What Are Experts Saying About the Spring Housing Market?

If you’re planning to move soon, you might be wondering if there’ll be more homes to choose from, where prices and mortgage rates are headed, and how to navigate today’s market. If so, here’s what the professionals are saying about what’s in store for this season.

Odeta Kushi, Deputy Chief Economist, First American:

“. . . it seems our general expectation for the spring is that we will see a pickup in inventory. In fact, that already seems to be happening. But it won’t necessarily be enough to satiate demand.”

Lisa Sturtevant, Chief Economist, Bright MLS:

“There is still strong demand, as the large millennial population remains in the prime first-time homebuying range.”

Danielle Hale, Chief Economist, Realtor.com:

“Where we are right now is the best of both worlds. Price increases are slowing, which is good for buyers, and prices are still relatively high, which is good for sellers.”

Skylar Olsen, Chief Economist, Zillow:

“There are slightly more homes for sale than this time last year, and there is still plenty of competition for well-priced houses. Buyers should prep their credit scores and sellers should prep their properties now, attractive listings are going pending in less than a month, and time on market will shrink in the weeks ahead.”

Jiayi Xu, Economist, Realtor.com:

“While mortgage rates remain elevated, home shoppers who are looking to buy this spring could find more affordable homes on the market than they saw at the same time last year. Specifically, there were 20.6% more homes available for sale ranging between $200,000 and $350,000 in February 2024 than a year ago, surpassing growth in other price ranges.”

If you’re looking to sell, this spring might be your sweet spot because there just aren’t many homes on the market. Sure, inventory is rising, but it’s nowhere near enough to meet today’s buyer demand. That’s why they’re still selling so quickly.

If you’re looking to buy, the growing number of homes for sale this spring means you’ll have more choices than this time last year. But be prepared to move quickly since there’ll be plenty of competition with other buyers.

Bottom Line

No matter what you’re planning, let’s team up to confidently navigate the busy spring housing market.

NAR Lawsuit Update

 What we Know….

The NAR has reached a settlement agreement on the class action lawsuits relating to the offer of compensation rule. Details are in the link below. There is much to digest and more info and training will come out in the days ahead. For now, here are eight key points:

 1. Realtors® are well positioned in Utah to continue representing buyers and sellers because of how we’ve been conducting business for the last several decades.

 2. The proposed settlement is pending the court’s approval. If approved it will likely take effect sometime later in July.

 3. No changes related to the listing broker’s offer of compensation on the MLS will occur until mid-July 2024 (assuming the settlement agreement is approved). Continue representing your clients as you have until then.

 4. After July, no Buyer Agent Commission (BAC) may be offered on the MLS (stay tuned for more specifics dates). However, listing brokers and sellers may continue to offer compensation for buyer broker services, not on the MLS (e.g., by email, calls, texts, flyers, newsletter, etc.). Offers of compensation to the Buyer Broker are not going away – they are not illegal.

 5. Brokers can publish Buyer Agent Commissions for their own listings on their own websites. Although the MLS is prohibited from publishing a BAC, the settlement allows brokers to offer a BAC on their own website for their own company listings.

 6. Sellers may agree to pay buyer broker fees and seller concessions in the purchase contract. See the Real Estate Brokerage Payment Addendum. There will likely be updates to Utah forms to address seller paid buyer broker fees as well as updates to the agency agreements in the near future.

 7. Written Buyer Broker agreements will be required nationwide. After July, such Buyer Broker Agreements will be required prior to touring properties with the Buyer. Utah Realtors® have been required by Utah law to use Buyer Broker Agreements for years, so this isn’t much of a change. Realtors® will need to improve their skills when representing buyers and better articulate their value just like they have done with sellers.

 8. Never represent to your clients that your brokerage services are free unless you receive no compensation for those services.

 In the coming days, we will be working to provide you with best practices and updates to help you be successful in this changing real estate environment. Courtesy of the Salt Lake Board of Realtors®

The First Step: Getting Pre-Approved for a Mortgage

Some Highlights

• If you’re looking to buy a home in 2024, getting pre-approved is a key piece of the puzzle. Mortgage pre-approval means a lender checks your finances and decides how much you’re qualified to borrow.
• As more buyers re-enter the market, it’ll help you make a strong offer that stands out from the crowd.
• Talk to a trusted professional to learn more and begin your homebuying process today.

Why You Want an Agent’s Advice for Your Move

No matter how you slice it, buying or selling a home is a big decision. And when you’re going through any change in your life and you need some guidance, what do you do? You get advice from people who know what they’re talking about.

Moving is no exception. You need insights from the pros to help you feel confident in your decision. Freddie Mac explains it like this:

“As you set out to find the right home for your family, be sure to select experienced, trusted professionals who will help you make informed decisions and avoid pitfalls.”

And while perfect advice isn’t possible – not even from the experts, what you can get is the very best advice out there.

The Power of Expert Advice

For example, let’s say you need an attorney. You start off by finding an expert in the type of law required for your case. Once you do, they won’t immediately tell you how the case is going to end, or how the judge or jury will rule. But what a good attorney can do is walk you through the most effective strategies based on their experience and help you put a plan together. They’ll even use their knowledge to adjust that plan as new information becomes available.

The job of a real estate agent is similar. Just like you can’t find a lawyer to give you perfect advice, you won’t find a real estate professional who can either. That’s because it’s impossible to know everything that’s going to happen throughout your transaction. Their role is to give you the best advice they can.

To do that, an agent will draw on their experience, industry knowledge, and market data. They know the latest trends, the ins and outs of the homebuying and selling processes, and what’s worked for other people in the same situation as you.

With that expertise, a real estate advisor can anticipate what could happen next and work with you to put together a solid plan. Then, they’ll guide you through the process, helping you make decisions along the way. That’s the very definition of getting the best – not perfect – advice. And that’s the power of working with a real estate advisor.

Bottom Line

If you’re looking to buy or sell a home, you want an expert on your side to help you each step of the way. Let’s connect so you have advice you can count on.