A Look at 2023

This past year we continued to see rising prices and low inventory, making it challenging for buyers. NH saw fewer home sales than any other year since 2011. The total number of closed sales was down 19% compared to 2022. December had only a 1.4 month supply of homes to sell – 1382 homes for sale In the whole state compared to 1551 in 2022 (a balanced market has a 5-6 month supply). Since demand exceeded supply, this pushed the median sales price of a home in NH to an all-time high of $470,000 – a 6.8% increase over 2022.

Looking closer to home, the combined sales for Newbury, New London, and Sunapee followed the same trends as the whole state. Sales were down 19% from the year before with 126 homes sold for the year vs. 155 in 2022. The average days on market was 22 days and the median selling price was $645,000, up 7.5% from 2022.

Whether buying or selling, contact me to find out how low inventory and increasing buyer demand impacts you.

        

Donna Forest

M: 603-731-5151
donna@donnaforest.com
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2024 Market Predictions

Economists are optimistic about this coming year, especially as mortgage rates are expected to be lower and inflation appears to be slowing. Below are some top predictions from the experts.

  • Mortgage rates are expected to ease. Forecasters are calling for rates to be in the 6% range.
  • Home prices will continue to rise. The Home Price Expectation Survey from Fannie Mae, on average, anticipates home price growth at 5.95% in 2023, followed by slower growth in 2024 at 2.4% and 2.7% in 2025.
  • The housing market will remain competitive. This is due to several factors, including population growth, strong job growth, and a limited supply of homes for sale.
  • The supply of homes should loosen up somewhat as mortgage rates drop and changing circumstances will lead to more moves and new listings.

Overall, there are positive signs this will be a better year for the housing market with the expectation 2024 will see slight home-price gains, lower mortgage rates, and a somewhat easing of inventory constraints. Prices will vary by local markets, but experts project they will continue to rise across the country at a pace that’s more normal. 

Contact me to find out how the market may impact your buying or selling goals.

        

Donna Forest

M: 603-731-5151
donna@donnaforest.com
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How to Add Value Before Selling

If you are thinking about selling in the next few months, you can increase the value and desirability of your house by making upgrades and changes now. Here are a few proven strategies to help get you started.

  • Decluttering and cleaning are two of the most important and cost-effective ways to increase value. If you do nothing else, do this!
  • Kitchen and baths sell the house. Consider replacing dated light fixtures, adding a new bathroom vanity, changing out old appliances for stainless steel, updating cabinetry hardware, etc.
  • First impressions count. The landscaping & exterior appearance should be attractive and welcoming.
  • A simple and worthwhile improvement is to freshly paint rooms using neutral colors and high-quality paint.
  • Energy efficient upgrades like adding new windows and more insulation can help you net a higher sales price.

Contact me if you want more tips on how to increase buyer interest and resale value of your home.

        

Donna Forest

M: 603-731-5151
donna@donnaforest.com
Follow her on Facebook

It's Still a Seller's Market

It’s Still a Seller’s Market

By: Donna Forest, Broker Associate


If you are in the market looking to buy this year, you’ve probably noticed the lack of homes for sale. Case in point, there are only 9 houses for sale in the combined towns of New London, Newbury and Sunapee – and 3 are to be built (as of 4/19). New listings in the state of NH are down almost 20% compared to the first 3 months in 2022. When the supply of homes for sale are so low it creates increased competition among purchasers and keeps upward pressure on prices. And houses tend to go under contract very quickly once they hit the market. Not unsurprisingly, sales thru March in NH are down 19.7% yet the median sales price is up 3.6% to $430,000. Sales in the 3 combined towns are down 26% compared to 2022 and the median sales price is up 8.5% to $558,250.* So, should you wait to buy until prices come down? Data shows prices are increasing in much of the country and experts project home prices will rise steadily and return to more normal levels of appreciation after this year. Whether buying or selling, contact me for the latest insights into our local market.

* Figures are based on information from the Northern New England Real Estate Network, Inc. for the period 1/1/ - 3/31/22 and 1/1/-3/31/23

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News: Now is the Time

News * News* News

Now is the Time to List Your Home


According to the National Association of REALTORS, job growth and lower home prices resulted in increased contract signings in all four major US regions for two consecutive months (Dec, Jan). 

New England contract signings are up 6%. 

January was the largest month-to-month gain since June 2020. 

Buyers appear to be taking advantage of falling mortgage rates and sellers are taking advantage of the increased listing prices

This tells us: Now is a great time to list your home. 

Here’s why: The inventory remains low – so listing prices are stably high. Stable mortgage rates are inviting more buyers to enter the market. 

You will need a savvy real estate agent to set an attractive sale price. And buyers need a savvy real estate agent to find the perfect budget-friendly home.

Call The BHG Milestone Team today and find out why we're The Best Team in Town!


Decoding Real Estate Terms: Property Value

Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash


Decoding Real Estate Terms: Property Value

What is your home worth?

 

We’ve been to that yard sale where we offer $5 for the rocking chair and the seller insists it’s an antique worth $50! (Which begs the question: Then why are you selling it out here on the lawn, in the rain?

The same concepts apply to selling and buying real estate – and the industry has so many terms and ways to value a property, it can get confusing. Home value tools you find on the internet muddy the waters – although these tools are interesting, they are simple calculators that do not know the current, local market trends. 

To better understand how to set and evaluate a property price, let’s look at those terms:


Fair Market Value: Arguably the most important valuation term to understand, fair market value is what a willing buyer would pay a willing seller. The definition makes it clear that willingness is inherent in the value: That the parties negotiate the price through an arm’s-length transaction, that the parties are aware of all the facts, that the parties are not pressured in any way. 

For example: Mr. Smith offers Mr. Jones $200,000 for his home, and Mr. Jones counteroffers for $250,000, when Mr. Smith agrees, the fair market value is $250,000. Contrast that transaction with Mr. Smith offering his grandmother $50,000 for her house and she accepts (more akin to a gift than a negotiated sale on the market). Or, compare the first example with a short sale – where the buyer merely pays off the mortgage. That transaction does not reflect the market price at all! Fair market value is determined when the buyer freely makes an offer, and the seller freely accepts.


CMA: A CMA, or comparative market analysis, is the procedure real estate agents use to set the listing price for a home (or help a seller decide whether to sell). To perform the CMA, your agent researches the closing price – the fair market value - of similar, recently sold properties in your area. Read that again. 

First, the listing price of local properties does not mean that is what a willing buyer will pay. And, often, enthusiastic sellers or agents will over-price a property – causing it to either sit on the market for far too long, not appraise for the listing price, or suffer price reduction after price reduction! Fair market value is only established when the deal closes. 

Second, the agent uses properties that have sold recently – not last year! The recency is a good indication of current market conditions. 

Third, the agent carefully selects the geographic area. What a house is worth in Manchester is not what it would be worth on Lake Sunapee! 

Last, the agent will carefully identify properties as similar to your home’s features as possible: Number of bedrooms and bathrooms, square footage, condition, acreage, location to water, special features and characteristics, and so on. Also note, the agent will avoid using short sales, foreclosures, inherited or gifted properties in her analysis because those values do not reflect fair market value.


Appraisal: An appraisal is an authorized valuation of a property – an educated guess for what the fair market value could be. Similar to a CMA, an appraisal is completed by a licensed appraiser who analyzes the property using factors like location, condition, and resent sales of similar properties. Typically, appraisals are used for real estate, collectibles, or businesses to determine market value. 

For example, your insurance company may want your sports cards appraised so it knows how much insurance you need to cover replacing the collection. Or an entrepreneur may need her business appraised so she can sell half to a new partner. 

Often hired by the lender, the appraisal assures the lender it is not loaning too much for the property (that the property is enough collateral). For example, if the home appraises at $500,000, the lender will not want to loan $600,000. 

Buyers also use appraisals to renegotiate contract terms. For example, if a buyer offered $500,000 and the appraiser determines the home is valued at $450,000, the buyer may attempt to reduce her offer. Whether or not she can do so will be clearly outlined in the sale contract. An expert real estate agent will consider the appraisal process when pricing and marketing your home.


Assessment: Assessed value is the value the tax authority uses to calculate property taxes. To determine that value, the tax assessor uses a type of appraisal which considers the fair market value, improvements, and the characteristics of similar properties. 

But realize assessment happens irregularly – maybe every five or ten years. Fair market value can swing over that time. So, although the assessor uses fair market value, the assessment only hints at what fair market value was when the assessment was completed. 

Assessed value is also adjusted for the character of the property – whether it is commercial, residential, the zone, and so on. Also, assessors often do not set the assessment at 100% of the estimated fair market value. And homeowners can appeal the regulator’s assessment – altering the assessed value. So, although buyers should investigate the assessment to determine how much property tax will be owed, the assessment does little to set or reflect the fair market value.


We hope this information helps you appreciate the value of your property. When you are ready to list or shop, contact The Best Team in Town to help you!

And, for more expert advice:

Spring Market Update


SPRING MARKET UPDATE


The housing market is not crashing. 

In fact, we are in the strongest real estate economy where 48% of homes are equity rich with at least 50% equity. 63% of mortgages originated are below 4%. 

Of note:

  • Interest rates are fluctuating based on economic factors right now. Rates 6.5% - 7% mean limited buyer demand. Rates 7%-7.5% mean weak buyer demand. Lawrence Yun, chief economist of the Nat’l Assoc. of Realtors (NAR), expects rates to fall to 5.5% by mid-2023. Fannie Mae predicts 6.8% and Freddie Mac is 6.4%.
  • Home prices will vary depending on location. Overheated markets are depreciating; others are appreciating. In NH, prices are up 5% thru Feb. 2023. The Home Price Forecast 2023 shows, for example, Realtor.com projecting +5.4%, CoreLogic +3.1%, NAR -1.6%, Fannie Mae -4.2%. Prices are expected to increase and reach more normal levels of 3%-4% annually starting in 2025.
  • The biggest challenge is low inventory. The number of homes for sale in the US is 47.4% lower than it was before the pandemic. In NH, new listings are down 20.3% in Feb. 2023 vs. 2022. The lack of homes for sale has kept prices from falling. Fourteen years of underbuilding is one of the major reasons for this low supply.

Don’t let false information stop you from buying or selling. Contact me for the straight scoop on the real estate market.



           

Donna Forest  

Listing Broker

Contact me today!

O: 605.526.4116
donna@donnaforest.com
www.donnaforest.com          


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Price Advice from The Best Team in Town

Photo courtesy of Keeping Current Matters

How much is my home worth? 

This question is the most important asked of The Milestone Team Realtors. The answer is not as simple as “the neighbor’s house sold for X” or “I want to sell it for Y.” You want your home priced right – from the start. Too low, buyers will think “something is wrong.” Too high, buyers will be deterred – and your home may sit on the market for too long, also raising the “something is wrong” concern. Worse, priced too high can result in those incremental price adjustments – which is a buyer red-flag. Pricing a home correctly is one of the reasons to engage an experienced Realtor. Do you know that sellers who do not use a Realtor sell for significantly less than those sellers who wisely choose a Realtor from the start? Your local Milestone Team member knows the market, the neighborhoods, current trends – and how to price your home correctly so you attract strong offers and a quicker sale!

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To rent or to sell?


To rent or to sell? 

The Milestone Team has advice for you!


Should you sell your home? Should you rent your home? These are serious questions that require serious answers and expert advice. The Milestone Team is your trusted Realtor advisor to help you answer those questions! Merrimack County, and its vacation-friendly seasons, offer property owners the opportunity to rent long and short-term. Many homeowners consider offering their home as a long-term, short-term, or Airbnb rental. Before taking the leap, consider the work it takes to be a landlord:

  • Do you have the time to manage the property? Or: Do you have the resources to hire a professional property manager? (Bankrate)

  • Are you able to make repairs – and willing to be on-call for your tenants?

  • Are you staying local to be available to show the property, make repairs, or prepare the property for the next tenant?

  • Do you need to “cash out” to purchase your new home? (Bankrate) Most homeowners are not interested in carrying two mortgages.

  • Is your move temporary? (Bankrate) Renting your current home may be a wise choice – providing income while you are living elsewhere.

  • Can what you earn in rent cover your costs? You will need to ready the property for tenants, advertise, and continue to pay your mortgage, taxes, HOA fees, and insurance. And: Realize rental income is counted as income.

  • Can you handle the risks? According to Investopedia, you do risk theft or damage of your property - and carrying costs for an empty rental!


Renting your home is a decision not to be made lightly. If you are considering renting or selling, contact The Milestone Team to discuss the possibilities so you can make the best decision for you!


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It's Not Magic

Pricing Your Home Is Not Magic


If you are thinking about selling, determining the right value is your number one priority. While sometimes it seems the price is picked out of thin air, there really are 3 methods for determining value. Below is a brief explanation of each.

  • Market Analysis – Prepared by a real estate agent to provide an estimate of the probable selling price, expressed as a range. Using similar active and recently sold properties and factoring in the many characteristics that impact value, it is a guide to help the seller determine a listing price.
  • Appraisal – A much more in-depth analysis done by a licensed appraiser. Typically appraisals are used in the loan process to ensure the value of the home is equal to or greater than the purchase price, thus protecting the lender’s interest.
  • Automated Valuation – Used by Zillow and other companies, the value is calculated by software based on mathematical modeling. While convenient, it misses important price influences such as property condition and location (e.g., on a busy street).

Want to know your home’s value? It’s a complicated market with shifting impacts. Contact me and put my 29 years in the business to work for you!

Donna Forest, Broker - Realtor