The Housing Confidence is at an all time high, this is great for home sellers that are looking to sell or downsize or cash in on their equity. With plenty of reasons to buy a home, but one of the main reasons is to build wealth. And if you own a home, chances are good that your wealth has gone up a few notches in the past year.
According to the most recent Home Price Index Report from CoreLogic, home prices nationwide increased by 7% from March 2017 to March 2018. According to an April 2017 article from the National Association of Realtors, the median home price in March 2017 was $236,400. This means the average homeowner has gained nearly $17,000 in wealth from their homes over the past year.
Housing Confidence Cause and Affect
The major increases in home values are due, in large part, to the national inventory shortage which is creating serious competition and driving up home prices. But this seller’s market can’t last forever, and most experts predict the increase in home values will slow in the upcoming year.
Feeling pretty confident in the housing market? You’re not alone.
Fannie Mae’s Home Purchase Sentiment Index (HPSI), which draws from their National Housing Survey data to assign a number to consumer’s home purchase sentiment, rose 3.4 points in April 2018 to 91.7—up 5 points from April 2017 and an all-time high for the survey.
The survey saw five out of six HPSI components rise in April, with an especially strong increase in people reporting that now is a good time to sell (up 6% from March). Other factors that play into consumer confidence in the housing market include the share of Americans who report not being concerned about losing their jobs (76%, an increase of 5% over March) and people reporting a significant higher household income over the previous year (18%, up 1% over March).
The Takeaway
You’re not likely to find more confidence in the market then we’re experiencing at this moment in history. So if you’ve been thinking about making a move to buy or sell, now’s the time.
Comments(0)