Tag Archives: April

Tucson MLS Statistics April 2011

Posted by on May 19, 2011 No comments

What a difference a month makes. I hate to make too many predictions but I feel by the end of the 3rd Quarter, Tucson will be on its way to healing our local Housing Market. Will we be out of the woods? No, but I think we will see the market leveling and possibly a lower inventory that will cause prices to reverse the downward trend. So many home sellers would be upside down if they tried to sell right now so they will not put their home on the market for a while. At the same time I have seen a slowing of Foreclosure Notices being recorded.

The Foreclosure Notices have decreased, but is that due to fewer people in trouble or the Banks letting it slide while they extract themselves from Court actions that have happened all over the US. The inventory of REO’s has slowed, but I can attest that is due to the Banks not completing the Foreclosure after the 91st day. I have one that has been extended at least five times with no Contract, and the only reason I can see is the problems the Banks had with Robo signers. I am not sure why this should affect Tucson or Arizona as we are a Deed of Trust State which does not require a Court action as do many of the Eastern States who operate under Mortgages. What ever the reason, it has slowed the recordings of Notices. Fewer Notices, fewer REO’s from Foreclosure and fewer Short Sales. As this part of the inventory shrinks and the sellers that are upside down do not try to sell, the Inventory gets smaller and the number of buyers wanting to buy gets larger, we will see prices starting to increase.

 

Nov.
2010		 Dec.
2010		 Jan.
2011		 Feb.
2011		 Mar.
2011		 Apr.
2011
Average Sales Price
 $180,736 $186,399 $166,998 $182,388 $163,590 $173,981
Median Sales Price
 $139,900 $139,500 $134,250 $137,000 $125,000 $132,000
Total Units Sold*
 800 907 780 879 1169 1152
Active Listings
 7455 6859 7147 6947 6703 6269
Days On Market
 96 106 108 107 84 83
Listings Under Contract**
 1900 1760 2013 2272 2152 2610

The figures on this table are subject to change due to late reportings and corrections. These changes are reflected in the next months statisical blog post after we receive the updated information. For this reason you will find inconsistencies if you compare the data on multiple tables.

* Closed during the month.
** For the current month (not the total listing under contract)

Our State, but mostly in the Phoenix area, has seen its more than fair share of Foreclosures. We are just one of a few States that really got in trouble. But what about those other States that they can sell today and move to Tucson. This too will increase that buyer pool that will help push our prices back up. What is back up? Do not expect large or fast increases, but we will start to dig our way back out of the hole. I hope to see a 3%-5% increase each year for the time coming. This was the norm for many years. Some areas of Tucson did better but this steady increase is much better for our community.

The other point, if you think you will wait, is interest rates. THEY will go back up, and I think sooner than later. I again expect by the end of the 3rd quarter rates will be above 5.5% and probably closer to 6%. Our National economy is really in the tank and there are some good signs, but as long as Congress spends more than is brought in, we are in trouble. With our divided government we will not make much headway to improve our lives. We need a change!!

I personally have been busy and I thank the good Lord for that, but I have time to do more. If I can help you, call me. Use my website www.BarryFotheringham.com to gain access to our MLS as much as you want. If you are a renter use www.AbilityRentalHomes.com to find that rental. If you are a renter, why not see what you can buy instead of renting. It is much closer than you think. Call Elaine DeTour-Spronken at NOVA Home Loans at 520-202-5343 to see what you can do. She is excellent and I have used her for years for my clients. She is very Service orientated and will give you straight answers.

Since I have not had time to really say what I feel and think I have kept my posts short, but this should help you see what is coming in the next six months to a year.

Why not call me and get ready to buy?

 

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Tucson MLS Statistics April 2010

Posted by on May 18, 2010 No comments
Well here we are at mid May and the Federal Tax Credit Program was not extended. Those that had contracts in escrow by April 30th have until June 30th to get them closed. If you were in the Military Service and the proper amount of time overseas, you may have another year to make that purchase. Any service member who is or has been on extended duty for 90 days or more between January 1, 2009 to April 30, 2010, has until April 30, 2011 to sign a sales contract and until June 30, 2011, to close on the property. Both the $8000 first-time and $6500 repeat home buyer tax credits are included in the extension.
The April statistics are pretty much what I expected. The Jump in Days on Market was a shock. I expected it to go up but not so sharply. Everything else seemed to be in line with what I felt would happen with the Tax Credit ending. With that said I suspect we will see negative statistics for possibly the next two months or so. The only item that will have some positive to it will be total units sold which will come down but not drastically for the next two months.
Nov.

2009

 Dec.

2009

 Jan.

2010

 Feb.

2010

 Mar.

2010

 Apr.

2010
Average Sales Price
 $188,384 $201,216 201,219 $195,996 $201,710 $199,986
Median Sales Price
 $162,500 $154,000 $160,000 $150,000 $157,680 $159,000
Total Units Sold*
 1011 919 712 741 1169 1227
Active Listings
 6350 6130 6618 6739 6799 6603
Days On Market
 73 73 73 68 69 87
Listings Under Contract**
 947 847 1155 1417 1549 1568

The figures on this table are subject to change due to late reportings and corrections. These changes are reflected in the next months statisical blog post after we receive the updated information. For this reason you will find inconsistencies if you compare the data on multiple tables.

* Closed during the month.

** For the current month (not the total listing under contract)

The one really positive factor is we are still hovering around 5% for FHA loans. With that, and still dropping home prices, NOW is really the time to find a nice home. Short Sales will dominate the market, but offer some nice homes. You will have a few months to wait to see if the Sellers Lender will approve your offer. A suggestion is to offer just a little under the fair market value so you are still in the ball park when the Lender gives their approval. Not many of the Lenders are willing to really cut their prices. You take a chance of losing it if you are not willing to accept their counteroffer bringing the price back to market with a low offer and you may have lost 3-5 months of time.
If you are short on closing funds, increase the interest rate so you do not have to pay the origination fee (1% of the loan). If you have a credit score average of 720 look at Conventional financing with 1.5% more down payment, you can have payments of less than an FHA Loan and owe less on the home. Start talking with a lender soon as you will need a Loan Status Report (LSR) to write a contract. From my stand point I do not want to show you properties until you have an LSR so we all know what you can qualify for. This does not mean we have to go with the top price, but you will know what you can do. Ask the Lender what you can purchase for a certain monthly payment.
If you are a Buyer, Seller or a Seller that thinks they need to do a Short Sale contact me for help. I have 30 years of experience selling Homes in Tucson and have a lot of knowledge in my head. My son David and I work together as a team with Mom helping us in the office. Call me on my cell at 520-240-7130 with questions.
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