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The share of Realtors who have seen home sellers reduce their price to attract buyers increased for the fifth consecutive month to 43.4%.
The share of buyers expecting lower prices also has more than doubled from 32% in April 2022 to 78% in September 2022.
Source: Latest California Association of Realtors monthly member sentiment survey
In a recent small survey, more than 90% of homebuyers say they found at least one issue with their home after the transaction that the seller didn’t disclose, according to a new survey from Cinch Home Services, a home warranty company. Even more alarming is that 94% of sellers admit to selling their homes without disclosing a known issue.
The top three problems buyers discovered after closing involved the electrical system, fixtures, and plumbing. The survey shows the majority came from unpermitted repairs and upgrades.
Source: Survey of 494 homebuyers and 476 sellers within the last year conducted by Cinch Home Services
With mortgage rates now nearing 5%, many aspiring home buyers may have reached the top of what they can afford, especially as 40-year-high inflation affects the threshold for them.
As a result, the number of sellers dropping their asking price is growing at a faster clip than in the recent past. About 12% of homes for sale had a price drop during the four weeks ending April 3. That marks a jump from 9% a year ago.
Home prices are well above levels from a year ago. The average borrower is paying about 40% more than they would have for the same home a year ago on a monthly payment due to higher mortgage rates and higher home prices, according to the National Association of REALTORS®.
More consumers believe that mortgage rates and home prices will rise further, according to a monthly consumer sentiment index from Fannie Mae. “If consumer pessimism toward homebuying conditions continues, and the recent mortgage rate increases are sustained, then we expect to see an even greater cooling of the housing market than previously forecast,” Mark Palim, vice president and deputy chief economist at Fannie Mae, wrote about the consumer sentiment index’s findings.
However, some buyers may see an opening in the market. They may want to rush ahead of further mortgage rate increases or may see an uptick in new listings.
Source: “Rising Mortgage Rates Are Causing More Home Sellers to Lower Their Asking Prices,” CNBC (April 7, 2022)
