Eugene Oregon Real Estate Blog

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.

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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Good Monday Morning!

Everyone likes to keep their home updated. Updating is an important part of maintaining your homes value and it also makes living in your home more pleasant.  Depending on the size of the update project, the costs can become expensive and sometimes obtaining financing for your project is a key part of making the update process happen.  The following article will give you some ideas on financing your home update project.

Thinking of doing a somewhat major remodel? Perhaps adding another room? Maybe a kitchen do-over has been floating around in your head. If you’re thinking of making some changes to your home, you need to decide how you’re going to pay for them. Of course, your checking or savings account is probably the first option but then some home improvement projects might put quite a dent in a bank balance. That’s when it’s time to consider financing a project. Here are some options for you to consider.

First, if you’ve been thinking about refinancing your current mortgage, you might want to add a little extra to your loan and take some cash out. Of course, taking out some cash to pay for home improvements while refinancing is a secondary consideration, not a primary one. If you’re going to lower your rate or switch loan terms or refinance for any reason, then think about taking out some cash during the process. Yes, you’re going to add to your loan amount, but you’ll be financing your project with very low rates compared to other types of credit. Note however that a new first mortgage will have typical closing costs.

You have the option of simply taking out a personal loan but the rates for unsecured personal loans are going to be higher compared to a secured loan like your mortgage. Unsecured loans are a greater risk to lenders as there is no collateral on which to place a lien, such an automobile or mortgage.

Next, you can take out a home improvement loan in the form of a second lien. Depending upon the size of the loan, you can simply take out an equity loan or a home equity line of credit (HELOC). An equity loan will be one single amount subordinating to the first lien. The funds are disbursed to you at the closing table and transferred to your bank account. All you need to do is pull the funds out when needed. Interest will begin to accrue the day the loan is issued.

With a HELOC, this loan type acts more like a checking account. It is indeed a line of credit that you can draw on at any time. You can also pay back some or all of the withdrawn amount whenever you want. Most HELOCs do ask for a minimum draw and establish when and how much payments are due. Interest is only applied upon withdrawn amounts, and not the credit line itself. With a HELOC, you can use the funds for any purpose, not just for a home improvement.

Finally, you can use any of these options along with paying for some of the improvements with cash. You might want to pay cash for part of a project and finance the rest. Lowering your loan amount when contributing cash to the project means lower monthly payments and less interest paid over the life of the loan. What’s your ideal solution among these choices?

It’s best that you speak with your loan officer and discuss your plans. The first option explored will likely be a cash-out refinance. If you’re open to lowering your rate or shortening the term of your loan, pulling out a little extra cash might be your better choice. The next consideration might be a standalone home improvement loan. These loans will have minimal closing costs but slightly higher rates. There is a small tradeoff, but your loan officer can explain the details.

Have An Awesome Week!

THIS WEEKS HOT HOME LISTING!

2259 Corinthian Ct  

Price: $549,000    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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Good Monday Morning!

Real Estate activity in the Eugene and Springfield market area changed only slightly in from May to June 2019.  All categories were slightly down in June, including sales, pending sales and new listings.  What was not down was the fact that home prices in Eugene and Springfield continue to climb.  The inventory of homes for sale continues to be extremely low and is now at 1.6 months of inventory.  The market remains very attractive for anyone considering the sale of a home.  Here are the home sales numbers for June 2019 in the Eugene and Springfield market areas.

Lane County saw some cooler numbers this June. There were 471 closed sales, falling 1.7% short of the 479 closings recorded last year in June 2018 and 1.5% short of the 478 recorded last month in May 2019.

Pending sales, at 540, similarly ended 3.7% cooler than in June 2018 (561) and fell 1.6% short of the 549 offers accepted last month in May2019.

New listings, at 623, decreased 15.0% from June 2018 (733) and10.4% from May 2019 (695). The prior June with fewer new listings was in 2013, when 602 were offered.

Total market time decreased to 38 days in June, with inventory increasing slightly to 1.6 months.

Year to Date Summary

Activity is cooler so far in 2019 compared with 2018. Comparing the first six months of each, closed sales (2,251) have decreased 7.7%, pending sales (2,558) have decreased 8.2%, and new listings (3,077) have decreased 8.7%.

Average and Median Sale Prices

Comparing 2019 to 2018 through June, the average sale price has increased 4.5% from $302,500 to $316,200. In the same comparison, the median sale price has increased 4.3% from $277,000 to $289,000.

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THIS WEEKS HOT HOME LISTING!

2230 Comstock Ave  

Price: $555,000    Beds: 4    Baths: 3.5    Sq Ft: 2904

Quiet park-like backyard. Master with his/hers sinks, jetted tub, large dual head shower, private camode, walk-in closet, two sided/see-through fireplace. Upstairs hall closet laundry plus a full laundry room area. Guest bedroom with murphy bed set...View this property >> 

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Good Monday Morning!

As we move towards mid Summer 2019, the trend for home price increases continues nationally.  We continually think that we are at or near the peak of where home prices are going to go and the market just keeps being strong enough that the price of homes continues to spiral upwards.  This is great news for anyone considering a home sale.  My word of advice is that if you are thinking about selling your home, do it now.  The price increases will have to end sometime soon and as usual, most sellers will wait and miss the upwards trending market and hit a flat or downward price trend.  With mortgage interest rates continuing their downward trend, the housing market should remain hot for sellers for the rest of the Summer months and possibly into early Fall.

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

THIS WEEKS HOT HOME LISTING!

1441 Norkenzie Road  

Price: $414,900    Beds: 3    Baths: 2.0    Sq Ft: 2150

Home sits off of Norkenzie on a Shared Driveway. RV parking space and additional guest parking area. Updated and spacious kitchen, living, office and dining with hardwood floors. Carpet in all bedrooms. Master bedroom has a large walk-in closet, roomy shower and jacuzzi tub. Fully fenced with a gorgeous and...View this property >> 

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