New Index Reveals Impact of COVID-19 on Real Estate

Earlier this month, realtor.com announced the release of their initial Housing Recovery Index, a weekly guide showing how the pandemic has impacted the residential real estate market. The index leverages a weighted average of four key components of the housing industry, tracking each of the following:

Housing Demand – Growth in online search activity
Home Price – Growth in asking prices
Housing Supply – Growth of new listings
Pace of Sales – Difference in time-on-market

The index then compares the current status “to the last week of January 2020 market trend, as a baseline for pre-COVID market growth. The overall index is set to 100 in this baseline period. The higher a market’s index value, the higher its recovery and vice versa.” Continue reading…

Should We Be Looking at Unemployment Numbers Differently?

The New York Times recently ran an article regarding unemployment titled: Don’t Cheer Too Soon. Keep an Eye on the Core Jobless Rate. The piece suggests we should look at unemployment numbers somewhat differently. The author of the article, Jed Kolko, is a well-respected economist who is currently the Chief Economist at Indeed, the world’s largest online jobs site. Previously, he was Chief Economist and VP of Analytics at Trulia, the online real estate site.
Continue reading…

What Are the Experts Saying About Future Home Prices?

A worldwide pandemic and an economic recession have had a tremendous effect on the nation. The uncertainty brought about by both has made predicting consumer behavior nearly impossible. For that reason, forecasting home prices has become extremely difficult.

Normally, there’s a simple formula to determine the future price of any item: calculate the supply of that item in ratio to the demand for that item. In housing right now, demand far exceeds supply. Mortgage applications to buy a home just rose to the highest level in 11 years while inventory of homes for sale is at (or near) an all-time low. That would usually indicate strong appreciation for home values as we move throughout the year.

Some experts, however, are not convinced the current rush of purchasers is sustainable. Ralph McLaughlin, Chief Economist at Haus, explained in their June 2020 Hausing Market Forecast why there is concern:

“The upswing that we’ll see this summer is a result of pent-up demand from homebuyers and supply-in-progress from homebuilders that has simply been pushed off a few months. However, after this pent-up demand goes away, the true economic scarring due to the pandemic will begin to affect the housing market as the tide of pent-up demand goes out.”

Homebuyers Are in the Mood to Buy Today

According to the latest FreddieMac Quarterly Forecast, mortgage interest rates have fallen to historically low levels this spring and they’re projected to remain low. This means there’s a huge incentive for buyers who are ready to purchase. And homeowners looking for eager buyers can take advantage of this opportune time to sell as well.

There’s a very positive outlook on interest rates going forward, as the projections from the FreddieMac report indicate continued lows into 2021:

“Going forward, we forecast the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage to remain low, falling to a yearly average of 3.4% in 2020 and 3.2% in 2021.”

7 Strategies for a 2020 Open House [INFOGRAPHIC]

Some Highlights

Buyer interest is high right now, so this summer is a great time to sell your house.
Here are 7 strategies to help make your house showing a safe and effective one.
Let’s connect today to get your house on the market while buying is hot.

Want to Make a Move? Homeowner Equity is Growing Year-Over-Year

One of the bright spots of the 2020 real estate market is the growth in equity homeowners are experiencing across the country. According to the recently released Homeowner Equity Insights Report from CoreLogic, in nearly every state there was a year-over-year first-quarter equity increase, averaging out to a 6.5% overall gain.

The report notes:

“CoreLogic analysis shows U.S. homeowners with mortgages (roughly 63% of all properties) have seen their equity increase by a total of nearly $590 billion since the first quarter of 2019, an increase of 6.5%, year over year.” (See map below):

Is the Economic Recovery Already Underway?

The Wall Street Journal just released their latest monthly Survey of Economists. In an article on the findings, they reported:

“The U.S. economy will be in recovery by the third quarter of this year, economists said in a survey that also concluded the labor market will fare better than previously expected following the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.”

Clearly, the latest jobs report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics confirmed the labor market is outperforming expectations, as it revealed that 2.5 million jobs were added. Directly before the release, experts forecasted that we would lose over 8 million jobs.

A second revelation indicating the economy is already about to turn around was also somewhat unexpected. More than 9 out of 10 economists surveyed believe the recovery has already begun this quarter or will begin in the third quarter. Here are the results of the survey question asking when the recovery will begin:The survey also asked what type of recovery the economists expect.

More than 8 out of 10 believe it will be a form of a ‘V’ recovery:

A true ‘V’ with a sharp drop and a sharp rebound
A ‘Nike Swoosh’ with a sharp drop and a more gradual recovery, coined after the company’s logo

Some experts, possibly concerned about a second wave of COVID-19, call for a ‘W’ recovery – a double dip recession.

Others call for a ‘U’ with a prolonged bottom.

A very small percentage project the dreaded ‘L’ recovery, which is no recovery at all for the foreseeable future (think of the Great Recession).

Here’s the breakdown:

Bottom Line

Though we still have a long and difficult journey ahead, it appears the worst for both the economy and the unemployment situation may be in our rearview mirror.

Three Reasons Homebuyers Are Ready to Purchase This Year

A recent survey by Lending Tree tapped into behaviors of over 1,000 prospective buyers. The results indicated 53% of all homebuyers are more likely to buy a home in the next year, even amid the current health crisis. The survey further revealed why, naming several reasons buyers are more likely to move this year (see graph below): Continue reading…

12 Riverfront Homes For Sale In Florida

Riverfront Homes For Sale In Greater Daytona Beach Area Florida

Are you looking for a riverfront home in the Greater Daytona Beach Area? Have you been hunting for the perfect Florida riverfront home with a dock to keep your boat? Check out these 12 homes listed below. If you would like to get more information or schedule a showing please give James Jestes a call 386-315-4744

Florida Riverfront Homes For Sale — View more photos of this riverfront home

This home is a 5 bedroom, 7.5 bathroom home in the community of Daytona Beach. $2,890,000
Click here to see more information and photos of this luxury riverfront home.

The area’s most admired waterfront estate is being offered for the first time in decades. The nearly 7000 sq. ft. home plus guest home and outbuildings are situated beneath ancient oaks atop a bluff on a private 2.7 acres of rolling terrain with an unheard of 248′ of Intracoastal frontage. Designed and constructed in 1953 by Dr. Harris of The Harris Corp as the company ascended on the area to start the space program, the home’s building methods were the absolute best available without regard to expense and the incredible integrity and craftsmanship are immediately evident as you enter the home today. While the home was designed to entertain a large crowd it retains a rich, warm atmosphere among the gracious living spaces that make up the nearly 4000 sq ft of ground floor living. Continued..…

For more information about 1350 Peninsula Drive, Daytona Beach, you can view it here.

This home is a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom home in the community of Halifax. $674,500
Click here to see more information and photos of this Intercoastal Waterway home.

INTERCOSTAL WATERFRONT!! Directly on the Halifax River with a 200ft dock perfect for fishing. Large outdoor area and small beach are great for entertaining or just relaxing and taking in the beautiful views. Home has been well maintained and has a Riverview from almost every room. There is also a large kitchen with a breakfast nook and a spacious living room with a formal dining area, spacious bedrooms, and a family room with absolutely stunning views, a Fireplace, and hardwood floors. This home is a must-see!! New roof, new 200ft dock!!…

For more information about 3108 Peninsula Drive, Daytona Beach, you can view it here.

Are you looking for a home in the Greater Daytona Beach Area? Contact James Jestes Today!
386-315-4744

Real Estate Tops Best Investment Poll for 7th Year Running

Every year, Gallup conducts a survey of Americans to determine their choice for the best long-term investment. Respondents are asked to select real estate, stocks/mutual funds, gold, savings accounts/CDs, or bonds.

For the seventh year in a row, real estate has come out on top as the best long-term investment. Gallup explained:

“Real estate remains the most favored investment to Americans, as has been the case since 2013, when the housing market was on the rebound. More than a third of Americans have named real estate as the top investment since 2016.”

This year’s results indicated 35% of Americans chose real estate, followed by stocks at 21%. The full results covering the last decade are shown in the chart below:

Bottom Line

The belief of the American people in the stability of housing as a long-term investment remains strong, even through the many challenges our economy faces today.

New Index Reveals Impact of COVID-19 on Real Estate

Should We Be Looking at Unemployment Numbers Differently?

What Are the Experts Saying About Future Home Prices?

Homebuyers Are in the Mood to Buy Today

7 Strategies for a 2020 Open House [INFOGRAPHIC]

Some Highlights

Want to Make a Move? Homeowner Equity is Growing Year-Over-Year

Is the Economic Recovery Already Underway?

Bottom Line

Three Reasons Homebuyers Are Ready to Purchase This Year

12 Riverfront Homes For Sale In Florida

Riverfront Homes For Sale In Greater Daytona Beach Area Florida

This home is a 5 bedroom, 7.5 bathroom home in the community of Daytona Beach. $2,890,000
Click here to see more information and photos of this luxury riverfront home.

This home is a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom home in the community of Halifax. $674,500
Click here to see more information and photos of this Intercoastal Waterway home.

Real Estate Tops Best Investment Poll for 7th Year Running

Bottom Line

James Jestes, Your new favorite Realtor.

Daytona Beach Property Search By City

Contact James Today

Some Highlights

Bottom Line

Riverfront Homes For Sale In Greater Daytona Beach Area Florida

This home is a 5 bedroom, 7.5 bathroom home in the community of Daytona Beach. $2,890,000 Click here to see more information and photos of this luxury riverfront home.

This home is a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom home in the community of Halifax. $674,500 Click here to see more information and photos of this Intercoastal Waterway home.

Bottom Line

James Jestes, Your new favorite Realtor.

Daytona Beach Property Search By City

Contact James Today

This home is a 5 bedroom, 7.5 bathroom home in the community of Daytona Beach. $2,890,000
Click here to see more information and photos of this luxury riverfront home.

This home is a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom home in the community of Halifax. $674,500
Click here to see more information and photos of this Intercoastal Waterway home.