If you are a homeowner, your net worth got a BIG boost over the past few years thanks to rapidly rising home prices. Here is how it happened and what it means for you, even as the market moderates. Equity is the current value of your home minus what you owe on the loan.
Because there was a significant imbalance between the number of homes available for sale and the number of buyers looking to make a purchase over the past few years, home prices appreciated substantially.

While home price appreciation has moderated this year, and even depreciated slightly in some overheated markets, that does not mean you have lost all the equity you gained during the pandemic frenzy. To prove you still have equity you can use, the latest Homeowner Equity Insights from CoreLogic finds the average homeowner equity has actually grown by $34,300 over the past 12 months.

That is right, despite the headlines, the average homeowner still gained positive equity over the last year in just about every market. While the gains are not as dramatic as they were in the previous quarter due to home price moderation, they are still significant. In addition, if you have been in your home for longer than a year, chances are you have even more equity than you realize.
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While that is the national number, if you want to know what happened over the past year in your area, look at the map below from CoreLogic:

Why This Is So Important Right Now
While equity helps increase your overall net worth, it can also help you achieve other goals, like buying your next home. When you sell your current house, the equity you have built up comes back to you in the sale, and it may be just what you need to cover a large portion – if not all – of the down payment on your next home.

If you have been holding off on selling because you were not sure what the headlines meant for your bottom line, rest assured you have still gained equity in recent years, and it can help fuel your move.
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Planning to make a move in 2023? Now you have proof that the equity you have gained over time can make a big impact. To find out just how much equity you have in your current home and how you can use it to fuel your next purchase, shoot me a text, give me a call… let’s connect.

​The 2023 Housing Forecast from realtor.com expects rents will keep climbing.
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That forecast projects rents will increase by 6.3% in the year ahead (shown in green above). When compared to the blue bars in the graph, it is clear that the 2023 projection does not call for an increase as drastic as the ones renters have seen over the past two years, but it is still above the historical average for rent hikes between 2013 and 2019.

That means, if you are planning to rent again this year and you have not yet renewed your lease, you may pay more when you do.
These rising costs may make you reconsider what other alternatives you have. If you are looking for more stability, it could be time to prioritize homeownership. One of the many benefits of owning your own home is it provides a stable monthly cost that you can lock in for the duration of your loan. As Freddie Mac says:

“Monthly rent payments may increase over time, but a fixed-rate mortgage will ensure that you’re paying the same amount each month. With a fixed-rate mortgage, your interest rate is locked in for the life of loan. Steady payments allow you to budget wisely and make plans for the future.”

If you are planning to make a move this year, locking in your monthly housing costs for the duration of your loan can be a major benefit. You will avoid wondering if you will need to adjust your budget to account for annual increases like those that you would if you left your housing payment up to your landlord and their renewal cycle.

Homeowners also enjoy the added benefit of home equity, which has grown substantially. In fact, the latest Homeowner Equity Insight report from CoreLogic shows the average homeowner gained $34,300 in equity over the last 12 months. As a renter, your rent payment only covers the cost of your dwelling. When you pay your mortgage on a house, you grow your wealth through the forced savings that is your home equity.
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If you’re thinking of renting this year, it’s important to keep in mind the true costs you’ll face.
Let’s chat to see how you can begin your journey to homeownership today.

A new year brings with it the opportunity for new experiences. If that resonates with you because you are considering making a move, you are likely juggling a mix of excitement over your next home and a sense of attachment to your current one. A great way to ease some of those emotions and ensure you are 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 will 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.
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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 be even more emotionally attached to your space. If it is 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 is 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. I can assist you with negotiations along the way.

3. Stage Your Home Properly

While you may love your decor and how you have customized your home over the years, not all buyers will feel the same way about your design. That is why it is 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. 
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I can help you with tips to get your house ready to sell. The bottom line is this: If you are considering selling your house, let’s connect so you have the help you need to navigate through the process while prioritizing these best practices.

​If you are thinking about buying or selling a home soon, you probably want to know what you can expect from the housing market this year. In 2022, the market underwent a major shift as economic uncertainty and higher mortgage rates reduced buyer demand, slowed the pace of home sales, and moderated home prices. What about 2023?

An article from HousingWire offers this perspective:
“The red-hot housing market of the past 2 ½ years was characterized by sub-three percent mortgage rates, fast-paced bidding wars and record-low inventory. More recently, market conditions have done an about-face. . . . Now is the opportunity for everyone to become re-educated about what a ‘typical’ housing market looks like.”

This year, experts agree we may see the return of greater stability and predictability in the housing market if inflation continues to ease and mortgage rates stabilize.

Here is what they have to say.
The 2023 forecast from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) says:
“While 2022 may be remembered as a year of housing volatility, 2023 likely will become a year of long-lost normalcy returning to the market, . . . mortgage rates are expected to stabilize while home sales and prices moderate after recent highs, . . .”

Danielle Hale, Chief Economist at realtor.com, adds:
“. . . Buyers will not face the extreme competition that was commonplace over the past few years.”

Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at NAR, explains home prices will vary by local area, but will net neutral nationwide as the market continues to adjust:
“After a big boom over the past two years, there will essentially be no change nationally . . . Half of the country may experience small price gains, while the other half may see slight price declines.”

Mark Fleming, Chief Economist at First American, says:
“The housing market, once adjusted to the new normal of higher mortgage rates, will benefit from continued strong demographic-driven demand relative to an overall, long-run shortage of supply.” 
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If you’re looking to buy or sell a home this year, the best way to ensure you’re up to date on the latest market insights is to partner with me. Myrtle Beach has some great values.