EconomicMarket Data September 6, 2022

Latest Home Price Index Report

The latest Home Price Index report has just been released by the Federal Housing Finance Authority.

They track home price appreciation for the largest metropolitan areas in the U.S. plus state by state appreciation.

Here is the ranking of the top three states for price growth over the last twelve months:

1.  Florida = 29%

2.  Arizona = 26%

3.  North Carolina = 25%

The bottom three states are:

50.  North Dakota = 10%

49.  Louisiana = 11%

48.  Minnesotta = 11%

Colorado came in at #19 with 18% price growth over the last 12 months.

EconomicMarket Data August 28, 2022

New Home Trivia

Here’s a trivia question…

The number of new, single-family homes completed in 2022 will most closely resemble which prior year?

If you guessed 1993, you are correct.

Yes, the number of homes built and completed this year is no more than the number from 30 years ago.

In 2022, there will be just over 1 million single family homes constructed in the U.S. which is the same as 1993.

This is much more than the bottom of construction in 2011 which saw just under 500,000 new homes built.

But it is also much less than the top of 2006 which had almost 1.7 million.

Limited new home construction today is preventing anything close to a glut of inventory on the market which, in turn, insulates us from any sort of major price correction.

Market Data August 24, 2022

List Price > Sales Price?

For the first time in a long time, the sale to list price ratio is below 100%.

This statistic measures the final sales price versus the listing price.

During the super-active market of the last 24 months, this number averaged over 100%.

This was a result of multiple offers and bidding wars which caused buyers to offer more than list price.

Now, the sale to list price ratio has dropped to below 100% as a result of a more balanced market.

These are the specific numbers in each of our markets:

Larimer County = 98%

Weld County = 99%

Metro Denver = 97%

Market Data July 25, 2022

How many days on the market?

A stat that we have expected to change is finally changing.

“Days on Market” measures how long it takes for new listings to sell.

Over the last two years this stat plummeted to levels we have never seen before.

In the height of the market frenzy a year ago, properties were taking 7 days or less to sell on average.

Now, with the market cooling, Days on Market is back into double-digits.

Northern Colorado is at 20 days, a 54% increase over last year.

Metro Denver is at 12 days which is a 50% increase.

Market Data May 13, 2022

Home Inventory Increasing?

In Front Range markets, the number of homes for sale has just hit bottom or is about to hit bottom.

This is terrific news for home buyers who have been waiting for more homes to choose from.

The market is shifting, there is no doubt about that.

Prices are still increasing and we expect them to increase, just not at the pace they have been.

The inventory of homes for sale, which has been significantly down for two years, is finally starting to show signs of change.

We have been accustomed to inventory levels being down 30% to 50% compared to the prior year.

That is not the case anymore.

Inventory in Larimer and Weld County is now only down roughly 5% year over year.

Inventory in Metro Denver is now up 13.5% compared to this time in 2021.

We believe this is a legitimate shift in the market, not just a short-term anomaly.

No need to worry about prices crashing or a housing bubble.  There is still too little supply and too much demand for that to happen.

However, the pace of price of appreciation will certainly get back to more normal levels of 5% to 6% per year instead of 20% to 25% per year.

Bottom line, this market shift has been a long time coming and is very good news for buyers.​​​​​​​

Market Data May 2, 2022

Expert Opinion

This week, take a listen to Matthew Gardner, Windermere’s Chief Economist as he discusses the current state of the housing market.​​​​​​​

He takes a deep dive into interest rates, price appreciation and where the market is headed.

You can watch his video HERE

Home Maintenance April 27, 2022

Spring Home Maintenance Tips

Warmer months are ahead, so now is the time to plan for spring cleaning and maintenance. A clean home offers a fresh start for the year, and a checklist of tasks guides your efforts towards efficiency. For many homeowners, spring cleaning can be a personal challenge. It can also be one accomplished with the help of the rest of the family or other residents. In some occasions, however, professional assistance may be advised, or even necessary. Regardless, regular home maintenance not only increases your home’s value, but it can also make your home more comfortable and enjoyable.

Indoors

Check Your Attic

Once summer arrives, it can be too hot in many regions to comfortably perform an inspection. Use late winter and early spring to ensure the following: there’s ample insulation (10 to 14 inches), there are no signs of mice or rats (droppings, strong odor, nests), there are no bugs (flying, crawling, or otherwise), and there are no signs of roof leaks (water stains, etc.).

Schedule HVAC Maintenance

Annual tune-ups on your heating/cooling equipment will reduce your energy bill and help ensure you can maintain a comfortable indoor temperature.

Fix the Window Screens

It won’t be long before you’ll want to throw open the windows for fresh air, or relief on a warm afternoon. Take time now to ensure your window screens are ready for the challenge. Many traditional neighborhood hardware stores still offer re-screening services. Contractors also specialize in this service and are available for house calls.

Clean the Ceiling Fans

During the warm weather and the cold, ceiling fans can help moderate the temperature and better distribute the air. But your fans will be far more efficient if you give them a good cleaning a couple times each year. For fans mounted up to 10 feet in the air, you can use a ladder to access the tops of the fan blades. For those mounted on vaulted ceilings, use a long-handled duster.

Apply Weather Stripping

Many homeowners think of weather stripping as a cold-weather commodity, but it’s just as important during summer. To keep the cool air in and the hot air out, use any of the many filler materials available to seal gaps around windows, doors, exhaust fans, and any other point where you can see light peeking through.

Outdoors

Look for Damaged Roof Shingles

Use binoculars (with your feet safely planted on the ground) to scan for roof shingles that are curling, broken, or missing. If anything seems compromised, have a roofing company perform an inspection and provide a bid. If you or any members of your family are enterprising drone users, a camera-affixed drone can also be a useful aid in this reconnaissance effort.

Wash the Exterior

An easy way to extend the life of your exterior paint – and make your house look better than ever – is to give the siding a good washing. Use mostly water (to avoid harming any plants) and a stiff pole brush.

Search Out Rotten Wood

While you’re washing the exterior, keep an eye out for areas where there may be rot. Use a screwdriver to gently but firmly press on any siding or trim where you see black mold, missing paint, or exposed gray wood. If the area you’re probing feels mushy or bone-dry, contact a contractor to assess and stabilize the situation.

Clean the Gutters

All it takes is a handful of leaves to clog a gutter downspout and cause overflow and flooding. Hire a professional to give the gutters a thorough cleaning and you’ll avoid the very real dangers of working from a ladder. If you live in an area with lots of trees, consider getting quotes for some of the leaf-less gutter systems.

Prepare Your Lawn to Grow

The winter sets impediments for your lawn, and it takes preparation to help it shine. Rake away any dead grass and aerate the whole lawn to allow nutrients to access the roots. Reseed bare spots and apply a spring fertilizer to ensure your lawn has the fuel it needs to grow strong and beautiful.

Market Data April 23, 2022

Current Supply and Demand

There is half of a month of inventory on the market.  In other words, at the current pace of sales, it would take just two weeks to sell all of the homes currently listed for sale along the Front Range.

By definition, a market is balanced when there is 4 to 6 months of inventory.  Anything less than that is a seller’s market.

The current inventory levels give us confidence about the future of price growth along the Front Range.

While we expect the pace of price appreciation to slow, the low supply of properties insulates us against any sort of price decline.

Interior Design April 23, 2022

Most Profitable Home Improvement

And the most profitable home improvement is…🥁🥁🥁
Flooring!
According to the National Association of Realtors, homeowners who refinished or replaced their hardwood floors were able to recoup 147% and 118% of their investment respectively!
Market Data April 10, 2022

Average List Prices

While we frequently research and discuss average prices for properties that sell, it is also interesting to look at the average prices for properties that are active on the market but not sold yet.

These are the average prices, by area, for properties currently listed for sale and not sold yet:

  • Metro Denver = $954,000
  • Larimer County = $878,000
  • Weld County = $880,000

If you are surprised that Weld County is higher than Larimer County, it’s important to note that there are several large acreage properties listed for sale in Weld County which are skewing the average.

These average active prices are all roughly 30% higher compared to a year ago and further emphasize the strong activity in the Front Range market.