We saw mortgage rates rise by 2/10’s of a percent last month. That rise will cost new borrowers an additional $12 per month for every $100,000 borrowed. Average U.S. rates for 30-year fixed rate mortgages are currently at 4.72%. At the end of last month, they were sitting at 4.52%. After a few months of relatively stability, the general forecast for a continued rise over the next twelve months is becoming a reality.
The Sarasota and Manatee county markets for condos & townhomes are currently moving in lockstep. Both markets are Seller’s markets for condos & townhomes priced below $400,000 and Buyer’s markets for condos & townhomes priced above $400,000.
Whether you are looking to buy, sell or invest in real estate, it is important to understand market conditions. Real estate is hyper-local, with market dynamics changing from subdivision to subdivision. However, county trends will give you a good idea of what to expect.
The luxury single family home market ($1M+ homes) is in about the same position this year as last in Sarasota County, and it is still a strong buyer’s market. In Manatee County, it is even a stronger buyer’s market this year than last. Markets are generally considered in “balance” when there is about six months of inventory for sale at the current pace of home sales. When the inventory gets greater than that, buyers tend to have more leverage than sellers in negotiations.
Roughly 63 percent of U.S. homeowners have mortgages. Given that large percentage, its important to understand what the equity positions in their homes look like to assess real estate fundamentals. The good news for us is that according to CoreLogic, homeowners with mortgages saw their equity in their homes rise by almost $1 trillion (12.3%) in the last year. That points to a healthier market.