Urban or ‘Burban?
A few weeks ago we pointed out that Minneapolis made a Top 10 List for downtowns to buy a home in and this week it’s all about the suburbs. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) is constantly conducting surveys and publishing consumer sentiment and preferences. NAR’s latest report found that 85% of current homeowners and 75% of current renters prefer a suburban single-family house versus 15% of homeowners and 21% of renters aiming to buy a residence in an urban area. Anyone who has noticed the number of units being built in our Minneapolis-Saint Paul downtown areas might disagree with this comment from NAR’s chief economist Lawrence Yun: “The American Dream for most consumers is not a cramped, 500-square-foot condo in the middle of the city, but instead a larger home within close proximity to the jobs and entertainment an urban area provides.”
The last thing I want to do is pit urban lifestyle against life in the ‘burbs – to each his or her own. But that’s just it – we at GCS Title and our Realtor and Loan Officer partners are all about helping you own – whatever type of property best suits your personal taste and situation. Homeownership is still the way many Americans build their worth and financial futures, so don’t let trends, general media reports or anyone else besides a qualified professional help you make the huge decision of what – whether – where or when to buy your own home. Of course we navigate you through your closing, but we also work closely with amazing professionals every day and we’re happy to help you find the right real estate and lending professional to get your questions answered! ~Charlie
- Published in On the House
Bulls & Bears in the House
On the House
Charlie Lawson
Bulls & Bears in the House
There seems to be a difference of opinion between people who own homes and people who would like to buy them. The National Association of Realtors puts out what they call the Housing Opportunities and Market Experience (HOME) Survey every quarter and the latest one shows different attitudes between homeowners and potential buyers when it comes to timing. Check out the differences:
75% of potential buyers believe now is a good time to buy a home
56% of current homeowners believe now is a good time to sell a home – down from 61% during Q4 2015)
These numbers indicate a bigger appetite for buying homes than selling, but confidence is also slipping a bit regarding the economy:
48% of households feel the U.S. economy is improving – down from 50% in Q4 2015
To make a lame Wall Street reference, you could say that the bears own houses and the bulls are renting; but the last stat from the survey seems to show that everyone seems a little uneasy about the economy which is not uncommon in an election year (and this one is turning out to be a doozy). Lack of inventory (homes for sale) in certain price ranges has been an issue and widely reported and discussed for some time. The important takeaway for the public not to make assumptions because market conditions vary – even by neighborhood. We as real estate and lending professionals need to make sure we arm potential buyers and sellers with the latest local information so they can decide whether or not it is in fact a good time for them to buy or sell. ~Charlie
- Published in On the House, Uncategorized
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