The Truth About Negative Home Equity Headlines
Home equity has been a hot topic in real estate news lately. And if you’ve been following along, you may have heard there’s a growing number of homeowners with negative equity. But don’t let those headlines scare you. In truth, the headlines don’t give you all the information you really need to understand what’s happening and at what scale. Let’s break down one of the big equity stories you may be seeing in the news, and what’s actually taking place. That way, you’ll have the context you need to understand the big picture.
Headlines Focus on Short-Term Equity Numbers and Fail To Convey the Long-Term View
One piece of news circulating focuses on the percentage of homes purchased in 2022 that are currently underwater. The term underwater refers to a scenario where the homeowner owes more on the loan than the house is worth. This was a huge issue when the housing market crashed in 2008, but it much less significant today. Media coverage right now is based loosely on a report from Black Knight, Inc. The actual report from that source says this:
“Of all homes purchased with a mortgage in 2022, 8% are now at least marginally underwater and nearly 40% have less than 10% equity stakes in their home, . . .”
Let’s unpack that for a moment and provide the bigger picture. The data-bound report from Black Knight is talking specifically about homes purchased in 2022, but media headlines don’t always mention that timeframe or provide the surrounding context about how unusual of a year 2022 was for the housing market. In 2022, home price appreciation soared, and it reached its max around March-April. Since then, the rate of appreciation has been slowing down. Homeowners who bought their house last year right at the peak or those who paid more than market value in the months that followed are more likely to fall into the category of being marginally underwater. The qualifier marginally is another key piece of the puzzle the media isn’t necessarily including in their coverage. So, what does that mean for those who purchased a home in 2022? It’s important to remember, owning a home is a long-term investment, not a short-term play. When headlines focus on the short-term view, they’re not necessarily providing the full context. Typically speaking, the longer you stay in your home, the more equity you gain as you pay down your loan and as home prices appreciate. With recent market conditions, you may not have gained significant equity right away if you owned the home for just a few months. But it’s also true that many homeowners who recently bought their house are unlikely to be looking to sell quite yet.
Bottom Line
As with everything, knowing the context is important. If you have questions about real estate headlines or about how much equity you have in your home, let’s connect.
What Experts Are Saying About the 2023 Housing Market
3 Best Practices for Selling Your House This Year
A great way to ease some of those emotions and ensure you’re feeling confident in your decision is to keep these three best practices in mind.
1. Price Your Home Right
The housing market shifted in 2022 as mortgage rates rose, buyer demand eased, and the number of homes for sale grew. As a seller, you’ll want to recognize things are different now and price your house appropriately based on where the market is today. Greg McBride, Chief Financial Analyst at Bankrate, explains:
“Price your home realistically. This isn’t the housing market of April or May, so buyer traffic will be substantially slower, but appropriately priced homes are still selling quickly.”
If you price your house too high, you run the risk of deterring buyers. And if you go too low, you’re leaving money on the table. An experienced real estate agent can help determine what your ideal asking price should be.
2. Keep Your Emotions in Check
Today, homeowners are living in their houses longer. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), since 1985, the average time a homeowner has owned their home has increased from 5 to 10 years (see graph below):
This is several years longer than what used to be the historical norm. The side effect, however, is when you stay in one place for so long, you may get even more emotionally attached to your space. If it’s the first home you bought or the house where your loved ones grew up, it very likely means something extra special to you. Every room has memories, and it’s hard to detach from the sentimental value.
For some homeowners, that makes it even harder to negotiate and separate the emotional value of the house from fair market price. That’s why you need a real estate professional to help you with the negotiations along the way.
3. Stage Your Home Properly
While you may love your decor and how you’ve customized your home over the years, not all buyers will feel the same way about your design. That’s why it’s so important to make sure you focus on your home’s first impression so it appeals to as many buyers as possible. As NAR says:
“Staging is the art of preparing a home to appeal to the greatest number of potential buyers in your market. The right arrangements can move you into a higher price-point and help buyers fall in love the moment they walk through the door.”
Buyers want to envision themselves in the space so it truly feels like it could be their own. They need to see themselves inside with their furniture and keepsakes – not your pictures and decorations. A real estate professional can help you with tips to get your house ready to sell.
Bottom Line
If you’re considering selling your house, reach out to a local real estate professional to help you navigate through the process while prioritizing these best practices.
Avoid the Rental Trap in 2023
Wondering How Much You Need To Save for a Down Payment?
What Are Your Goals in the Housing Market This Year?
The Advantages to Downsizing Now
Are you in the right-sized home? If fewer people live in your home, it may be time to consider downsizing. Several things are going on right now that make it very advantageous to downsize.
Increase Your Profits
Nationally, home values are up. It is reported that home prices are up 19.5% from September 2020 to September 2021.
Housing prices are up now because of the current low mortgage rates and a low inventory of homes on the market. Therefore, it is time to get the most for your property.
A Way to Pay Off Debt
If you still owe on your current mortgage, and your home sells for high enough, you may walk away with enough cash to purchase your downsized home outright. For example, if you owe $100,000 and sell your current home for $500,000, you will be able to buy a $300,000 home for cash and still have funds left over to pay off debts.
Or you still have the option to take advantage of the low mortgage rates and mortgage the new home and invest the profit, all while enjoying a low monthly mortgage payment.
Cutting Expenses
A smaller home in the same zip code is likely to have a smaller real estate tax bill. In the same way, a smaller home updated and in good condition is likely to have much smaller expenses for things like heating and air conditioning. You may even spend less money on maintenance and repairs.
Is it the Right Decision for You?
If you have a larger family, downsizing may not be the best choice for you. A smaller home for such a family would require many sacrifices. Also, if you plan on working remotely, the privacy and productivity a larger home allows may be invaluable.
However, if your family has moved on and you are not using your home as a base for business, downsizing may be right for you. If the decision is the right one, now is the time to get it done. If you do not require much space, the thought is worth considering.
Historic Opportunity
It is worth it to get all the facts and make the best decision for you and your loved ones. Check out Voila now to learn more.
Red Flags to Look for When Buying a Home
There can be plenty of excitement as you make plans for your new future as a first-time homebuyer. This excitement can cause you to overlook problematic details when selecting the real estate market. These red flags can lead to financial stress if you are not careful. Here are the top three red flags to look for when buying a home.
Structural Issues
When buying a home, you must look for structural issues. Problems within the foundation or walls can cost thousands of dollars to repair. Serious red flags to watch for include limited access to certain rooms, pest infestations or visible damage to the roof. Make sure to hire a home inspector to uncover any structural issues.
Numerous Homes for Sale in the Area
Many homes for sale in a particular neighborhood can be a significant red flag when buying a home. It can mean that the area is declining, crime rates are rising, or there is unwanted construction. An upside to this situation is that you may be able to negotiate a lower price with the seller.
Strange Smells
Pay attention to the smells at open houses when buying a home. Overpowering scents of air fresheners or freshly baked cookies could be attempts at masking more offensive odors. Unpleasant odors can be indications of water damage, poor ventilation or mold. Look for strange smells in closets, basements and cabinets.
Professional Real Estate Assistance for Buying a Home
Buying a home is one o the biggest investments you will make in your life. Consulting real estate professionals can help you avoid the most common red flags you may overlook while house hunting. The real estate professionals at Voila specialize in streamlining the process of buying a home so you can make the best decisions for your needs. Schedule an appointment today!
Be On Trend for 2022
When it comes to selling houses, some things never change. First, of course, you want to make sure your house and property are clean, de-cluttered and personalized. But personalized doesn’t mean your house should lack character. You want your buyer to envision themselves living in the space without having to do too much work. Since buyers are likely already looking at how to style their new home, by incorporating a few of the trends for 2022, you can set your house apart by providing them with a head start.
Neutrals, Naturals and Not White
It always seems easiest to repaint the house entirely white. It looks clean, feels new, and the buyer can choose any color they want. The problem is, it can feel stark or even cold. Thankfully, for 2022, neutral and natural color palettes provide an updated look without overwhelming purchasers. Warm, rich light shades of gray, beige or other earthy tones will provide the clean feeling of white without the chill.
Texture in Pink and Green
Incorporating elements in soft tones of pink and rich shades of green with some neutral grays and whites is very on-trend for 2022. This simple addition is easy to create in a bedroom. With an all-white hotel-style duvet and some white pillows, adding a gray knit throw pillow and casually draping textured blankets in one of the current colors will add softness, warmth and feel updated.
Rearrange Some Furniture
Even if you didn’t need a home office over the last few years, it’s a hot item on many buyer’s lists now. If you have the space to dedicate to a home office, it’s a great place to stage for selling. If your home is on the smaller side, carve out a spot or a seemingly quiet place to work. Remove excess furniture to highlight the comfortable work area in a way that shows the space can still pull double duty.
Little touches like these can make your buyer feel like your house is up-to-date, warm and inviting. Voila! flat-fee realtors in Minneapolis can help you sell your home. Contact us today and schedule your appointment.