Like 1993

Here’s a trivia question…

The number of new, single-family homes completed in 2022 will most closely resemble which prior year?

If you guessed 1993, you are correct.

Yes, the number of homes built and completed this year is no more than the number from 30 years ago.

In 2022, there will be just over 1 million single family homes constructed in the U.S. which is the same as 1993.

This is much more than the bottom of construction in 2011 which saw just under 500,000 new homes built.

But it is also much less than the top of 2006 which had almost 1.7 million.

Limited new home construction today is preventing anything close to a glut of inventory on the market which, in turn, insulates us from any sort of major price correction.

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Asking Price Drop

Data just released by Altos Research shows that 35% of all homes on the market have had to reduce their asking price.

This is the highest this number has been since December of 2019.

This is also an indicator of sellers adjusting to the reality of the new market where overly aggressive pricing is not effective.

Extensive research shows the importance of pricing a home correctly on the first day so that the home sells in an appropriate time frame.

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Two Week Snapshot

Here is a quick snapshot of our markets two weeks into July versus the same time last year…

Larimer & Weld Counties:

  • Inventory up 61%
  • Transaction count down 44%
  • Prices up 17%

Metro Denver:

  • Inventory up 62%
  • Transaction count down 31%
  • Prices up 12%

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Rate Perspective

Given the recent increase in mortgage interest rates, we think a little perspective is in order.

  • The average 30-year rate for the last 40+ years is 7.5%
  • Rates are now back within the range where they were between April 2018 and February 2019
  • Between January 2000 and December 2009, the high was 8.15% and the low was 5.05%
  • Between January 1990 and December 1999, rates never went below 6.25%

Bottom line, while the increase in rates is challenging for active buyers, rates are still incredibly low historically speaking.

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Money at a Discount

This week, for the first time in 32 months, mortgage rates hit 4%.

While this increase may feel painful for buyers currently looking at property, it is important to put today’s rates in perspective.

We believe we will look back a few years from now and see that a 4% rate was like buying money at a discount.

Interest rates hovered between 4.5% and 3.75% for the 8-year span of June, 2011 to June 2018

Between January, 2000 and December, 2010 rates were as high as 8.25% and as low as 5.0%.

When looking at the history of interest rates and researching economists’ forecasts, we believe it is reasonable for rates to hit 5% within the next 24 months. 

When interest rates increase 1%, a buyer’s monthly payment increases 10%.

So, if rates do go to 5%, it is like an additional 10% price increase for a buyer.

Given all of this information, we believe the biggest risk to a buyer in today’s market is to wait.

Mortgage rates are likely on their way up and there is an opportunity to buy money at a discount today.

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