What’s happened in real estate news so far this year? Here’s a quick recap roundup:
Many older homeowners are choosing to “smart size” rather than downsize. That’s because some empty nesters and others discovered they had downsized too much after moving, and actually needed more space than they anticipated after selling their previous homes.
During the first half of 2019, the overall real estate marked performed fine despite some dire predictions at the beginning of the year. Interest rates also stayed low, and, while certain markets struggled, the first part of the year largely went better than expected.
Sales of newly built homes in August hit the second highest level in over a decade, which was good news. However, most of that buying activity was in the mid-to luxury sectors, with just 10% of those sales for the entry level sector of below $200,000.
Most of America’s fastest growing housing markets were east of the Mississippi River and included Cumberland, MD-W.Va., Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, Ohio-PA, Boise City-Nampa, Idaho, Elmira, NY, and Columbia, MO.
In the second quarter, U.S. mortgage debt hit a record, passing 2008 highs. According to the Federal Reserve Bank, mortgage balances rose to $9,406 trillion in 2019’s second quarter, which surpassed the 2008 third quarter peak of $9,294 trillion.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of real estate brokers and sales agents is projected to grow seven percent from 2018 to 2028, faster than the average for all occupations.
Home trends that grew in popularity this year included furniture made from natural materials, bold wallpaper, colors, and art, mixed metal finishes, and detailed ceilings.
Home warranties remain a good value and a smart choice for homeowners, buyers, sellers, and real estate professionals alike. HSA Home Warranties offer comprehensive plans, valuable protection, and convenience to homeowners across the country, helping safeguard buyers and sellers alike from the expenses of covered mechanical and appliance failures due to normal wear and tear.
In addition to budget protection, HSA gives homeowners peace of mind as well as a reliable resource to call for covered malfunctions. HSA customers can request service for covered items 24/7 to have local, qualified home repair professional assigned to handle the request and schedule an appointment during normal business hours to diagnose the covered issue.