A Year of Contrasts in Real Estate

A Year of Contrasts in Real Estate

This has been a year of real estate contrasts: While many consumers have taken advantage of historic buying opportunities and the market has seen a gradual stabilization of sales and prices, other challenges facing the nation have led some to question the value of home ownership for families, communities, and the country.

“People are passionate about the American dream of home ownership, and this passion underscores how important home ownership is to our nation,” says National Association of REALTORSÒ President Ron Phipps. “Owning a home has long-standing government support in this country because home ownership benefits individuals and families, strengthens our communities, and is integral to our economy. As we begin a new year, REALTORS® remain committed to ensuring that our public policies promote responsible, sustainable home ownership for all of our futures.”

In the first half of the year, the extended $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit and expanded home $6,500 tax credit for repeat buyers helped encourage sales and stabilize home prices. Home buyers in 2010 have also benefited from historic affordability levels, with the combination of record low mortgage rates coupled with rising household incomes. The NAR Housing Affordability Index currently shows that a median-income family with a down payment of 20 percent has 184.2 percent of the income required to purchase a median-priced home.

“Low interest rates mean real money for today’s home buyers,” Phipps says. “Buyers who purchased a median-priced home five years ago with an FHA mortgage requiring a 3 percent down payment would have a monthly mortgage payment of $1,650. With today’s interest rates and median home prices, that same buyer would pay $1,150 per month — a $500 savings. That’s a savings of $6,000 per year.”

Despite record affordability and buyer incentives, rising foreclosure rates and concerns about proper foreclosure procedures led some to question whether owning a home was a good personal decision.

“Home ownership didn’t create the foreclosure crisis — Wall Street greed and irresponsible lending practices did,” Phipps says. “The decision to own a home is a very personal one, but over the long term, owning a home is one of the best ways to build long-term wealth, in addition to providing numerous social benefits that include reduced crime rates, improved childhood education, and increased stability. After all, a fixed-rate mortgage might last 15 to 30 years; renting is forever.”

Government support of programs and initiatives that encourage home ownership have also been called into question. The deductibility of mortgage interest is one example, with critics suggesting that the mortgage interest deduction primarily benefits the wealthy, while in fact, the MID benefits primarily middle- and lower income families — almost two-thirds of those who claim the MID are middle-income earners. Sixty-five percent of families who claim the MID earn less than $100,000 per year, and 91 percent who claim the benefit earn less than $200,000 annually.

“The ability to deduct the interest paid on a mortgage can mean significant savings at tax time,” Phipps says. “For example, a family who bought a home this year with a $200,000, 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage, assuming an interest rate of 4.5 percent, could save nearly $3,500 in federal taxes when they file next year. That’s money they could use to pay down other debts, supplement their children’s college savings account, or put into savings themselves.”

Despite current economic challenges, most Americans still aspire to the dream of home ownership. According to a survey conducted earlier in the year by Bankrate.com, 90 percent of respondents said they had no regrets buying their current home. And just this month, a Fannie Mae survey found that most Americans — both those who currently own their homes and those who rent — aspire to own a home and to maintain home ownership.

“We believe that anyone who is able and willing to assume the responsibilities of owning a home should have the opportunity to pursue that dream, and looking forward, REALTORS® will continue to engage policymakers and industry leaders on behalf of consumers in pursuit of that goal,” Phipps says.

— NAR

Housing Starts Predicted to Hit 3-Year High

Housing starts will probably reach a three-year high of 739,000 in 2001, creating about 500,000 jobs and helping trim the unemployment rate to 9.1 percent, said David Crowe, chief economist for the National Association of Home Builders, in an interview with Bloomberg.

“This is an ugly economic cycle,” he said. “We need job creation to get people comfortable with buying a home. If they do that, we’ll create jobs that will reinforce that home buying and fuel additional job growth.”

Job growth in other sectors, as well as population growth, will also likely have an effect. The number of U.S. households will rise 0.7 percent to 118.7 million in 2011, the largest annual gain since the beginning of the housing crisis in 2007. Charles Lieberman, chief investment officer at Advisors Capital Management LLC in Hasbrouck Heights, N.J., expects jobs to rise by an average of 200,000 per month in 2011.

The CEO of luxury home builder Toll Brothers is optimistic. “The recovery is here to stay,” said Douglas Yearley. “I think 2011 will be an improving year, but I think 2012 will be a big year for us.”

Source: Bloomberg, Joshua Zumbrun and Kathleen M. Howley (12/28/2010)

TEN GREAT REASONS TO BUY A HOME IN 2011

TEN GREAT REASONS TO BUY A HOME IN 2011

1. Quality of life – a home provides stability and security for you and your loved ones, and membership within a community of neighbors.
2. Pride of home ownership – a home is a personal haven, a place that you can decorate, shape, and share over time because it’s yours.
3. Excellent affordability – lower home prices combined with low interest rates means there are tremendous opportunities for buyers.
4. Historically low interest rates – around 5 percent in the U.S. gives better purchasing power to those who qualify.
5. Appreciation potential – your home investment can grow in value.
6. Equity buildup and debt pay down – homeowners enjoy an average net worth of approximately $184,000 vs. $4,000 for renters.
7. Leverage – where else can you buy an investment of this magnitude with 5-10 percent down?
8. Tax deduction advantages – property tax and mortgage interest write-offs.
9. Tax exemption – up to $500,000 per married couple or $250,000 per person on sale of a primary residence.
10. The real cost of renting – at $800 per month, with the average
6 percent rental increase per year, you will pay $126,536 over a 10-year period but have zero ownership of the property.

A Home For Hope

Virginia Homes
and
The Alfriend Group

Are very pleased to announce
A Hope For Hope

Benefiting The Arther G. James Cancer Hospital of The Ohio State University.

In the Tartan West community in Dublin,
we are building a brand new home design,
featuring innovative designs and state of the are materials for the healthy lifestyle.

It is our hope to cure cancer, one home at a time.

Ground breaking is this week, and the home will be completed in May.

When completed in May, this home will be auctioned to the public by dignitaries from The Ohio State University,
with all proceeds going to the Arther G. James Hospital and the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

For information on this home and its features, please contact

Kyle Alfriend
The Alfriend Group
Keller Williams Consultants
(614) 395-1776
kalfriend@kw.com

Curing Cancer...One Home At A Time

Who is Buying Homes?

The median age of first-time buyers was 30 and the median income was $59,900.

The typical first-time buyer purchased a 1,540 square foot home costing $152,000,
with 93% using the first-time buyer tax credit.

56% of entry level buyers financed their purchase with an FHA loan,
while another 7% used the VA loan program.

42% said financing their first home was more difficult than expected
and 9% had been rejected by a lender.

Buyers searched a median of 12 weeks and viewed 12 homes.

The typical repeat buyer was 49 years old, earned $87,000 and
purchased a 2,000 square foot home costing $215,000.

Home buyers thought the most important services agents offer are
helping find the right house, negotiating sales terms and price.

First-time buyers plan to stay for 10 years.