Northeast Ohio

Real Estate

December 6, 2024

Happy Friday!

Hope you're doing well and had a great week! Stay warm out there!


Thank you for checking out this email. I sincerely appreciate you and hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.


-Pat

What is happening in the market?

As you'll see in the data, listings and sales have slowed slightly over the last month. This is very typical as the region cools down for winter, and had been the norm before the pandemic changed things for a few years.


In my business, I have seen an increase in the numbers of investors looking to buy in the area. While families often decide to hold off until the New Year or Spring, investors are ALWAYS looking for opportunities. Although deals are a little harder to come by, there are still lucrative options out there. I'm seeing more off-market options (pocket listings and wholesale contracts). If you want to invest in 2025, let me know so I can start looking for you. Keep in mind, most deals are found outside of Zillow, so having an agent looking for you makes a difference.


The number that jumps out is the number of expired listings so far in 2024 (over 28,000). These are sellers who tried and failed to sell their home. Gone are the days when every single home sells in a weekend. But, with a solid marketing plan and proper guidance, most homes are still selling. These are priced fairly and have the necessary updates/repairs.

Are you curious to your home's value?


Scan or click below to get started!

Mortgage Update


Conv 30 year Fixed: 6.5%

First Time Buyers 30 year Fixed: 6.125%

FHA 30 year Fixed: 5.75%


With 20% down, a monthly mortgage payment is $2,063 on a home with a price of $400,000. With 10% down, the typical payment would be $2,321.


Positive: Mortgage applications increased this week with lower mortgage rates. Home buyers are also seeing more housing inventory in some markets which has provided the chance in late Fall to finally move off the sidelines. Rates in the mid-6s are more palatable than the near 7 percent of November.


Negative: There is a long way to go before there is enough housing inventory for the pent-up demand in the housing market. While there is a growth of existing homes, the inventory is still below February of 2020

First Time Buyers News


The age of first-time homebuyers reached a new high. The first-time homebuyers’ median age reached 38 years old. That's up from 35 years old last year and up significantly from the 1980s when the typical first-time homebuyer was in their late 20s. This record comes despite first-time home buyer's household income growing by $26,000 over the past two years.


Overall, the ages of first and repeat buyers reached an all-time high with the median buyer age reaching a peak of 56 years old, up from 49 last year. The typical repeat buyer also rose to 61 years old, up from 58 last year.


In the last year, I've successfully helped 7 first time buyers win their first home. What that means is I have the knowledge and skillset to be able to assist breaking into homeownership. Who do you know that's looking to buy their first home in 2025? Please let me know so I can see if I can assist. Thanks in advance!

Pat Barmann
216.990.5719