Median sale prices rose in the greater Philadelphia real estate market in May, according to Long & Foster’s Market Minute report. Delaware County experienced a 14% rise in median sale price followed by Philadelphia County with a 9% increase. A decline in inventory continues across the region and units sold were also on a downward tick except for in Bucks County, which experienced a modest 2% increase in homes sold.
The Long & Foster Real Estate Market Minute report for the Philadelphia region includes Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties.
Sales have been slowing down in many areas, including Philadelphia, which is due to a number of factors including low inventory. Gary Scott, president of Long & Foster Real Estate, says it’s also partially due to buyer wants.
“In general, today’s home buyer wants a home that is updated and like-new, even if it’s not new,” Scott said. “Many people can’t afford new homes, so the scarcity of affordable homes will continue until we can provide quality construction that is affordable.”
Home flipping seems to be on the rise due to people making money in the recent rise of the stock market and wanting to diversify their investments, said Scott. “Factors are favorable for home flippers – rates are low, appreciation is high, and a home can be rented if it can’t be flipped.”
Currently, there is a unique trend of people renting single family homes in nice neighborhoods with good school districts, Scott said. “Some people would rather pay rent, as renting provides them with flexibility and saves them from having to come up with the down payment to purchase the same kind of home,” he said.
Scott also discussed the rise in email wire fraud schemes and cautioned consumers to be aware of them. “If you get something by email that doesn’t look quite right, it probably isn’t right,” said Scott. “Scams can happen anytime, but we are especially vulnerable when we are involved in a transaction, like buying a home. We all have a tendency to want to get things done fast.”
If a consumer receives such an email, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau advises them to confirm directly with a trusted representative like their agent or title company, rather than calling the phone number provided in the email or responding to it.
While real estate information available to the consumer is vast, navigating it by oneself is not easy, commented Scott. “Having an expert on your team is important,” he said. “You’ve got your accountant and your financial advisor – you also need a real estate advisor as part of your team, to help you maneuver the complexities of this market.”
To learn more about your local market conditions, visit Long & Foster’s Market Insights. You can also learn more about Long & Foster and find an agent at LongandFoster.com.