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December Arizona Market Wrap Up

The first week of the year began with a bang.  From both affiliated Realtors and non-affiliated Realtors, our call volume for Pre-Qualifications saw a sizable jump this week. Thank you and keep them coming.  You can continue to rely on us to provide you with speedy responses for your clients. 

As we look forward to 2010, I would like to take this time to review the December 2009 Phoenix Market Data (Information provided by our friends at CromfordReport.com):

•    Sales at 7,729 were UP 284 from November’s 7,445
•    Active Listings at 38,938 were DOWN 608 from November’s 39,536
•    Sales Per Year at 92,427 were significantly UP 33,225 from 2008’s 59,202
•    Days on Inventory at 154 was DOWN 6 days from November’s 160 days
•    Sales/SQFT at $91.26 was DOWN $0.71 from November’s $90.55

Please note that we had over 33k more homes sold in 2009 than in 2008.  With the changes in the Phoenix market over the last two years, Realtors quickly figured out how to partner with asset managers, navigate the short sale process, and create solid partnerships with mortgage brokers to develop new business.  We all realized that in order to survive in this business, we had to not only get creative, but simply get back to the basics.  With the many new tools that we have learned, we are ready for an even more successful year in 2010.

Now is the best time for us to re-visit our partnerships and build stronger relationships.  I look forward to meeting with you and hearing how we can further enhance our service to both you and your clients this year.  I would also love to hear how we can become your preferred referral option for all of your partners and clients.

Here’s to an exciting and successful 2010!

November Arizona Market Wrap Up and Holiday Rate Discount

From all of us at Lendability.com, we would like to wish you and your family a very happy holiday. We would also like to extend an additional .25% off of our lowest rates when you send your clients to Lendability.com.  This rate cut is available for both purchase and refinance business. Rates have dropped to a new low in the last two weeks.

Take a look at some data below from November 2009 (Data provided by our friends at CromfordReport.com, which you now have access to using your MLS ID):

• Sales at 7,673 were down 247 from October’s 7,920 - Please note that the Thanksgiving holiday impacted the number of days in the month
• Active Listings at 39,957 were up 938 from October’s 39,019
• Sales Per Year at 89,390 were up 2,527 from October’s 86,863
• Monthly Supply at 4.8 was down 0.2 from October’s 5.0 month supply
• Average Sales Price at $173,881 was up $2,704 from October’s $171,177

Much of the success of 2009 can be attributed to the $8,000 tax credit, low home financing rates, and low home prices.  Nationally, sales contracts soared in September and October to 32% higher than a year ago.  Many home buyers were trying to take advantage of the tax credit before it expired.  Luckily, the tax credit has been extended to June 30, 2010 and expanded to all buyers.  It is important to note that purchase contracts must be signed by April, 30 2010 in order to qualify for the credit.  While it may seem that there is plenty of time for your clients to purchase a home and receive the tax credit, now is the time to engage your pipeline.  Our purchase pipeline has grown significantly due to the increasing number of buyers on the market.  It is taking 90 days or longer for buyers to find the perfect home and get the contract accepted.

As part of Lendability.com’s commitment to building relationships with all clients, we are working closely with customers who are facing credit issues.  Every month we are able to help 5-10 clients who need to repair their credit.  This service is at no extra cost to your client.  Remember, we only need a 620 credit to get your client approved.

If you are doing open houses, please send me a message (chrism@lendability.com) with the property and the date.  We would love to meet you face to face and help you qualify your potential buyers.

Please call us or visit this website for your tax credit questions.

September Arizona Market Wrap Up & Tax Credit Expiration Nov 30th

As we closed out the last month of the third quarter, activity in the Phoenix Real Estate Market was strong.

October, thus far, has been a big month for Lendability.com on Purchase Loans because there is still uncertainty surrounding the expiration of the tax credit.  As of today, it will expire on November 30th.  That means we need to get Purchase Contracts in and Loans in Process as soon as possible.

Most of us are anxiously awaiting the decision on the expansion and extension of the first-time home buyer tax credit. While debatable on a national scale, here at Lendability.com most, if not all, of our Realtor Affiliates have benefited from this tax credit.  Over 80% of our Arizona Purchase Loans are first time home buyers.

The expansion and extension will definitely impact our market place.  Stay tuned for updates.

Here are Results for September 2009 (Information was provided by our friends at CromfordReport.com):

• Active Listing @ 37,793 remained STEADY from August 2009 @ 37,523 - It’s important to note that  Active listings in August 2008 were @ 53,908
• Pending Listings @ 13,709 were up 437 from August 2009 @ 12,639
• Sales Per Month @ 7,593 were down 937 from August 2009 @ 8,530 - note that Sales Per Month in August 2008 were @ 5,505
• Sales per Year @ 84,210 are up 30,719 from 2008 @ 53,491
• Days on Market @ 94 is down 7 days from August 2009 @ 101
• Days on Inventory @ 164 is down 3 days from August 2009 @ 167

According to the most recent data released by the National Association of Realtors, Home sales Rose 6.3 percent in the month of December. The forward looking indicator used in the study was housing contracts sign in the month of December 2008. This data indicates that the government is finally reaching a point where people are responding the attractive buyers market they have created. The government has made it known that they are using every weapon in their arsenal to test the elasticity of the US housing market. This is a huge success for the US Government that is working at break neck speeds to try and solve our current financial crisis.

With all the bad news circling the mortgage industry, you might not realize what a great time to get a mortgage this is. For all well qualified borrowers, rates haven’t been this good since 1961. This is all thanks to the US government stepping in and buying mortgages while trying to establish a floor in home values.

So what does this mean to potential homeowners? If the government succeeds in creating a bottom in housing, you will reap the benefits for years to come with low rates and below market purchase prices.

U.S. home builders took a big step in September toward reducing the gigantic oversupply of homes, boosting sales slightly, slashing prices and reducing the number of unsold homes at a record pace.
Sales of new homes rose an estimated 2.7% in September to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 464,000 in September, the Commerce Department reported Monday, close to the 460,000 pace expected by economists surveyed by MarketWatch. See Economic Calendar.

Sales surged 23% in the West, bouncing back from a similar decline in August. Meanwhile, sales in the Northeast fell to lowest level recorded in the past 35 years, and sales in the Midwest fell to a 17-year low.
Nationally, sales in September were down 33% compared with September 2007.
The inventory of unsold homes fell a record 7.3% in September to 394,000, the lowest level in four years. In the past year, inventories have fallen 25.4%, the biggest percentage drop since the government began tracking the data in 1963.
At 394,000, the inventory represents 10.4 months’ worth of sales, about double the normal inventory. It’s taking more than 9 months after completion for the typical new home to sell, a sign that builders have much more work to do to bring supply down to match demand.
In the past year, the number of homes for sale that were under construction has plunged by 35%.
The median sales price fell to $218,400, down 9.1% in the past year. It’s the lowest median sales price in four years.