The numbers are in. 2022 was another strong year for luxury sales of properties over $1,000,000.Along the whole Front Range in 2022, the number of luxury properties that sold was up 6.28% over 2021.The sold price per square foot was up 5.98% compared last year.Most interestingly, the number of luxury properties that closed this past year compared to 2019 was up by a whopping 133%.Sales of luxury properties is usually a good indicator of the overall health of the market.
Because 2021 and 2020 were such unique years in real estate because of the considerably low interest rates, many people in our industry believe it makes sense to compare 2022 to 2019 when looking at the key statistics.
Here’s how 2022 looked along the Front Range compared to 2019:
Prices Number of Transactions Properties for Sale
Larimer County +41% -6% -37%
Weld County +39% +2% -16%
Metro Denver +40% -14% -6%
Generally, what we notice is that:
The annual Market Forecast featuring Chief Economist Matthew Gardner is February 1st at 5:30pm. To see the details and to RSVP, visit www.ColoradoForecast.com
There are four key questions that our clients have right now:1. What will values do this year and is there any chance of a housing bubble?2. When will mortgage rates drop below 6%?3. Will inflation subside this year?4. Is now a good time to buy or sell? All of these questions will be answered by our Chief Economist Matthew Gardner on February 1st at our annual Market Forecast. Fun Fact, Windermere is the only real estate brokerage in the United States with a Chief Economist. You can RSVP for Matthew’s lively and informative presentation at ColoradoForecast.com.The Windermere Forecast is at 5:30pm on Wednesday, February 1st at the Fort Collins Marriott.
The Nation’s real estate market is significantly under-supplied.According to the most recent research from Freddie Mac, the United States has a housing supply deficit of 3.8 million units.The available inventory today is lower than it has ever been in the last 40 years and is 3.5x lower than the peak of 2008.The reason why available inventory is so low, is the low amount of new home starts that have occurred over the last 15 years.Builders have faced many obstacles trying to keep up with housing demand including supply chain issues, labor supply, land availability, water availability, and stricter approval processes.Fewer new homes were built in the decade ending 2018 than any other decade since the 1960’s.The reality is, the obstacles builders face are unlikely to change significantly in the foreseeable future.Low inventory is likely to persist.An under-supplied market is a key reason leading economists do not expect home prices to crash even while the market cools off.
Data just released by Altos Research shows that 35% of all homes on the market have had to reduce their asking price.
This is the highest this number has been since December of 2019.
This is also an indicator of sellers adjusting to the reality of the new market where overly aggressive pricing is not effective.
Extensive research shows the importance of pricing a home correctly on the first day so that the home sells in an appropriate time frame.
Here is a quick snapshot of our markets two weeks into July versus the same time last year…
Larimer & Weld Counties:
Metro Denver:
For the first time in almost two years, there is more than a month’s worth of inventory on the market.
This means that at the current pace of sales, it would take more than a month to sell all of the homes currently for sale.
This is certainly welcome news for buyers who have been craving a less frenzied market.
Since the market took off in the summer of 2020, inventory levels have been measured in terms of weeks.
Two to three weeks of inventory was the typical measurement for the last two years.
Today, inventory levels look like this:
Single family new housing starts in 2022 will show an increase versus last year, will be the most since 2007, and will still be well behind the peak of 2006.
This year, experts predict that a total of 1.1 million single family homes will be started. In 2021 there were 970 thousand new home starts.
The peak occurred in 2006, when 1.65 new homes were started.
So, this year will finish 33% behind the peak.
When we are asked why today’s market is different from the ‘bubble years’ of 2004 to 2007, the difference in new home starts is one reason we cite.
Even though the market is cooling, we remain significantly undersupplied which insulates prices from any kind of dramatic downturn.
Here is what we notice about the market right now:
The recent increase in mortgage rates has started some home buyers to look at programs that have fixed rates for 7 years or 10 years instead of 30 years.
If a buyer believes it is likely they will move or even refinance within this timeframe, these types of programs can be a good option.
The obvious benefit is a lower monthly payment compared to a 30-year program.
Another benefit, which most people underestimate, is the savings in interest.
Today, for example, a buyer would have these options:
Over the first five years of the loan, the buyer would pay the following amounts in interest for each loan program for a $400,000 loan:
So the savings in interest over the first five years compared to the 30-year program is:
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