“If you’re a homeowner planning to sell in 2023, now is the time to get ready.”
The spring season appears to be warming up in housing as more and more buyers enter the market. And after rising mortgage rates sidelined so many buyers last year, that’s a good sign for sellers. Realtor.com has the latest:
“Spring is officially here, and like green shoots emerging from the bleak winter, new data suggests that more buyers are back in the market, although more subdued compared to a year ago.”
We know buyer activity is trending up because of mortgage purchase application data. According to Investopedia:
“A mortgage application is a document submitted to a lender when you apply for a mortgage to purchase real estate.”
That means the number of mortgage applications shows how many buyers are applying for mortgages. Put another way, an increase in mortgage applications means an increase in buyer demand – and as Joel Kan, VP and Deputy Chief Economist at the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), explains, application activity started ramping up as mortgage rates fell steadily in March:
“Application activity increased as mortgage rates declined . . . recent increases, along with data from other sources showing an uptick in home sales, is a welcome development.”
In fact, we can see how mortgage rates have a direct impact on applications over time. As rates rose dramatically last year, applications fell in response (see graph below):
The recent uptick in mortgage applications, as well as the decline in mortgage rates, is good news for sellers because it means more buyers are actively looking for homes.
What This Means for You
Buyers are coming this spring, which is typically the busiest time of the year in real estate. And as Realtor.com tells us, if you’re a seller, you need to prepare:
“If homeowners are planning to sell in 2023, now is the time to get ready.”
The means working with a local real estate agent to maximize your home’s appeal and get it listed at the ideal price for your area.
Bottom Line
Why You May Still Want To Sell Your House After All
If you need to sell now because something in your own life has changed, don’t let mortgage rates hold you back from what you want.
Gen Z: The Next Generation Is Making Moves in the Housing Market
Generation Z (Gen Z) is eager to put down their own roots and achieve financial independence. As a result, they’re turning to homeownership.
Why You Don’t Need To Fear the Return of Adjustable-Rate Mortgages
If you’re worried today’s adjustable-rate mortgages are like the ones from the housing crash, rest assured, things are different this time.
Why Median Home Sales Price Is Confusing Right Now
Median home sales prices change because there’s a mix of homes being sold is being impacted by affordability and mortgage rates.
People Want Less Expensive Homes – And Builders Are Responding
Builders producing smaller, less expensive newly built homes give you more affordable options at a time when that’s really needed.
Don’t Expect a Flood of Foreclosures
Before there can be a significant rise in foreclosures, the number of people who can’t pay their mortgage would need to rise. Since buyers are making their payments today, a wave of foreclosures isn’t likely.