Shaking loose a stagnant real estate market might take drastic measures

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What goes up must come down? High in the sky home prices now seem like a hot air balloon with no release valve.

Up nearly 5% year-over-year in every major U.S. city according to a Redfin report released Thursday, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen admits that combined with high interest rates it’s a deadly combination, making it “almost impossible” for first-time homebuyers to break into the U.S. housing market.

“With house prices having gone up, along with mortgage rates it’s almost impossible for first-time buyers,” Yellen said in a Yahoo!Finance article borrowed from Fortune Magazine.

Current homeowners are reluctant to sell their homes out of fear of losing their low mortgage rates (called the “lock-in” effect). Why sell only to trade them for high rates and higher home prices? So all eyes are turning to a pair of housing tax credits proposed by President Joe Biden to ease the pain.

“One tax credit would provide $10,000 for first-time homebuyers, while a separate $10,000 tax credit would benefit homeowners in selling their “starter home” to move into a larger house,” says Lake. “The hope would be to increase starter home supply, which is extremely low as more current homeowners hold on to their current properties. However, with home prices reaching a near-record $383,188 at median, according to Redfin, many buyers are still excluded.”

“We know that affordable housing and starter homes are an area where we really need to do a lot to increase availability,” Yellen said during her testimony in front of the House Ways and Means Committee last week.

The result of higher mortgage rates means the median monthly housing payment is now up to a record $2,890—a whopping 15% year-over-year increase, the Redfin report shows.

Lake cites the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, saying the median weekly earnings for full-time workers as of the fourth quarter of 2023 was $1,403. “Assuming the median monthly housing payment, homeowners would be spending half of their income each month on that expense alone,” says Lake. “It’s typically recommended that renters and homeowners shouldn’t spend more than 30% of their income on housing—and anything more than that could make them effectively house poor” — already considered a high burden.

Coming up with enough cash for a down payment is also an obstacle for first-time buyers. Redfin also reports that some have gotten so desperate to come up with down payment cash that two in five Gen Zers and millennials are working side hustles and many wedding registries now ask for cash instead of gifts.

“Assuming the value of a median-priced home in the U.S. of about $383,000 and the standard 20% down payment, a couple would need to come up with an eye-popping $76,000 up front, which just simply isn’t doable for many Americans,” says Lake.

Yahoo!Finance, Fortune, TBWS


All information furnished has been forwarded to you and is provided by thetbwsgroup only for informational purposes. Forecasting shall be considered as events which may be expected but not guaranteed. Neither the forwarding party and/or company nor thetbwsgroup assume any responsibility to any person who relies on information or forecasting contained in this report and disclaims all liability in respect to decisions or actions, or lack thereof based on any or all of the contents of this report.

This communication (including attachments) is for information purposes only, is not an offer, solicitation, recommendation or commitment for any transaction or as a confirmation of any transaction. 
Bobbie Jo Haggard, NMLS 92472
Licensed to do business in Washington & Oregon. 

Heartland Mortgage, Inc. NMLS# 3205; Office(509) 529-3280
NMLS Consumer Access website: (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org)

Bobbie Jo Haggard

Loan Officer / Mortgage Specialist

NMLS: #92472 - Washington & Oregon

Heartland Mortgage Inc.

30 S Palouse Street, Walla Walla WA 99362

Company NMLS: #3205

Office: 509-301-1661

Cell: 509-301-1661

Email: BobbieJo@HeartlandMortgageInc.com

Web: https://www.WallaWallaMortgage.com

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Bobbie Jo Haggard

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Loan Officer / Mortgage Specialist

NMLS: #92472 - Washington & Oregon

Cell: 509-301-1661


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