The Biggest Questions Clients Are Asking This Holiday Season (And FREE Slides to Answer Them)

‘Tis the season for friendly gatherings, and you know what that means. Everyone and their aunt Susan are going to be asking you questions about the real estate market.

The fact of the matter is, there’s a lot of speculation about what’s happening in housing right now, and everyone’s got an opinion on it.

It’s your job to be prepared for that inevitable table talk so you can show (and tell) your sphere the latest expert insights. That way when you’re at a New Years’ shindig and someone asks a question, you don’t drop the ball during the ball drop.

So, sit back, sip some hot chocolate, get the answers to the top questions you’ll need to answer this holiday season (plus free slides).

Rumors of a “housing crash” have been murmured for years. But is there actually meat behind those murmurs or are they just clickbait?

The truth is, while most news outlets feed off the doom and gloom of housing crash headlines, you can feed them a different story: the facts.

Yes, the escalation of home price appreciation leaves many to wonder if this is a bubble that’s going to burst. But the truth is, the housing market looks very different from the infamous events that led to 2008.

For instance:

• Rising home appreciation is a direct result of low supply and high buyer demand
• Mortgage lending standards are much tighter than they were in 2008
• Homeowners are using their equity much more responsibly today

Rest assured, your holiday guests can be confident that it is very much still a good time to buy or sell a home. And if they’re searching for proof with their figgy pudding, these slides will help show them the truth behind those headlines.

As the saying goes: what goes up must come down, right?

In the last year and a half, we’ve seen what could be the hottest real estate market of our lifetime. But we can all agree, or hope, that the factors leading up to that market won’t be repeating themselves anytime soon.

While mortgage rates are projected to rise and home prices continue to appreciate (although at a slower pace next year), we’re still seeing strong buyer demand. Plus, a recent study shows the majority of active sellers are planning to list their homes this winter.

Much of this motivation to sell stems from homeowners earning record-breaking amounts of equity over the past year at the same time homeownership needs have changed drastically as we moved through the health crisis.

All of these signs point to a real estate market that won’t be cooling off anytime soon. 

What we can expect to see is more choices for buyers as inventory rises. Looking for back-up? Get our latest graphs and charts so you can not only tell, but show, your sphere what top experts project. 

Home values appreciated by almost 20% nationwide over the past year. Let that sink in a minute.

And with mortgage rates on the rise, many people are wondering: is it still affordable to buy a home?

The answer is: yes.

Let’s breakdown why:

• Despite escalating prices, homes are still more affordable than they were at anytime leading up to the housing crisis
• Rental prices are on the rise, making homeownership a more affordable option in many markets
• Inventory is expected to rise, taking the edge off of the supply and demand issue that led to the price growth we saw over the last year

While the days of sub-3% mortgage rates may be fading away, buyers can remain confident in today’s affordability. However, be sure to tell them to not wait too long. As mortgage rates rise and home prices continue to appreciate, waiting to make a move will mean only one thing: it will cost more to buy a home.

If we’ve learned anything over the past couple of years, it’s that we can’t predict the future.

We can, however, project it based on what the experts are saying.

With industry experts anticipating more inventory, higher mortgage rates, and continued price appreciation in the New Year, there’s plenty of incentive for buyers and sellers to make a move sooner than later this year.

Looking for more information to back up your answers? Check out our full 2022 housing market forecast.

As friends, family and loved ones gather this holiday season for the first time in years, we can begin to see life return to a state of normalcy we weren’t sure we’d ever get back to.

And when you’re the real estate agent in your family or friends group, you can expect to get a question or ten about the market.