Balanced Market Predicted in 2016

December 9, 2015
2016 Real Estate Market
A number of positive signs point to a balanced market with benefits for both homebuyers and sellers in 2016.

By Jeffrey S. Detwiler, President & COO, The Long & Foster Companies

This year has brought steady improvements in the real estate market. Prices rose driven by lower inventory in many markets, and consumers remained relatively optimistic about the economy and its direction—an encouraging indicator for real estate. While the long-anticipated increase in interest rates will likely occur in 2016, a number of positive signs point to a balanced market with benefits for both homebuyers and sellers in the next year. For example, an increased supply of inventory and slightly more transactions are expected in 2016. Home prices are forecasted to see modest improvements as well.

Interest rates remain low with housing still very affordable

Historically low interest rates have remained in place the past few years, adding to the affordability of homes. While the Federal Reserve has indicated that short-term interest rates will be raised as the economy improves, economists expect mortgage rates to rise minimally over the next year. Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors, for example, has said that he expects mortgage rates to stay under 5 percent for most of 2016. (1)

As an example, you’d pay $141.75 more per month on a $300,000 loan if the interest rate increased from 4.0 percent (the average for third quarter 2015) to 4.8 percent (the forecasted rate for fourth quarter of 2016). (2) Yet while higher interest rates will lead to higher monthly mortgage payments, many borrowers aren’t concerned about the increases unless rates pass the 6 percent threshold, according to a recent study by Trulia. (3)

First-time buyers on the rise

First-time buyers play a critical role in driving the real estate market forward, and 2016 is well positioned to see a rise in these first timers. While the current percentage of first-time buyers is below the historic average of about 40 percent, it is continuing to rise. Further, first-time buyers were estimated to have driven 45 percent of the growth in sales in the past year.(4) With rents continuing to climb in most housing markets and prices increasing, first-time buyers will be motivated to make the move in 2016. Additionally, while home prices have increased, financing costs remain low, making homeownership more appealing to first-time buyers.

Credit restrictions to loosen up

An obstacle for many would-be buyers earlier this decade was the difficulty of qualifying for a home loan or saving sufficient funds for a down payment and closing costs. Some new loan programs, though, allow buyers, particularly first-timers, to make a down payment as low as 3 percent of the purchase price. In addition, tweaks to lending standards are beginning to encourage lenders to be more lenient with borrowers. While good credit and a reasonable debt-to-income ratio are mandatory for a loan approval, borrowers may be surprised in the coming year to find that they can qualify for a mortgage more easily than in past years.

If you’ve made the decision to buy, sell or move up into your next home, Long & Foster Real Estate offers multiple services that can help you find, finance and insure your home. Representatives of Prosperity Home Mortgage are available in most Long & Foster offices to assist prospective buyers with financing. A professional Realtor can work with first-time buyers and more experienced buyers for a smooth transition. In addition, Long & Foster agents have a range of contractors they can recommend to provide home maintenance service to buyers and sellers before and after they buy a home.

About the Author

Jeffrey S. Detwiler is president and chief operating officer of The Long & Foster Companies, parent company to Long & Foster Real Estate, the No. 1 family-owned real estate company in the United States, and Prosperity Home Mortgage, LLC, a full-service mortgage banker. From extensive, neighborhood-level market information to Long & Foster’s core services companies, providing mortgage, settlement, insurance and property management services in a streamlined manner, Long & Foster offers the services necessary to make today’s real estate transactions manageable for owners and investors.

Resources

  1. Northern Virginia Association of Realtors Economic Summit, Sept. 9
  2. Mortgage Bankers Association, Mortgage Finance Forecast, November 2015, and Bankrate.com mortgage calculator to estimate the monthly payments
  3. Trulia, Americans NOT Too Worried About Rising Mortgage Rates, Sept. 17
  4. Consumer Affairs, Where did the first-time homebuyers go?, Oct. 26

*The information contained in this article is not intended to be and does not constitute financial or investment advice.