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Fun Facts • January 13, 2023

Versus 2019

by Fort Collins

Because 2021 and 2020 were such unique years in real estate because of the considerably low interest rates, many people in our industry believe it makes sense to compare 2022 to 2019 when looking at the key statistics.

Here’s how 2022 looked along the Front Range compared to 2019:

 

                                             Prices                   Number of Transactions                Properties for Sale

Larimer County                 +41%                    -6%                                                     -37%

Weld County                     +39%                    +2%                                                    -16%

Metro Denver                   +40%                    -14%                                                   -6%

 

Generally, what we notice is that:

  • Prices are up significantly
  • The number of transactions is similar
  • Inventory is down compared to 2019 even though it is more than double 2021’s inventory

 

The annual Market Forecast featuring Chief Economist Matthew Gardner is February 1st at 5:30pm.  To see the details and to RSVP, visit www.ColoradoForecast.com

Fun Facts • September 30, 2022

The Big News

by Fort Collins

The big news this week is obviously the rise in interest rates.

Average 30-year fixed mortgage rates are now at 6.7% which is the highest they have been since July 2007.

So, how is this affecting the market?  Here is what we notice…

There are fewer buyers in the market.  Sales activity, measured by closed and pending sales, is down 30% compared to last year.

Prices, however, continue to rise.  Average prices are roughly 11% higher than last year.  This is driven by the market being under-supplied.

Inventory levels, as measured by months of supply, tells us we still have a Seller’s market.  There is 2 month’s of supply currently for sale.

Ultimately, we expect the rise in interest rates to slow the pace of price appreciation.  We believe the market will return to its long-term average of 6% per year.

Fun Facts • May 20, 2022

What We Notice

by Fort Collins

Here is what we notice about the market right now:

  • Listings are receiving fewer offers compared to 60 days ago – instead of 10 offers, a listing might have 2.
  • There are now several instances of a listing only having one offer.
  • Sellers who were overly-aggressive with their list price have to quickly reduce in order to generate activity.
  • Inventory is up and in some areas significantly, giving buyers more options and flexibility.
  • Home buyers who are under contract with a new home waiting for that new home to be built have been negatively impacted by rising rates.
  • More buyers are considering 7 and 10-year mortgage products in order to have a lower interest rate.
  • The pendulum is swinging away from the drastic seller’s market we have seen for the last 18 months.
Economics 101 • April 15, 2022

Interest-ing

by Fort Collins

The recent increase in mortgage rates has started some home buyers to look at programs that have fixed rates for 7 years or 10 years instead of 30 years.

If a buyer believes it is likely they will move or even refinance within this timeframe, these types of programs can be a good option.

The obvious benefit is a lower monthly payment compared to a 30-year program. 

Another benefit, which most people underestimate, is the savings in interest.

Today, for example, a buyer would have these options:

  • 5.25% 30-year fixed
  • 4.375% 10-year fixed
  • 4.125% 7-year fixed

Over the first five years of the loan, the buyer would pay the following amounts in interest for each loan program for a $400,000 loan:

  • $101,126 for 30-year
  • $83,764 for 10-year
  • $78,831 for 7-year

So the savings in interest over the first five years compared to the 30-year program is:

  • $17,362 for 10-year
  • $22,295 for 7-year
For Buyers • April 12, 2022

Renting vs Buying: Which is better for you?

by Fort Collins

Deciding whether to rent or buy can be a difficult decision, but with the right analysis, you can determine which is best for you. Knowing whether it’s the right time to rent or buy depends on your buying power, what you’re looking for in a home, your local market conditions, your plans for you and your household, and the responsibilities you’re prepared to take on at your residence.

Renting vs. Buying: Which is Better for You?

Renting gives you greater flexibility to relocate, fewer home maintenance responsibilities, and can often be more the more affordable option, depending on where you live. The extra costs associated with owning a home—interest payments, taxes, repairs—may be too much for some renters to handle. Becoming a homeowner has its respective advantages. You’ll have stable monthly payments and greater freedom to customize your living space. Advocates of buying will contend that purchasing a home is an investment in equity, which can increase in value every year you live in the home, whereas if you rent a property, you’re essentially paying for someone else’s mortgage. 

Ultimately, the right decision depends on your situation. If you don’t plan to be living in the same place for at least five years, renting might be more logical, as it allows you more flexibility when it comes time to move again. If you’re looking to settle down for the better part of a decade or longer and can afford to buy a home, becoming a homeowner may be the better option. Here are a few additional considerations to guide your renting-versus-buying decision making process.

What are the local real estate market conditions?

Investigate the local sales and rental markets. Industry groups put out reports every quarter stating the average national sales price for a home and the average monthly payment for a rental. These reports are typically based on an average of all the cities in the U.S. But what really matters is what the numbers show when you dig into them on a local level. When looking at these reports, you’ll see there are some cities that fall below that average, while others rise above it. When comparing housing costs, be sure to base your evaluation on what’s happening in your city and neighborhood, not the nationwide averages.

For a quarterly breakdown of local market conditions, explore our Market Updates page. With data analyzed by our Chief Economist Matthew Gardner, each report breaks down the latest figures in home sales, home prices, and days on market for regions throughout Windermere’s footprint. Gardner also provides his estimation of where each market sits on the buyer’s-market-to-seller’s-market spectrum.

What can you afford?

Making the jump from renter to homeowner is often a question of affordability. Your mortgage rate will depend on your financial strength, your credit score, and other factors, so make sure to talk to a loan officer before you start looking for a home. Getting pre-approved for a mortgage will identify what you’re able to afford and helps strengthen your offer when the time comes.

To get an idea of what you can afford, use our free Home Monthly Payment Calculator by clicking the button below. With current rates based on national averages and customizable mortgage terms, you can experiment with different values to get an estimate of your monthly payment for any listing price. By using the Home Monthly Payment Calculator, you can make a well-informed estimation of whether it’s the right time to buy.

 

Will you need to make repairs to your new home?

Buying a fixer-upper may seem like a great way to get a deal on a house, but if the money you spend on the repairs is too great, your profit could be diminished when it comes time to sell. The same is true for remodeling and improvement projects. There are various renovation financing loans available to you that can help with the costs of home repairs, though extra consultations, inspections, and appraisals are often required in the process of securing these loans. Ultimately, if you can only afford a home that demands major improvements, and you don’t have the skills to do much of the work yourself, you may be better off renting.

Can you rent part of the house you’re buying?

If you buy a house with rental-capable space (extra bedroom, mother-in-law unit, etc.), you could use the rental income to pay off your mortgage faster and contribute more to your savings. But, of course, you need to be willing to share your home with a tenant and take on the responsibilities of being a landlord or working with a professional property manager to help you with those duties. Renting out a space in your home will also require you to purchase landlord insurance on top of your existing homeowners insurance policy.

Making Your Decision to Rent or Buy

At the end of the day, the decision is up to you. Based on the conditions laid out above, it simply may not be the right time for you to buy. Fortunately, when it comes to being a homeowner, it’s not now or never. A real estate agent will be your ultimate resource in gauging whether it’s the right time to buy and guiding you through the process toward homeownership.

Fun Facts • February 18, 2022

Money at a Discount

by Fort Collins

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.

Sellers • December 3, 2021

Why List Now

by Fort Collins

Why does it make sense to list a home now?  Shouldn’t I wait until the Spring?

These are legitimate questions we hear occasionally from our clients.

It turns out there are several good reasons to list a home in December or January instead of waiting for April or May.

The first reason is low competition.  Today there are only:

  • 279 homes for sale in Larimer County
  • 263 homes for sale in Weld County
  • 2,151 homes for sale in Metro Denver

So, a home on the market today has high odds of standing out in the market versus the higher-inventory market in the Spring.

In addition to lower competition:

  • Buyers looking in the winter tend to be more serious and motivated by tighter timelines
  • Interest rates will likely be higher in the Spring which will impact the purchasing power of Buyers, and consequently, the selling power of Sellers.
Blog • Colorado Real Estate • For Buyers • For Sellers • Fort Collins Real Estate • Greeley Real Estate • Loveland Real Estate • Market News • Timnath Real Estate • Windsor Real Estate • May 18, 2021

Want a house in Fort Collins? Grab $500,000, get in line and join the housing Hunger Games

by Fort Collins

“Buying a house in Fort Collins these days can feel like a combat sport. Maybe more like the

‘Hunger Games.’ Or Charlie Brown and the football — every time you get close to the ball,

Lucy whisks it away…”

 

Pat Ferrier at the Fort Collins Coloradoan breaks down the housing market in Northern Colorado with the help real estate professionals across the front range. Click the link below to read on!

 

Fort Collins real estate_ Average home price near $500K in market

Blog • For Buyers • Fun Facts • Homes for Sale • February 12, 2021

Yes is the Answer

by Fort Collins

It turns out that ‘yes’ is the answer to the most common questions we hear right now about the market…

Do you think more properties will come on the market this Spring?  Yes, the normal pattern in our market is for new listings to be 40% to 70% higher in April versus January.  The peak month for new listings is typically June.

Do you think buyer demand will grow even more as time goes on?  Yes, for two main reasons.  Buyer activity, just like listing activity, increases significantly in the Spring and Summer.  Plus, we expect the economy to open up even more as the COVID vaccine gets rolled out over the course of the year.

Do you think interest rates will go up?  Yes, all of the trusted forecasters and economists expect rates to be slightly higher by the end of the year.  Our own Chief Economist sees rates at 3.07% by year-end.

Do you think prices will keep rising?  Yes, because of the simple economic forces of supply and demand.  Supply is at historic lows.  The number of properties for sale today is roughly 80% below the average.  Demand is being fueled not only by the low-interest rates, but also a rebounding local job market that is poised to rebound even more.  Plus, the new work-from-home dynamic positions the Front Range as a sought after place to live.

Blog • Buyers & Sellers • Economy • Fun Facts • Housing Trends • January 29, 2021

Job Bounce

by Fort Collins

“How could the real estate market be so strong in the middle of a pandemic?”

That is a fair question and one we hear frequently from our clients.

There are several reasons for this but two stand out.

  • Interest rates
  • Jobs

Employment has bounced back much quicker than most people expected.  When COVID first showed up, the expectation was that many industries would be hit hard for a prolonged period of time.

The reality is that only a few industries were severely impacted by COVID and the rest were able to get back to a near-normal level of business relatively fast.

Additionally, what we find along the Front Range is that our ‘job bounce’ is even better than the national average.

 

Here are the numbers…

The COVID-peak unemployment rate for the Front Range looked like this:

  • Larimer County = 11.1%
  • Weld County = 10.1%
  • Metro Denver = 12.3%

Today it looks like this:

  • Larimer County = 5.2%
  • Weld County = 5.2%
  • Metro Denver = 6.4%

 

Nationally, unemployment peaked at 14.8% and now stands at 6.7%.

So, a main reason why demand is high now is because jobs have bounced back, and the bounce is even higher than the average across the country.

Bounce

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