by Kathy Gibson | May 30, 2023 | Buying, Market, Open House, Selling
Op-Ed written by Ron Wynn, Compass So Cal agent In the fast-paced and ever-changing world we live in, it’s easy to become complacent and comfortable with what we have. This is particularly true when it comes to our financial decisions, especially when it involves something as significant as an interest rate. Many individuals find themselves holding onto low-interest rates for dear life, afraid to let go and explore new opportunities. But what if this mindset is holding us back from truly living a full and exciting life? In this article, we will delve into the concept of being a prisoner to your interest rate and challenge you to reevaluate your priorities. The Rent-Controlled Apartment Dilemma: Let’s start by examining the example of individuals who have lived in rent-controlled apartments in New York for several decades. While it may seem like an advantageous situation on the surface, there’s a deeper question to consider: Have they missed out on other experiences and opportunities by holding onto their rent-controlled status? While their friends and peers moved around, exploring different neighborhoods, raising families, and building equity through real estate investments, those clinging to their rent-controlled apartments may have limited themselves in terms of personal growth and financial gains. The 3% Interest Rate Trap: Similarly, many individuals today find themselves trapped by low-interest rates on their mortgages or other loans. While a 3% interest rate is indeed attractive and worth preserving, it’s essential to recognize the potential trade-offs. By fixating solely on keeping that low rate, individuals may miss out on life-changing opportunities, such as pursuing new career paths, starting their own businesses, or...
by Kathy Gibson | May 22, 2023 | Buying, Home and Garden, Market, Neighborhood, Open House, Selling, Uncategorized
Home purchase sentiment improves as consumers’ optimism on mortgage rates amend: The Fannie Mae Home Purchase Sentiment Index® (HPSI) increased in April to its highest level since May 2022, jumping 5.5 points to 66.8. All six of the HPSI’s components increased month over month, including the one associated with consumers’ expectations on mortgage rates. While almost half of respondents still expected mortgages rates to rise over the next year, nearly a quarter (22%) of them expect mortgage rates to go down. Pasadena, CA Mon May 22 2023 This week the median list price for a single family home in Pasadena, CA is $1,599,000 with the market action index hovering around 50. This is less than last month’s market action index of 51. Inventory has increased to 87. The market has not shown strong directional trends in terms of supply and demand. However, inventory is sufficiently low to keep us in the Seller’s Market zone and prices have been moving upward as evidence. Altadena, CA 91001 Mon May 22 2023 This week the median list price for a single family home in Altadena, CA 91001 is $1,356,000 with the market action index hovering around 60. This is an increase over last month’s market action index of 56. Inventory has increased to 30. Home sales continue to outstrip supply and the Market Action Index has been moving higher for several weeks. This is a Seller’s market so watch for upward pricing pressure in the near future if the trend continues....
by Kathy Gibson | May 1, 2023 | Buying, Home and Garden, Market, Neighborhood, Open House, Selling
The economy is growing, but at a slower pace. The GDP reading for the first quarter of the year suggests that the economy expanded, but momentum fizzled out. Consumers have been holding back on retail sales and personal spending despite improving real income for nine months in a row, while labor costs and inflation have been rising due to a strong labor market. The recent bank failures have added uncertainty to the economy’s long-term health and have suppressed consumer confidence. On the bright side, the short supply of existing homes for sale has pushed more home buying activity into the newly constructed housing sector, which comprised 33.2% of total single-family housing inventory in March – almost double the average before the pandemic. Pasadena, CA Mon May 01 2023 This week the median list price for Pasadena, CA is $1,599,500 with the market action index hovering around 51. This is an increase over last month’s market action index of 47. Inventory has decreased to 82. The market continues to get hotter. More sales demand and fewer homes listed have contributed to a relatively long run of increasing prices. Current supply and demand levels show no sign of prices changing from their current trend. Altadena, CA Mon May 01 2023 This week the median list price for Altadena, CA is $1,224,995 with the market action index hovering around 56. This is less than last month’s market action index of 57. Inventory has increased to 30. In the last few weeks the market has achieved a relative stasis point in terms of sales to inventory. However, inventory is sufficiently low to keep...
by Kathy Gibson | Apr 11, 2023 | Buying, Market, Neighborhood, Selling
Data released last week for the U.S. economy shows that the labor market is gradually slowing down. However, while the job count declined from the prior month, the March report was still strong overall. Wages inched up from a year ago at the slowest pace in 20 months, and labor force participation rose to the highest level since March 2020, while unemployment rate dropped to 3.5%. The jobs report, while delivering some good news on the inflation front, could be just enough to prompt the Fed to raise the fed funds rate by an additional 25bps in their next meeting in May. Lastly, while consumer confidence in the housing market bounced back, it remained near historic lows, which suggests that the market will likely see a more gradual recovery as it enters the spring home buying season. Pasadena, CA Tue Apr 11 2023 This week the median list price for Pasadena, CA is $1,749,000 with the market action index hovering around 47. This is an increase over last month’s market action index of 45. Inventory has decreased to 81. In the last few weeks the market has achieved a relative stasis point in terms of sales to inventory. However, inventory is sufficiently low to keep us in the Seller’s Market zone and prices have recently resumed upward pressure. La Crescenta, CA Tue Apr 11 2023 This week the median list price for La Crescenta, CA is $1,390,000 with the market action index hovering around 63. This is an increase over last month’s market action index of 59. Inventory has decreased to 11. Home sales continue to outstrip supply and...
by Kathy Gibson | Feb 6, 2023 | Buying, Market, Neighborhood, Selling
Pasadena, CA Mon Feb 06 2023 This week the median list price for Pasadena, CA is $1,394,750 with the market action index (MAI) hovering around 44. This is an increase over last month’s market action index of 43. Inventory has increased to 88. The market has been cooling off a bit in recent weeks, as more homes are available and demand is less. We’re already seeing prices move lower as a result. Expect this trend to continue especially if the index falls to the Buyer’s zone. Watch for a persistent up-turn in Market Action to signal prices rising again. Altadena, CA 91001 Mon Feb 06 2023 This week the median list price for Altadena, CA 91001 is $1,307,500 with the market action index (MAI) hovering around 51. This is less than last month’s market action index of 54. Inventory has increased to 24. The market has been cooling over time and prices plateaued for a while. Despite the consistent decrease in MAI, we’re in the Seller’s zone. Watch for changes in MAI. If the MAI resumes its climb, prices will likely follow suit. If the MAI drops consistently or falls into the Buyer’s zone, watch for downward pressure on...