We're off to a good start in 2022 with rising housing prices. Buyer demand may dwindle as interest rates rise, causing property values to fall.The amount of inventory that enters the market will also impact whether or not prices cool.
Are you looking to purchase a home this year? Here's all you need to know about real estate prices. The housing market in 2021 was scorching, and many people who had hoped to buy a home were forced to put their plans on hold when skyrocketing property prices made it impossible. This year, we're in a similar situation, but without the benefit of historically low mortgage rates to help offset rising home prices.
According to the National Association of Realtors, the median existing-home sale price in January 2022 was $350,300. This represents a 15.4 per cent increase over the previous year. It's apparent that demand is still high because buyers are willing to pay such a premium for a home. Will this pattern continue in 2022? Is it possible that housing demand may begin to diminish in the near future?
Mortgage rate hikes may deter buyers.
The average 30-year mortgage rate currently stands at roughly 4.5 per cent. Given that the 30-year loan didn't even approach 4% in 2021, it's a frightening number, especially at a time when home values are at an all-time high.
But it isn't just that mortgage rates are rising at the moment. Borrowers should instead expect rates to rise as the year progresses. For that, we can thank the Federal Reserve. The Federal Reserve recently boosted its federal funds' rate and intends to raise it again this year. While the Federal Reserve does not determine mortgage rates, its activities certainly have an impact on them. As a result, it's reasonable to expect that borrowers will pay more to finance a home in the months ahead.
It's also reasonable to predict that rising mortgage rates will cause some buyer reluctance. It remains to be seen if the decline is severe enough to cause home prices to fall significantly. However, there's a risk that prices will gradually cool throughout the course of the year. Of course, housing inventory will influence whether or not home prices fall. Right now, we're in the midst of a typical low-supply, a high-demand scenario that favours sellers. However, if more properties come on the market this year, buyers will regain some bargaining power, causing home prices to rise in a more positive direction for purchasers.
Cash offerings will continue to reign supreme
Whether you're looking to buy a home for yourself or as an investment, one thing to keep in mind is that cash is king in today's housing market. If you can make a cash offer on a home, even if you end up mortgaging it later, you'll have an advantage over other buyers who must rely on finance to complete the transaction.
Cash offers, on the other hand, may not be as easy to get by these days. When a need for cash arises, many real estate investors turn to their stock portfolios. And, given the current state of the stock market, now is not the best moment to liquidate stocks in order to free up funds for a home purchase. However, if you can pay cash, you'll have a better chance of beating out other buyers at a time when housing inventory is still at an all-time low.
