Warren Buffett: There is No Housing Bubble
With home prices expected to appreciate
by over 5% this year, some are beginning to worry about a new housing bubble forming. Warren Buffet addressed this issue last week in
an article by
Fortune Magazine. He simply explained:
“I don’t see a nationwide bubble in real estate right now at all.”
Later, when questioned whether real estate and/or mortgaging could
present the same challenges for the economy as they did in 2008, Buffet
said:
“I don’t think we will have a repeat of that.”
What factors are driving home prices up?
It is easily explained by the theory of supply and demand. There is a
lack of housing inventory for sale while demand for that inventory is
very strong. According to a recent
survey of agents by the
National Association of Realtors (NAR),
buyer traffic was seen as either “strong” or “very strong” in 44 of the
50 states (the exceptions being: Alaska, Wyoming, North Dakota, West
Virginia, Connecticut and Delaware).
Also, in
NAR’s latest
Pending Home Sales Report, it was revealed that the index was the highest it has been in a year.
What does the future bring?
As prices rise, more families will have increased equity in their
homes which will enable them to put their home on the market. As more
listings come to market, price increases should slow to more normal
levels.
Anand Nallathambi,
President & CEO of CoreLogic,
recently addressed the issue:
“Home price gains have clearly been a driving force
in building positive equity for homeowners. Longer term, we anticipate a
better balance of supply and demand in many markets which will help
sustain healthy & affordable home values into the future.”
Additionally Americans See home Ownership as The Best Long Term Investment:
- Real estate outranks stocks/mutual funds, gold, savings
accounts/CDs, and bonds as the best long-term investment among
Americans.
- Real estate is ranked as the best long-term investment among all age groups.
- Millennials rank both real estate and savings/CDs at 26% when it comes to the best long-term investment.
With continuing low interest rates and limited supply driving up prices now is a great time to buy or sell. I look forward to the opportunity to help you with either!