected to longer marketing times - courtesy of the market shift and higher rates scaring off buyers.  Tired sellers are often more willing to negotiate on price and buyer incentives (closing costs).  If you regretted missing the last buyer’s market – don’t make the same mistake again. As Tina Tambour of the Cromford Report shares:

“Mortgage rates have been near impossible for experts to predict over the past 18 months, however there are strong feelings that the end is near for rate hikes by the Federal Reserve. If mortgage rates decline in response, then the current market decline will be short lived.

In short, it’s a good idea for buyers to stay engaged and vigilant in identifying opportunities in November and December. Once 2024 begins, the peak home-buying season is back in swing with more buyer competition.”

If you are a seller, your best strategy is to price for today’s market – not the one we had even 2 months ago.  If you are in Surprise, Litchfield Park, Goodyear, Buckeye, Maricopa, Casa Grande, Gold Canyon and Queen Creek – you will need to price in the buyer’s favor.  Still balanced is Cave Creek, Peoria and Sun City – but will soon tip. All the other cities are still seller’s markets, but weakening fast.

 Will this year’s trend continue in 2024?  No one knows. The wild card of course is mortgage rates – something that is impossible to predict accurately. For now, the best plan is to address the market at hand.  As always, we will keep you apprised of the market fluctuations so you can make informed decisions.

 As a note, we are so grateful to our friends and clients who honor us every day with their trust.  Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.  We wish you a very happy Thanksgiving.

Russell & Wendy Shaw

(Mostly Wendy)

 

Posted in Market Conditions
Aug. 17, 2023

Market Update August 2023

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗗𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗺𝗮

 

It can be difficult to write about a slow moving train such as our Greater Phoenix housing market.  The market is remarkably quiet right now making poor fodder for attention grabbing headlines.  Both buyers and sellers seem content to sit on the sidelines waiting.  For what?  For a reason to act.  The most obvious motivator would be lower interest rates.

 

Demand is currently 22% below normal. In fact, it dropped below normal in June of 2022 where it has remained ever since.  Not shockingly, that shift was a response to the jump in interest rates.   But the real story is not lack of demand, but rather lack of supply.  Supply currently is at 52% below normal and is 40% below last year.  In fact, supply hasn’t been at normal levels since 2011 (although we briefly approached normal in 2014).  It is not an overstatement to say the valley is chronically undersupplied, despite a healthy new build market creating new supply.  

 

As the Cromford Report explains: “So far in the third quarter of 2023 we have seen 7,447 new listings. The equivalent number last year was 12,439 and in 2021 it was 11,712. We are down 40% from last year and down 36% from 2021. This annual drop in new supply is unprecedented and is having a far bigger impact on the market than the affordability issues caused by the high interest rates.” (Emphasis added)

 

What is going on with supply?  There is a simple answer.  Roughly 4 in 5 homeowners with mortgages have an interest rate below 5%, and nearly one-quarter have a rate below 3% according to Redfin.  Low interest rates are handcuffing sellers to their current home – as very few want to or are able to double their interest rate to change homes.

 

Neither buyers nor sellers seem anxious to act, creating a very low transaction market. But there is some movement in this stillness: prices.  Let us explain. Lack of supply has kept our market gently favoring sellers.  When demand – even tepid demand – is higher than supply, prices rise.  Admittedly, this is a slow rise in pricing compared to the last 3 years.  But by the end of the year we likely will see our annual appreciation come in between 5-8% on average.

 

The Cromford Report further confirms this:

Some badly informed observers still think there is a bubble popping situation ahead, but they completely misunderstand the situation. For prices to fall, we have to have an excess supply compared to demand. Even though demand is very weak, supply actually got 2.6% smaller over the last month. There is very low delinquency in residential real estate lending right now, so it takes a ridiculous leap of great imagination to believe that foreclosures are going to have any significant effect on supply in the foreseeable future.

 

… we have a seller's market where overall pressure on prices is up not down, despite the lack of enthusiasm on both sides of the negotiation. Once we get to the end of September and it starts to cool down, the luxury market will be fully contributing to the price numbers…

 

When will the market heat up again? That depends on demand rising – dropping interest rates alone are likely to spark demand.  Typically, demand reacts far more quickly to change than supply.  But supply is soon to follow.  If nothing else, time will overcome static conditions.  For a market that favors sellers – it is a good time to sell.  Buyers as well should be buying in low volume marketplace.  When the volume shifts, they will find the competition makes for a much more stressful buying experience.

 

Russell & Wendy

 

(Mostly Wendy)

 

 

𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀

 

Supply is down 52% below normal

 

4 out of 5 homeowners have an interest rate below 5% handcuffing them to their loan

 

Demand is down 22% below normal

 

Prices are gently rising in market that favors sellers

 

Low activity from sellers and buyers primarily due to interest rates

Posted in Market Conditions
July 20, 2023

Market Snapshot July 2023

The Valley Real Estate Market – It’s a Dry Heat

 

The market in the last few weeks is in the midst of a slight cooling trend (a phrase that sounds like an oxymoron given the record heat the valley is enduring). This is evidenced by the slowly increasing inventory.  The seller advantage in most areas and price points continues to hold – even if at a rather subdued level.  Additionally, the luxury market goes quiet in the summer, as those with a choice flee the valley. 

 According to the Cromford Report, the active supply of homes for sale is down 27% compared to this time last year and down a whopping 38% from the peak of October 2022.  Despite the slight cooling trend – these numbers confirm that prices will continue their gentle rise over the next 3-5 months.

 Some interesting numbers to consider courtesy of the Cromford Report:

 Once luxury sales over $1M are removed from the trend line, price appreciation from December through June goes from +7.7% to +4.9%. This means the average property has gone up in value 4.9% Dec-June.

 Over 57% of resale sellers in Greater Phoenix have owned their homes for more than 3 years, property values have appreciated 40% or more over that time and are maintaining.  This makes the point that real estate is typically a sound investment long term - if one even considers 3 years “long term”.

The whole of 2021 and the first 4 months of 2022 witnessed inventory levels of less than 1 month. This is extremely low and is what led to the rapidly increasing prices over this time-frame. The fast decline in demand during 2Q and 3Q 2022 led to inventory levels around 3.5 months by November. This is not a high level. In fact it would be considered normal. However prices dropped during the second half of 2022 because of panic among investors and iBuyers. Both feared a declining market and by being in a rush to sell, caused their concern to materialize as a self-fulfilling prophecy

 

Over the last several weeks, supply has started to edge upward again, meaning that the market is slowly cooling down. This is obviously due to poor affordability brought about by interest rates going over 7% again. However inventory would need to double from its current level for us to get back to a normal balanced situation at 3.5 months. No reason for panic in 2023.

 

What a perfect ending.  No reason for panic in 2023.

 

Russell & Wendy Shaw

(mostly Wendy)

Posted in Market Conditions
June 21, 2023

Market Snapshot June 2023

𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗦𝗻𝗮𝗽𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘁

 

𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆: Supply has been slowly dwindling all year as sellers have elected to stay put given their current low interest rate mortgages.  We have already dropped below last year in supply. As of today, the current supply of properties for sale is 11,609.  For perspective, a balanced market typically occurs with active listings at around 25,000.  As the Cromford Report shares:   New listings continue to be insufficient in replacing properties that have gone under contract, resulting in overall supply dropping an average of 151 listings per week within the last month.  All areas in the valley favor sellers with the exception of two - Buckeye and Maricopa which are currently balanced.  Further afield, Casa Grande remains in a buyer’s market.

 

𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱: Just like supply, demand remains below normal although stronger than supply.  Hence the dropping number of homes for sale.  Investor purchases are back to normal levels finally allowing for FHA buyers to compete for homes.  Per the Cromford Report:  FHA increased the amount of money they’re willing to loan to $530K. They also lowered their Mortgage insurance premiums by $100s on monthly payments annually. These changes have resulted in the market share of closings in Greater Phoenix funded by FHA to go from just 9% in April 2022 to 22% in April 2023 on sales under $600K.

 

Even with the market favoring sellers – over 50% of the sales between 200K-500K involve the sellers contributing towards buyer’s closing costs and interest rate buydowns.  Additionally, in May many lenders began to offer new down payment assistance programs with just 1% down focused on first time home buyers (defined as anyone not owning a home in the last 3 years!) Both of these encourage buyers get in to homes regardless of the rates.  

 

𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀When demand outpaces supply (as it does currently) prices rise. While we are not yet back to 2022 pricing, the median sales price has recovered 5% since December and looks likely to meet 2022 pricing by the 4th quarter.

 

𝗔 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗲:

Demand can change far more rapidly than supply.  Especially demand that is artificially suppressed by interest rates.  If rates drop, we could see this market quickly tilt strongly in favor of sellers.  In any case, the marketplace is showing no signs of improving for buyers.  If you’re a buyer, it would seem wise to act now.

 

Russell & Wendy Shaw

(mostly Wendy)

 

 

Posted in Market Conditions
June 2, 2023

Market Update June 2023

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆'𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝘂𝗽𝗯𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱 Getting Bare

 

 Most are now aware that the low supply of housing inventory is currently the driving force in the valley’s real estate marketplace.  According to the Cromford Index, supply is down a whopping 42% from the peak of October 2022. Where have all the sellers gone?  Answer: they are staying home and hanging on to their low interest rates.  When will that all change?  Either when market conditions (interest rates, economy, shifts in pricing) prompt change or with life changes (divorce, marriage, illness, job loss/change, relocation).  Moves can only be put off for so long – whether buyer or seller.

 

To that point, we saw a sudden drop in demand as interest rates spiked in 2022. Yet even with rates currently only moderately lower than their peak – demand has picked up.  Buyers needed time to adapt to the change in rates.  Eventually, time wins over inertia and the need to move forces action.  This rise in demand is continuing to put pressure on prices to rise, albeit more gently than in years past.  

 

While demand tends to be volatile – supply is generally not.  Large jumps in supply typically only come from market manipulation or catastrophe.  Nearly everyone shivers at the mention of the 2008 market – a shining example of catastrophe if ever there was one.  The valley currently has the lowest number of delinquency rates and foreclosures in history.  No catastrophe lurking around the corner for now.

 

The point is this – supply is scarce at the moment and getting scarcer.  The supply needed is not on the immediate horizon.  That means prices are rising as they must when demand outpaces supply.  But as usual, this is more nuanced as explained by Michael Orr of the Cromford Report:

 

Those who predict more drops in sales prices will have to explain where a vast new supply is going to come from. Prices only drop when there is a glut of homes coming to market and not enough buyers. In the current circumstances, this is looking very unlikely.

 

Prices remain far higher than they were before 2022, and have rising [sic] from below $267 in early January to above $281 in mid-May. The rate of increase over the past 4 months could be described as modest, but that would be a little unfair. A 6.6% rise between week 2 and week 20 is equivalent to an annual appreciation rate of 18%.

 

Do we expect this more-than-modest rate to continue? No. From May through September the weather in Central Arizona gets a little toasty but the housing market usually gets cooler, at least where average $/SF is concerned… the average $/SF tends to go flat or even decline during this period in most years. The main exception was 2020, which was due to the sharp rebound after the initial COVID panic during the spring.

 

In most years with a healthy CMI, like 2023, we expect the majority of the upward price movements to occur between January and May and between October and December. Our tentative expectation is that prices will remain roughly flat (or dip slightly) from now until October and then rise again during the fourth quarter, as long as nothing dramatic occurs to change our assumptions.

 

This projection means that we expect to overtake the 2022 price line during September or October and finish the year well ahead of December 2022. It is unlikely that in 2023 we will exceed the peak of May/June 2022, which was fueled by over-excitement among the institutional buyers and iBuyers…

 

All this assumes conditions remain largely similar to today. The further out we look, the less we can rely on this assumption. Anything more than 2 months into the future should be taken as conjecture rather than a forecast.

 

𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀:

 

- Delinquencies are at all time lows.  Therefore foreclosures are at all time lows

- Prices are not going down

- Builders are not building in sufficient quantity to fix supply shortage

 

If you are a buyer – it is time to buy.  Ignore the doom and gloom of the media and pundits – we have a supply problem that cannot be solved this year.  If you are a seller, remember that eventually supply will show up.  Take advantage of an empty cupboard.

 

Russell & Wendy Shaw

(mostly Wendy)

Posted in Market Conditions