Friday, December 28, 2012

GENERAL INDICATIONS OF A FORTHCOMING ROBUST HOUSING MARKET





• Home prices could jump almost 10% in 2013 (J.P. Morgan)

• S&P/Case-Shiller home price index shows biggest year-over-year increase since spike caused by expired tax credit

• Existing home sales for November rose 5.9% over October, 14.5% higher than in November 2011 (National Association of Realtors)

• 2012 Housing starts are 23% higher than 2011 and 2013 predicted to usher in a 21% gain over 2012 (National Association of Home Builders).

• Inventories are low and demand is rising – 22% below last year’s levels of traditional listings and distress properties (National Association of Home Builders)

• Positive consistent reports are out on housing starts, permits, prices, new-home sales and builder confidence in recent months indicating a gradual but steady housing recovery is underway across most of the nation (National Association of Home Builders)

• Existing home sales are at the highest level since November 2009

• Foreclosures and short sales accounted for about 22% of November sales, down from 24% in October and 29% in November 2011

• Builder confidence has posted gains for 8 consecutive months and is now at 47; the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index has not been above 50 since April 2006

• Rental market has greatly enlarged due to demand and more than 31% of today’s renters plan to buy a home in the next two years, a 9-point increase from 22% in January 2011 (Trulia’s American Dream survey)
 

  72% of “Millennials” (18-34 year olds) have homeownership as part of their personal American Dream.  About 93% expect to buy a home one day

Saturday, December 1, 2012

MONEYRATE.COM RANKS TEN BEST STATES FOR RETIREMENT

10. Texas (tie) — warm weather and solid economy
10. California (tie) — good weather and high life expectancy
9. South Dakota — low crime rate and high life expectancy
7. New Mexico (tie) — good weather
7. Florida (tie) — good weather
6. Colorado — high life expectancy
5. Virginia — good economy
4. Arizona — good weather and high life expectancy
3. Utah  — good economy
2. Idaho — low crime rate and good economy
1. Hawaii — great weather and high life expectancy