Summer is here!
Wow, that was one of the fastest months ever, in my opinion. Memorial Day week-end came and went in a blink of an eye, so it must be the height of the dynamic spring market! Median days on the market in Northern Virginia is just 8; the average days on the market is 42. So, houses are virtually selling immediately (often with multiple offers) or they are taking a little while longer to sell. Right now, we are seeing very demanding buyers in the marketplace. If the house is priced a little high or isn’t updated or staged, they are getting a lot of activity in the first week, but then showings fall off tremendously after that time frame.
So, what is fueling all the activity? There are a few factors, first there is a lot of demand – but it varies by price point. More on this in a moment. Second, interest rates are still great – right around 4% for a 30-year fixed mortgage. Some people are taking advantage of adjustable rate mortgages too, though in my personal opinion in this interest rate climate there are limited situations where that is wise. Third, we continue to experience a strong local job market with many people relocating into the area for this reason. Fourth, prices are beginning to increase slightly, so many people are wanting to buy while it is still affordable for them to do so. Lastly, people have equity in their homes and can sell today to move into a larger home or closer to the city to reduce their commute. This is all good news for both buyers and sellers!
What is the situation with pricing I mentioned earlier you ask? The under $500,000 price point for houses and townhouses is on fire, representing a great majority of the median days on market. Yet, homes priced in the $650,000 -$800,000 range outside of the beltway are slow which is causing an increase on the average days on the market number. The upper price points (above $800,000) are seeing activity and sales which is always good for our local market.
I expect to see more of this type of activity and sales at least through the 4th of July. So, if you are considering selling or buying a home, please feel free to call me to discuss your situation in more detail.
Now, go enjoy this beautiful weather and have a Wonderful Summer!
p.s. I’ll be taking a week away from the warm weather to lead a fundraising climb on a glaciated mountain in Seattle! Click here if you want to read about it: https://fundraise.thelastwell.org/fundraise?fcid=865246
It’s a good life.
Chris
