Home Prices surged, Sales are up, good time to purchase a home

November 07, 2017

CoreLogic reports that home prices nationwide, including distressed sales, surged by 7% in September 2017 compared to September 2016. Month over month, sales were up 0.9% in September from August. Limited inventories coupled with low home loan rates continue to be the catalysts driving higher home prices. In addition, a strengthening economy and healthy consumer balance sheets were also contributing factors to the rise in prices. Looking ahead, prices are expected to rise 4.7% from September 2017 to September 2018.

Black Knight reports that housing affordability improved in September as the average homeowner needed 21.4% of their median income to purchase a home. That is below July’s post-recession peak of 21.7% and well below the 26.2% needed in the years before the housing boom from 2000 to 2003. Black Knight went on to say that “affordability across most of the country still remains favorable to long-term benchmarks.”

The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) reports that due to an improving economy, job growth and rising consumer confidence, that now is a good time to purchase a home. The NAR reports that there will be 5.47 million Existing Home Sales in 2017, the fastest pace since 6.47 million in 2006. Looking out to 2018, the NAR predicts that sales will grow by 3.7% to 5.67 million. The NAR said the greatest hurdle for home sales in 2018 is the limited supply of homes for sale on the market.