“Despite all the hype of a cooling market, a recent poll of local real estate activity indicates that 55% of properties are getting multiple offers, while some sellers with aggressive asking prices are languishing on the market,” reports Linda O’Koniewski, CEO, Leading Edge.
“Greater Boston is suffering from a severe housing shortage, so despite inflation and higher interest rates, there are qualified buyers for all our inventory. Today’s sellers are in a more normal market and can’t press their list price too high without adverse consequences.
“There are four factors that determine a seller’s success: price, condition, timing, and availability of mortgage credit.”
Price - Buyers compare properties in the market for best value.
Timing - Every home debuts to a different buyer pool. When demand is high, sellers do well. When demand drops, buyers can be more discriminating.
Condition - Sex sells. Sellers who create a more attractive product for market always fetch more money.
Availability of credit - If buyers can find the right mortgage product for their circumstances, they can become homeowners. Today, Adjustable-Rate Mortgages are seeing a resurgence because borrowers can find lower interest rates for 5, 7 or 10-year loans, before the interest rate adjusts in the future.
“Demographics of today’s buyers explains continued demand,” continues O’Koniewski. “Close to half of Boomers were homeowners by age 34; today, 75 percent are. By contrast, only 37 percent of Millennials owned a home by age 34. Today, the average millennial is 35.”
The following are location-specific overviews of market changes year-over-year, for a sampling of neighborhoods in the Greater Boston Area. Don't see your town listed? Contact me for a custom report!
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