Mortgage Rates Expected to Increase, Fed To Reduce Bond Purchases

Ben Bernake announced yesterday that the Federal Reserve will begin reducing the amount of bonds it will purchase, from $85 billion per month to $75 billion.  This is the first step taken to "take off the training wheels" on the federal stimulus it created to get the United States out of it's recession.  The Fed’s purchases will be divided between $40 billion in Treasuries and $35 billion in mortgage bonds starting in January, Bernanke said.

“Reflecting cumulative progress and an improved outlook for the job market, the committee decided today to modestly reduce the monthly pace at which it is adding to the longer-term securities on its balance sheet,” Bernanke said at a press conference in Washington today after a meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee.

Stocks rallied on the good news reported regarding the improved economy and reduced unemployment figures.  The Fed said its benchmark interest rate is likely to stay low “well past the time that the unemployment rate declines below 6.5 percent, especially if projected inflation continues to run below” the Fed’s 2 percent goal.

Since the Fed began signaling in May that it may soon begin to dial down the purchases, interest rates have drifted higher, with the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate rising to 4.42% from 3.35% in May. The rising rates helped convince the Fed to delay tapering in September.  Rates are expected to continue to increase, but not at an immediate, drastic amount.  However, it will have an affect on the purchasing power for home buyers.

Further complicating the picture is that Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke plans to step down when his term ends in January. Vice Chair Janet Yellen, who has been nominated to succeed him, has expressed an even more pro-growth approach but must deal with a policymaking committee with diverse views of the stimulus.

*Information source from Bloomberg News and USA Today

Cleveland, Northeast OH Area Real Estate Market October 2013

According to the Northeast Ohio Regional Multiple Listing Service (NORMLS) and an article from the Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper, homes sales in the region increased from September to October. Lower home inventory, higher rental prices and higher buyer demand due to low (but climbing) interest rates, have been driving this increase in activity and increase in sales prices over the past year or so.
Sales comparing October 2012 to October 2013 still show increasing sales figures.  Among the 15 counties in Northeast Ohio, single family home sales are up 14.9% and 10.4% for condominium sales. 

By comparison, Northeast Ohio is showing a 3.8% price increase from last year, with the state of Ohio's at 2.3%. Ohio's sales volume increase was also up by over 8% from October 2012.  The US market saw a 12.8% increase in sales price from the year before, and is showing a sales volume decrease of 3.2%.  Ohio and Northeast Ohio's price increases have stabilized recently, while the US sales prices continue to rise at a higher rate, which has been historically the case in our area compared with the nation.  There is still a concern that home prices are rising faster than income growth.

The key point here is that the market is starting to stabilize and shifting to a seller's market.  Sellers are getting more for their homes than last year, with buyers paying a bit more to purchase a home to take advantage of the low interest rates.  Buyers should note that interest rates have decreased slightly, hovering around 4.3%. 

This is a great time for buyers who also have a home to sell, because rates are still relatively low on the buying side, but home values have risen in many areas to improve the financial return on the selling side.  If the economy continues to improve, buyers in the current market will be able to realize value gains for the homes they purchase as well.

11 Reasons To List Your Home During The Holidays

You’ve heard it from real estate agents before. “The Winter season is slow.” Or, “No one is really buying or selling.” And even, “I’ll get started in the New Year, it’s a new start right?”  Wrong. The truth is, it’s better to be ahead than behind.

Here are 11 reasons to have your home listed during the holidays:

11. By selling now, you may have an opportunity to be a non-contingent buyer during the Spring, when many more houses are on the market for less money! This will allow you to sell high and buy low.

10. You can sell now for more money and we will provide for a delayed closing or extended occupancy until early next year.

9. Even though your house will be on the market, you still have the option to restrict showings during the six or seven days around the Holidays.

8. January is traditionally the month for employees to begin new jobs. Since transfers cannot wait until Spring to buy, you need to be on the market during the Holidays to capture the market.

7. Some people must buy before the end of the year for tax reasons.

6. Buyers have more time to look for a home during the Holidays than they do during a work week.

5. Buyers are more emotional during the Holidays, so they are more likely to pay your price.

4. Houses may show better when decorated for the Holidays.

3. Since the supply of listings will dramatically increase in January, there will be less demand for your particular home. Less supply and more demand means more money for you.

2. Serious buyers have fewer houses to choose from during the Holidays and less competition means more money for you.

And the number one reason why your seller should list during the Holidays…

1. People who look for homes during the Holidays are more serious buyers!


*Information courtesy of the Keller Williams Greater Cleveland SW blog

Cleveland, Northeast OH Area Real Estate Market September 2013

According to the Northeast Ohio Regional Multiple Listing Service (NORMLS) and an article from the Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper, homes sales in the region dropped from August to September, but continue to surpass last year's sales figures. Lower home inventory, higher rental prices and higher buyer demand due to low (but climbing) interest rates, has driving this increase in activity and increase in sales prices over the past year.  Economist say that the recent government shutdown and consumer uncertainty attributed to the reduced sales volume in September.
Sales comparing September 2012 to September 2013 still show increasing sales figures.  Among the 15 counties in Northeast Ohio, single family home sales are up 15.2% and 3.1% for condominium sales. 



By comparison, Northeast Ohio is showing a 3% price increase from last year, with the state of Ohio's at 2%. Ohio's sales volume increase was also up by over 18.9% from September 2012.  The US market saw a 11.7% increase in sales price from the year before, and is showing a sales volume increase of 10.7%.  Ohio and Northeast Ohio's price increases have stabilized recently, while the US sales prices continue to rise at a higher rate, which has been historically the case in the area compared with the nation.  There is concern that home prices are rising faster than income growth.



The key point here is that the market is starting to stabilize and shifting to a seller's market.  Sellers are getting more for their homes than last year, with buyers paying a bit more to purchase a home to take advantage of the low interest rates.  Buyers should note that interest rates have decreased slightly, hovering around 4.3%. 

This is a great time for buyers who also have a home to sell, because rates are still relatively low on the buying side, but home values have risen in many areas to improve the financial return on the selling side.  If the economy continues to improve, buyers in the current market will be able to realize value gains for the homes they purchase as well.

New Home Construction - Reasons To Have Realtor Representation

Buying a new home is exciting, and home construction is on the rise. You get to build your home the way you want it to be. But like any home purchase, new construction is an expensive transaction with many financial implications.

Here's why it’s a good idea to obtain representation from a Realtor when considering new construction:

Sales Reps Work For The Builder. Builders usually have their own agents or representatives on site to discuss the home construction process, and help with a potential purchase. They can explain how the builder compares to competitors, differences between models and floor plans, go over your financing options, upgrades and specials, etc. But it’s important to know that builder reps represent the builder.

Fiduciary Duties. When you use Realtor representation, their responsibility is to you. You have a local expert who is looking out for your best interests, who’s contractually obligated to protect you. A buyer's agent can help you navigate the contract and help you understand the specific clauses, riders and upgrade, making sure you know what you need to before you sign on the dotted line.

Negotiating. Finding the right model and choosing your upgrades is fun, and you should truly try to enjoy the experience. The contracts and negotiating terms and options is the not-so-fun part, and can be quite daunting.  Most buyers don't know they can even negotiate with a builder. Your agent can also present other financing options or possibly work with the builder’s lender directly to get you a better rate for your mortgage.

Navigating You to Closing. Signing a contract with a builder is step one in the process. You must also line up financing, work with title companies, attend numerous inspections and make sure completion of the home meets the deadline. Your Realtor can manage that process to ensure you’re not missing anything at each stage of your new home's construction.

Home Value Accuracy - Agent Versus Software Estimates

If you're considering buying or selling a home, I'm sure you've probably looked at various real estate sites to see how much homes are valued for.  As a real estate professional, I get clients that ask me about these home value estimates all the time.  Some of them have almost decided not to buy or sell a home, because they trusted these estimated to be accurate, and they got the impression they could not meet their selling or purchasing goals.

So, I decided to due my homework and see just how accurate these estimates are.  I went to the most well known site for home value estimates...Zillow.  Their "Zestimates," as they're called, provide home value estimates of any home, whether they're for sale or not.  Zillow states that this is not to be construed as an appraisal, but an opinion of value.

The issue is, these values are derived from county tax values, last sales price, surrounding homes in different communities and school districts.  It may also use homes that while close in proximity, are of varying quality, size, condition, age, and/or distressed (foreclosure or short sale).  The homes could be in a better or worse location as well (train tracks, near highway, on a main road, etc).

I attached a screen shot from Zillow's website that discloses the accuracy of their "Zestimates," which can be viewed at the following link as well.  ZESTIMATE ACCURACY



Being a Realtor in the Cleveland and Northeast Ohio area, I'll ask you to draw your attention to the Cleveland OH statistics. As you can see, the "Zestimates" are only 35.9% accurate within 5% of the true value, 63.7% within 10% of true value and 83.7% accurate within 20% of true value.  If an agent had accuracy numbers like these, he/she wouldn't be a very successful Realtor.

To put this in perspective, if a seller owned a $250,000 home, the differences at these 5-20% levels of accuracy could range from $12,500-$50,000!  If the seller's home is one of the 16.3% that weren't even accurate within 20%, this number could be even higher.

The point is, as I explain to all of my clients, using the internet to obtain real estate knowledge can be a great thing, but can also be misleading or incorrect.  Knowing the source of your information is very important, and it's the reason I wrote this article.  Specific to this topic, nothing replaces the valuation of a local real estate agent.  And when choosing a Realtor, be sure to interview more than one to make sure you're choosing a knowledgeable agent that will successfully guide you through your transaction.

Ohio Career Expo at the Cleveland Public Auditorium

Screencap taken from https://www.facebook.com/ohiocareerexpo

For those who are looking for a new job or considering switching careers, the Ohio Career Expo will take place on Tuesday, October 8 at 10am at the Cleveland Public Auditorium, located at 500 Lakeside Avenue E in Cleveland.

The Expo is an excellent opportunity for job seekers to apply at several different companies. For those looking to hire, it’s a good way to meet with hundreds of qualified candidates and possibly make several hires in just a few hours.

Registration is free of charge, but required, as tickets are going fast. Over 100 top Northern Ohio companies looking to hire will be in attendance, with full-time and part-time jobs available in industries including (but not limited to) advertising, aeronautics, agriculture and fishing, automotive, construction, education, engineering, food services, healthcare, hospitality, insurance, manufacturing, marketing, real estate, retail, sales, security, technology, telecommunications, and transportation.

According to the event’s official Facebook page, there are over 1,200 job openings in the Cleveland area healthcare sector alone. So don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity, register now. For more information, please visit https://www.facebook.com/ohiocareerexpo.

Cleveland, Northeast OH Area Real Estate Market August 2013

According to the Northeast Ohio Regional Multiple Listing Service (NORMLS) and an article from the Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper, homes sales in the region continue to surpass last year's sales figures. Lower home inventory, higher rental prices and higher buyer demand due to low (but climbing) interest rates, is driving this increase in activity and increase in sales prices.  The low inventory continues to increase new construction demand, as well.
Sales comparing August 2012 to August 2013 show increasing sales figures by double digits, like they did in the past 3 months.  Among the 15 counties in Northeast Ohio, single family home sales are up 11.3% and 19.8% for condominium sales.  From July to August 2013, sales rose by 1.2%. 

By comparison, Northeast Ohio is showing a 8% price increase from last year, with the state of Ohio's at 3.4%. Ohio's sales volume increase was also up by over 16.9% from August 2012.  The US market saw a 14.7% increase in sales price from the year before, and is showing a sales volume increase of only 13.2%.  Northeast Ohio's price increases have stabilized recently, while Ohio and the US have dipped a bit.

Ohio just marked 26 straight months of annual sales gains, and nationwide sales of existing homes hit their highest level in 6.5 years.  Lawrence Yun, the chief economist for the National Association of Realtors, described the August jump as a "temporary peak," driven by higher interest rates on home loans.  He said he expects sales to be uneven over the coming months and that rising sales prices and restrictive lending may hold back sales growth.

The key point here is that the market is starting to stabilize and shifting to a seller's market.  Sellers are getting more for their homes than last year, with buyers paying a bit more to purchase a home to take advantage of the low interest rates.  Buyers should note that interest rates have begun to increase over the past several months, hovering around 4.5%. 

This is a great time for buyers who also have a home to sell, because rates are still relatively low on the buying side, but home values have risen in many areas to improve the financial return on the selling side.  If the economy continues to improve, buyers in the current market will be able to realize value gains for the homes they purchase as well.

For Home Sellers: Understanding The Home Buyer

As the seller, you can control three factors that will affect the sale of your home:

* The home's condition
* Asking price
* Marketing strategy

However, it's important to note that there are numerous other factors that influence a buyer, and you need to understand these consumer trends when you enter the sellers' market. The more your home matches these qualifications, the more competitive it will be in the marketplace. Your real estate agent can advise you on how to best position and market your home to overcome any perceived downsides.

Location
Unfortunately, the most influential factor in determining your home's appeal to buyers is something you can't control: its location. According to the National Association of REALTORS(r), neighborhood quality is the No. 1 reason buyers choose certain homes. The second most influential factor is commute times to work and school.

Size
While some buyers want to simplify their lives and downsize to a smaller home, home sizes in general have continued to increase over the decades, nearly doubling in size since the 1950s. Smaller homes typically appeal to first-time home buyers and "empty nesters," or couples whose children have grown up and moved out.

Amenities
Preferences in floor plans and amenities go in and out of fashion, and your real estate agent can inform you of the "hot ticket" items that are selling homes in your market. If your home lacks certain features, you can renovate to increase its appeal, but be forewarned: That's not always the right move. Using market conditions and activity in your neighborhood as a gauge, your agent can help you determine whether the investment is likely to help or hinder your profit margin and time on the market.

2013 Cleveland Labor Day Oktoberfest This Weekend

Screencap taken from http://clevelandoktoberfest.com/

The 2013 Cleveland Labor Day Oktoberfest, tagged as Northeast Ohio’s largest annual outdoor festival, will take place at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds from Friday, August 30 to Monday, September 2. For four exciting days, visitors can expect authentic German food, live entertainment from local and regional musicians, German dance groups and of course, gallons and gallons of ice-cold beer.

A diverse and unique experience, the Cleveland Labor Day Oktoberfest will have something to offer everyone. For art lovers, there will be a dedicated Art Market, sidewalk chalk art and a demonstration by sand sculptor Carl Jara. A 5k race, corn hole boards and other sporty activities will cater to more athletic visitors. Shopaholics can visit the Bavarian Bazaar while car enthusiasts can check out the VW Show & Campout as well as the juried Car Show. Of course, the festival also has fun activities lined up for the kids, including the Frisch Marionette Show, inflatables, toy trains, a gingerbread house building competition, sandboxes, a stunning fireworks display and more.

Admission costs $10 with a $2 discount if you purchase tickets online. Children under 12 get in free. Hours are from 5pm to midnight on Friday, noon to midnight on Saturday and Sunday and from noon to 9pm on Monday. The Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds are located at 164 Eastland Road in Berea. For more information, please visit clevelandoktoberfest.com.

Cleveland, Northeast OH Area Real Estate Market July 2013

According to the Northeast Ohio Regional Multiple Listing Service (NORMLS) and an article from the Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper, homes sales in the region continue to surpass last year's sales figures. Lower home inventory, higher rental prices and higher buyer demand due to low (but climbing) interest rates, is driving this increase in activity and increase in sales prices.  The low inventory continues to increase new construction demand, as well.
Sales comparing July 2012 to July 2013 show increasing sales figures by double digits, like they did in May and June.  Among the 15 counties in Northeast Ohio, single family home sales are up 22.6% and 30.2% for condominium sales.  From June to July 2013, sales rose by 9%. 

By comparison, Northeast Ohio is showing a 6.3% price increase from last year, with the state of Ohio's at 7.2%. Ohio's sales volume increase was also up by over 25.8% from July 2012.  The US market saw a 13.7% increase in sales price from the year before, and is showing a sales volume increase of only 17.2%.  Northeast Ohio's price increases have improved to a lesser degree the past couple months, while Ohio and the US have been fairly stable.

"Although housing affordability conditions will become less attractive, jobs are being added to the economy," Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors, said in a written statement. "And mortgage underwriting standards should normalize over time from current stringent conditions as default rates fall."

The key point here is that the market is starting to stabilize and shifting to a seller's market.  Sellers are getting more for their homes than last year, with buyers paying a bit more to purchase a home to take advantage of the low interest rates.  Buyers should note that interest rates have begun to increase over the past several months, hovering around 4.5%. 

This is a great time for buyers who also have a home to sell, because rates are still relatively low on the buying side, but home values have risen in many areas to improve the financial return on the selling side.  If the economy continues to improve, buyers in the current market will be able to realize value gains for the homes they purchase as well.

Consider Home Staging to Sell Your Home

So, you're selling your home, or at least considering it.  But how do you compete with the rest of the market around you?  Pricing? Condition? Listing with an agent that knows how to market your home properly?  YES!

For the purposes of this post, we're going to concentrate on the condition of the home...

Why to Consider Staging

As a seller, you want to put yourself in the best position to get buyers' attention and have them perceive a value for your home, in comparison to other homes on the market in the area.  A buyer needs to see themselves living in your home.  Whether you're currently living in your home or have left it vacant, home staging may be what you need to set your home apart from the rest.

The purpose to home staging is to give your home an updated look, and to give a buyer the ability to see what the home would look like in it's best possible condition.  It helps highlight the home's best features, with the goal of appealing to a broad range of buyers, selling faster and for a higher dollar amount.  According to statistics from the Accredited Staging Professional website, the success rate (see below) can be quite substantial.


Return on Investment

Costs can vary, depending on the size of the home and how much staging work is done.  It can be a few hundred dollars to several thousand, but if it results in a quick sale for top dollar, it may prove to be well worth the investment. According to staging professionals, it can provide a 3-7% higher sales price.

The following is a summary of the results of HomeGain's national survey, based on the ten areas of home improvement identified by real estate agents in HomeGain's survey. They are listed from the highest to lowest returns on investment:


Bottom Line

As I always advise my sellers, if there is something that can place your home above all the rest, it should always be considered.  In regards to home staging, if the results and the return on investment can be achieved, it may be a way for a seller to "beat the market" in a time when the market heavily favors the buyer.

Cleveland, Northeast OH Area Real Estate Market June 2013

According to the Northeast Ohio Regional Multiple Listing Service (NORMLS) and an article from the Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper, homes sales in the region continue to surpass last year's sales figures, as we have now hit the mid-point of the year. Lower home inventory, higher rental prices and higher buyer demand due to low (but climbing) interest rates, is driving this increase in activity and increase in sales prices.  The low inventory continues to increase new construction demand, as well.
Sales comparing June 2012 to June 2013 show increasing sales figures by double digits, like they did in May.  Among the 15 counties in Northeast Ohio, single family home sales are up 13.3% and 11.2% for condominium sales.  From May to June 2013, sales rose by 4%. 

By comparison, Northeast Ohio is showing a 8.4% price increase from last year, with the state of Ohio's at 9.3%. Ohio's sales volume increase was also up by over 15% from June 2012.  The US market saw a 13.5% increase in sales price from the year before, and is showing a sales volume increase of only 15.2%.  Last month, Northeast Ohio outpaced Ohio and the US in both volume and price increases.

The key point here is that the market is starting to stabilize and shifting to a seller's market.  Sellers are getting more for their homes than last year, with buyers paying a bit more to purchase a home to take advantage of the low interest rates.  Buyers should note that interest rates have begun to increase over the past several months, hovering around 4% or so.  Rates were nearly a full percent lower in November of last year.

This is a great time for buyers who also have a home to sell, because rates are still relatively low on the buying side, but home values have risen in many areas to improve the financial return on the selling side.

Luau on the Lake on July 20, Wendy Park in Cleveland OH

Photo taken from http://sc4k.org/

SC4K or Shoes and Clothes for Kids are holding its 8th annual Luau on the Lake on Saturday, July 20 at Wendy Park at Whiskey Island in Cleveland. This is a Hawaiian themed fundraising event to benefit the children that Shoes and Clothes for Kids supports. Guests can expect to enjoy a fun filled day with good food, drinks, wine and beer, outdoor activities such as sand volleyball, live music and entertainment, and a fantastic view of Lake Erie. The event will also feature exciting giveaways and a fabulous raffle.

SC4K is a non-profit organization that provides new clothes and shoes to thousands of children in Greater Cleveland at no charge throughout the year. With a network of 35 distribution partners, they aim to positively impact the lives of less fortunate area children by giving them the boosts in confidence and self-esteem that having new clothes and shoes naturally brings.

Tickets for Luau on the Lake range from $40 to $50. The event starts at 3:30pm for VIP ticket holders and 4pm for General Admission. Food will be served from 5:30 to 7:30pm. For more information on this event, please visit sc4k.org.

Cleveland, Northeast OH Area Real Estate Market May 2013

According to the Northeast Ohio Regional Multiple Listing Service (NORMLS) and an article from the Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper, homes sales in the region continue to surpass last year's sales figures. Lower home inventory, higher rental prices and higher buyer demand due to low (but climbing) interest rates, is driving this increase in activity and increase in sales prices.  The low inventory is increasing new construction demand, as well.
Sales comparing May 2012 to May 2013 show increasing sales figures by double digits.  Among the 15 counties in Northeast Ohio, single family home sales are up 12.6% and condo sales are up a 25.8%.  From April to May 2013, sales rose by double digits also. 

By comparison, Northeast Ohio is showing a 13.4% price increase from last year, outpacing the state of Ohio's 9.3%. The US market saw a 15.4% increase in sales price from the year before, and is showing a sales increase of only 4.2%. 

The key point here is that the market is starting to stabilize and shifting to a seller's market.  Sellers are getting more for their homes than last year, with buyers paying a bit more to purchase a home to take advantage of the low interest rates.  Buyers should note that interest rates have reached nearly as low as they can go, when deciding the best time to make a purchase.  In fact, rates have already shown increases over the past several months, and have been hovering around 4%. 

This is a great time for buyers who also have a home to sell, because rates are still relatively low on the buying side, but home values have risen in many areas to improve the financial return on the selling side.

Cleveland, Northeast OH Area Real Estate Market April 2013

According to the Northeast Ohio Regional Multiple Listing Service (NORMLS) and an article from the Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper, homes sales in the region continue to surpass last year's sales figures. Lower home inventory, higher rental prices and higher buyer demand due to low interest rates, is driving this increase in activity and increase in sales prices.  Lower inventory (down 13.6% from last year) is actually thought to be keeping home sales gains from improving even further. 
Sales comparing April 2012 to April 2013 show increasing sales figures.  Among the 15 counties in Northeast Ohio, single family home sales are up 15.9% and condo sales are up a 13%.  From March to April 2013, single family home sales increased 0.6%.  In addition to the increase in sales activity, Northeast Ohio is showing a 3.3% increase in single family home prices and 3.6% increase for condos, compared to last April. 

The key point here is that the market is starting to stabilize and shifting to a seller's market.  Sellers are getting more for their homes than last year, with buyers paying a bit more to purchase a home to take advantage of the low interest rates.  Buyers should note that interest rates have reached nearly as low as they can go, when deciding the best time to make a purchase.  In fact, rates have already shown increases over the past several months, and have nearly reached 4%. 


By comparison, Northeast Ohio is showing a similar sales price increase to Ohio's 3.5%. The US market saw a 11% increase in sales price from the year before, and is showing a sales increase of 9.7%.  Nationally, 4.97 million homes have sold, which is just shy of meeting the lower part of the 5-6 million of annual home sales considered to be a normal or healthy range.

Mortgage Delinquencies Fall to 2007 Lows

According to a recent article from the National Association of Realtors, delinquencies on home loans dropped in March to 0.84 percent of the nation's 50.2 million mortgages -- the first month since 2007 that delinquencies were below the 1 percent mark.

First-time defaults -- loans that are at least 60 days delinquent -- peaked in January 2009 at 2.89 percent.

Home loans at least 30 days delinquent or in foreclosure dropped to 5 million in March. In January 2010, delinquent loans for at least 30 days peaked at 7.7 million.

More home owners are seeing equity once again in their homes, as prices rise. The number of mortgages with negative equity dropped to 18 percent of homes with a mortgage in January, down from 41 percent one year earlier.

Cleveland, Northeast OH Area Real Estate Market March 2013

According to the Northeast Ohio Regional Multiple Listing Service (NORMLS) and an article from the Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper, homes sales in the region continue to surpass last year's sales figures. Lower home inventory (which is beginning to increase), higher rental prices and higher buyer demand due to low interest rates, is driving this increase in activity and increase in sales prices.  Competition over available homes has been more common over the past several months.
Sales comparing March 2012 to March 2013 show increasing sales figures.  Among the 15 counties in Northeast Ohio, single family home sales are up 15.8% and condo sales are up a 15.6%.  From February to March 2013, single family home sales increased 48.9% and condos increase by 33.3%.  In addition to the increase in sales activity, Northeast Ohio is showing a 6.9% increase in single family home prices and 1.0% increase for condos, compared to last March. 

The key point here is that the market is starting to stabilize and shifting to a seller's market.  Sellers are getting more for their homes than last year, with buyers paying a bit more to purchase a home to take advantage of the low interest rates.  Buyers should note that interest rates have reached nearly as low as they can go, when deciding the best time to make a purchase.  In fact, rates have already shown increases over the past several months.  The data also indicates we have seen the bottom of the local real estate market.



By comparison, Northeast Ohio is showing a higher price increase of 6.9% versus Ohio's 5.2%. The US market actually saw a 0.6% decrease in sales price from the year before, but is showing a home price increase of 6.9%.  Nationally, 4.92 million homes have sold, which is just shy of meeting the lower part of the 5-6 million of annual home sales considered to be a normal or healthy range.

Hop aboard the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad

If you are looking for things to do as the weather gets warmer, and if you would like to experience the beauty of Northeast Ohio in a whole new way, why not hop aboard the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad? The CVSR is one of the longest, oldest and most scenic tourist excursion railways in the whole United States. This non-profit organization operates in partnership with the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and is dedicated to the preservation of passenger rail transportation in Cuyahoga Valley and the historic Ohio & Erie Canalway.

The CVSR has several special events, tours and educational programs throughout the year, but if you simply want to enjoy a relaxing train ride through a breathtakingly scenic route, you may purchase tickets for just $12 for both adults and kids. There is even food aboard the train, so all you have to do is sit back, relax and enjoy the sights.

For more information on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, please visit www.cvsr.com.

NAR Chief Economist Discusses U.S. Real Estate Market

The National Association of Realtors Chief Economist Lawrence Yun joined C-SPAN yesterday morning to discuss the U.S. housing market, and he responded to telephone calls and electronic communications. Topics included the March 2013 jobs numbers, Obama administration efforts to boost the housing market, and the real estate markets in individual states.