Housing Data 101: What is Negative Equity?
When a home falls in value to the point where it is worth less than the amount its owner owes on his mortgage, it falls into negative equity. This can happen in any economic downturn, regardless of severity or duration. But given both the unprecedented severity and duration of last decade’s downturn, negative equity grew like it was on steroids.
Typical U.S. Home Sellers Gained $39,900 Last Year. See How They Did in Your Market.
Homeowners who sold in 2016 made 3.4 percent a year, the highest gain for home sellers since 2007, when the typical gain was $47,500. Typical sellers in 2016 also owned their homes for seven years and five months at the mid-point – the longest period in decades.
A Picture’s Worth: Need a Reason to Name Your Child Stuart or Alison?
What's in a name when it comes to home? Lots, it turns out. Annes own the highest-value homes in 10 states, and of all the homes owned by Salvadors nationally, 46.9 percent of those homes are in California.
Need a Reason to Name Your Child Stuart or Alison? They Own the Most Valuable U.S. Homes
What's in a name when it comes to home? Lots, it turns out. Annes own the highest-value homes in 10 states, and of all the homes owned by Salvadors nationally, 46.9 percent of those homes are in California.
Why is Home Buying Demand So High? Partly Because Buying Conditions (in Theory) Are So Good
An incredibly strong jobs market, coupled with historically high levels of home affordability, is helping create a perfect storm of home buying demand that is proving incredibly difficult for home builders and home sellers to satisfy.
Housing Data 101: Why Is the Market So Hot?
Being a home buyer in many markets these days is harrowing. Sellers are in control, with buyers forced to contend with cutthroat competition and intense pressure to make a deal.
Whole Foods & Trader Joe’s Provide a Healthy Boost to Nearby Homes
We’ve proven that homes near a Starbucks appreciate more quickly than both the typical U.S. home and homes near rival Dunkin’ Donuts, giving you and your barista something interesting to discuss while your half-caff vanilla soy latte brewed. But what were you supposed to say to the cashier at Whole Foods when purchasing your favorite organic camel’s milk to top off your latte?
Homes for Sale in More Than Half of Large Metros Less Affordable Than They Used to Be
Real prices on homes for sale is hurting affordability in many areas. For example, the median home available to buy in metro Los Angeles is currently listed at $650,000, which would take up 47 percent of the median income for that area.
One-in-Five Renters Casts a Shadow on the For-Sale Housing Market
For-sale inventory is exceptionally tight and competition among buyers is high: In 2016, the typical home buyer made offers on at least two-to-three homes before closing. At the same time, almost one-in-five renters that moved into a rental unit seriously considered buying at the time, but didn’t – perhaps because of those same buying hurdles.
Where Renting Pays: Places Where Owning Takes a While to Pencil Out
It takes more than two years before buying the typical U.S. home makes more financial sense than renting it -- but that time frame varies by market. In San Jose, you'd have to spend 5.1 years in a house for buying to make more sense than renting.
