By Mark Hite
President, Greater Chattanooga Association of REALTORS®
There are a number of factors that influence residential home sales, both in a positive and negative manner. Today we will take a look at some of these key factors.
While the overall underlying influence is consumer confidence, the first factor to affect this measure is unemployment. As has been well reported, both locally and nationally, the unemployment rate is low in comparison to 30 year averages. Additional reports have interjected that employers are experiencing a shortage of skilled workers in specific job categories. So, it can be assumed this area is applying positive pressure on consumer confidence.
The second item to consider are interest rates and availability of money to borrow. While much has been reported about the FED raising the short-term rate that banks use, it has had little effect on 30 year fixed mortgages. A quick review of the mortgage industry and you will find a variety of loan types with interest rates falling in the low 4% range. Again, comparing these rates to the 30 year average and the credit scores required to achieve these attractive rates, one can discern that this is a positive influence on consumer confidence and the residential real estate market.
Another category to consider is the perceived health of the economy and the stock market. If one examines the S&P 500 over the last 16 months you will see a consistent increase in values since February 2016 and a marked improvement since the Presidential elections of November 2016. Wealth has been accumulated and those who are invested in this area find themselves in a better position than 12 months ago.
Home prices are the fourth area to affect the residential real estate market and related consumer confidence. The Greater Chattanooga region experienced a 9.9% increase in the average home price in 2016 and has continued this trend with an 11.4% increase for 2017 YTD. These consistent increases in the average price of a home are in sharp contrast to wage growth in the region. At some point in the future, affordability will become a concern and become a drag on consumer confidence and place pressure on home sales.
When you survey these factors, the overall impression seems positive for our region at this point in time. However, with the rapidly changing real estate like we are experiencing today, you need an experienced member of the Greater Chattanooga Association of Realtors to guide you through the selling and buying process.