Posts Tagged ‘Atlanta real estate’

Prudential Georgia Hosts Visual Marketing Tour

Sunday, July 25th, 2010

Prudential Georgia Realty is hosting a series of events at our local branches to educate agents on new options for stunning visual marketing.  Topics include high-quality photography, narrated videos, digital magazines and the new Prudential Media Center.  Prudential Georgia Realty is also introducing a new platform that allows agents to create high-quality narrated videos for their properties and communities.  There is no more powerful medium than narrated videos to “bring the unique story of a property to life” online.

The photography best practices include the use of more advanced equipment and editing techniques to produce amazing results.  We are essentially taking very high-end photography practices and bringing them to the general real estate market.  The document attached shows some examples of these techniques.

Photography Best Practices

Prudential Georgia Realty is also implementing an extensive media and image management platform that automates the creation, distribution and management of photos, virtual tours, narrated videos and more.  We recognize that you only get one shot to make a great first impression for our seller clients.  The use of rich media solutions is a fundamental part of our award-winning Advanced Property Marketing System.  Since implementing this system, Prudential has quickly become the market leader for listings in Metro Atlanta and North Georgia. 

Contact one of our highly trained agents for more details today! 

Case-Shiller Index For May 2010

Tuesday, May 25th, 2010

The May Case-Shiller Index was published on Tuesday, May 25th 2010.  As always, the index reports on data 60 days in arrears.  Therefore, the index reports metro Atlanta home values for March 2010.  So what does the latest index show and what does that mean for home values in metro Atlanta? 

Before we provide the answer, we want to make two caveats.  First, the Case-Shiller index of home values is very different from average sale prices which reflect the average prices of what is being sold in the market.  This index reflects the averages for metro Atlanta.  Remember, people do not buy houses in America or even in metro Atlanta.  They buy a specific property on a street in a local community.  Real estate is local and every market is different.  Your local agent expert can help you understand the specific metrics in your local market.  However, these metrics are a good general indication on what is happening in our market.   

Now for the news….  The March index established a new low for Metro Atlanta and shows the 7th drop in a row after 5 positive months in a row.  The March index is 103.74 which is 1.81% down from last month.  Click on the link below to open the Excel spreadsheet that shows the details of the latest index.

Case Shiller Index – Atlanta – March 2010 Index

The peak of our market was July of 2007 according to the Case-Shiller index.  The previous bottom was March of 2009.  This new index low is 1.27% below the previous low point.  In August of 2009, we had seen 5 months of increasing values and were 5.8% above the March 2009 index.  Since then, we have slipped and down 23.98% from the peak of July 2007.  The spring selling season has been very active in March and April  showing year-to-year increases in pendings of 47% and 28% respectively.  Inventory for March was down 17% and April was down 14%.  This increased demand and lower inventory will begin to reflect in a higher Case-Shiller Index for April and the spring and summer months.  Remember, Case-Shiller reflects closed sales and not pended sales.  It takes a few months for the more positive pending sales trends to translate to closings.   Therefore, we predict that metro Atlanta home values may have seen the bottom in March of 2010.  We expect to see the index improving in the spring and continue with slight gains in the summer.  We may see slight declines later this fall and winter but do not expect to test the low point of March 2010.  We expect a slow but sure increase in values for 2010 and beyond.  Remember, you will not know the bottom of the market until it is passed.  

If you look at the average annual Case-Shiller index for each year, here is how homes purchased in recent years would compare to the current index: 

  • Homes Bought in 2000 – Gain of .49%
  • Homes Bought in 2001 – Loss of 4.84%
  • Homes Bought in 2002 – Loss of 8.37%
  • Homes Bought in 2003 – Loss of 11.25%
  • Homes Bought in 2004 – Loss of 14.27%
  • Homes Bought in 2005 – Loss of 18.39%
  • Homes Bought in 2006 – Loss of 22.11%
  • Homes Bought in 2007 – Loss of 22.61%
  • Homes Bought in 2008 – Loss of 15.41%

Homes values are essentially the same as the spring of 2000 right now.  Yes, we are slowly climbing our way out of this unprecedented housing crisis – but we are not there yet.  So where will home values go from here?  The key factors that will impact our home values include the following: 

  1. Demand From Buyers (We expect to see continued demand through spring and summer months.)
  2. Mortgage Rates/ Credit Availability (We expect to see incredibly low mortgage rates for an extended period with increases coming in late 2010 and 2011.)     
  3. Supply/ Inventory Levels (We expect inventory levels to remain lower than normal.)
  4. Competition from Short Sales/ Foreclosures (We expect to see significant numbers of short sales & foreclosures for the next two years.  However, we do not expect a flood of foreclosures that drives the overall inventory too high.)  

You and your agent should be carefully watching the trends for short sales and foreclosures.  Right now, home affordability is exceptional.  We still have the combination of low home prices and the lowest mortgage rates in 50 years.  Many wonderful properties are available below their replacement costs.  But this scenario will not last forever.  Rates will go up over time.  Home values will be increasing – slowly but surely.  Yes, we will continue to see some ups and downs along the way, but home values are on the rise.  In 5 or 10 years, many will look back and regret not buying their dream home when they had the chance!     

Check back for our next posts with the latest facts and insight that can make you money!

Mortgage Rates Near 50-Year Lows

Monday, May 24th, 2010

Mortgage rates are approaching 50-year lows!  Just a few weeks ago, analysts were predicting that mortgage rates would rise to 5.5% by the end of the summer and to 6% by the end of the year.  Last week Freddie Mac reported average rates of 4.84%.  HSA Associates reported that rates dropped to 4.86% on Friday – the lowest since December 2009.  HSA reports on combined rates that include both conforming and jumbo.  Now analysts are predicting that rates my see 4.5% this summer. 

So what happened to change these predictions?  The financial crisis in Europe, growing concerns over the global economy and the potential conflict between North and South Korea have created a flight to safety.  Suddenly, there is significant demand for safer U.S. bonds from investors across the world.  The previous worries about the Fed discontinuing their purchases of mortgage-backed securities appear abated – for now.  However, the original long-term prognosis may still be a reality.  These economic cycles and world events tend to be cyclical.  If the perception improves, the market for mortgage securities may slow.  That combined with the looming debt in the United States will push rates higher.  Most analysts still expect to see rates higher in 2011 and 2012.  But in the short-term, it is an incredible time to buy the home of your dreams! 

Your Prudential Georgia Realty agent can tell you the latest market conditions in your local area.   Check back for our new posts with the latest facts and insight that can make you money!

Case Shiller Index For April 2010

Tuesday, April 27th, 2010

The April Case-Shiller Index was published on Tuesday, April 27th 2010.  As always, the index reports on data 60 days in arrears.  Therefore, the index reports metro Atlanta home values for February 2010.  So what does the latest index show and what does that mean for home values in metro Atlanta? 

Before we provide the answer, we want to make two caveats.  First, the Case-Shiller index of home values is very different from average sale prices which reflect the average prices of what is being sold in the market.  This index reflects the averages for metro Atlanta.  Remember, people do not buy houses in America or even in metro Atlanta.  They buy a specific property on a street in a local community.  Real estate is local and every market is different.  Your local agent expert can help you understand the specific metrics in your local market.  However, these metrics are a good general indication on what is happening in our market.   

Now for the news….  The February index shows the 6th drop in a row after 5 positive months in a row.  The January index is 105.66 which is 1.29% down from last month.  Click on the link below to open the Excel spreadsheet that shows the details of the latest index.

Case Shiller Index – Atlanta – February 2010 Index

The peak of our market was July of 2007 according to the Case-Shiller index.  The most recent bottom was March of 2009.  In August of 2009, we had seen 5 months of increasing values and were 5.8% above the bottom of March 2009.  Since then, we have slipped and are now only .56% above the March 2009 bottom and still down 22.58% from the peak of July 2007.  We expected to see a slight drop in the February index and may see an additional drop in March.  The spring selling season is very active in March and April with low inventory and significantly increased demand.  This will reflect in a higher Case-Shiller Index as the increases in pending translate to closings.  Therefore, we predict that metro Atlanta home values will probably see a bottom for 2010 in March.  We expect to see positive gains in the spring and continue with slight gains in the summer.  We may see slight declines later this fall and winter but do not expect to test the low point of March 2010.  We expect a slow but sure increase in values for 2010 and beyond.  Remember, you will not know the bottom of the market until it is passed.  

If you look at the average annual Case-Shiller index for each year, here is how homes purchased in recent years would compare to the current index: 

  • Homes Bought in 2000 – Gain of 2.35%
  • Homes Bought in 2001 – Loss of 3.08
  • Homes Bought in 2002 – Loss of 6.67%
  • Homes Bought in 2003 – Loss of 9.61%
  • Homes Bought in 2004 – Loss of 12.69%
  • Homes Bought in 2005 – Loss of 16.88%
  • Homes Bought in 2006 – Loss of 20.67%
  • Homes Bought in 2007 – Loss of 21.18%
  • Homes Bought in 2008 – Loss of 13.85%

Homes values are essentially the same as the spring of 2001 right now.  Yes, we are slowly climbing our way out of this unprecedented housing crisis – but we are not there yet.  So where will home values go from here?  The key factors that will impact our home values include the following: 

  1. Demand From Buyers (We expect to see improving demand through spring and summer months.)
  2. Mortgage Rates/ Credit Availability (We expect to see low mortgage rates for an extended period with increases coming in late 2010 and 2011.)     
  3. Supply/ Inventory Levels (We expect inventory levels to remain lower than normal.)
  4. Competition from Short Sales/ Foreclosures (We expect to see significant numbers of short sales & foreclosures for the next two years.  However, we do not expect a flood of foreclosures that drives the overall inventory too high.)  

You and your agent should be carefully watching the trends for short sales and foreclosures.  Right now, home affordability is exceptional.  We still have the combination of low home prices and low mortgage rates.  Many wonderful properties are available below their replacement costs.  This scenario will not last forever.  Rates will go up over time.  Home values will be increasing – slowly but surely.  Yes, we will continue to see some ups and downs along the way, but home values are on the rise.  In 5 or 10 years, many will look back and regret not buying their dream home when they had the chance!     

Check back for our next posts with the latest facts and insight that can make you money!

Prudential Georgia Realty Opens Buckhead Office

Monday, April 26th, 2010

Prudential Georgia Realty is pleased to announce the opening of our new Buckhead office.  In addition, we are also announcing the merger of Bo Bridgeport Brokers into our Midtown office.  Prudential Georgia Realty has grown market share more than any other large brokerage in Metro Atlanta and North Georgia in the past two years.  Trendgraphix reports that PGR gained more market share in units, sales volume, buyers, listing inventory and listing sold.  We are now bringing powerful new capabilities to clients in the Buckhead and Intown/ Midtown markets. 

The new Buckhead office is led by Buckhead native Bill Murray.  Bill was formerly with Harry Norman Realtors and has alreay established a significant team with over 30 exceptional agents.  The office is located at 3221 Peachtree Road and is curently open for business. The grand opening is scheduled for May 20th.  

The Bo Bridgeport Brokers merger adds 30 experienced agents to our Midtown team.  Led by Dale Modica and Anne Miller, the Midtown office is gaining market share fast.  Dale and Anne also joined Prudential from Harry Norman Realtors.  More details on this merger will be forthcoming in a separate press release.

Prudential Georgia Realty is delivering the future of real estate… now in Buckhead.  Contact us for additional details.

Case-Shiller Index For February 2010

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

The February Case-Shiller Index was published on February 28, 2010.  As always, the index reports on data 60 days in arrears.  Therefore, the index reports metro Atlanta home values for December 2009.  So what does the latest index show and what does that mean for home values in metro Atlanta? 

Before we provide the answer, we want to make two caveats.  First, the Case-Shiller index of home values is very different from average sale prices which reflect the average prices of what is being sold in the market.  Right now, the heavy volumes in the market remain on the lower end for 1st time home buyers and short sales/ foreclosures.  The luxury market is slower so that makes the average sales price lower than a normal market.  Second, real estate is local and every market is different.  Your local agent expert can help you understand the specific metrics in your local market

Now for the news….  The December index shows the 4th drop in a row after 5 positive months in a row.  The new extended and expanded tax credits were not announced until December.  Therefore, many transactions that would have normally closed in December were closed earlier in November to ensure the buyer received the tax credit.  As a result, we expected a more significant drop in home values coming for December.   Click on the link below to open the Excel spreadsheet that shows the details of the latest index.

Case Shiller Index – Atlanta – December 2009 Index

The peak of our market was July of 2007 according to the Case-Shiller index.  The most recent bottom was March of 2009.  In August of 2009, we had seen 5 months of increasing values and were 5.8% above the bottom of March 2009.  Since the, we have slipped and are now 3.28% above the March bottom and still down 19.18% from the peak of July 2007.  We would expect to see some additional drops in the January and February index but do not expect to drop below the March 2009 levels.  The early spring season driven by the expiring tax credits in April will likely drive home values back up prior to the normal seasonal patterns. 

If you look at the average annual Case-Shiller index for each year, here is how homes purchased in recent years would compare to the current index: 

  • Homes Bought in 2000 – Gain of 4.45%
  • Homes Bought in 2001 – Loss of .92%
  • Homes Bought in 2002 – Loss of 4.53%
  • Homes Bought in 2003 – Loss of 7.50%
  • Homes Bought in 2004 – Loss of 10.75%
  • Homes Bought in 2005 – Loss of 15.10%
  • Homes Bought in 2006 – Loss of 18.62%
  • Homes Bought in 2007 – Loss of 19.14%
  • Homes Bought in 2008 – Loss of 11.62%

Homes values are essentially the same as the summer of 2001 right now.  Yes, we are slowly climbing our way out of this unprecedented housing crisis – but we are not there yet.  So where will home values go from here?  The key factors that will impact our home value include the following: 

  1. Demand From Buyers (We expect to see improving demand through spring driven by the tax credits, great deals and low mortgage rates!)
  2. Mortgage Rates/ Credit Availability     
  3. Competition from Short Sales/ Foreclosures Entering the Market  (See the blog post on short sales & foreclosures – http://atlrealestatescoop.com/changing-trends-foreclosures-short-sales/)

You and your agent should be carefully watching the trends for short sales and foreclosures.  It is clearly a great time to buy and we expect many buyers to take full advantage.  We will continue to keep you informed with the latest facts and insight that can make you money!

Case-Shiller Index – January 2010

Thursday, January 28th, 2010

The January Case-Shiller Index was just released.   As always, Case-Shiller is published the last Tuesday of the month and reports on data 60 days in arrears.  Therefore, the index reports metro Atlanta home values for November 2009.  So what does the latest index show and what does that mean for home values in metro Atlanta? 

Before we provide the answer, we want to make two caveats.  First, the Case-Shiller index of home values is very different from average sale prices which reflect the average prices of what is being sold in the market.  Right now, the heavy volumes in the market remain on the lower end for 1st time home buyers and short sales/ foreclosures.  The luxury market is slower so that makes the average sales price lower than a normal market.  Second, real estate is local and every market is different.  Your local agent expert can help you understand the specific metrics in your local market

Now to the news….  The November index shows the 3rd drop in a row after 5 positive months in a row.  In a more normal market, you would expect such a seasonal drop.  However, the previous $8000 First Time Home Buyer was expiring in November which should have positively impacted these numbers.  The new extended and expanded tax credits were not announced until December.  The market results for December were significantly down versus November.  Therefore, we should expect a more significant drop in home values coming for December.   Click on the link below to open the Excel spreadsheet that shows the details of the latest index.

Case Shiller Index – Atlanta – November 2009 Index

The peak of our market was July of 2007 according to the Case-Shiller index.  The most recent bottom was March of 2009.  In August of 2009, we had seen 5 months of increasing values and were 5.8% above the bottom of March 2009.  Since the, we have slipped and are now 4.02% above the March bottom and still down 18.6% from the peak of July 2007.  We would expect to see some additional drops in the December and January reports but do not expect to drop below the March 2009 levels.  The early spring season driven by the expiring tax credits in April will likely drive home values back up prior to the normal seasonal patterns. 

If you look at the average annual Case-Shiller index for each year, here is how homes purchased in recent years would compare to the current index: 

  • Homes Bought in 2000 – Gain of 4.43%
  • Homes Bought in 2001 – Loss of .93%
  • Homes Bought in 2002 – Loss of 4.54%
  • Homes Bought in 2003 – Loss of 7.51%
  • Homes Bought in 2004 – Loss of 10.76%
  • Homes Bought in 2005 – Loss of 15.11%
  • Homes Bought in 2006 – Loss of 18.62%
  • Homes Bought in 2007 – Loss of 19.15%
  • Homes Bought in 2008 – Loss of 11.63%

Homes values are essentially the same as June of 2001 right now.  Yes, we are slowly climbing our way out of this unprecedented housing crisis – but we are not there yet.  So where will home values go from here?  The key factors that will impact our home value include the following: 

  1. Demand From Buyers (We expect to see improving demand through spring driven by the tax credits, great deals and low mortgage rates!)
  2. Mortgage Rates/ Credit Availability     
  3. Competition from Short Sales/ Foreclosures Entering the Market  (See the blog post on short sales & foreclosures – http://atlrealestatescoop.com/changing-trends-foreclosures-short-sales/)

You and your agent should be carefully watching the trends for short sales and foreclosures.  It is clearly a great time to buy and we expect many buyers to take full advantage.  We will continue to keep you informed with the latest facts and insight that can make you money!

Case Shiller Index – October 2009

Tuesday, October 27th, 2009

The latest Case-Shiller Index was published today.   As always, Case-Shiller is published the last Tuesday of the month and reports on data 60 days in arrears.  So what does the latest index show and what does that mean for home values in metro Atlanta? 

Before we provide the answer, we want to make two caveats.  First, the Case-Shiller index of home values is very different from average sale prices which reflect the average prices of what is being sold in the market.  Right now, the heavy volumes in the market are on the lower end for 1st time home buyers and short sales/ foreclosures.  The luxury market is slower so that makes the average sales price lower than a normal market.  Second, real estate is local and every market is different.  Your local agent expert can help you understand the specific metrics in your local market

Now to the news….  The July index shows the 5th positive gain in a row for metro Atlanta home values.  If you look at the numbers, you will see the % gains this month are less than the previous few months – signaling a slowing of momentum.  Click on the link below to open the Excel spreadsheet that shows the details of the latest index.

Case Shiller Index – Metro Atlanta – August 2009 Index

This means that home values have actually increased from March 2009 by 5.8%.  That is good news!  The peak of the index was July 2007 and the bottom of the index was March of 2009.   But remember….  home values are still down from their peaks and sellers must be realistic about pricing.  Home values are still down 17.19% from the peak of July 2007.  If you look at the average annual Case-Shiller index for each year, here is how homes purchased in recent years would compare to the current index: 

  • Homes Bought in 2000 – Gain of 3.76%
  • Homes Bought in 2001 – Loss of 1.57%
  • Homes Bought in 2002 – Loss of 5.16%
  • Homes Bought in 2003 – Loss of 8.10%
  • Homes Bought in 2004 – Loss of 11.33%
  • Homes Bought in 2005 – Loss of 15.65%
  • Homes Bought in 2006 – Loss of 19.15%
  • Homes Bought in 2007 – Loss of 19.67%
  • Homes Bought in 2008 – Loss of 12.20%

Homes values are essentially the same as November 2001 right now.  Yes, we are slowly climbing our way out of this unprecedented housing crisis – but we are not there yet.  So where will home values go from here?  The key factors that will impact our home value include the following: 

  1. Demand From Buyers (We need to see ” extension and expansion” of the Housing Tax Credit!)
  2. Mortgage Rates/ Credit Availability     
  3. Pace of Short Sales/ Foreclosures Entering the Market  (See latest blog post on short sales & foreclosures – http://atlrealestatescoop.com/changing-trends-foreclosures-short-sales/)

You and your agent should be carefully watching the trends for short sales and foreclosures.  The status of the federal housing tax credit will also have an impact on demand from buyers.  We will continue to keep you informed with the latest facts and insight that can make you money!  Stay tuned….  

Changing Trends for Foreclosures and Short Sales

Monday, October 26th, 2009

The trends for new “notices of foreclosure” or pre-foreclosures continue to be significant for the metro Atlanta market.  Equity Depot reports that pre-foreclosures have been in the 10,000 – 12,000 range each month for metro Atlanta since mid summer.  This is up from the 7,000 - 8,000 range last fall.  These increases are driven by unemployment, adjustable mortgages resetting to higher levels and general economic conditions.  One would expect that the inventory levels of bank-owned properties would be significantly higher… but that is not the case.  Rick Sharga, SVP Marketing at RealtyTrac, wrote a recent blog post and estimated that there are at least 450,000 to 500,000 missing REO properties or “shadow inventory” as it is now known in the industry.   So where are these missing REOs or bank-owned properties? 

Click the chart image below to view the data for the big 4 counties of metro Atlanta – Fulton, Dekalb, Cobb and Gwinnett.   Contact us if you are interested in see the data for each individual county.  This chart shows some interesting facts:

Big 4 - September 2009 

  • Pre-foreclosures are still very high (yellow bar)
  • Properties that become foreclosed or bank-owned are significantly lower (red bar)
  • Sales of bank-owned properties is higher than the rate of new properties becoming bank-owned (purple bar)
  • Market sales (resales, new homes, land) are significantly smaller than the number of pre-foreclosures (green bar)
  • The percentage of REOs or bank-owned properties compared to total sales is shrinking in recent months (green line).        

The case is clear – REO listing inventory is shrinking.  We also know this to be true from the “word on the streets” since many REO specialists do not have the listing inventory volumes they has back in the spring and early summer months.  There are two root causes for this situation.  One is that more banks are supporting and promoting short sales.  The second is that banks are simply sitting on inventory and not bringing properties to the market for sale.  Short sales make sense since it costs the bank less money to process.  But why would a bank sit on inventory and not bring to market for sale?  Some speculate that banks are holding assets to defer losses.  Others believe that banks are using these assets to negotiate with the government to establish a “toxic bank” similar to the model used for the RTC (Resolution Trust Corporation).  Only time will tell the real reasons. 

So what does this mean to sellers or buyers in metro Atlanta?

For sellers, it means that you and your agent need to carefully watch the trends for future listing inventory in your local area.  This includes notices of foreclosure or pre-foreclosures that will become short sales or bank-owned properties.  This also includes the “shadow inventory” that banks are holding.   If the banks decide to dump the inventory onto the market too fast, it will have a negative impact on market values.  Yet another category to watch includes the “sideline inventory” of sellers that are expected to come into the market if values slightly improve.  Right now our inventory levels are down 28% from last year.  Pended sales are running at about the same pace as last year.  For now, we are consuming our inventory.  If that remains the case, property values will remain stable and may even pick up slightly.  It is all about the balance for buyers and the current listing inventory.  Prudential Georgia Realty created our award-winning Advanced Property Marketing System specifically for these types of market conditions.  As the market changes, we will see the trends first and can help you optimize your value proposition to stand out from your competition.     

For buyers, there are still tremendous deals in our market.  There are fabulous resales, builder short sales, residential short sales and bank-owned properties.  Many of these are priced below their replacement costs.  It may be wise to work with a specialist who understands both the short sale and REO markets to evaluate the best opportunities.  Prudential Georgia Realty has hundreds of trained and certified specialists that can help in your local area.  These specialists have foreclosure searches powered by RealtyTrac plus our new custom Short Sale searchPGR is the only brokerage that provides these powerful tools to our agents.

If you want THE EDGE in the market, please contact your Prudential Georgia Realty agent to get started today!

The Latest Case Shiller Report – What Does It Mean?

Thursday, October 1st, 2009

The latest Case-Shiller Index was published on Tuesday.  As always, Case-Shiller is published the last Tuesday of the month and reports on data 60 days in arrears.  So what does the latest index show and what does that mean for home value in metro Atlanta? 

Before we provide the answer, we want to make two caveats.  First, the Case-Shiller index of home values is very different from average sale prices which reflect the average prices of what is being sold in the market.  Right now, the heavy volumes in the market are on the lower end for 1st time home buyers and short sales/ foreclosures.  The luxury market is slower so that makes the average sales price lower than a normal market.  Second, real estate is local and every market is different.  Your local agent expert can help you understand the specific metrics in your local market

Now to the news….  The July index shows the 4th positive gain in a row for metro Atlanta home values.  If you look at the number, you will see the % gains every month are growing.  Click on the link below to see the details on the spreadsheet.

Case Shiller Index – Atlanta – July 2009 Index

 This means that home values have actually increased from March 2009 by 4.7%.  That is good news!  The peak of the index was July 2007 and the bottom of the index was March of 2009.  Since March, Trendgraphix reports pending sales increases for three months in a row with slight dips in July and August.  This is being driven by the expiring tax credits and the great buying opportunities in the market.   But remember….  home values are still down from their peaks and sellers must be realistic about pricing.  Home values are still down 19.35% from the peak of July 2007.  If you look at the average annual Case-Shiller index for each year, here is how homes purchased in recent years would compare to the current index: 

  • Homes Bought in 2000 – Gain of 3.2%
  • Homes Bought in 2001 – Loss of 2.02%
  • Homes Bought in 2002 – Loss of 5.6%
  • Homes Bought in 2003 – Loss of 8.54%
  • Homes Bought in 2004 – Loss of 11.75%
  • Homes Bought in 2005 – Loss of 16.05%
  • Homes Bought in 2006 – Loss of 19.53%
  • Homes Bought in 2007 – Loss of 20.05%
  • Homes Bought in 2008 – Loss of 12.6 %

Homes values are essentially the same as the fall of 2000 right now.  Yes, we are slowly climbing our way out of this unprecedented housing crisis – but we are not there quite yet.  So where will home values go from here?  We believe that the “extended summer selling season” will continue through October Case-Shiller results.  We will start to see home values drop slightly in the late fall and winter months.  We expect next spring and summer to be better than the spring and summer markets of 2009.  If Congress sweetens the pot with a broader tax credit, we will see significantly more positive momentum in the market.  The keys to watch will be the following:

  1. Extension and/or Expanding of Federal Housing Tax Credits
  2. Mortgage Rates/ Credit Availability     
  3. Pace of Short Sales/ Foreclosures Entering the Market

We will be posting a new article in the next few days that will address the growing trend of short sales.  This is going to be one of the significant trends to watch that will impact our home values.  Stay tuned….  

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