For Buyers:
It’s slim pickings for buyers in Greater Phoenix these days depending on your budget. Overall supply is 14% lower than last August while contracts in escrow are 15.5% higher! There are a plethora of zip codes considered “frenzies”, where there are literally more properties under contract than there are active for sale; all of them with an average sale price below $400,000. This is unusual for August, which is typically a much softer month. Buyers will have a slightly easier time in more expensive areas such as Central Phoenix, Ahwatukee, South Tempe and the Northeast Valley, but not much unless they’re willing to go further out or increase their budget. Any projections of prices flattening out or coming down in Greater Phoenix this year have been obliterated.
For Sellers:
As supply plummets, fewer sellers are deciding to sell. July was THE lowest month for brand new listings going all the way back to the year 2001. That’s significant because the population today is 50% larger and the number of housing units is 63% higher than it was 18 years ago. 19% of all MLS sales and 26% of sales between $100K and $250K sold over asking price last July. Coincidentally (or not), 32% of sales within that same price range still included some form of seller-paid closing cost assistance. Despite the frenzy market, the annual appreciation rate for Greater Phoenix is just 6.4% and sales between $225K-$500K are clocking 3.5-4.0% on average. This may seem surprising given the widening gap between supply and demand; but appraisers remain conservative in their valuations and with at least 80% of buyers needing a loan, they’re riding the brakes on runaway appreciation thus far.
STOP!
Be sure to call if you have any questions about this report or questions in general.
Would you like to know what is happening in your neighborhood?
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Do you need help deciding whether to sell or not or would you like to know if now is the right time to buy?
We would love to meet up or chat on the phone and discuss if the timing is right for you to make a move…call us anytime!
Perry Direct: 602-410-3322
Perry@PerryandDarlene.com
Darlene Direct: 602-770-4213
Darlene@PerryandDarlene.com
*****Commentary written by Tina Tamboer, Senior Housing Analyst with The Cromford Report ©2019 Cromford Associates LLC and Tamboer Consulting LLC
