Market Update - October/2009

Real estate markets are always bottom-up markets. Which means? For a real estate market to sustain itself and flourish, the bottom of the market, that being the less expensive properties, must sell in a timely manner. When the bottom of the real estate market suffers, the entire market is negatively impacted.

The government’s $8,000 tax credit, which ends in late November/2009, unless there is an extension or change in the program, was designed to serve two purposes: (1) provide first-time home buyers an incentive to buy now, and (2) stimulate the housing market by getting entry level homes sold so current homeowners could “move-up” to more expensive properties. The result being that life would be breathed back into the overall housing market.

There were some hurdles to overcome to this seemingly perfect plan. First, with the economy limping along, home values had been driven down, resulting in a loss of homeowner equity. A home seller considering buying-up now had less cash in their current home to buy-up with. Second, almost overnight the home mortgage industry went from loaning money to anyone with a pulse to being over selective as to whom they would bless with their sacred funds. Finally, the uncertainty of the job market and the high unemployment rate has led to many potential move-up buyers deciding to rent rather than buy. This has resulted in the more expensive homes being forced under the boot of foreclosure or short sale, or they have become rental havens for those individuals choosing not to buy now or not having the ability to buy now.

Due to the government assistance program and reasonable mortgage interest rates being available, homes priced under $400,000 in Boulder County have sold reasonably well this year.