The recent surge in housing demand may have been fueled by stimulus checks and low mortgage rates, driving the disproportionate interest in residential real estate.
If interest rates rise and economic activity slackens, investor demand for housing will likely reverse. Slower sales rates and rising mortgage rates could ease affordability constraints for many people.
A steep increase in mortgage rates could lead to a drop in demand and falling housing prices. This could have and affect on the economy as existing homeowners would feel less secure, which may have curbed their spending.
If interest rates increase, this may not alleviate the burden of housing costs for many families. The rising cost of building materials and skilled labor is weighing on home prices. This trend is expected to continue into 2022, and it could have an adverse impact on home prices. Rising costs will also affect the availability of affordable housing. The lack of inventory will also hamper construction and renovations in the near future. The high cost of living is a huge deterrent for those seeking a place to call their own.
The number of buyers in the market has increased in the last year, but there is still a significant backlog. Homebuilders have been forced to increase their waiting lists as mortgage rates rose. But despite high prices, there is still plenty of room for buyers to enter the market.
A shortage of construction labor and building materials has forced the builders to raise their prices. The shortage of labor also means that construction workers are also getting harder to find jobs.
The economy has been showing signs of slowing. Prices are now approaching record highs and the US Federal Reserve is unsure about further interest rate increases. The outlook for the summer and fall may include further record highs and low inventory levels.
In California, the CAR released a report this month on the state of residential real estate. The report shows a decline in sales in 2022, but a 5.2% increase in prices. Although housing construction numbers are disappointing, economists believe the housing market will soon rebound.
If the economy recovers and people go back to work, demand for homes will increase. If the supply of homes rises, the market will follow.
Government restrictions are limiting property developer debt and activity as a percentage of GDP. This has brought some developers to the brink of default and contributed to the current slump in property activity. These restrictions are aimed at preventing onerous consequences for the economy. The government has stepped in to curb the impact of the decline in property activity. This measure has been met with opposition by many members of the property sector. Further, the government has also implemented a new tax on home owners, which will help boost demand for housing.
The West Coast housing market may have overheated, but it is also possible that the hottest metros are simply overheated and temporary factors will unwind in the coming year. For instance, Austin and Boise City have experienced sharp price gains since Q1 2020. As a matter of fact, significant regional variation in housing prices is normal during structural shifts in the economy.
