Wow, 2019 was quite a year for the U.S. housing market. Median home prices went all the way up to $316,000—a record high!1 Will 2020 bring more of the same results? How will the housing market shake out in the current economic climate?
Whether you’re selling, buying or staying put, here are the 2020 real estate trends you need to know!
Real Estate Trend #1: Home Prices Are Still Rising Slowly
Okay, let’s start with home prices. Overall, home prices grew slower in 2019 (3.3%) than in 2018 (5%). And this year seems like it will be no different. In fact, real estate gurus predict that home prices will only rise by 2.8% in 2020.2 So, you’ll likely see home prices continue to creep up, but they probably won’t knock your socks off with rapid growth like we’ve seen in previous years.
Real estate gurus predict that home prices will only rise by 2.8% in 2020.2
What Higher Prices Mean for Sellers
A nice profit may be on the horizon! But also keep in mind that a lot of buyers are being priced out of the market at the moment, which could lead to fewer offers for your home. So, what should you do about this? Be aware of your competition. With less offers to go around, you want your home to really stand out from similar ones in your area. Prepare your home for potential home buyers and work with a real estate agent to help you list your home at the right price.
Find expert agents to help you buy your home.
And be sure to wait for the right offer. Some buyers may try to gut punch you with a low number. If you aren’t in a hurry to move, wait for an offer that gives you the most profit. Remember, the less desperate person always has the upper hand when negotiating!
What Higher Prices Mean for Buyers
If you’re going to buy a home in this expensive market, you absolutely must find out how much house you can really afford. Crunch the numbers yourself with our free mortgage calculator and figure out a monthly payment your budget can handle.
Commit to staying within that budget amount. Don’t rush into a home purchase that doesn’t make financial sense for you no matter how much pressure you feel watching competitors pluck good homes off the market. You could screw up your finances!
If you can’t put down at least 10% on a 15-year fixed-rate conventional loan, then you probably can’t afford a house in this market. A down payment that’s less than 10% will strangle your budget with massive monthly mortgage payments. But if you want to get prepared to buy and you’re committed to your budget, here are some options to consider:
- Keep saving. If you stay patient and motivated, you can save for a five-figure down payment by this time next year.
- Sacrifice some wants. If you can’t afford to buy the house you want, be willing to give up some “nice-to-haves” for your “must-haves.” Find the least expensive home in the best neighborhood you can afford and you can upgrade as your income and savings increase over time.
- Expand your search. What if the location where you’re planning to buy is what’s busting your budget? You might be surprised at the gem you can find in a less popular neighborhood. Working with a real estate agent who really knows the area is the best way to find a home that fits your budget and lifestyle.
Buying a home can be stressful, but our Home Buyer’s Guide will streamline the process! It’ll help you think through all the important parts so you can rest easy when your dream home is officially yours.
Real Estate Trend #2: Mortgage Interest Rates Are on the Decline (for Now)
Mortgage interest rates have been going down in 2019—steadily dropping below 4% for common types of loans.3,4 In 2020, economist geeks think interest rates will stay around 3.7% for a 30-year mortgage and 3.2% for a 15-year mortgage (the only type of mortgage we recommend).5
In 2020, economist geeks think interest rates will stay around 3.7% for a 30-year mortgage and 3.2% for a 15-year mortgage (the only type of mortgage we recommend).5
But this is never a guarantee because things like tariffs and trade wars might gradually shift the economy, which could result in the Federal Reserve slowly increasing interest rates to balance things out.
If you have questions on refinancing or getting a mortgage, talk to our friends at Churchill Mortgage.
What Lower Rates Mean for Sellers
If interest rates stay low, buyers will be more motivated to buy your home sooner than later. But if interest rates do start to increase later in the year, just plan for your house to be on the market a little longer. A mortgage is a big commitment, and adding higher interest rates to the mix will make many buyers pause.
An experienced real estate agent can help you set expectations for how much you can make, and how long you’ll have to wait for the right offer.
What Lower Rates Mean for Buyers
Even though interest rates are relatively low, if you’re not buying with cash, be smart and go for a conventional 15-year fixed-rate mortgage. That way, you know exactly what your payment will be over the life of the loan.
Real Estate Trend #3: The Majority of Home Buyers Are Still Millennials
That’s right, our final trend is about who is buying homes. And once again, millennials took the lead as the largest group (37%) of home buyers last year.6
What is a millennial exactly? Well, the nerdy answer is anyone born between 1980 and 1998. The easiest way to spot a millennial home buyer? They can’t wait to post a pic of their new home on Instagram!
What Millennial Buyers Mean for Sellers
Here are three important words: Know your buyer. In a nutshell, millennials are internet savvy and do their research before house shopping. Here are some tips:
- Upgrade your online listing. Virtually all millennials (98%) use the internet for their home search—and more than 80% of them found their home on a mobile device last year. 7 So, you need to make the best possible impression on the internet. Make sure you invest in high quality listing photos, and, for extra measure, consider taking video footage to give them a digital tour of your home.
- Highlight perks over size. Yes, square footage matters. But millennials are more concerned about their commuting costs and how close their new home is to schools. In fact, most millennial buyers said they were least likely to compromise on school and neighborhood quality when deciding which home to buy.8 So, highlight the benefits of your home’s fabulous location instead of wasting time trying to sell on its size.
- Know popular features. Here are some of the top home features millennials want: laundry room (86%), hardwood front exterior (81%), patio (81%), garage storage (80%), and a walk-in pantry (79%).9 If you’re thinking of making some upgrades to your home, choosing one of those might have millennials showering you with offers when you’re ready to sell.
What Millennial Buyers Mean for Buyers
Okay, if you’re looking for a three-bedroom, single-family home in the suburbs, expect to have a lot of competition. You may have to reprioritize what you want in a dream home. Follow these tips:
- Know what you want. Decide what you absolutely need in a home. If you’re married and house hunting, you and your spouse need to agree on must-haves. Compare your individual lists and combine them for your real estate agent to use as the foundation of your home search.
- Write a letter. Sending a personal story to your seller might be just the thing that makes you stand out from similar offers. Nashville couple Abby and John included a personal letter when they made an offer on their home. “We sent the sellers a personal letter with our offer,” Abby said. “The best thing you can do is to include in the letter things you love about their house. If they have a deck or screened-in porch, tell them how you envision using the space. We did that and the sellers accepted our offer—out of multiple offers—within 24 hours.”
- Hire an experienced pro. Last year, nearly 90% of millennial home buyers used real estate agents to purchase their homes.10 Think they’re onto something? You bet! Save yourself the stress of trying to buy on your own. Get the help of a real estate pro so the home-buying process is smooth for everyone involved.
What If I’m Not Buying or Selling a Home This Year?
You may be thinking, All this is great, but I’m not going anywhere anytime soon. We hear you, and here’s what you should know for now:
1. Equity is unlikely to decrease through 2020.
With most housing markets at low risk for a downturn, the 2019 Housing and Mortgage Market Review estimates home prices will continue to rise for the next couple of years.11 Woo-hoo for sellers! If you sell your house before 2022, you’ll likely still make a nice profit. Continue to monitor how much your home is worth to make sure your equity (what your home is worth minus how much you owe on it) is going up.
2. From what we can see, the real estate market is not going to crash.
With price growth slowing down, some folks are wondering if the housing market could collapse again. Well, it’s impossible to know for sure, but a number of factors indicate a housing crash is unlikely—as long as tariffs and trade wars don’t cause a dramatic ripple effect. But economists say we seem to be in good shape since people are spending money and new job opportunities keep popping up.12
3. Regardless of your neighborhood, buyers are interested.
Since home prices have experienced rapid growth over the past few years, some buyers may be less choosy. In fact, determined ones might be willing to consider neighborhoods that don’t have easy access to highways or aren’t in close proximity to a big city. If you think you live in an unpopular neighborhood or believe your home isn’t what buyers are looking for, think again. Now may be your perfect time to consider selling.
Take Control of the Trends With a Top-Notch Real Estate Agent
Whether you’re selling or buying, you can take advantage of the current trends by partnering with a professional real estate agent. Through our Endorsed Local Providers (ELP) program, our team will match you with agents we recommend in your area. Our real estate ELPs are top-performing professionals in your market who’ve earned our seal of trust by actually caring about your financial goals.