What's the Bottom Line in the Current Luxury Real Estate Market?
More choices, better prices and historically low mortgage rates may make this the perfect time for you to own one of those luxury properties you and your family have always fantasized about. The demand for you entry to mid-level home is far stronger than it is for luxury, making this the ideal time to move up!
Let’s break it down into the three major reasons to act now:
1. Mortgage rates are at historic lows (yes, they DROPPED this year!)
In the past, one of the drawbacks to purchasing a luxury property was the larger mortgage rate on “jumbo” loans which are often required on high end properties.
However, HSH.com just revealed that jumbo rates just set new record lows:
“While conforming fixed-rate mortgages eased a little this week, 30-year fixed-rate jumbos declined enough to break into new record low territory (3.66%), besting the previous low set in April by two basis points.”
2. There are more homes from which to choose
According to a recent Wall Street Journal article (Lagging Demand for Luxury Homes May Mean Deals for Buyers), inventory in the upper end is increasing as more luxury home sellers have been entering the market.. Here is a graph showing the local luxury market inventory trend this year as compared to last year:
3. Prices are becoming more reasonable
Another Wall Street Journal article also talked about prices in the luxury market. They explained that downward price adjustments have been more common in the luxury market than in markets with lower prices. They went on to say:
“The growing number of price cuts suggests luxury-home sellers are becoming more realistic about property values as sales have slowed, said several real-estate veterans.”
Not only will you have more to choose from, but you may also be able to get the property at a reduced price.
In summary, the housing market is hot, with prices rising as demand far outpaces supply in almost every region. However, as shown in these graphs, when it comes to luxury real estate things are quite different. In the upper-end market, inventory is plentiful in most locations.
For that reason, prices haven’t skyrocketed as they have in the lower and mid-tier markets. This, coupled with sensational mortgage rates, means that this may be the perfect time to purchase the luxury property you have always desired.
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