Rate Heading

Interest Rates

 

Rate Heading

Where are interest rates headed?

This question was one of many which were addressed during our annual Market Forecast yesterday.

Our Chief Economist, Matthew Gardner, provided insight on rates, prices, inventory and many other fascinating topics.

Matthew’s prediction is for rates to creep up to 3.07% by the end of 2021.  They are currently at 2.79%.

The image below shows how his prediction compares with predictions of his economist colleagues.

If you would like a recording of the presentation, simply reach out to your Windermere Broker or reply to this email.

Graph

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Inverted

Home for Sale

Typically, in the Front Range Market, the number of new listings will exceed the number of closings on a monthly basis.

Meaning, the amount of properties that hit the market in a given month will be higher than the amount of properties that sell in that month.

It is normal to have the ‘inflow’ exceed the ‘outflow’ because some properties never sell for a variety of reasons.

As a result, the market remains stocked with inventory.

Starting about 5 years ago, we saw months where the number of new listings was roughly the same as the number of closings.

Then, in late 2020, these numbers inverted.  Closings started to exceed new listings.

This culminated in December 2020 when we saw the most drastic difference we have ever seen.

Here are the specific numbers for December:

  • Larimer County = 267 New Listings / 426 Closings
  • Weld County = 293 New Listings / 530 Closings
  • Metro Denver = 3028 New Listings / 4807 Closings

What this means is the market needs new listings.  This also means that your home is likely worth more than you might think.  If you want to see your home’s current value, even if you aren’t thinking of selling soon, we would be happy to show you.

The post Inverted appeared first on Fort Collins Real Estate | Fort Collins Homes for Sale & Property Search.

14 Times

Microscope

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the 14th time this year, 30-year mortgage rates set a record and hit an all-time low.

Based on data just released by Freddie Mac, rates are now at 2.71%.  Their weekly survey of the 30-year mortgage rate dates back to 1971.

Just one year ago rates were at 3.68%.

So, what does this mean for buyers?

Based on a $400,000 loan, current rates result in a monthly payment that would be $212 less than one year ago.

The post 14 Times appeared first on Fort Collins Real Estate | Fort Collins Homes for Sale & Property Search.

14 Times

Microscope

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the 14th time this year, 30-year mortgage rates set a record and hit an all-time low.

Based on data just released by Freddie Mac, rates are now at 2.71%.  Their weekly survey of the 30-year mortgage rate dates back to 1971.

Just one year ago rates were at 3.68%.

So, what does this mean for buyers?

Based on a $400,000 loan, current rates result in a monthly payment that would be $212 less than one year ago.

The post 14 Times appeared first on Fort Collins Real Estate | Fort Collins Homes for Sale & Property Search.

Remodeling Impact

Remodel

Americans spend $400 billion per year remodeling their homes.

So, which remodeling investment gives the best return when it comes to resale value?

It should come as no surprise, especially leading up to Thanksgiving, that the best money to spend upgrading your home is in the kitchen.

It’s the place where most homeowners spend most of their waking hours.

According to the research from the National Association of Realtors, it’s where remodelers will see the biggest return on investment.

Here is the ranking of various projects in terms of the value it adds to the home:

  1. Complete kitchen remodel
  2. Kitchen upgrade
  3. HVAC replacement
  4. Owner’s suite renovation
  5. Bathroom renovation
  6. Finishing a basement
  7. Adding a bathroom

The post Remodeling Impact appeared first on Fort Collins Real Estate | Fort Collins Homes for Sale & Property Search.

A Little Perspective

House

Here’s a little perspective on the inventory of homes for sale in today’s market…

First we’ll look at Metro Denver:

  • The average number of residential listings for sale at this time of year is 15,577
  • The highest-ever for this time of year is 29,722 which occurred in 2006
  • The number of listings right now is 4,821
  • So, inventory in Metro Denver is roughly one-third of the average and 25,000 fewer than the highest-ever.
  • DMAR is the source of the stats listed above

 

Now, Northern Colorado:

  • Larimer County has 802 active listings today
  • Based on 10 years of data, this is the lowest it has ever been
  • The high in Larimer County occurred in 2010 with 2608 listings so today’s inventory is one-third of what it was 10 years ago.
  • Inventory today in Weld County is 727 which isn’t the lowest-ever.
  • The lowest during the last 10 years was 2017.

The highest was 2010 with 1791 properties so today there are roughly 1,000 fewer properties to choose from.

The post A Little Perspective appeared first on Fort Collins Real Estate | Fort Collins Homes for Sale & Property Search.

The Votes Are In

Decrease

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Real estate buyers made their voices heard last month and made a clear choice for…  higher-end properties!

One of the interesting dynamics of our current market is the significantly- increased activity in higher price ranges.

The combination of high equity and low-interest rates is clearly causing people to move up.  They are able to purchase the home that has the features they have always wanted whether it be size, finishes, or location.

The considerable equity growth that has occurred for homeowners over the last 7 years is allowing them to have sizable down payments on their ‘move up’ property plus today’s rates keep their monthly payments lower than expected.

Here are the numbers we researched which demonstrate this trend.

Compared to October of 2019, sales of properties priced over $750,000 last month were up:

  • 176% in Larimer County
  • 375% in Weld County
  • 96% in Metro Denver

Properties in the $550,000 to $750,000 range also saw a large jump:

  • 57% in Larimer County
  • 63% in Weld County
  • 83% in Metro Denver

This is a unique time in history for people to move up and own a home they have always dreamed about.

The post The Votes Are In appeared first on Fort Collins Real Estate | Fort Collins Homes for Sale & Property Search.

The Votes Are In

Decrease

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Real estate buyers made their voices heard last month and made a clear choice for…  higher-end properties!

One of the interesting dynamics of our current market is the significantly- increased activity in higher price ranges.

The combination of high equity and low-interest rates is clearly causing people to move up.  They are able to purchase the home that has the features they have always wanted whether it be size, finishes, or location.

The considerable equity growth that has occurred for homeowners over the last 7 years is allowing them to have sizable down payments on their ‘move up’ property plus today’s rates keep their monthly payments lower than expected.

Here are the numbers we researched which demonstrate this trend.

Compared to October of 2019, sales of properties priced over $750,000 last month were up:

  • 176% in Larimer County
  • 375% in Weld County
  • 96% in Metro Denver

Properties in the $550,000 to $750,000 range also saw a large jump:

  • 57% in Larimer County
  • 63% in Weld County
  • 83% in Metro Denver

This is a unique time in history for people to move up and own a home they have always dreamed about.

The post The Votes Are In appeared first on Fort Collins Real Estate | Fort Collins Homes for Sale & Property Search.

Brand New Market Report

Housing Market

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The latest quarterly report from our Chief Economist Matthew Gardner is now available.  Here is a quote from the report with his take on the Front Range economy:

What a difference a quarter makes! Following the massive job losses Colorado experienced starting in February—the state shed over 342,000 positions between February and April—the turnaround has been palpable.

Through August, Colorado has recovered 178,000 of the jobs lost due to COVID-19, adding 107,500 jobs over the past three months, an increase of 4.2%.

All regions saw a significant number of jobs returning. The most prominent was in the Denver metropolitan service area (MSA), where 78,800 jobs returned in the quarter.

Although employment in all markets is recovering, there is still a way to go to get back to pre-pandemic employment levels.

The recovery in jobs has naturally led the unemployment rate to drop: the state is now at a respectable 6.7%, down from a peak of 12.2%.

Regionally, all areas continue to see their unemployment rates contract. I would note that the Fort Collins and Boulder MSA unemployment rates are now below 6%.

Cases of COVID-19 continue to rise, which is troubling, but rising rates have only slowed—not stopped—the economic recovery. Moreover, it has had no noticeable impact on the state’s housing market.

To receive a complimentary copy of the latest Gardner Report, simply reach out to us and we will send it to you right away.

The post Brand New Market Report appeared first on Fort Collins Real Estate | Fort Collins Homes for Sale & Property Search.

Supporting Our Communities

Wildfire

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our heart goes out to all the people affected by the wildfires along the Front Range and in our mountain communities.

We are also so appreciative of the brave men and women who are helping protect people and property from the fires.

We want to help and we want to ask for your help.

Through the Windermere Foundation we have set up a fund to benefit the Northern Colorado Chapter of the Red Cross and the Wildland Firefighters Foundation.

The Red Cross is of course helping people displaced by the fires.  The Wildland Firefighters Foundation helps firefighters and their families.

The $10,000 fund will match, dollar-for-dollar, any contribution made by our associates, clients and friends.

Please help us reach our goal of contributing $20,000 to these two worthy places.

To contribute simply click HERE.

Thank you for your support!

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