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October Housing Market Exceeds Expectations

According to First American Financial Corporation, the housing market strengthened on a modest basis in October saying that strong demand continues to push the market upwards. 

First American, a company which offers title insurance, settlement services, and risk solutions for real estate transactions, released its Potential Home Sales Model for the month of October which "measures what the healthy market level of home sales should be based on economic, demographic, and housing market fundamentals.” 

The new report found that potential existing-home sales increased to a 6.27 million seasonally adjusted annualized rate, a 0.1% month-over-month increase. This equates to a 79.8% increase from the market potential low point reached in February 1993. 

When compared to a year ago, the market potential for existing-home sales increased 10.3%, a gain of nearly 584,000 sales, which are also seasonally adjusted. 

The report also found that the current potential existing-home sales is 522,000 million, or 7.7 percent below the pre-recession peak of market potential, which occurred in April 2006. 

“In September 2021, existing-home sales increased to a 6.29 million seasonally adjusted annualized rate (SAAR). Prior to the pandemic, the housing market had not reached this sales pace since 2006,” said Mark Fleming, Chief Economist at First American. “We may see another strong month in October, as housing market potential increased 10.3% compared with one year ago to 6.27 million (SAAR), according to our measure of the market potential for existing-home sales.” 

“As we approach the final weeks of the year, it’s important to reflect on how the housing market has performed,” said Fleming. “Analyzing the individual economic forces that have driven the continued growth of market potential for existing-home sales can provide insight into how the housing market may fare in 2022.” 

In yet another sign that the real estate market remains hot, the market for existing-home sales outperformed its potential by 8.4% or an estimated 525,000 sales. This is an increase of 52,000 sales since September. 

According to Fleming, only one trend is holding market potential back: lack of existing inventory. 

“The average length of time someone lives in their home continues to set new records, rising to approximately 10.7 years in October, up from 10.4 years one year ago. The longer people live in their homes means fewer and fewer people list their homes for sale, compounding the housing supply shortage—you can’t buy what’s not for sale, and you won’t sell if you can’t find something better to buy,” said Fleming. “The increase in the average length of time someone lives in their home had the only negative impact on housing market potential compared with one year ago, reducing it by 116,000 potential home sales. The lack of supply is the primary constraint to the housing market.” 

On the other hand, a number of positive trends are pushing up market potential including: 

Credit Standards Loosened: “When lending standards are tight, fewer people can qualify for a mortgage to buy a home, thus they are more likely to stay in their current home, limiting the supply of homes for sale. When the pandemic hit, lenders tightened their lending criteria to account for the greater likelihood of forbearance and delinquency,” said Fleming. “Since the peak of the pandemic in the spring of 2020, lending standards have bounced around but, ultimately, trended toward looser conditions. In October, credit loosened compared with one year ago as the economy continued to improve and lender confidence increased. Loosening credit conditions increased housing market potential by approximately 331,000 potential home sales compared with one year ago.” 

Historic House Price Appreciation: “As homeowners gain equity in their homes, they may be more likely to consider using the equity to purchase a larger or more attractive home,” said Fleming. “The historic imbalance in housing supply relative to demand over the last year fueled faster house price appreciation, which increased housing market potential by nearly 223,000 potential home sales in October compared with one year ago.” 

Household Formation Growth: “Household formation continued to grow over the last year, largely driven by millennials, accelerating demand for housing,” said Fleming. “The increase in household formation enhanced market potential by nearly 134,000 potential home sales in October compared with a year ago.” 

House-Buying Power Increased Modestly: “House-buying power, how much home one can afford to buy given household income and the prevailing mortgage rate, increased 0.6% compared with one year ago. The modest increase in house-buying power was due to the 3.6% year-over-year increase in household income,” said Fleming. “Rates pushed back against the increase, as the average 30-year, fixed mortgage rate in October 2021 was 0.23 percentage points higher than one year ago. The increase in house-buying power boosted market potential by 12,000 potential home sales.” 

To view the report in its entirety, click here. 

About Author: Kyle G. Horst

Kyle G. Horst is a reporter for DS News and MReport. A graduate of the University of Texas at Tyler, he has worked for a number of daily, weekly, and monthly publications in South Dakota and Texas. With more than 10 years of experience in community journalism, he has won a number of state, national, and international awards for his writing and photography including best newspaper design by the Associated Press Managing Editors Group and the international iPhone photographer of the year by the iPhone Photography Awards. He most recently worked as editor of Community Impact Newspaper covering a number of Dallas-Ft. Worth communities on a hyperlocal level. Contact Kyle G. at [email protected].
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