Real Estate Information Archive

Good Monday Morning!

The housing market in the Eugene/Springfield area slowed slightly in September, but as you will see it remains strong.  Here are the numbers for September 2019.

Closed sales had the sole gain this month in Lane County, relative to September of 2018. At 429, closings ended 7.5% ahead of September 2018 (399) but fell 17.5% short of the 520 closings recorded last month in August 2019.

Pending sales, at 420, fell 2.1% short of September 2018 when 429 offers were accepted, at 16.3% short of August 2019 when 502 offers were accepted.

There were 446 new listings, ending 7.7% below the 483 newlistings offered back in September 2018 and 30.4% below the 641 offered just last month in August 2019.

Inventory increased slightly to 1.8 months in September. Total market time increased by a week to end at 37 days.

Year to Date Summary

Activity is cooler so far in 2019 compared with 2018. Comparing the first nine months of each, pending sales (3,949) have decreased 5.6%, closed sales (3,747) have decreased 6.2%, and new listings (4,817) have decreased 8.4%.

Average and Median Sale Prices

Comparing 2019 to 2018 through September, the average sale price has increased 5.7% from $307,300 to $324,900. In the same comparison, the median sale price has increased 5.0% from $281,000 to $295,000

THIS WEEKS HOT HOME LISTING!

93048 Templeton Rd  

Price: $750,000    Beds: 4    Baths: 3    Sq Ft: 3035

Quiet And Private House on 20.59 secluded acres with gorgeous valley and mountain views. 15+ acres second growth Fir with significant market value and 2+ acres of pasture. Gorgeous custom interior with hardwood floors, vault ceilings, views. 4 bay s...View this property >> 

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Good Monday Morning,

Home sales across the country remain strong as interest rates remain extremely attractive. Most of the country continues to enjoy a robust Real Estate market that is being fueled by low mortgage interest rates and a strong economy.  The only black cloud looming is the fact that home prices in most areas continue to climb.  Home affordability could be the primary factor that begins a downturn in home sales.  At this point it appears that there should be little change in housing through 2019.  A strong 2020 housing market will depend upon many factors, includiing the U.S. economy!!

Video Link: http://eugeneoregonhomesforsale.com/video/This-Month-in-Real-Estate-October-2019

Have An Awesome Week!

THIS WEEKS HOT HOME LISTING!

1921 S 57th Pl  

Price: $240,000    Beds: 2    Baths: 1    Sq Ft: 832

Beautifully maintained home. Open concept throughout. Jack & Jill bathroom door off master bedroom. Indoor laundry room with back yard access. Custom updates added throughout. This corner lot provides gated RV parking, and outdoor entertaining patio...View this property >> 

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Good Monday Morning!

Remodeling your home or dooing some home improvement can greatly increase both the value of your home and improve the pleasure of living in your home.  The following artice takes some of the most common home improvement projects and gives you feedback on the benefits.

Certain home remodeling projects are making homeowners happier and proving to be well worth the cost and time when they sell their properties, according to a new survey from the National Association of REALTORS®, which includes insights from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry.

After completing a home remodeling project, 74% of more than 2,100 consumers surveyed reported having a greater desire to be in their home, 65% say they experienced increased enjoyment, and 77% felt a major source of accomplishment, the 2019 Remodeling Impact Report shows. Researchers examined 20 projects and surveyed REALTORS® and consumers on home renovation projects.

“REALTORS® and homeowners alike recognize the value of taking on a major home remodeling project,” says NAR President John Smaby. “While these tasks can be time-consuming and costly, the projects are well worth the temporary inconveniences, as this report shows, and the final products ultimately reward us with feelings of accomplishment, satisfaction, and higher home values.”

NAR calculated a “joy score” for each home remodeling project studied. The score, a scale from one to 10, is based on homeowners’ overall perceived happiness with their renovations. The higher the joy score for the project, the more homeowners felt satisfaction from it.

Some of the highest joy scores for interior projects centered on complete kitchen renovations, closet renovations, full interior and interior room paint jobs, kitchen upgrades, and basement conversions to living areas.

The exterior jobs with the highest joy scores were new fiberglass or steel front doors, new vinyl and wood windows, and new roofing.

The Resale Benefit

Remodeling can be money well spent at times of resale. Overall, the top remodeling projects for recovering costs at resale were from new roofing, hardwood floor refinishing, and new hardwood floor installation.

NARI remodelers say that homeowners spend on average about $7,500 for new roofing, but real estate pros estimate that sellers will recover $8,000 at resale—an estimated 107% of the value recovered.

On new wood flooring, the average cost homeowners spend on an update is $4,700, but a 106% potential return is possible at resale (real estate pros estimate $5,000).

The Happiest Home Projects

But remodels aren’t just for the potential payback at resale. “The NAR report shows us that people often remodel for resale purposes, but it also reminds us that homeowners remodel too, with the desire to make a home their own,” notes Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist.

Here’s a closer look at the study results on the home improvement projects that made homeowners the happiest:

Kitchen renovation

Joy score: 10

Ninety-three percent of consumers said they had a greater desire to be at home since the completion of their kitchen remodel; 95% said it’s increased their sense of enjoyment when at home. “The kitchen is a space homeowners frequent regularly throughout the course of the day,” Yun says. “So when that area is remodeled to owners’ exact preferences—as they enter and exit the room—they continually experience the satisfaction of a job well done.”

The biggest reason behind a kitchen renovation was to improve functionality and livability, according to 46% of respondents. Also, 24% said they wanted to upgrade worn-out surfaces and materials, while another 20% said they had recently moved into their home and wanted to customize the kitchen to fit their particular tastes. “Kitchens serve as the ‘heart of the home’ for many, and whether you like to entertain or cook, updating a kitchen ensures greater access and use as homeowners age, especially when the upgrades take accessibility into account,” says Robert Kirsic, a certified kitchen and bath remodeler and also NARI’s 2019–2020 president.

Closet renovation

Joy score: 10

Upgrading home closets also made for instantly happier homeowners. Sixty-eight percent of consumers surveyed say they feel a major sense of accomplishment when they think about a completed closet renovation project. More than half say the most important result is improved functionality and livability.

Full interior paint job

Joy score: 9.8

A fresh coat of paint can do wonders for improving the look of a house—but it also improves the mood of those living there. Eighty-eight percent of respondents reported a greater desire to be home since having their home freshly painted.

New fiberglass front door

Joy score: 9.7

The installation of fiberglass front doors can also help for resale and happiness, the survey found. Seventy-nine percent of respondents said that they’ve had a greater desire to be home, thanks to their new front door. Sixty-seven percent say they have an increased sense of enjoyment when they’re home.

New vinyl windows

Joy score: 9.6

The happiness around new windows mostly comes from the result of improved functionality and livability. Forty-seven percent of respondents said they were motivated to update their windows to improve their home’s energy efficiency, and 23% want to upgrade worn-out surfaces, finishes, and materials.

Have An Awesome Week!

THIS WEEKS HOT HOME LISTING!

3201 Kentwood Dr  

Price: $374,900    Beds: 3    Baths: 2    Sq Ft: 1508

This is a light & bright, beautifully updated home in a convenient Ferry St. Bridge neighborhood. Open floor plan w/ vaulted ceilings, spacious kitchen w/ granite counters, new hickory wood flooring, fresh interior & exterior paint. New deck & fenci...View this property >> 

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Good Monday Morning!

Right now could be the best time of the year to purchase a home.  With Fall and Winter setting in the demand for houses in the Eugene and Springfield area will start to decline.  This means more homes to choose from and less competition.  With mortgage interest rates extremely low again, this just could be a huge window of opportunity for Eugene and Springfield home buyers.  The following article is from "NAR" and discusses this opportunity further.

WASHINGTON (September 23, 2019) – New consumer findings from a National Association of Realtors® survey show that more than half of polled Americans believe that now is a good time to buy a home.

Optimism fared well in the third quarter of 2019 as 63% of people said they believe that now is a good time for a home purchase, with 34% of those respondents saying they believe that strongly.

NAR’s chief economist Lawrence Yun said the favorable outlook also contains a degree of caution. “Mortgage rates are at historically low levels, so I see no sign of the optimism about home buying fading,” he said. “However, the fact that slightly fewer are expressing strong intensity compared to recent prior quarters is implying some would-be buyers have concerns about the direction of the economy.”

Among those that stated that now is a good time to purchase a home, the silent generation (those born between 1925 and 1945) were most likely to express that belief. Seventy-five percent from that demographic said that now is a good time to buy. They were closely followed by older boomers (those born between 1946 and 1954), as 72% from that age group agreed that now is a good time to purchase a home. 

When NAR’s third quarter Housing Opportunities and Market Experience (HOME) survey1 asked whether now is a good time to purchase a home, of those who have an income under $50,000, 54% answered “yes.” Answers in the affirmative increased as household incomes increased. In the $50,000 to $100,000 bracket, 64% said now is a good time to buy a home, and among those polled who have an income of $100,000, 72% said that it is currently a good time to buy.

“Not surprisingly, as incomes increase, the process of buying a home is less of a strain,” said Yun. “This has always been the case, but in this third quarter survey, we see it to an even greater extent – high earners are more open to buying a home.”

The NAR survey also asked respondents about their thoughts on selling a home in the current market. Seventy-four percent of those polled said that now is a good time to sell a home – a modest increase over 73% last quarter. Of those respondents, 45% said they “strongly” believe now is a good time for selling a home, while the remaining 29% said they hold that belief “moderately.”

Those in the West region were most likely to hold this sentiment, as 81% of the region’s respondents said “now is a good time to sell.” In comparison, in the Northeast, 67% said now is a good time to sell a home. 

In regard to household income and thoughts on selling a home, the poll found that those in the higher wage brackets were more likely to state a belief in favor of now being a good time to sell a home. Among the surveyed who answered that now is a good time to sell, 82% of them earn more than $100,000. However, of those who earn less than $50,000, only 64% said now is a good time to sell.

Respondents were also questioned about their outlook toward the U.S. economy. Fifty-two percent of those surveyed said they believe the U.S. economy is improving. This is a decrease from the second quarter of 2019, when 55% said they believed the economy is improving.

Millennials (those born between 1980 and 1998) were the most pessimistic, only 49% said the economy is improving and 51% said it is not improving. Fifty-four percent of the silent generation – in this case, the most optimistic group – said the economy is improving. Forty percent of those in urban areas also believe the economy is improving, compared to 62% in rural areas.

Have An Awesome Week!

THIS WEEKS HOT HOME LISTING!

796 Skipper Ave  

Price: $425,000    Beds: 3    Baths: 3    Sq Ft: 2540

Beautifully updated home with an 850 sq ft second dwelling. Newly refinished wood flooring, new carpets, new vinyl plank flooring. New HVAC, wiring panel, new roof. Stainless steel appliances/Island. Granite countertops in kitchen and bathrooms. Sof...View this property >> 

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Good Monday Morning!

Nationally, home sales were up in August of 2019 as mortgage interest rates remain fairly steady at well below 4% for 30 year fixed financing.  Here locally in the Eugene and Springfield area the market was also up in August as home prices here also continue to increase.  Look for both the national and local housing markets to remain fairly steady through the remainder of this year. It is still a great time to sell your home. By selling now, you are selling at the top of a strong market.  Don't wait until the market dips and losing our on one of the best markets in history.

Have An Awesome Week!

Video Link: http://eugeneoregonhomesforsale.com/video/This-Month-in-Real-Estate-September-2019

THIS WEEKS HOT HOME LISTING!

3201 Kentwood Dr  

Price: $384,900    Beds: 3    Baths: 2    Sq Ft: 1508

This is a light & bright, beautifully updated home in a convenient Ferry St. Bridge neighborhood. Open floor plan w/ vaulted ceilings, spacious kitchen w/ granite counters, new hickory wood flooring, fresh interior & exterior paint. New deck & fenci...View this property >> 

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Good Monday Morning!

Just when we thought that we would never again see the super low rates of 2016 and 2017, here they come again.  Historic low mortgage interest rates are upon us once again and we should expect another strong surge in home sales as a result.  Here is an article from "Realtor.com" that describes the current mortgage loan market.

Mortgage rates dropped to their lowest level since October 2016 due to weaker economic data over the past week.

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.49% during the week ending Sept. 5, down 9 basis points from the previous week, Freddie Mac reported Thursday.

Rates for 30-year home loans have only increased nine times so far this year — otherwise, they have dropped or remained flat from week to week.

The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage moved down 6 basis points to an average of 3.00%, according to Freddie Mac. The 5/1 adjustable-rate mortgage averaged 3.30%, falling 1 basis point.

Mortgage rates roughly track the direction of the 10-year Treasury note. The yield on the 10-year note has generally fallen since mid-August, though this week it began to show signs of a rebound amid growing optimism sparked by planned trade talks between the U.S. and China.

“Mortgage rates continued the summer swoon due to weaker economic data,” Freddie Mac wrote. “While economic growth is clearly slowing due to rising manufacturing and trade headwinds, economic fundamentals are still solid for U.S. consumers.”

‘Mortgage rates continued the summer swoon due to weaker economic data. While economic growth is clearly slowing due to rising manufacturing and trade headwinds, economic fundamentals are still solid for U.S. consumers.’

Freddie Mac

The Federal Reserve released its latest edition of the Beige Book, its periodic commentary on the state of the economy, on Wednesday. Although the Fed’s language painted a fairly rosy picture of the economy, most downside risks persist. As a result, many analysts expect the Fed to cut interest rates by 25 basis points when it meets later this month.

“If there were some sense among Fed staffers that the rate cut should be postponed, they certainly did not establish a defense of that position in this Beige Book,” Ward McCarthy and Thomas Simons, Jeffries’ chief financial economist and senior money market economist, wrote in a research note Wednesday.

St. Louis Federal Reserve President James Bullard has gone further than some of his other colleagues, arguing that a 50-basis-point trimming may be what’s needed to keep the Fed ahead of the curve on international trade’s effect on the U.S. economy.

Moves by the Fed don’t directly trigger moves in the mortgage markets, since the Fed manipulates short-term interest rates and not long-term rates like those on mortgages.

However, the Fed’s signals are typically baked into mortgage rates in advance of an expected cut to short-term rates. Therefore, people looking to take out a new home loan can reasonably expect mortgage rates to move downward in the coming weeks as long as the Fed is expected to cut rates.

Have An Awesome Week!

THIS WEEKS HOT HOME LISTING!

440 Autumn Ave  

Price: $295,000    Beds: 3    Baths: 2    Sq Ft: 1236

Gorgeous 1-level home in a close-in Santa Clara neighborhood. Updates include new roof in 2016, high efficiency furnace, laminate flooring & 2nd full bath. Large family room w/ vaulted ceiling & updated kitchen w/ newer appliances & w/in pantry. Ove...View this property >> 

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Good Monday Morning!

As Summer winds down, mortgage interest rates have been doing the same thing.  The lower interest rates that home buyers can take advantage of right now are taking the heat off of a local market in the Eugene and Springfield area that is still seeing home prices on the rise.  Don't be suprised if rates don't go even lower yet by Summers end.  The following article from "Realtor.com" is an on recent mortgage trends. 

Mortgage rates slipped lower over the last week, a boon to those looking to buy a home or refinance.

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.55% during the week ending Aug. 22, down five basis points from the previous week, Freddie Mac reported Thursday.

Rates for 30-year home loans have only increased eight times on a weekly basis so far this year — otherwise, they have dropped or remained even.

The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage dropped four basis points to an average of 3.03%, according to Freddie Mac. The 5/1 adjustable-rate mortgage averaged 3.32%, falling three basis points.

Mortgage rates track the 10-year Treasury note. Last week, the yields of the 10-year note and the 2-year Treasury note inverted for the first time in over a decade, meaning the shorter-term note’s yield was higher. Yield curve inversions have historically signalled that the U.S. economy could face a recession.

Looking ahead, it’s unclear whether mortgage rates will fall again or increase. Federal Reserve officials appear to view the rate cut last month as a “recalibration” and not necessarily as the first of multiple cuts, according to the minutes of their most recent meeting released Wednesday.

When the Federal Reserve cuts rates, that directly affects short-term interest rates rather than long-term rates like those for the 30-year mortgage. Nevertheless, the mortgage market tends to bake in expectations of future Fed moves into the rates offered, which explains why mortgage rates were falling well before the Fed took action.

The decline in mortgage rates this year has sparked the largest refinance boom in three years.

The most recent existing-home sales data released Wednesday indicated that falling rates in July did prompt an uptick in home-buying activity, particularly in the West. Lower rates have also sparked the biggest refinance boom in years.

“The benefit of lower mortgage rates is not only shoring up home sales, but also providing support to homeowner balance sheets via higher monthly cash flow and steadily rising home equity,” Freddie Mac said in the report Thursday.

But the same headwinds that have kept many people from buying homes remain. There are very few properties for sale, and home prices are increasing as a result. That’s made it much more expensive to buy a home, and low mortgage rates only marginally offset the affordability constraints.

With the economy potentially heading toward a recession, mortgage rates could come down even lower in the weeks and months ahead. But a weaker economy could wreak havoc on consumers’ confidence — which would it even less likely that people would be inclined to buy a home. 

Have An Awesome Week!

THIS WEEKS HOT HOME LISTING!

180 SW Quince St  

Price: $305,000    Beds: 3    Baths: 2.5    Sq Ft: 1386

Beautiful two level home in Junction City. Home has vaulted ceilings & gas fireplace in living room, and a master suite located on the main level. Kitchen has granite counter tops and a cooks island with eating bar. Laundry room inside the home on m...View this property >> 

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Good Monday Morning!

July of 2019 saw home sales in the Eugene and Springfield area take off.  Sales were up in July and actually set a sales record.  This is strong evidence that even with the continued increase in home price, the low mortgage interest rates are having a very positive impact.  Here are the home sales numbers for July 2019 in Lane County.

July Residential Highlights

Pending sales had the strongest numbers this month in Lane County. There were 554 accepted offers, a 1.5% increase from July 2018 (546) and a 2.6% increase from last month in June 2019 (540). This was still the strongest July for pending sales on the RMLSTM record, dating to 2001.

Closed sales (492) edged one ahead of July 2018 (0.2%) and rose 4.5% over the 471 closings recorded last month in June 2019.

New listings, at 612, fell 5.8% short of July 2018 (650) and 1.8% short of June 2019 (623).

Inventory decreased slightly in July to 1.5 months, with total market time increasing by one day to 39 days.

Year to Date Summary

Activity is cooler so far in 2019 compared with 2018. Comparing the first seven months of each, pending sales (3,090) have decreased 6.3%, closed sales (2,756) have decreased 7.0%, and new listings (3,702) have decreased 8.4%.

Average and Median Sale Prices

Comparing 2019 to 2018 through July, the average sale price has increased 5.2% from $304,900 to $320,900. In the same comparison,the median sale price has increased 3.6% from $280,000 to $290,000.

Have An Awesome Week!

THIS WEEKS HOT HOME LISTING!

2425 Lenore Dr  

Price: $420,000    Beds: 3    Baths: 2.5    Sq Ft: 2042

Beautiful and Spacious. High Vaulted ceilings. Beautiful Hardwood floors in Living Room and hallways. Granite counter and island in Kitchen. Walk-in pantry. Master and 2nd bedrooms have walk-in closets. 3rd bedroom with balcony. Master bathroom has...View this property >> 

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Good Monday Morning!

Homelessness in the Eugene and Springfield area is a huge issue and the problem just isn't going away.  Although there are many causes for this tragic situation, one of the primary causes is the lack of affordable housing in our area.  Home ownership is becoming less affordable in our area and this drives rental rates up.  Making homewnership more affordable in our area will go a long ways towards solving our local homeless problems.  There are many things that need to happen for this to take place, but reducing property taxes and building permit fees along with opening up more land for development would go a long ways towards solving the cost of housing in our area. The following gives a quick overvue of the homeless crisis in our area.

Every other year in the United States, Point-In-Time estimates are released that provide a detailed snapshot of homelessness nationwide. Creating this snapshot involves the participation of staff from homeless assistance agencies, county and city employees, as well as hundreds of volunteers across the country. We will be using this data to compare Oregon’s specific rates of homelessness with national averages, and will attempt to uncover insights as to why any similarities or differences may exist.

According to the January 2017 Point-In-Time Count , there are approximately 553,742 individuals experiencing homelessness on any given night in the United States, representing a rate of roughly 17 in 10,000 persons. This is actually the lowest national rate of homelessness calculated in this country since the start of point-in-time data collection. But, despite this rate decrease, the overall number of individuals experiencing homelessness increased by 0.7% between 2016 and 2017.

On a national level, the decrease in the rate of homelessness can be explained by an overall shift in homeless assistance programs. Over the last decade, there has been greater national emphasis on permanent housing solutions, and less on transitional housing programs.

In Oregon, the rate of homelessness is significantly higher than the national average, at approximately 34 individuals out of every 10,000, or 13,953 individuals total. Portland’s rate is even higher at roughly 52 out of 10,000 individuals. These rates and totals mark a notable increase since 2015. Over this period, the number of individuals experiencing homelessness on any given night in the state has increased 6%, a much higher increase than what was seen on a national level.

According to Oregon’s Department of Housing & Community Services, this increase was likely caused by a an overall lack of affordable housing in the state. The latest data from the Census Bureau shows that, in 2016, Oregon was the 6th fastest growing state in the nation, and over 75% of that growth came from people moving into Oregon. However, there was also a dramatic decline in housing production between 2005-2010, causing a critically low housing supply. Oregon’s Department of Housing & Community Services states that “a low housing inventory coupled with a growing population has led to some of the lowest rental vacancy rates in the country.”
When examining national and state-wide data, it is easy to become overwhelmed by the problem.

Have An Awesome Week!

THIS WEEKS HOT HOME LISTING!

93048 Templeton Rd  

Price: $785,000    Beds: 4    Baths: 3    Sq Ft: 3035

Quiet And Private House on 20.59 secluded acres with gorgeous valley and mountain views. 15+ acres second growth Fir with significant market value and 2+ acres of pasture. Gorgeous custom interior with hardwood floors, vault ceilings, views. 4 bay s...View this property >> 

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Good Monday Morning!

Both locally and nationally, there has been very little change in the Real Estate market.  Nationally, home sales have been sliding downwards slightly at the same time that home values continue to increase.  It is certain that this trend will not continue long term.  If demand decreases, home prices will begin to soften.  Mortgage interest rates remain fairly constant and are still extremely attractive with most 30 year fixed rates remaining well under 4%.

The remainder of the Summer should not see any huge changes in the national and local housing markets, but pricing is becoming more of an issue as home prices continue to increase faster than wage growth.  Look for some big changes coming in the near future.

Have An Awesome Week!

THIS WEEKS HOT HOME LISTING!

2259 Corinthian Ct  

Price: $539,000    Beds: 3    Baths: 3    Sq Ft: 2772

Beautifully Remodeled home on a cul-de-sac in the Southwest Hills with views. Custom finishes throughout. Spacious with ample amounts of natural light, 2 main levels, vaulted ceilings, & 2 full kitchens. Also features 2 large master suites, 12x23 bo...View this property >> 

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