Real Estate Market Update - Seattle and Bellevue - March 2021
Happy spring! As your real estate professional, it is my pleasure to provide to you as much relevant real estate information as possible. This article contains numerous links to more information, videos with quick infographic statistic updates, and updates from local lenders from the mortgage & financing prospective. Contact me anytime to discuss this info and what it means to you. Let me know if you would like specific information for your neighborhood and share with me any information you come across to help me make this info the best it can be.
According to the Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS):
“ KIRKLAND, Washington (April 7, 2021) – Brokers with Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS) added 10,562 new listings to inventory during March -- the highest volume since September when they added 11,210 properties to the selection. Even so, demand continued to outstrip supply, keeping inventory depleted. The latest statistical summary from Northwest MLS shows double-digit price hikes were widespread across the 26 counties included in the report for the month of March." … To read the complete NWMLS March Press Release click here
Now that the Puget Sound region has entered Phase 2 of Governor Inslee’s “Roadmap to Recovery” plan, in person open houses are now allowed! Open houses must not have more than 10 people on the property at one time, and everyone there is still required to wear a face mask covering and comply with social distancing regulations. For more information on Phase 2 in regards to real estate, click here. Of course, if you don’t have the ability to come to an in person open house I am still offering virtual ones by appointment. I am also still offering in person or virtual showings to buyers of any home that’s for sale.
Lender updates from Tina, Eric, & Mark
If you want to know what is happening with the money-side of things in real estate, ask a mortgage lender. Below is info from Tina, Eric & Mark. I hope you find this info helpful. These lenders are available for you and can provide information to you regarding your plans to purchase or refinance a home. Let me know if you talk with them and how I can assist you as your Realtor. Thanks! Jen 206-550-1676
Mortgage Update - Interest rates have gone up a bit this last month. Interest rates are still at historical lows and with inflation expected to rise, now is the time to buy! (See Tina’s video above)
Tina Mitchell with Highlands Residential Mortgage is a fabulous lender. She has been in the mortgage industry for over 2 decades and has been recognized in the top 1% Nationwide. She is a numbers gal and can talk with you about possible loan options. I also really like her communication style. You can schedule a time with Tina now (for a video zoom conference call) using this link. She is available by cellular phone and even works nights & weekends! Tina promptly follows up your no obligation consultation with informative emails showing your different loan options, estimations of costs, and other important info in writing and throughout the process has the best communications of any lender I have ever seen. The first step is to schedule a meeting to review loan options, cash needed and payment breakdown. There is no cost or commitment to move forward, it’s just education. Call Tina now or if it’s more convenient you can use the following online calendar to Schedule a Consultation at https://calendly.com/tinamitchell/. Tina Mitchell, Highlands Residential Mortgage • Loan Originator, NMLS 145420 • Cellular: (425) 647-0205 • “Live Your Dream Now!” See Tina’s website at: www.TinaMitchellTeam.com
These thorough market updates from lender, Eric Aasness, Branch Sales Manager, Homebridge Financial are full of great charts and economic information. At the end of each article, Eric has included the links to more than 10 additional articles related to home loans and the real estate market.
February 26, 2021 - Brutal Week For Rates But There's Hope (Hopefully)
March 5, 2021 - Rates Rising Relentlessly, But Why? And When Will They Stop?
March 12, 2021 - Highest Rates in a Year; Big Drama For Investment Property Loans
March 19, 2021 - More Mortgage Drama--Especially For Investment and 2nd Home Loans
March 26, 2021 - Rates Catch a Break. Will it Last? What's The Impact on Housing?
Here are some additional market updates provided by Mark Williams at Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation:
March 5, 2021 - Powerful Job Gains
March 12, 2021 - Tame Inflation Data
March 26, 2021 - Home Sales Stumble
The graphs below contains information specific to the West Seattle area. Also, all of the images below are links to the interactive versions of the graphs! Just click on a graph and move your cursor along the line to see specific stats for every month throughout the years 2018-2021. Contact me if you have any questions or if you want any of these graphs made for your specific area!
Inventory throughout this year has remained low and continues to drop. This means that currently there are more buyers than sellers, making this an amazing time to sell!
As you can see the days a listing spends on market tends to spike at the beginning of each year. This is mostly due to the fact that January and February are follow up months to an extremely busy Holiday season starting in November.
If you have any thoughts or questions about this information or would like to talk, please call or text me at 206-550-1676. If you find great articles that you would like to share with me, please email those to me at jen@jensrealty.com. I am always working hard to be your source for real estate information!
Check back for more updates throughout the year. Let’s talk about the market now in your neighborhood, your real estate goals, and whether or not this is a good time for you to list and sell your home. Call, text, or email anytime. I’m always here to help! Thank you,
Jennifer Suemnicht - Jen's Realty - RE/MAX Metro Realty, Inc.
www.JensRealty.com / 206-550-1676 / jen@jensrealty.com
With inventory and interest rates at historic lows it’s a great time to sell. And if you are looking to buy, I can help you with a smooth transition into a home you love! Click the photo to contact me, or you can call/text me at 206-550-1676! - Jen:)
Here are some links to more articles & videos.
These helpful links are provided by Eric Aasness. If you find great articles that you would like to share with me, please email those to me at jen@jensrealty.com. I am always working hard to be your source for real estate information! Thanks, Jen
Jennifer Suemnicht - Jen's Realty - RE/MAX Metro Realty, Inc.
Realtor / Broker
206-550-1676 / www.JensRealty.com
NY Times Upshot: "Where Have All the Houses Gone?" Calculated Risk Blog
Fiscal stimulus fires up U.S. consumer spending; inflation benign Reuters
Freddie Mac's 12-Month Portfolio Growth Nears Half Trillion Mortgage News Daily
Fannie/Freddie COVID Programs Extended to Match FHA, VA Deadlines Mortgage News Daily
U.S. House on verge of approving Biden's $1.9 trillion COVID-19 aid bill Reuters
Bank of England official warns inflationary 'tiger' has awoken, sending bond yields higher CNBC
Mortgage Rates Are Now Well Over 3 Percent Mortgage News Daily
Pending Home Sales Post 5th Straight Loss Mortgage News Daily
Fed Chair Powell has a bond dilemma as the economy recovers CNBC
U.S. weekly jobless claims total 730,000, vs 845,000 estimate CNBC
New Home Sales on the Rise 4.3% in January Mortgage News Daily
A few Comments on January New Home Sales Calculated Risk Blog
Mortgage Application Volume Continues Decline Mortgage News Daily
Commentary: The Fed has a simple tool it can deploy to curb market speculation CNBC
Here are the highlights from Powell's testimony on inflation, yields CNBC
Case-Shiller: National House Price Index increased 10.4% year-over-year in December Calculated Risk Blog
December Home Price Gains Highest Since 2014 Mortgage News Daily
February Easily The Worst Month For Rates in Long Time Mortgage News Daily
Seven High Frequency Indicators for the Economy Calculated Risk Blog
Housing Inventory Feb 22nd Update: At Record Lows Calculated Risk Blog
UI Urges Abandoning New Fannie/Freddie Amendments Mortgage News Daily
Rate of Forbearance Improvement Slows as March Expiration Looms Mortgage News Daily
CFPB Extends Compliance Date for New QM Rule Mortgage News Daily
Despite rising inflation, experts say the Fed won't budge on rates CNBC
Mortgage Rates Surge After Powell Comments Mortgage News Daily
Why Bond Yields Spiked After Powell's Speech Today MND's Daily Newsletter
UWM to block brokers working with Fairway and Quicken Around The Web
First U.S. Senate vote on COVID-19 aid bill possible Thursday Reuters
Fed Chairman Powell says economic reopening could cause inflation to pick up temporarily CNBC
CFPB Proposes Delay of Mandatory Compliance Date for General Qualified Mortgage Final Rule CFPB
Four lessons from a year of pandemic housing policies Around The Web
Refinance Volume Ramps Down on Rising Rates Mortgage News Daily
Fed officials emphasize policy 'patience' as outlook improves Reuters
Help for Homeowners and Renters Freddie Mac
Analysis: Fixed-income markets wary of Fed decision on bank capital relief Reuters
Home Price Appreciation Broke an 8-Year Record in January Mortgage News Daily
With Protections Expiring, Millions are in Danger of Losing Their Home Mortgage News Daily
Construction Spending Rising Twice as Fast as Expected Mortgage News Daily
One Year Later: The Coronavirus Pandemic's Impact on the U.S. Housing Market In 12 Charts Redfin
Update: Framing Lumber Prices More Than Double Year-over-year Calculated Risk Blog
MBA: Share of Second Home and Investor Mortgage Applications Calculated Risk Blog
Housing Market Update: Home Prices Increased a Record 17%, Pending Sales Up 19% From a Year Earlier Redfin
The housing market stands at a tipping point after a stunningly successful year during the pandemic CNBC
South Carolina Real Estate in February: Sales Up 13% YoY, Inventory Down 46% YoY Calculated Risk Blog
Forbearances Reach Their Lowest Levels in Almost a Year Mortgage News Daily
Mortgage Equity Withdrawal in Q4 2020 Calculated Risk Blog
Fannie Warns Lenders on Investment Properties and 2nd Homes Mortgage News Daily
Getting a Mortgage Isn't Getting Any Easier Mortgage News Daily
Up to 60% of Buyers are Priced Out of Current Home Market Mortgage News Daily
Portland Real Estate in February: Sales Up 4% YoY, Inventory Down 44% YoY Calculated Risk Blog
U.S. households ended 2020 with record $130.2 trillion in wealth, Fed says Reuters
Lenders' Profit Outlook Dips as Mortgage Rates Rise and Competition Heats Up Fannie Mae
Houston Real Estate in February: Sales Up 2% YoY, Inventory Down 38% YoY Calculated Risk Blog
CoreLogic Calls 2020 a Rocky Year for Loan Performance Mortgage News Daily
Rising Rates Hampered Refinance Activity This Week Mortgage News Daily
Homebuyer Interest in Vacation Towns and Suburbs Has Soared Since the Pandemic Hit the U.S. Redfin
Fannie Updates Eligibility For Investment Properties and 2nd Homes Fannie Mae
February Homebuying Sentiment Declines, Despite Stronger Job Market Mortgage News Daily
Denver Real Estate in February: Sales Up 4% YoY, Active Inventory Down 58% Calculated Risk Blog
NMHC: Rent Payment Tracker Shows Households Paying Rent Decreased 4.1% YoY in Early March Calculated Risk Blog
North Texas Real Estate in February: Sales Down 6% YoY, Inventory Down 65% YoY Calculated Risk Blog
Black Knight's Deep Dive Into Equity, Forbearance, and the Future Rate Environment Mortgage News Daily
Las Vegas Real Estate in February: Sales up 13% YoY, Inventory down 57% YoY Calculated Risk Blog
Some thoughts on Housing Inventory Calculated Risk Blog
With Forbearance Periods Ending, Corelogic Looks at Options for Borrowers to Exit Mortgage News Daily
The Fed will not extend a pandemic-crisis rule that had allowed banks to relax capital levels CNBC
Housing Market Update: Home Prices Post 17% Annual Gain, Largest in at Least 5 Years Redfin
Refinance Activity Broke an Almost 9-Year Record in February Mortgage News Daily
Builder Survey Predicts a Dip in New Home Sales Mortgage News Daily
Mortgage rates just moved sharply higher, but homebuyer competition is fiercer than ever CNBC
36% of Homes Sold Above List Price in February, the Highest Share on Record Redfin
Fed sees growth surge, jump in inflation in 2021 but no change on rates Reuters
Comments on February Housing Starts Calculated Risk Blog
Construction Starts and Permits Took a Double-Digit Hit in February Mortgage News Daily
Refi Demand Plummets to Six-Month Low Mortgage News Daily
Lennar rides U.S. housing boom to post more than two-fold surge in profit Reuters
Lumber Prices and Rising Rates Take a Toll on Builder Confidence Mortgage News Daily
How Remote Workers Could Eventually Disrupt Housing Market Mortgage News Daily
Weak February Data Continue with Falling Incomes and Home Sales Fannie Mae
U.S. consumer mood brightens by most in nearly 8 years - UMich Reuters
Housing Market Update: A Record 39% of Homes Sold Above List Price Redfin
Mortgage Rates Are Actually LOWER This Week Mortgage News Daily
Fed officials press promise of complete recovery before 'punch bowl' disappears Reuters
Exclusive: Fed's Barkin says watch the data, rate hikes no article of faith Reuters
Treasury yields climb after Powell forecasts 'strong' economic growth CNBC
U.S. weekly jobless claims total 684,000, vs 735,000 estimate CNBC
Jim the Realtor: "Number of Offers" Calculated Risk Blog
Mortgage Profits Decline but Remain Close to Record Levels Mortgage News Daily
Purchase Application Volume up for Fourth Consecutive Week Mortgage News Daily
The Trials of a 2021 Homebuyer: More Money, More Competition and More Home Tours Redfin
A few Comments on February New Home Sales Calculated Risk Blog
Treasury's Yellen: Affordable housing is a top priority for Biden administration CNBC
February's Shortened Calendar Likely Responsible for Delinquency Increase Mortgage News Daily
February New Home Sales Decline Sharply Mortgage News Daily
Fed's Kaplan said he expects an interest rate hike in 2022 CNBC
Home Sales Fall Short, But Remain Well Above The Pre-Pandemic Pace Mortgage News Daily
Fannie Forecast: Home Sales Will Weather the Rising Rate Environment Mortgage News Daily
Housing Inventory March 22nd Update: At Record Lows Calculated Risk Blog
Comments on February Existing Home Sales Calculated Risk Blog
All-Cash Offers Quadruple a Homebuyer's Chances of Winning a Bidding War Redfin