We have all been overwhelmed by numbers in 2020. The stock market went up, then way down, and now back up again. COVID cases were going up, then down, and now are on the rise again. The local real estate market also has had its share of fluctuations, but thankfully they are little less confusing. The news for sellers is good – houses are selling fast and prices are increasing! Here is a chart of the real estate stats for Hampton Roads based on numbers from June:
As you can see, there were 37.20% fewer homes listed for sale in June 2020 than in June 2019. Additionally, 31.25% more homes went under contract (pending) in June 2020 than in June 2019. In May 2020 there was only 2.54 months of inventory, and that reduced to 2.33 months in June. An average market typically has between 5 and 7 months of inventory. The median sale price was up almost three percent in June, and we expect that number to keep going higher based on our July transactions.
We are interested to see what the month of August will bring. Traditionally August is one of the slowest months of the year for new listings and properties going under contract. However, it wouldn’t be surprising if the normal slow down doesn’t happen this year. Low inventory combined with cancelled vacations because of COVID could lead to a busier than usual August.
Finally, for a little fun; we have a summer real estate trivia question! Based on data from REIN (our local MLS), there is a single feature of some homes that is showing an extra 16% rise in sales for homes that have this feature. What is it? You can reply back to this email and the first three people with the correct answer will get a prize.
If you would like to discuss your real estate needs; please email us @ info@callcrossrealty.com or call us at (757)726-7653 (for Lee) or (757) 434-9084 (for Harry). We love real estate and are always happy to talk!
Lee and Harry
At the end of March and early April we saw a number of loan programs disappear overnight due to the economic fallout over Covid-19. Thankfully, we have started to see some of these loan programs return. There are Jumbo lenders that have slowly started to return to the market. However, their guidelines have tightened up on credit scores and debt ratios. We also received some good news this week from the Virginia Housing Development Authority, now known as Virginia Housing. They have brought back their reduced down payment Conventional loan. The benefits of this program are a low 3% down payment, a reduced mortgage insurance premium and the possibility of obtaining a 2% grant to be used towards the down payment.
Interest rates have remained at historic lows making a housing payment more affordable than ever. If you’re interested in finding out how much you would qualify for, or what loan program would be a good fit for you – give us a call. We would be happy to walk you through the process and help identify the best program for you.
Give us a call, or shoot us an email if you’re in the market to purchase a home, or a refinance.Bill Duggan, Sr. Mortgage Banker at 757-615-5172 or email billduggan@atlanticbay.com.
It’s HOT HOT HOT
Keeping cool when the heat is on can be hard. So here are a few tips to help you keep your cool inside:
Be reasonable in your expectations: In this region, the summer design temperature for cooling equipment is about 95°. That means when it hits that temperature outside, your AC unit will run full tilt to keep your house cool. Higher outside temps may cause your house to be a little bit warmer than what you’d really prefer. Most AC units can only offer a 20-degree difference from outside to inside.
Do NOT crank the thermostat down: Leave it set where you normally have it. Moving the dial from 76° to 72° will not change the temperature of the air coming out of the registers; it just makes the unit run longer to reach the desired temperature. If your unit is already running full time to keep the house at 76°, moving the dial down will not make the house any cooler.
Make sure the filter is clean: Take a look and change it or clean it if you even THINK it’s dirty. A dirty filter will make your AC unit work harder than it needs to. That costs you extra money and you won’t be as cool.
Close your curtains, shades, or blinds and don’t block vents or returns: Keeping the sunshine out will help keep the rooms as cool as possible. If you don’t like feeling like you are in a cave, then just close them on the east side in the morning and the west side in the afternoon. If you have south-facing windows, you may want to keep them closed all day to keep the heat down in those rooms. The key to comfort is to keep the air flowing. Move furniture around so that you are not blocking any supply or return registers.
Check the outdoor unit: Make sure that air can move freely around your unit. Be sure it’s free of grass clippings, leaves, pet hair, and other things. Having the unit cover clear allows the air to flow better and the unit to dissipate the heat it is pulling from your house.
Avoid using your dryer and oven in the hottest hours of the day: We all can use a break from laundry and cooking chores from time to time. A dinner of cold salads, sandwiches or take-out might be just the thing.
The decline in active listings has continued and the median sales price is going up. Here are the percentages in chart format:
In our view, this is all driven by a lack of supply (homes listed for sale). After steadily increasing, including double digit percentage gains, the pending sales have reached a breaking point and dropped a little over five percent last month. This isn’t due to lack of demand; it is due to lack of available homes for sale. This is especially true for any homes that are listed under $300,000.
Despite some changes to the local market, Cross Realty is seeing a lot of activity! Lee currently has 11 properties that he is involved with under contract and Harry and the rest of our great agents have many more as well.
In short, the local real estate market isn’t shut down. If anything, prices may have been driven higher by COVID-19 and we know how to help both buyers and sellers. Of course, each situation is different, and we have found the combination of a lack of supply and COVID has resulted in our advice sometimes looking very different for individual circumstances. If you would like to discuss your real estate needs, please call us at (757) 726-7653 for Lee or (757) 434-9084 for Harry). We love real estate and are always happy to talk.
Lee and Harry
Mortgage Rates Hover Near All-Time Lows –
Based on Freddie Mac reports, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage inched up recently to an average of 3.26%, but remains near its record low. “Mortgage rates stayed at or near record lows for the fifth straight week and homeowners are taking advantage with refinance activity remaining high,” says Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist.
It’s a great time to purchase with interest rates being near all time lows. Give us a call if you would like to know how much you could qualify for, or how much you could save with a refinance. Give me a call anytime-Bill Duggan, Sr. Mortgage Banker at 757-615-5172 or email billduggan@atlanticbay.com
Let’s Go Camping… At Home!
If you are an outdoor lover and your free time is usually characterized by activities such as hiking and camping, one thing is sure; you’re finding it hard to cope with the current situation. So, how about turning your backyard into the ultimate campsite for a little family fun!
Prepare Your Food and Camping Gear
You want this to feel like the real camping experience, right? If yes, then you have to prepare for it just like you would for the real camping trip. Pack all your camping essentials such as kitchen camping gear and utensils, insect repellent, sunscreen, toiletries, flashlight, non-perishable food and snacks, pillows, and a sleeping bag and on top of it all, your tent. Or, make one with blankets and sheets. If you have your real gear, it will feel as if you are camping and you’ll not have to keep on running back to the house and ruining the experience.
Prepare Some Dinner
After setting up the campsite and everything is ready, prepare some dinner for everyone. Bring out the snacks and sandwiches or fire up the grill. Once the meal is ready, set up the camp chairs in a circle, pass out the plates, serve, and enjoy.
Let The Games Begin
It’s time to play! Charades is an excellent example of a game that both adults and kids can play. Consider a scavenger hunt, horseshoes, ring toss, corn-hole or even twenty-one questions.
Don’t Forget the Campfire
Camping is never complete without a bonfire or time around the fire-pit. Consider dessert under the stars by lighting a bonfire. You can sit around the fire making s’mores or roasting some marshmallows while discussing your future camping plans.
While its true our weekend get-away and vacation plans have been disrupted, we can still find a little camping joy… right in our own backyards.
In the over 65 years that Cross Realty has operated under the leadership of my grandfather, and now myself and my father; we have encountered many situations that have impacted our local real estate market in interesting ways. In uncertain times, we have been able to help our clients with their individual real estate needs using our extensive market knowledge and vast experience. Certainly, COVID-19 and its repercussions are unlike anything any of us have experienced but we have the knowledge, the tools, and the skills to help you navigate the market now and always.
Our local housing market, like all markets of any type is driven by supply and demand. As changes in the supply (number of homes listed for sale) and demand (numbers of buyers looking for a home in a given price range) occur, the price and time it takes each house to sell also changes. As you can see in the chart below, the March numbers from the Real Estate Information Network (or local MLS) show that when comparing March 2019 to March 2020 the number of active listings (houses for sale) declined 21.37%, homes under contract (pending) went up by 21.55%, and most importantly the median sale price rose 8.70% to $249,900.
Supply was already trending down before COVID-19 hit and after response measures were put in place many sellers made the decision to wait on listing their homes. The number of buyers looking to move this month has gone down overall. However, due to the limited number of homes for sale, the buyer demand is higher than the current supply of homes.
Everyone’s situation is different and the market will continue to change as we move through the pandemic. Right now, we do think it is a good time to sell your house, especially if your house is vacant making social distancing easier. We use an innovative online marketing program to allow buyers to do complete and realistic tours of homes online. This lets buyers have their first and often second showings completely online, helping to maintain social distancing. Curb appeal is also very important in this market as more buyers are driving by the homes they want to see before they make an appointment to go inside.
We can’t predict the future, but we can help you prepare. Every situation is different and our careful and up to date market analysis means that as the facts change, our advice might as well. If you would like to discuss your personal real estate needs, please reply back to this email or call us at (757-726-SOLD (7653) for Lee – 757-434-9084 for Harry). We love real estate and are always happy to talk.
Lee and Harry
Interest rates have remained at very low levels (low to mid 3% range) for all traditional loan programs – Conventional, FHA and VA. COVID – 19 has had an impact the overall tightening of credit score requirements and the disappearance of the Jumbo market. The increased risk due to the rapid rise in unemployment figures brought those changes about.
If you’re considering purchasing a home it is best to start planning now. Contact us to have your credit checked to make sure you won’t be impacted by any of the recent changes. Give me a call anytime-Bill Duggan, Sr. Mortgage Banker at 757-615-5172 or email billduggan@atlanticbay.com.
Shop Our Local Farmers Markets
Customers may order directly from participating market vendors via phone or email and picking up their orders on Saturday, May 2, 2020, at the Suffolk Visitor Center parking lot. This new system will provide the community with the opportunity to purchase garden-fresh fruits and vegetables, baked goods, jams and jellies, meats and poultry, plus personal care products from many of their favorite market vendors each Saturday. Product lists will be available every Tuesday.
Order pickups are scheduled for Saturdays, from 9am until noon, in a drive-thru process only, circling through the Visitor Center parking lot with vendors situated according to recommended social distancing safety practices in light of the COVID-19 crisis. Customers are to enter and exit the parking lot using the Constance Road access only. Pre-payment is required for orders as no additional on-site sales, cash transactions, or walk-up customers are allowed.
Once social distancing restrictions are relaxed, the Suffolk Farmers’ Market will proceed as a regular Market, offering Market-To-Go products, as well as arts, crafts, and additional items.
SuffolkVAFarmersMarket.com or www.Facebook.com/SuffolkFarmersMarketVirginia
Smithfield will also have a drive-through Farmers Market!
While it is a scaled down version, you can order through on-line and pickup all those fresh local goods at our May 2nd Drive-thru Market.
We are going in a different direction with this month’s update. We have put the summary chart at the bottom of this email, and if we had written this two weeks ago our theme would have been that prices seem to be going up and that inventory is tight. However, the events surrounding COVID-19 and its evolving impact on our area have everyone in our office questioning how it will affect real estate.
Harry has been in the business for 47 years and Lee for 19 years but, thankfully, this sort of event has not happened before in our lifetimes so it is hard to evaluate with a lack of precedent. Our guess is that things will slow down until the immediate threat of the virus has passed and schools and businesses reopen. The extent of a downtrend will really depend on how significantly our area is affected by COVID-19 and what the government recommends everyone to do locally.
We are advising our current clients who have homes listed with us to not make any changes at this time. The best offense is to have a very strong online presence for your home with great pictures. Some buyers may even make offers based on online information. This has happened in other market situations. Locally we have had buyers start to cancel showings, and have heard from our real estate contacts throughout the nation that things have predictably slowed down in the parts of the country where the outbreak of the virus is worse. Assuming that the economy bounces back quickly, it is likely that the local real estate market should return to normalcy when everything reopens.
Even if the real estate market comes to do a dead stop for a month, we will be okay, and the odds are good that if you are reading this you will be too. However, thousands of local families and children will struggle greatly during this time. There are a lot of great nonprofits that are working overtime to help fill the gaps and meet the needs of local families, especially now. Two that are close to our hearts are ForKids and the Suffolk Christian Fellowship Food Bank. We volunteer our time at both organizations and find that the work that they do is vital to our community. If you are interested in learning more or helping, please see the information below:
Suffolk Christian Fellowship Food Bank 211 E Washington Street Suffolk, Va 23434
As we move forward with the changes that COVID-19 brings, the facts are subject to change as well. We don’t have a crystal ball, but we do watch the market closely, and if it shifts, our advice might too so feel free to give us a call if you’d like to discuss your personal situation. We love real estate and are always happy to talk.
Lee and Harry
The best word to describe interest rates these days is volatile. Yes, on March 6th we saw historic lows, but we have also seen rates do a 180 since then and we’re back to the high 3’s for conventional loans. It’s difficult to predict how the rates will be affected by the coronavirus, but please know that we are happy to talk with you to discuss any questions you may have. Give me a call anytime-Bill Duggan, Sr. Mortgage Banker at 757-615-5172 or email billduggan@atlanticbay.com
Here’s a Giant List of Ideas for Being Home with The Kids:
Have each kid pick a topic they’d like to learn about and spend 30 mins each day
Spend one day reading every single picture book in the house
Go through all the old mail laying around (ok, that one’s not for kids although they do enjoy helping tear stuff up)
Bake something every day
Have each kid write a letter and/or emails to a different friend or family member each day
Use all of our building toys on one giant structure
Wash our hands!!!!
Races of various kinds in the backyard (hopping on one foot, crabwalk, walking backwards, etc.)
Try stop motion animation with playdough
Facetime grandparents a lot
watch everything on Disney+
Inventory the plants & wildlife (from bugs on up) in your yard.
learn the parts of plants/flowers & how they function (bonus if they learn the Latin names).
If you aren’t too squeamish & have a spare clear shoebox size tote or 5-10 gallon tank, catch some pillbugs (rolly pollies, sowbugs) & observe them (if you really do this, i can tell you how to set them up. i have about a thousand of them currently because it’s too cold here to thin the herd & they’ve been reproducing all winter. they’re pretty interesting).
Write a short story & illustrate it.
Learn how to do simple book binding.
Make paper (from your old mail!)
Have the kids help with yardwork in between playing games outside. They’re little, but they like getting dirty and “working” in the gardens.
GoNoodle! Great for guided movement, relaxation, etc.
Board games, card games
Legos.
We have some extreme dot to dot books (1400 dots) that the kids love, especially the 5 year old!
Lots of reading, playing with the dog,
Working on learning to sew using stuff we have on hand.
Card making/scrapbooking projects (mostly for me but kids can do it too).
Getting the garden ready, we need to weed and work the ground. I might get seeds and we’ll set up to have our own starts this year.
Make tents and reading caves : ) flashlights, tidy snacks, books, and pillows!
Have a shadow show in the reading tent (we used blankets over chairs or a table)
Get binoculars and learn about the birds near your house, look them up on google and search for their birdcalls on YouTube
We hope you are warm and enjoying what is left of the snow. Lee was greeted at home Thursday by some very excited girls armed with snowballs! Lots of fun was had by all, and the day ended with hot chocolate.
Sellers are also having some fun in this market. The number of homes listed for sale, especially in the first and second time home buyer range, is down significantly. As the chart shows, the median sale price when comparing January 2020 to January 2019 is up almost ten percent! This chart and the numbers are from the Real Estate Information Network (our local MLS).
Over the last couple of years it wasn’t unheard of to run into one or two homes that had buyers making multiple offers and bidding up the price during January and February. It didn’t happen very often, perhaps only around 5% of the sales, but it did happen. We found as spring came and more homes were listed for sale, the number of homes receiving multiple offers went down. While that may happen again this year, inventory is well below average levels and dropping so we think that this spring will most likely continue to be favorable for sellers.
We have buyers that are actively on the hunt for homes. One buyer in particular is looking for a house with a good water or marsh view. They need a first floor master and would like around 3,000 square feet with an attached two car garage. Please reply back to this email or give us a call (Lee – 757-726-7653, Harry – 757-434-9084) if you have a home that meets that criteria.
This year will certainly be interesting in the real estate world, so if you are thinking about making a move, let us know so we can put our local expertise to work for you.
Suffolk Art Gallery Juried Photography Exhibit
Join the Suffolk Art Gallery as they host the 36th Annual Juried Photography Exhibit, the largest and oldest juried photography exhibit in Hampton Roads.
Artwork of professional and amateur photographers will be on display March 7 through April 17, 2020, from 10 am to 5 pm, Tuesdays through Saturdays, and 1-5 pm on Sundays.
This event is free and open to the public. An Awards Reception will take place on Saturday, March 7, from 4-6 pm.
The Suffolk Art Gallery is located at 118 Bosley Avenue. For additional information, please call 757-514-7284.
Mortgage rates haven’t been this low for this long in years–3.5 years to be exact. Brexit was the talk of the town in the middle of 2016 and it resulted in rates very close to all-time lows for well over 3 months (all of July, Aug, Sept). Although rates aren’t quite as low this time around; they are very close to it. In 2016 it was Brexit and massive foreign central bank bond buying. In 2019/2020, it’s been the trade war and Coronavirus with the latter getting the nod for 2020’s lowest rates. As such, it’s no surprise to see a spike in bad news relating to Coronavirus leading to big market moves. History suggests this could go on for months, but history also suggests it might not. If you’re considering buying or refinancing and you choose to wait for even better rates (not necessarily something that makes a ton of sense at current levels); make sure you have a game plan in place with your trusted mortgage pro.
Let’s Eat!
It’s time to eat, drink and enjoy some of Suffolk’s best restaurants!
Suffolk Restaurant Week promises a savory blend of the city’s signature flavors. March 14-21 is the perfect time to sample new restaurants or delight in old favorites!
During this culinary showcase, participating eateries are offering chef-created delicacies and simple three-course, price fixed menus at the DELUXE ($10 lunch/$20 dinner), PREMIER ($15 lunch/$30 dinner) or ULTIMATE ($20 lunch/$40 dinner) levels for lunch and/or dinner. No need to worry about coupons, vouchers or tickets. Simply order from the Suffolk Restaurant Week menu at each location.
Happy New Year! We hope that each of you enjoyed the holiday season and wish you the best in the new year. This email will be a little longer than normal since we are going to go over the past market and what that may mean in 2020. We have included several charts from the Real Estate Information Network (our local MLS) to help illustrate the patterns that governed 2019 and what that could mean for the market in the coming year.
As you can see in the chart below, the number of active listings (homes for sales) continues to go down while the number of homes pending (under contract) and settled sales (homes sold) continues to rise. This chart is based on comparing November 2019 to November 2018 across all the sales in Hampton Roads.
While we are happy to help you with your real estate needs throughout the entire Hampton Roads region, most of our readers are from Suffolk and Isle of Wight so the following charts reflect the numbers from those areas. Each chart is based on monthly numbers over the last five years.
The chart below shows the number of active listings over the last five years. As you can see, there has been a steady decrease with a larger drop occurring over the last year.
This chart is the number of sales, which shows a peak in 2018:
It is our belief that just because more homes were sold in 2018 than 2019 it doesn’t mean sales are slowing down. In fact, the number of days a home is taking to sell went down, and as you can see in this chart, the months of inventory (homes available for sale versus the number of homes that sold that month) is going down. The reason 2018 had more homes actually sell than in 2019 was simply a matter of supply and demand.
The chart below shows the number of homes for sale was less, so buyers had a harder time finding what they wanted.
As you can see, Suffolk and Isle of Wright is following the Hampton Roads wide trend of having fewer homes for sale, along with the increase in medium sale price. You will see a large increase in the medium home sale price, but the actual price increase your home may have depends on a lot of other factors. If you are curious about your home, please give us call or reply to this email and we are happy to come out and do a free market analysis on your property.
The chart below shows the medium sale price over the last five years
As for future predictions, for a couple of years we have been saying we are in a glass half full and rising market. This year, when people ask our answer is going to change to the glass is three quarters full and rising. As long as our national economy stays strong and interest rates are decent (they are really good right now – see below for more from Bill Duggan) we think 2020 should be another good year for real estate sales in our local market.
We love talking about real estate, so if you are a member of a group or club and would like us to come talk about the local market we would be happy to arrange a time. Just reply back to this email or give us call.
Do you know what makes an agent successful? We do. Cross Realty welcomes queries from those who are interested in joining our award-winning team. Call Harry today at 757-434-9084 to schedule a confidential meeting.
Specializing in properties in South Hampton Roads, Virginia.
