According to a recent survey, these are the features buyers most want in a new home.
Tag Archives: homeownership
Housing Statistics Report for San Diego County and North San Diego County November 2013
As often happens at this time of year, we’re seeing a tightening of inventory but also a slowing down in appreciation. If you are looking to buy a home right now, you won’t have as many choices, but there isn’t quite as much pressure on home prices. In spite of this, we are still seeing year-over median price increases for single family detached homes at 19 percent in San Diego County. Click on the links below the snapshot to read the full housing statistics reports.
What Buyers Don’t Want
Retirement Without a Mortgage
Planning for retirement is obviously important and many times, an activity plagued by procrastination. Some people plan to have their home paid for by that magical date so they won’t have payments after they retire. It makes sense to eliminate a large recurring expense before they quit working.
One strategy would be to be make regular principal contributions in addition to the payments so that it will eliminate the debt by the target retirement date.
Let’s say that a homeowner refinanced their $200,000 mortgage at 4% last year with the first payment due on May 1, 2012. Under normal amortization, the home would be paid for at the end of the term; 30 years in this example.
By making additional principal contributions with each payment, it would accelerate the payoff on the home. An extra $257.13 a month would pay off the mortgage in 20 years. $524.55 extra with each payment would pay off the loan in 15 years; and $796.23 would pay off the loan in 12 years.
Having a home paid for at retirement has the obvious benefit of no house payment. It is also a substantial asset that could be borrowed against or sold if unanticipated events should occur.
Another strategy might involve purchasing a smaller home now to use as a rental that you intend to live when you retire; see Retirement Home Now.
To make some projections to pay off your own mortgage, use this Equity Accelerator.
Housing Statistics Report for San Diego County and North San Diego County July 2013
Prices continue to increase, and inventory is still tight in North County and San Diego County as a whole. Here is a snapshot of the June housing reports with links to both the full statistics for San Diego County and North San Diego County.
- The median price for all North County home sales – attached and detached – increased to $495,000 in June 2013 compared to $485,000 in May 2013.
- Detached homes in North County rose 1.71 percent in June 2013 to $565,000 compared to $555,500 in May 2013. June 2013 was the highest reported SFD median prices in North County since January 2008.
- Year-over median SFD price in North San Diego County jumped 20.21 percent, compared to $470,000 reported in June 2012.
- The countywide median SFD price increased 2.32 percent to $429,750 in June 2013 compared to $420,000 in May 2013.
- Year-over non-North County median price jumped 23.49 percent compared to $348,000 in June 2012, a 15-month trend of year-over median price increases.
- The number of North San Diego SFD listings (active and contingent) rose 5.97 percent in June 2013 compared to May 2013.
- The number of sold North San Diego County SFD units decreased 5.76 percent in June 2013 compared to May 2013. Year-over sold SFD units decreased 0.88 percent compared to June 2012.
- Median days-on-market for single-family detached homes sold in North County increased to 19 days in June 2013 compared to 18 days in May 2013.
- The HomeDex affordability percentage for all homes in North San Diego County remained at 34 percent in June 2013.
JULY 2013 FULL County HomeDex Report
JULY 2013 NORTH COUNTY HomeDex Report
Information taken from HomeDex™ Copyright © 2012 by the North San Diego County Association of Realtors (NSDCAR). Used by permission.
Renters Want to Buy
Fannie Mae, in a recently released study, states that consumer attitudes continue to be favorable about homeownership, particularly with the younger generations, ages 18 to 34. Slightly over half of them think that owning makes more sense than renting when comparing the financial and lifestyle benefits.
90% of aspiring owners expect to purchase a home someday and slightly over half think they’ll do it within five years. The primary challenges are having sufficient savings and the difficulty of getting a mortgage today. Younger renters see renting as a temporary stepping stone toward homeownership.
Homeowners are far more likely than renters to be “very positive” about their housing experience. Some of the benefits identified are:
• Having control over what you do with your living space
• Having a sense of privacy and security
• Having a good place for your family or to raise your children
• Having the best investment plan
• Living in a nicer home
• Building up wealth
• Saving for retirement
• Living in a place where you and your family feel safe
• Feeling engaged in your community
To satisfy a buyer’s doubts about qualifying for a mortgage, make an appointment with a trusted mortgage professional. If you’d like a recommendation at no cost or obligation, please contact me at SanDiegoRealtor@cox.net. Check out this Rent vs. Own to see the real cost of owning a home.
For more information about the Fannie Mae survey in presentation form, Click Here.