26 Feb 3 Reasons Housing is Looking Up in 2015
As 2015 rolls forward, there are several economic indicators that the housing market may have a break-out year. Let’s review the top three.
The job market is stronger. With the recession behind us, more and more companies are adding new employees to the payroll. The unemployment rates has dropped 5.8 percent and 321,000 jobs were opened up in November, with all of this added work equating to improved consumer optimism. The Conference Board’s latest Consumer Confidence Index highlighted confidence weighing in at 19.5 percent higher than a year ago. As jobs continue to stabilize and moods lift, more potential homebuyers will enter the market as they become more eligible for a mortgage, and more capable of taking on those pesky mortgage payments.
Home prices are stablilizing. Home prices between January and October, 2014 rose 4.5 percent nationally, which – while still an uptick – is much mellower than the same period of time during 2013, when prices jumped 11 percent. Additionally, mortgages have settled below 4 percent for 30-year fixed rates, and the combination of stable prices and low mortgage rates creates a cocktail of affordability that will shine a bright light on housing in 2015.
Rents are high. There’s nothing like a sky high rental market to send on-the-fence buyers scurrying into homeownership. As more Americans took to renting when the housing market took a tumble, rents began to increase, and are currently at a seven-year high.
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3 Reasons Housing is Looking Up in 2015 (RIS Media Article)