Realty Check — Will 2014 Be The Year of the Move-Up Buyer???

Jack Edwards Market Rebound, Real Estate, Relocation
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The housing market has enjoyed a strong rebound over the past few years with sales and median prices steadily improving across the country and especially here in the Sacramento/Tahoe region. For a variety of reasons, one segment of the market has not bounced back quite as fast: the “move-up” market. But that could change in 2014.The recession took its toll on many homeowners, especially those who bought near the peak of the housing market. As property values dipped, many of these consumers found themselves “underwater” on their mortgage – that is, owing more than it is worth.But as home prices continue to climb and home equity levels steadily improve, more homeowners are once again in a position to trade up. The National Association of REALTORS® estimated the median sale price nationally to be up 11 percent in 2013 from the previous year. And some parts of the Sacramento/Tahoe region have seen median prices jump 15-20 percent or more.

Move-up buyers are gradually coming back into the market due to improving equity, according to a new report from FNC, a real estate data and technology company.

If you have outgrown your existing home or simply want to buy another home in a more desirable neighborhood, now may be the time to make your move.

Interest rates may have ticked up a bit over the past year, but remain attractive. And your current home may be worth more than you think, giving you more money to put into a down payment on your next home.

Buying a home when you currently own one does have its challenges. If you sell first, you may be left scrambling to find a new place to live or forced to settle for a house that isn’t right for you. But if you buy first, you may not have the cash to put down on your next home – even if you do qualify for another mortgage. And you run the risk of having to make two house payments each month while you own both homes.

But some careful planning and the guidance of a professional REALTOR® can help you overcome these challenges and take advantage of the move-up market. Here are a few tips from the National Association of REALTORS® to get you started:

  • Assess the market. Compare your current and future neighborhoods and determine which area is a buyer’s market and which is a seller’s market. If your current neighborhood is a hot seller’s market, you may be better off buying elsewhere first and then selling yours since it might be easier to find a buyer.
  • Selling your home first. If you end up selling your home before buying another, you will need a place to live in the meantime. One option is to enter into an occupancy agreement with the buyers of your home to enable you to retain possession for a short period of time.
  • Other temporary options. If the buyers of your home need to move into your home immediately after escrow closes you may be able to stay with family or find a short-term lease on an apartment. Many “extended stay” hotels and apartments offer leases for a month or longer. You’ll have to put many of your possessions in storage, but they’ll be packed and ready to go when it is time to move into your new home.
  • Buying your next home first. If you end up buying your next home before selling your first one there are a couple of ways to come up with the new down payment. Check with your lender to see if you can secure a home equity line of credit. The interest rate may be tax deductible up to $100,000 and it could be paid off once you sell your home. Be sure to check with your lender before you make any decisions to determine what options may or may not be available.

With homeowner equity rising and interest rates still historically low, now may be the time to cash in on your existing property and make the move to the home of your dreams. I’m ready to help. Give me a call and we’ll get started today!

Start building your memories,
as you turn your house into a home. 

As you might guess, this document is a compilation of information from our own efforts as REALTORS, as well as input from other REALTORS in our Coldwell Banker office.  I hope it has been of value to you.  Don’t hesitate to email us with any suggestions that will make this document better for you and your fellow homeowners!

Be sure to follow us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ElkGroveRealEstate.  For information about properties available for sale and for more information for buyers and sellers, please visit our website at www.ElkGroveRealEstate.com and don’t hesitate to give us a call or drop us an email with your questions.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Jack Edwards, your real estate advocate, specializes in helping buyers and sellers in Elk Grove, CA,  and the greater Sacramento area.   Get information about available homes online at:  www.ElkGroveRealEstate.comOur mobile clients can find us at Mobile.ElkGroveRealEstate.com  BRE License # 01331087

 

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