An article from Kristie Barnett, The Decorologist:
1) House prices will continue to rise in the 2016.
According to Mark Zandl’s article in last week’s Washington Post, home prices have been moving steadily higher since the housing bust hit bottom 4 years ago and 2016 should post another modest gain of about $4,000 to $7,000 for most properties. It’s possible that home prices across the country could reach close to the all-time peaks since the housing bubble 10 years ago.
Jonathan Smoke in Realtor.com states, “2016 is shaping up to be the best year in recent memory to sell. Supply remains very tight, so inventory is moving faster. Given the forecast that price appreciation will slow in 2016 to a more normal rate of growth, delaying will not produce substantially higher values.” We know from history that early spring is the optimal time of the year to put a home on the market, so preparing to do so now will put home sellers at an advantage.
2) First-time buyers are in a good position to purchase.
Even though buyers will have to deal with higher prices and lower inventory, there should be lower mortgage costs and easier credit. The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) reduced its fees for those seeking a mortgage last year, and will likely further reduce them as finances continue to improve in 2016. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are also trying to lower credit costs for potential buyers. “The credit scores that borrowers need to get a loan are still very high by historical standards, but they have finally begun to normalize,” writes Zandl.
3) Renters are at a disadvantage in 2016.
While the 2016 real estate market is great for sellers, real estate agents, and landlords, it’s not so rosy for renters. Rents are increasing, while supply is limited. Not good news for those who rent this year. Smoke says that, due to high rent, it is more affordable to buy in more than 3/4 of the U.S.
4) Certain remodeling projects and upgrades are better return on investments than others.
According to RealtorMag.com, the best remodeling projects and upgrades you can do to help sell a home include a new roof and hardwood flooring:
Perhaps it’s surprising that some of the remodeling projects that are very appealing to buyers don’t always mean the seller recoups the money they put into the project. While kitchen and bath upgrades may help a home sell more quickly and trump its competition, that doesn’t mean necessarily mean that the home will sell for more money.