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MRED Chicagoland Report for May 2017

Leave a comment Posted by MRED Communications on June 16, 2017

Home prices across the U.S. are reaching all-time highs, prompting worry over another boom-and-bust scenario like we experienced roughly ten years ago. Yet, as we glance across the state of residential real estate, what is clear compared to the last extended run of price increases is that lending standards are now much stronger than they were before. Incomes must be verified, a reasonable amount of money must be paid toward the home prior to purchase and a more stringent loan approval process is in place to prevent a repeat performance of the Great Recession.

New Listings in Chicagoland were up 0.9 percent for detached homes and 4.8 percent for attached properties. Listings Under Contract increased 9.9 percent for detached homes and 15.5 percent for attached properties.

The Median Sales Price was up 7.3 percent to $250,000 for detached homes and 5.1 percent to $204,900 for attached properties. Months Supply of Inventory decreased 18.8 percent for detached units and 22.3 percent for attached units.

In addition to a stronger base upon which to conduct real estate transactions, the overall economy is in better shape than it was a decade ago. More jobs are available, unemployment is relatively low and workers have more faith in their wages and the potential for wage increases. Although we continue to battle an inventory shortage in much of the country, optimism remains high for a successful summer for buying and selling homes.

MRED real estate professionals can log into MREDLLC.com and click on the Statistics tab to get the latest Lender Mediated and Monthly Market Indicators Reports. You can also click on the Local Market Updates choice under the Statistics tab and use our Interactive Market Analytics map for the latest local market metrics.

Any questions? Please contact MRED’s Help Desk at 630-955-2755 or help.desk@MREDLLC.com.

10K MarketStats, Agent "Doing Business" Discussions, Chicagoland Report, MRED Communications, Statistics

5 Reasons You Should Sell This Summer

Leave a comment Posted by MRED Communications on June 7, 2017

Here are five reasons listing your home for sale this summer makes sense.

1. Demand Is Strong

The latest Buyer Traffic Report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows that buyer demand remains very strong throughout the vast majority of the country. These buyers are ready, willing and able to purchase… and are in the market right now! More often than not, multiple buyers are competing with each other to buy a home.

Take advantage of the buyer activity currently in the market.

2. There Is Less Competition Now

Housing inventory is currently at a 4.2-month supply, well under the 6-months needed for a normal housing market. This means, in the majority of the country, there are not enough homes for sale to satisfy the number of buyers in that market. This is good news for home prices. However, additional inventory could be coming to the market soon.

There is a pent-up desire for many homeowners to move, as they were unable to sell over the last few years because of a negative equity situation. Homeowners are now seeing a return to positive equity as real estate values have increased over the last two years. Many of these homes will be coming to the market this summer.

Also, builder’s confidence in the market has hit its highest mark in over 11 years. Experts are predicting that new construction of single-family homes will ramp up this summer.

The choices buyers have will continue to increase. Don’t wait until all this other inventory of homes comes to market before you sell.

3. The Process Will Be Quicker

Fannie Mae anticipates an acceleration in home sales that will surpass 2007’s pace. As the market continues to strengthen, banks will be inundated with loan inquiries causing closing-time lines to lengthen. Selling now will make the process quicker & simpler. According to Ellie Mae’s latest Origination Insights Report, the time to close a loan has dropped to a new low of 42 days, after seeing a 12-month high of 48 days in January.

4. There Will Never Be a Better Time to Move Up

If you are moving up to a larger, more expensive home, consider doing it now. Prices are projected to appreciate by 4.9% over the next year, according to CoreLogic. If you are moving to a higher-priced home, it will wind up costing you more in raw dollars (both in down payment and mortgage payment) if you wait.

You can also lock in your 30-year housing expense with an interest rate around 4% right now. Rates are projected to increase in the next 12 months.

5. It’s Time to Move on with Your Life

Look at the reason you decided to sell in the first place and determine whether it is worth waiting. Is money more important than being with family? Is money more important than your health? Is money more important than having the freedom to go on with your life the way you think you should?

Only you know the answers to the questions above. You have the power to take control of the situation by putting your home on the market. Perhaps the time has come for you and your family to move on and start living the life you desire.

That is what is truly important.

Blog post via KCM Blog

Agent "Doing Business" Discussions, KCM Blog, MRED Communications

5 Reasons to Hire a Real Estate Professional When Buying or Selling!

Leave a comment Posted by MRED Communications on May 22, 2017

Whether you are buying or selling a home it can be quite an adventurous journey, which is why you need an experienced real estate professional to guide you on the path to your ultimate goal. In this world of instant gratification and internet searches, many sellers think that they can For Sale by Owner or FSBO.

The 5 reasons you NEED a real estate professional in your corner haven’t changed, but have rather been strengthened by the projections of higher mortgage interest rates & home prices as the market continues to pick up steam.

1. What do you do with all this paperwork?

Each state has different regulations regarding the contracts required for a successful sale, and these regulations are constantly changing. A true real estate professional is an expert in his or her market and can guide you through the stacks of paperwork necessary to make your dream a reality.

2. Ok, so you found your dream house, now what?

There are over 180 possible steps that need to take place during every successful real estate transaction. Don’t you want someone who has been there before, someone who knows what these actions are, to make sure that you achieve your dream?

3. Are you a good negotiator?

So maybe you’re not convinced that you need an agent to sell your home. After looking at the list of parties that you will need to be prepared to negotiate with, you’ll soon realize the value in selecting a real estate professional. From the buyer (who wants the best deal possible), to the home inspection companies, to the appraiser, there are at least 11 different people who you will need to be knowledgeable of, and answer to, during the process.

4. What is the home you’re buying/selling really worth?

It is important for your home to be priced correctly from the start to attract the right buyers and shorten the amount of time that it’s on the market. You need someone who is not emotionally connected to your home to give you the truth as to your home’s value. According to the National Association of REALTORS, “the typical FSBO home sold for $185,000 compared to $245,000 among agent-assisted home sales.”

Get the most out of your transaction by hiring a professional.

5. Do you know what’s really going on in the market?

There is so much information out there on the news and the internet about home sales, prices, and mortgage rates; how do you know what’s going on specifically in your area? Who do you turn to in order to competitively, and correctly, price your home at the beginning of the selling process? How do you know what to offer on your dream home without paying too much, or offending the seller with a lowball offer?

Dave Ramsey, the financial guru, advises:

“When getting help with money, whether it’s insurance, real estate or investments, you should always look for someone with the heart of a teacher, not the heart of a salesman.”

Hiring an agent who has his or her finger on the pulse of the market will make your buying or selling experience an educated one. You need someone who is going to tell you the truth, not just what they think you want to hear.

Bottom Line

You wouldn’t replace the engine in your car without a trusted mechanic. Why would you make one of the most important financial decisions of your life without hiring a real estate professional?

Blog Post via KCM Blog

Agent "Doing Business" Discussions, KCM Blog, MRED Communications

MRED Chicagoland Report for April 2017

Leave a comment Posted by MRED Communications on May 16, 2017

The employment landscape and wages have both improved over the last few years, allowing for more people to participate in the home-buying process. When the economy is in good working order, as it is now, it creates opportunities in residential real estate, and right now is a potentially lucrative time to sell a home. Houses that show well and are priced correctly have been selling quickly, often at higher prices than asking.

New Listings in Chicagoland were down 8.9 percent for detached homes and 5.0 percent for attached properties. Listings Under Contract increased 1.5 percent for detached homes but decreased 0.2 percent for attached properties.

The Median Sales Price was up 7.8 percent to $242,500 for detached homes and 2.8 percent to $205,000 for attached properties. Months Supply of Inventory decreased 19.4 percent for detached units and 20.7 percent for attached units.

Although there is a mounting amount of buyer competition during the annual spring market cycle, buyer demand has not abated, nor is it expected to in the immediate future unless something unpredictable occurs. While strong demand is generally considered a good problem to have, it creates an affordability issue for some buyers, especially first-time buyers. And yet, prices will continue to rise amidst strong demand.

Any questions? Please contact MRED’s Help Desk at 630-955-2755 or help.desk@MREDLLC.com.

10K MarketStats, Agent "Doing Business" Discussions, Chicagoland Report, Infosparks, MRED Communications, MRED in the News, Statistics

Is 2017 the Year to Move Up to Your Dream Home? If So, Do It Early!

Leave a comment Posted by MRED Communications on May 9, 2017

If you are considering moving up to your dream home, it may be better to do it earlier in the year than later. The two components of your monthly mortgage payment (home prices and interest rates) are both projected to increase as the year moves forward, and interest rates may increase rather dramatically. Here are some predictions on where rates will be by the end of the year:

Freddie Mac

“While full employment and rising inflation are signs of a strong economy, they also have the potential to push mortgage rates and house prices up. The higher rates and higher prices create significant affordability concerns, which may continue to characterize the housing market for the rest of 2017.”

Lynn Fisher, Vice President of Research & Economics for the Mortgage Bankers Association

“By the time we get to the fourth quarter of this year, we will still be under 5 percent – we are thinking 4.7 percent…Something north of 5 percent by the time we get to 2018, and by the time we get to 2019, we show fourth-quarter rates hitting 5.5 percent.”

Mark Fleming, First American’s Chief Economist

“Despite some regional disparities, title agents and real estate professionals do not expect increasing mortgage rates to have a significant impact on the housing market this spring. Continued good economic news, increasing Millennial demand and confidence that buyers will remain in the market even if rates exceed 5 percent bode well for 2017 real estate.”

Len Kiefer, Deputy Chief Economist for Freddie Mac

“We will probably see rates higher at the end of year, around 4.5%.”

Bottom Line

If you are feeling good about your family’s economic future and are considering making a move to your dream home, doing it sooner rather than later makes the most sense.

Blog Post via KCM Blog

Agent "Doing Business" Discussions, KCM Blog

Renters can afford pricier-than-average homes without increasing monthly expenses

Leave a comment Posted by MRED Communications on May 5, 2017

Renters paying the median U.S. rent could afford a house that is 50 percent more expensive than the median U.S. home value, according to a new Zillow study. The study found that with an increase in rent prices across the country and low interest rates, many renters could afford pricier-than-average homes in their current cities without increasing monthly expenses.

Zillow looked at the median rent payment in 50 cities across the United States to see how much home those renters could afford without spending more than they currently spend on rent.

The median rent in the United States was $1,416 in March, which would cover the monthly expenses for a home up to $289,500, which includes the mortgage payment, property taxes, homeowners’ insurance and maintenance and renovation expenses. It also assumes a 20 percent down payment, which many first-time homeowners may not be able to provide.

According to Zillow, 57 percent of the available for-sale inventory nationally is listed for under $289,500 and the median U.S. home value was $196,500 in March.

“Renters hesitant to enter the home buying market for fear of not being able to find an affordable home should be encouraged to discover they may have more options than they thought,” said Zillow Chief Economist Dr. Svenja Gudell. “However, it’s worth noting that many of the more affordable homes for sale may be older, smaller and/or located in less-desirable neighborhoods than they might like.”

In Chicago, the average rent in March was $1,650, which would allow those prospective buyers to afford a home up to $337,347. The median home value in March 2017 in the city was $220,900.

Blog Post via Chicago Agent Magazine

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