Buying July 27, 2022

Want To Buy a Home? Now May Be the Time.

Want To Buy a Home? Now May Be the Time.

Want To Buy a Home? Now May Be the Time. | MyKCM

There are more homes for sale today than at any time last year. So, if you tried to buy a home last year and were outbid or out priced, now may be your opportunity. The number of homes for sale in the U.S. has been growing over the past four months as rising mortgage rates help slow the frenzy the housing market saw during the pandemic.

Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at the National Association of Realtors (NAR), explains why the shifting market creates a window of opportunity for you:

“This is an opportunity for people with a secure job to jump into the market, when other people are a little hesitant because of a possible recession. . . They’ll have fewer buyers to compete with.”

Two Reasons There Are More Homes for Sale

The first reason the market is seeing more homes available for sale is the number of sales happening each month has decreased. This slowdown has been caused by rising mortgage rates and rising home prices, leading many to postpone or put off buying. The graph below uses data from realtor.com to show how active real estate listings have risen over the past four months as a result.

Want To Buy a Home? Now May Be the Time. | MyKCM

The second reason the market is seeing more homes available for sale is because the number of people selling their homes is also rising. The graph below outlines new monthly listings coming onto the market compared to last year. As the graph shows, for the past three months, more people have put their homes on the market than the previous year.

Want To Buy a Home? Now May Be the Time. | MyKCM

Bottom Line

The number of homes for sale across the country is growing, and that means more options for those thinking about buying a home. This is the opportunity many have been waiting for who were outbid or out priced last year.

BuyingSelling July 13, 2022

Expert Housing Market Forecasts for the Second Half of the Year

Expert Housing Market Forecasts for the Second Half of the Year

Expert Housing Market Forecasts for the Second Half of the Year | MyKCM

The housing market is at a turning point, and if you’re thinking of buying or selling a home, that may leave you wondering: is it still a good time to buy a home? Should I make a move this year? To help answer those questions, let’s turn to the experts for projections on what the second half of the year holds for residential real estate.

Where Mortgage Rates Will Go Depends on Inflation

While one of the big questions on all buyers’ minds is where will mortgage rates go in the months ahead, no one has a crystal ball to know exactly what’ll happen in the future. What housing market experts know for sure is that the record-low mortgage rates during the pandemic were an outlier, not the norm.

This year, rates have climbed over 2% due to the Federal Reserve’s response to rising inflation. If inflation continues to rise, it’s likely that mortgage rates will respond. Greg McBride, Chief Financial Analyst at Bankrateexplains it well:

“Until inflation peaks, mortgage rates won’t either. Without improvement on the inflation front, we don’t know where the interest rate ceiling will be.”

Whether you’re buying your first home or selling your current house to make a move, today’s mortgage rate is an important factor to consider. When rates rise, they impact affordability and your purchasing power. That’s why it’s crucial to work with a team of professionals, so you have expert advice to help you make an informed decision about your best move.

The Supply of Homes for Sale Projected To Continue Increasing

This year, particularly this spring, the number of homes for sale has grown. That’s partly due to more homeowners listing their houses, but also because higher mortgage rates have helped ease the intensity of buyer demand. Moderating buyer demand slows down the pace of home sales, which in turn helps inventory rise.

Experts say that growth will continue. Recently, realtor.com updated their 2022 inventory forecast. In the latest release, they increased their projections for inventory gains dramatically, going from a 0.3% increase at the beginning of the year to a 15.0% jump by the end of 2022 (see graph below):

Expert Housing Market Forecasts for the Second Half of the Year | MyKCM

More homes to choose from is great news if you’re craving more options for your home search – just know that there isn’t a sudden surplus of inventory on the horizon. Housing supply is still low, so you’ll need to partner with an agent to stay on top of what’s available in your market and move fast when you find the one. It’s not going to be easy to find a home, but it certainly won’t be as difficult as it has been over the past two years.

Home Price Forecasts Call for Ongoing Appreciation

Due to the imbalance between the number of homes for sale and the number of buyers looking to make a purchase, the pandemic led to record-breaking increases in home prices. According to CoreLogic, homes appreciated by 15% in 2021, and they’ve continued to rise this year.

Even though housing supply is increasing today, there are still more buyers than there are homes for sale, and that’s maintaining the upward pressure on home prices. That’s why experts are not calling for prices to decline, rather they’re forecasting they’ll continue to climb, just at a more moderate pace this year. On average, homes are projected to appreciate by about 8.5% in 2022 (see graph below):

Expert Housing Market Forecasts for the Second Half of the Year | MyKCM

Selma Hepp, Deputy Chief Economist at CoreLogic, explains why the housing market will see deceleration, but not depreciation, in prices:

“The current home price growth rate is unsustainable, and higher mortgage rates coupled with more inventory will lead to slower home price growth but unlikely declines in home prices.

For current homeowners looking to sell, know your home’s value isn’t projected to fall, but waiting to make your purchase does mean your next home could cost more as home prices continue to appreciate. That’s why, if you’re thinking about buying your first home or you’re ready to make a move, it may make sense to do so now before prices climb higher. But rest assured, once you buy a home, that price appreciation will help grow the value of your investment.

Bottom Line

Whether you’re a homebuyer or seller, you need to know what’s happening in the housing market, so you can make the most informed decision possible. Let’s connect to discuss your goals and what lies ahead, so you can determine the best plan for your move.

Selling July 7, 2022

How Your Equity Can Grow over Time

How Your Equity Can Grow over Time

How Your Equity Can Grow over Time | MyKCM

It’s true that record levels of home price appreciation have spurred significant equity gains for homeowners over the past few years. As Diana Olick, Real Estate Correspondent at CNBC, says:

“The stunning jump in home values over the course of the Covid-19 pandemic has given U.S. homeowners record amounts of housing wealth.”

That’s great for your home’s value over the last couple of years, but what if you’ve lived in your home for longer than that? You may be wondering how much equity you truly have.

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) has done a study to calculate the typical equity gains over longer spans of time. The data they compiled could be enough to motivate you to move. Just remember, to find out how much equity you have in your specific home, you’ll want to get a professional equity assessment from a trusted real estate advisor.

How Your Equity Grows

Let’s start by establishing how you build equity in your home. While price appreciation is clearly a factor that can help boost your equity, you also build equity over time as you pay down your home loan. NAR explains:

Home equity gains are built up through price appreciation and by paying off the mortgage through principal payments.

Average Equity Growth over Time

The study from NAR breaks down the typical equity gain over time (see graph below). It calculates the equity a homeowner potentially gained if they purchased the median-priced home 5, 10, or 30 years ago and still own it today.

How Your Equity Can Grow over Time | MyKCM

These six-figure numbers are impressive and certainly enough to help you fuel a move into your next home, but they’re not a promised amount. Remember, your own equity gain will be different. It depends on how long you’ve been in the house, your home’s condition, any upgrades you’ve made, your area, and much more.

If you want to find out how much equity you have, partner with a trusted real estate professional for an equity assessment on your home. They can provide an expert opinion on what your house is worth today and how the equity you’ve gained over time can help you when you purchase your next home. It may be some (if not all) of what you need for your next down payment.

Bottom Line

If you’re thinking about selling your house and making a move, home equity can be a real game-changer, especially if you’ve been in your current home for a while. If you’re ready to find out how much equity you have, let’s connect.

Buying June 28, 2022

A Key Opportunity for Homebuyers

A Key Opportunity for Homebuyers

A Key Opportunity for Homebuyers | MyKCM

There’s no denying the housing market has delivered a fair share of challenges to homebuyers over the past two years. Two of the biggest hurdles homebuyers faced during the pandemic were the limited number of homes for sale and the intensity and frequency of bidding wars. But those two things have reached a turning point.

As you may have already heard, the number of homes for sale has increased this year, and even more so this spring. As Danielle Hale, Chief Economist for realtor.comexplains:

New listings–a measure of sellers putting homes up for sale–were up 6% above one year ago. Home sellers in many markets across the country continue to benefit from rising home prices and fast-selling homes. That’s prompted a growing number of homeowners to sell homes this year compared to last, giving home shoppers much needed options.”

This is encouraging news. More homes coming onto the market give you a greater chance of finding one that checks all your boxes.

Buyer Competition Moderating Helps Inventory Grow Even More

Mark Fleming, Chief Economist at First Americansays inventory growth is happening not just because there’s an increase in the number of listings coming onto the market, but also because buyer demand has moderated some in light of higher mortgage rates and other economic factors:

There has been a pickup in the inventory that we’ve seen recently, but it’s not from a big increase in new listings . . . but rather a slowdown in the pace of sales. And remember that months’ supply measures the inventory of sale relative to the pace of sales. Same inventory, fewer sales, means more months’ supply.”

Basically, the market is shifting away from the frenzy of buyer competition seen during the pandemic, and that’s helping available inventory grow. In their latest forecastrealtor.com also mentions the moderation of demand as a key factor and projects the inventory growth should continue:

As rising inflation and mortgage rates bring U.S. housing demand back from the 2021 frenzy, . . . inventory will grow double-digits over 2021 and offer buyers a better-than-expected chance to find a home.”

How This Impacts You

The combination of more homes coming onto the market and a slower pace of home sales means you’ll have more options to choose from as you search for your next home. That’s great news if you’ve been searching for a while with little to no luck. Just remember, there isn’t a sudden surplus of inventory, just more homes to choose from than even a few months ago. So, you’ll still want to be decisive and move fast when you find the right home for you.

And when you do, you may be faced with less competition from other buyers too. If you’ve been waiting to jump into the market because the intensity of the bidding wars was intimidating or if you’ve been outbid on several homes, this moderation could help make the homebuying process a bit smoother. It’s not that it’ll be easy or that bidding wars are a thing of the past – that’s not the case. But it won’t feel nearly as impossible.

Bottom Line

As the housing market begins its shift back toward pre-pandemic levels, you could have a unique opportunity in front of you. With moderating levels of buyer competition and more homes actively for sale, your home search may have gotten a bit less challenging. Let’s connect to begin the process today.

BuyingSelling June 23, 2022

Homeownership Is a Great Hedge Against the Impact of Rising Inflation

Homeownership Is a Great Hedge Against the Impact of Rising Inflation

Homeownership Is a Great Hedge Against the Impact of Rising Inflation | MyKCM

If you’re following along with the news today, you’ve heard about rising inflation. Today, inflation is at a 40-year high. According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB):

“Consumer prices accelerated again in May as shelter, energy and food prices continued to surge at the fastest pace in decades. This marked the third straight month for inflation above an 8% rate and was the largest year-over-year gain since December 1981.”

With inflation rising, you’re likely feeling it impact your day-to-day life as prices go up for gas, groceries, and more. These climbing consumer costs can put a pinch on your wallet and make you re-evaluate any big purchases you have planned to ensure they’re still worthwhile.

If you’ve been thinking about purchasing a home this year, you’re probably wondering if you should continue down that path or if it makes more sense to wait. While the answer depends on your situation, here’s how homeownership can help you combat the rising costs that come with inflation.

Homeownership Helps You Stabilize One of Your Biggest Monthly Expenses

Investopedia explains that during a period of high inflation, prices rise across the board. That’s true for things like food, entertainment, and other goods and services, even housing. Both rental prices and home prices are on the rise. So, as a buyer, how can you protect yourself from increasing costs? The answer lies in homeownership.

Buying a home allows you to stabilize what’s typically your biggest monthly expense: your housing cost. When you have a fixed-rate mortgage on your home, you lock in your monthly payment for the duration of your loan, often 15 to 30 years. James Royal, Senior Wealth Management Reporter at Bankratesays:

A fixed-rate mortgage allows you to maintain the biggest portion of housing expenses at the same payment. Sure, property taxes will rise and other expenses may creep up, but your monthly housing payment remains the same. That’s certainly not the case if you’re renting.”

So even if other prices increase, your housing payment will be a reliable amount that can help keep your budget in check. If you rent, you don’t have that same benefit, and you won’t be protected from rising housing costs.

Investing in an Asset That Historically Outperforms Inflation

While it’s true rising home prices and higher mortgage rates mean that buying a house today costs more than it did even a few months ago, you still have an opportunity to set yourself up for a long-term win. That’s because, in inflationary times, you want to be invested in an asset that outperforms inflation and typically holds or grows in value.

The graph below shows how the average home price appreciation outperformed the average inflation rate in most decades going all the way back to the seventies – making homeownership a historically strong hedge against inflation (see graph below):

Homeownership Is a Great Hedge Against the Impact of Rising Inflation | MyKCM

So, what does that mean for you? Today, experts forecast home prices will only go up from here thanks to the ongoing imbalance of supply and demand. Once you buy a house, any home price appreciation that does occur will grow your equity and your net worth. And since homes are typically assets that grow in value, you have peace of mind that history shows your investment is a strong one.

That means, if you’re ready and able, it makes sense to buy today before prices rise further.

Bottom Line

If you’ve been thinking about buying a home this year, it makes sense to act soon, even with inflation rising. That way you can stabilize your monthly housing cost and invest in an asset that historically outperforms inflation. If you’re ready to get started, let’s connect so you have expert advice on your specific situation when you’re ready to buy a home.

Selling June 17, 2022

Home Price Deceleration Doesn’t Mean Home Price Depreciation

Home Price Deceleration Doesn’t Mean Home Price Depreciation

Home Price Deceleration Doesn’t Mean Home Price Depreciation | MyKCM

Experts in the real estate industry use a number of terms when they talk about what’s happening with home prices. And some of those words sound a bit similar but mean very different things. To help clarify what’s happening with home prices and where experts say they’re going, here’s a look at a few terms you may hear:

  • Appreciation is when home prices increase.
  • Depreciation is when home prices decrease.
  • Deceleration is when home prices continue to appreciate, but at a slower pace.

Where Home Prices Have Been in Recent Years

For starters, you’ve probably heard home prices have skyrocketed over the past two years, but homes were actually appreciating long before that. You might be surprised to learn that home prices have climbed for 122 consecutive months (see graph below):

Home Price Deceleration Doesn’t Mean Home Price Depreciation | MyKCM

As the graph shows, houses have gained value consistently over the past 10 consecutive years. But since 2020, the increase has been more dramatic as home price growth accelerated.

So why did home prices climb so much? It’s because there were more buyers than there were homes for sale. That imbalance put upward pressure on home prices because demand was high and supply was low.

Where Experts Say Home Prices Are Going

While this is helpful context, if you’re a buyer or seller in today’s market, you probably want to know what’s going to happen with home prices moving forward. Will they continue that same growth path or will home prices fall?

Experts are forecasting ongoing appreciation, just at a decelerated pace. In other words, prices will keep climbing, just not as fast as they have been. The graph below shows home price forecasts from seven industry leaders. None are calling for prices to fall (see graph below):

Home Price Deceleration Doesn’t Mean Home Price Depreciation | MyKCM

Mark Fleming, Chief Economist at First American, identifies a key reason why home prices won’t depreciate or drop:

In today’s housing market, demand for homes continues to outpace supply, which is keeping the pressure on house prices, so don’t expect house prices to decline.”

And although housing supply is starting to tick up, it’s not enough to make home prices decline because there’s still a gap between the number of homes available for sale and the volume of buyers looking to make a purchase.

Terry Loebs, Founder of the research firm Pulsenomics, notes that most real estate experts and economists anticipate home prices will continue rising. As he puts it:

“With home values at record-high levels and a vast majority of experts projecting additional price increases this year and beyond, home prices and expectations remain buoyant.”

Bottom Line

Experts forecast price deceleration, not depreciation. That means home prices will continue to rise, just at a slower pace. Let’s connect so you can get the full picture of what’s happening with home prices in our local market and to discuss your buying and selling goals.

Buying May 17, 2022

Why the ‘Burbs Have Always Been Amazing

Living in the Greater Seattle since the late 90s has afforded me the opportunity to watch what was once known as “that place Sleepless in Seattle was filmed” and the home of Nirvana transform in to a new mecca for the tech industry. Seattle and the surrounding areas North and South, specifically Everett, Renton and Tacoma have been transitioning from cities of manufacturing to cities of imagination and technology.

As an adult, was able to grow as the area has grown… from working in sales and retail to working in tech and real estate. The concept of working from home is something I sought and found and has gone from a unique work environment to more of a standard in today’s world. Yes, as a young man there was a draw to live in the city, close to all the fun and life. Belltown and Capitol Hill was were you wanted to be close to. Food, fun and friends.

And yet… when I searched for my first home, I knew that this is not where I could afford to live. So I moved to Silver Lake in South Everett. I was able to afford a bigger house with more room for my family and I to grow in to. And now, as my career has required even more space for a home office and us expecting the birth of our first child, I am happy we made the choice to live in the suburbs.

Seattle no longer owns the only place where you can find food, friends and fun. Suburban neighborhoods have grown. People are willing to commute just a little bit in order to enjoy more space when they get home.

Are you weighing the pros and cons? Let’s talk and make sure we find the right situation for you and your future.

 

 

Buying May 17, 2022

Hard to Get to Where You are Going Without Knowing Where You Are

“I want to buy a house but I can’t afford to pay a mortgage”

“The market is crazy and everybody is getting priced out”

“I’ll wait for the bubble to burst.”

“I have to work on my credit first”

“I don’t have enough for a down payment”

“I can’t compete”

Have you had any of these thoughts creep in to your mind? Maybe instead of creep, do these thoughts yell at you when you think of buying your first home? How hopeless is it? Are any of these questions even relevant to you today? You will never know if you don’t ask. And this is not a solution that comes from within. This is not something you can take a deep breath on and get the answer to. Asking yourself these questions and looking for a positive response is an exercise in insanity.

So what next?

Ask a professional! Reading headlines, discussing with friends and family in similar situations can lead to a vicious cycle of negativity. And then you’re paralyzed.

Instead why don’t you try this:

Talk to somebody who can give you an actual answer.

Assemble your team to get you what you want. Believe it or not there are people out there whose purpose is to help others get in to homes. People who want to look out for the best interest of their circle and those who choose to reach out.

And yes… I am one of those people.

This starts with a consultation. A conversation. A chat. Don’t worry. This is all about asking you about where you are and setting in motion steps in buying your first home… if that is what YOU want. I’ll use my knowledge as a former mortgage professional to ask you questions about your current financial situation (credit score, debt, savings, income, time in job, etc.). Rest assured that this will be painless and without judgement or prejudice. Through this session I can help you determine your next steps and even connect you with current mortgage professionals who can help you in your qualification process. And this will feel stress-free. One of the superpowers I have honed through my consultative background is gathering information without you feeling “sold to” or like just “the next transaction.” We’re just going to talk. The next steps will be yours to take, but you won’t have to be alone any more. And even better… we can do this via web!

It’s absolutely OK and even healthy to read articles about the current housing market. This is especially true when you are determining whether you will be jumping in to the foray yourself! Just keep in mind that there are markets within markets and have knowledge and experience within these markets is what will be most relevant to you. Let me help with this as your hyper local real estate resource.

Remember… it all starts with a chat. =)

When you are ready to get answers to YOUR questions and want somebody to be in your corner, let me be the first person on your team. Let me help you assemble your team and I promise we will work together for you.

 

Ready to take that first step? Send me a DM and we will get you going.

 

 

 

Buying May 12, 2022

What Not to Do When in Process of Buying a Home.

You’ve done it! You have taken the first steps in buying your home and have gotten prequalified by a trusted mortgage professional. You have gone out and started looking at homes online and maybe even toured a few you were interested in. Maybe you even have an offer that has gotten accepted and are now working toward CLOSING on your home!!!

All of these are reasons to celebrate. You have done the work and are approaching a huge milestone.

*If any of these are on the horizon, make sure you discuss with your real estate agent AND your mortgage professional to see how/if they affect you.

1. Job Change – There are times when opportunities come up and you may want to jump because the timing seems to work out. You are about to buy a house AND get a better job? JACKPOT!

BUT

  • If the job is in a different profession/field/career than what you are currently doing, this can affect your pre-qualification.
  • Lending institutions typically look at 2 years of income as a basic requirement for their loans.
  • Even if the new job pays you MORE, this could negatively affect your loan

2. Open New Credit – you want to buy new furniture, gym equipment, kitchen appliances or a car for your new home and new life. And there is low/zero % financing program? SIGN ME UP!

BUT

  • Opening new accounts can impact your credit score which can impact your rate.
  • New accounts can even affect the type of loan program you qualify for.
  • New accounts opened during the process of buying a home can look like a red flag for lenders

3. Closing Old Credit Accounts

    • Similar to the example above this can have all the same effects as opening new credit.

4. Receiving out of the ordinary large deposits

    • Remember that when lending institutions look at your financial picture and approve you for your loan, they approve you based on the picture they have at the time. If you change the picture during the process, that could be a red flag.
    • Also remember that “gift money” can be accepted for different loan programs but the amount and maturity (time in your account) can vary depending on the program.

These are the major moves to AVOID. If you feel like you might make any of these mistakes,

TALK TO YOUR LENDER FIRST.

Don’t end up a real estate meme. You’re better than that. Especially now that you have read this!

Have more questions? Reach out and let’s chat!

Buying May 12, 2022

Renting vs. Buying – Which is Right for YOU?

Did you read the title? Then you might assume that my answer as a real estate professional will always be BUY, BUY, BUY. And you would almost be right. Why almost? Keep reading!

The reason why my answer may not always be BUY has everything to do with what is right for you and those who rely on you. Will buying a home put you in a difficult financial position unnecessarily? Are there specific circumstances that would prevent you from being able to commit to buying a home? Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why it might be better for you to rent for now.

  1. Uncertainty with regard to future income – are you looking at changing careers soon which may negatively impact your income? Are you going to take an initial step back to switch careers? Is your company going through expected down-sizing and you are unsure about your status?
  • If you answered “YES” to any of these then it might be right to pause your home buying process. The money you have in reserves (savings/investments) may be more important as a safety net than in a home.
  • A “YES” to any of these questions is usually a TEMPORARY situation. Keep reading to see why BUYING when you have clarity on your situation is important. HINT: it’s all about your long-term financial health and wealth.
  1. Expected Life Change – will you be moving away from the area you would like to buy in soon? Will you be getting married? Are you expecting an addition to your family imminently?
  • Let’s tackle the first situation – if you know you will be moving away in less time than a full rental lease period, then it may not make sense to purchase a home. Keep in mind that if you have to SELL a property there are costs that may affect your equity gains. The caveat: if you want to be able to purchase a home and then convert the property into an investment, then the answer may still be to BUY.
  • You are getting married (congratulations!) – you are planning your wedding and currently rent (with or without your significant other). If the stress from the wedding is consuming your life and you don’t feel like you can tackle another major life event, its OK! The financial and emotional rigors of wedding planning can take a toll on individuals and on the relationship itself (by the way… I do know one of THE BEST wedding and event planners in the Greater Seattle Area). We can still chat and plan to plan after your special day =)
  • You are expecting and addition to your family CONGRATULATIONS! – I am an unapologetically proud girl-dad and find joy in welcoming any new addition to the lives of those around me. If you are currently in a place that can accommodate you AND your little one/s, then go ahead! Rent for now! This also brings along potential financial adjustments and you may want to assess those before jumping in to your home.
  1. Your current living situation is ideal AND financially beneficial
    • Are you living at a family member’s rental unit with well below-market rent? You have your own space and have no upcoming life changes that would change the agreement. Then by all means keep renting!

BUT…

Now we look at why it would still be beneficial to BUY even when it means some sacrifices in life style.

  1. You start building equity – The Greater Seattle housing market has appreciated an average of 9% every year over the past XXXX years. This means that the sooner you purchase your home, the sooner you get to start building that equity.
  2. This also means that the longer you wait there is a likelihood that the same home will cost you more.
  • That $600,000 house could cost $654,000 next year.
  • Every $10,000 in price is about $60/month in mortgage payments
  • You are paying somebody else’s mortgage instead of your own. – Yes, this is obvious but should not be left assumed. Now it’s stated.
  • You are missing out on tax deductions – have you talked to a CPA recently? If you are a well earning person and have zero or minimal deductions, they have probably already recommended that you purchase a home so you can at least gain some deductions on your income while also controlling an appreciating asset.

You really CAN BUY but just need someone to help you – ENTER Charles Dizon!

    • Yes this is tongue-in-cheek but it does not make it any less true.
    • If all you need is someone to manage the process and find you your home, I can do that while taking as much stress away from the process as possible.

I want whatever is best for YOU. If you have read through this and none of the examples I have shared speak to you, then maybe it’s TIME TO REACH OUT. At worst we will have a great conversation. At best we get you started towards building your financial future.

Like what you read? Reply to this and tell me what you think.  Did I miss any more examples? Tell me more!