New Home Sales Rose in March

 New Home Sales climbed again in March, making it the fourth month in a row. Those in the industry say that this is due to the ease in mortgage rates and the low inventory of existing homes. Buyers are now looking at new construction more than ever.

According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development and the US Census Bureau, there was a 9.6% rise in new construction home sales from February to March. This could be a good sign that the housing market is starting to stabilize. Sales of new single-family homes in March were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 683,000 which is still down from a year ago at 707,000. New home sales rose from $438,200 in February to $449,800 in March.

“Buyers have begun to adjust to the elevated mortgage rate levels, especially in areas where home prices have adjusted downwards to compensate. Despite signs of economic uncertainty in March, which included news of bank failures, buyers are still showing demand for new homes,” said Kelly Mangold of RCLCO Real Estate Consulting.

“Demographic drivers remain strong as more households move into family years, and remote hybrid work continue to have a foothold in many industries, driving buyers to seek space for extra bedrooms and/or office space in their homes,” says Mangold.

Click Here For the Source of the Information.

Myths About Custom Homes

 A custom home is a home that is built to the specifications of the buyer. Basically, the buyer of the home will get to choose every detail when it comes to their new home. Many home buyers shy away from building a custom home due to several myths.

The biggest myth is that a custom home is too expensive. Although this can be true, there are tons of ways to save when building a custom home. You do not need to have a massive budget for a custom build. Another big issue is that many home buyers feel it takes too long to build a new home. Many custom homes are actually built faster than mass-produced homes.

When it comes to custom builders, there are plenty out there and they are easy to find. The best way is through recommendations and searching online. You will want to be sure to ask the builder you have chosen about their experience, process and pricing.

Remember, working with a builder who understands what you want and knows your budget is the key. A good builder will help you find ways to save money through the homebuilding process.

Click Here For the Source of the Information.

To Build or To Buy a Home

 If you want to own a home but haven’t decided whether to build a house or buy one, there are several things to consider. If you love a custom look with features and finishes that are in your taste, then building a custom home would be for you, but if you like historic charm and an older established neighborhood then purchasing a resale is right for you. If your budget is a factor, what is cheaper: building a home or buying an existing one? The National Association of Home Builders and the US Census Bureau reports that the median cost to purchase a home is $410,600 and is less by $28,800 than building a home.

Pros and cons: Building a house

According to the professionals in the industry a basic home can be built for around $150 per square foot. This is for a basic home, but this price can jump up to over $500 per square foot if you want the best of the best. When you build a home you get to choose what you want such as an eat-in kitchen. A new home also has less long-term expenses than an older home. A new home will be more energy-efficient and will have lower utility bills. There are also less repairs and lower maintenance costs.

On the other hand, a new construction home will take longer to get into. Especially nowadays with labor shortages and shipping difficulties. According to the US Census Bureau it takes around 6-8 months to build a new construction home. You will also have an alternative place to live while your home is being built which is an added expense. Since there is a shortage of home inventory, demand is up and the cost of building is higher. The US Census Bureau reports that new construction home costs have risen $84,700 over the same time last year.

Pros and cons: Buying a house

Most of the time, there are fewer construction costs when purchasing an existing home. The only time this will not be the case is when you purchase a fixer-upper. When you purchase a home, the transaction time is also a lot quicker. This would be the best option if you need to relocate or have a short time frame. If location is important, purchasing an existing home will be much easier than finding a lot to build on.

You do not have to build to get an all-new home. You can opt to purchase a new construction home that is completed and listed for sale. You will still have all new everything without the hassle of building a home yourself.

If you are in the market for a new home, find a local realtor who can help you with your purchase of a newly built home, custom-built home or an existing home. A realtor can help you determine which is best for you and your lifestyle. They can also help you with financing options and refer you to a lender.

Click Here For the Source of the Information.

The Competive Buyer’s Market Is Slowing Down

In the second quarter of 2022 there was a increase to 49% in the share of prospective home buyers who are actively seeking a home to purchase. This comes after a decline for three straight quarters in a row. Rising interest rates have pushed many prospective home buyers righ tout of the market.

According to the NAHB's Housing Trends Report each region saw a different share of prospective home buyers who are actively searching for a home to purchase. The South was the only region that did not see a rise. As for the remaining three, the Northeast went from 50% in the first quarter to 54% in the second quarter, the Midwest went from 40% in the first quarter to 51% in the second quarter and the West saw an increase of 57% in the second quarter from the 46% that was reported in Quarter one.

The housing market has also seen a rise in availability expextations. We have seen a fall for the last five consecutive quarters so this is good news as it grew from 17% to 22% between the first and second quarter of this year. Along with availability expectations affordability expectations also increased. This has been the first increase since 2020 going from 19% to 23% from the first quarter to the second quarter.

Click Here For the Source of the Information.

Be in the Know When Building a Custom Home

 What are some things you should know about when building a custom home?

How to Pay for a Custom Home
What You’re Paying For
Finding the Right Contractor for Your Custom Home
Designing and Building the House

There are many in the housing market that would rather build a home than purchase a new construction home that has already been built. When you build a home you have all the say from start to finish. There are some things you need to know when building a home. Here are some of them that professionals say are important to know.

How to Pay for a Custom Home

If you are in the market to build a custom home, then you will probably be using a construction loan. This type of loan is a short-term loan that will cover all of your expenses while you are building your home. It is a bit lengthier and stricter than a regular mortgage but is perfect for a custom home build. Many people choose to do a construction to permanent loan. Once your home is built and ready to occupy, your loan turns into a standard mortgage loan. Remember that a construction loan is typically only for 12 - 18 months and the payment process is different from a standard mortgage loan.

What You’re Paying For

Remember there will always be extra expenses when building a custom home. These include plumbing, electrical wiring, lighting, internet configuration, and media hookups. There will also be many different industry professionals who you will also need to pay including plumbers, electricians, city inspectors, land surveyors and structural engineers. All this aside, your builder or contractor will reach out and coordinate with all of the suppliers and laborers.

Another cost that you might incur is by using an architect. If you need to have help with the design of your home, then you will need to hire one. If you do not want to choose a stock plan, then this will be the route you need to go.

Finding the Right Contractor for Your Custom Home

This is very important because they not only need to be a professional in the industry but also need to work with your personality. Choosing the right contractor or builder will make all the difference. To go about choosing one, first, start with word of mouth. A first-hand account is always the best. Before making your decision, interview several different contractors. Keep in mind that you will want them to be able to meet your timeline, agree with your vision and have a positive attitude about your design. As with any other interview, check references, read business reviews and google their name to see what comes up.

Designing and Building the House

This will take a good bit of time because your contractor will want to meet with you for several preconstruction meetings. Remember during these meetings to take notes, keep records and pay attention. This way you will be able to reference the plans that were agreed upon. Put the budget in your forethought as you go through your planning stages. It is very easy to get carried away and spend much more if you do not keep track. Always keep in mind if what you plan is good for resale. This can also affect your decisions. Even though it is a long and tedious process, at the end you will have your dream home.

Click Here For the Source of the Information.

Home Builder Confidence Builds Stronger For Fourth Consecutive Month

 

Homebuilder sentiment was strong at the end of 2021 according to the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). This is good news for the home building market despite the inflation scares and material shortages. The NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) reported the builder sentiment in the market for newly-built single-family homes moved one point higher to 84 in December.

As for the regions, the three-month moving averages for regional HMI scores rose in all of the four regions. Both the West and South saw an increase to 87, and the Northeast and Midwest both were are 74. The seasonally adjusted rates for the four regions were the highest in the South at 89, in the West 87, in the Northeast 79, and in the Midwest at 74.

“While demand remains strong, finding workers, predicting pricing and dealing with material delays remains a challenge,” said NAHB Chairman Chuck Fowke. “Policymakers need to work on supply chain improvements and controlling costly inflation. Addressing lumber tariffs would be a good place to start.”

“The most pressing issue for the housing sector remains lack of inventory,” said NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz. “Building has increased but the industry faces constraints, namely cost/availability of materials, labor and lots. And while 2021 single-family starts are expected to end the year 24% higher than the pre-Covid 2019 level, we expect higher interest rates in 2022 will put a damper on housing affordability.”

Click Here For the Source for the Information.

Suburbs Are The Place To Be

 The National Association of Home Builders NAHB recently did a survey that revealed 25% of home buyers have changed their home buying preferences due to COVID-19. The survey found that home buyers are looking to the suburbs because of the health crisis. Thiry percent of buyers are seeking a home in the outlying suburbs. Before the pandemic, only 26% of home buyers wanted to purchase a home in the suburbs.

This does not bode for other locations. All of the other location points saw no change or small declines in buyer's preferences after the onset of COVID-19. Rural areas went from 24% down to 23%, downtown in a central city, dwindle from 12% to 11% and those who desired a home in the central city outside of downtown remained at 9%.

Buyers should enlist the help of a Realtor. A local sales agent will know the suburbs and can help you find the perfect home of your dreams. They will be able to help find a home in the perfect community for the perfect price.

Click Here For the Source of the Information.

Builders See an Almost 13% Increase in New Home Sales

Throughout all regions of the United States in February, the real estate industry had something to celebrate. All regions increased new home sales compared to the same time in February, 2016.  In the South, new home sales increased 3.6%, which was 7.9% higher than the past year.  Approximately 592,000 new homes sold in February, 2017, which was 12.8% higher than last year and 6.1% higher than January new home sales.
Bloomberg analysts had estimated 565,000 in new home sale for this time period but reporting from the Census Bureau and Department of Housing showed differently.  The number of new homes available for sale going into the month of March, 2017 was approximately 266,000, which is a 5.4 month’s supply of new homes for sale.  In January, this amount was a 6.4 month’s supply, but February’s new home sales numbers trimmed this amount substantially.

The average price of a new home sold for the month of February stood at $296,200, which was lower than January’s average price of sold new homes which was $308,200.  The total average sales price increased substantially month-over-month from $355,300 to $390,400.  It increased even more when compared to February one year ago – up from $349,400.

All of this is great news for new home builders and custom home builders building new homes for sale throughout Southeast Louisiana and the rest of the Gulf Coast.  Ron Lee Homes is a St. Tammany Parish custom home builder who is building and selling new homes throughout West St. Tammany Parish.  For more information about building your new home, Contact Us at 985-626-7619 or E-mail Info@RonLeeHomes.com.

Click Here for the Source of the Information.