It's Not an Inventory Issue | Guest Post

February was a sea change that highlighted an anxious economy ready to embrace herd immunity and start a new version of normal. The House of Representatives passed the $1.9 trillion stimulus bill without a single Republican vote. The Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine received an emergency FDA approval with only 66 percent efficacy. The ten-year United States Treasury broke 1.50 (the last time it did that was one year ago when rates were 3.49 percent). As we work through this transformation and American's find other things to spend their money on, other than houses and cars, we will start to see how much of this housing inventory strain was caused by lack of supply or over-exuberant buyers.

Economy

Mortgage rates were never supposed to be as low as we saw over the past year. Yet, 12 million homeowners were able to take advantage of securing the lowest rates history has ever seen because of a sick economy and the Fed stepping in with dramatic quantitative easing, driving rates incredibly low. These low rates were great for mortgages but unsustainable. As the economy gains strength, the Fed won't need to intervene, and rates will rise to more normalized levels - 3's in 2021 and 4's in 2022.

During February, the Empire State Manufacturing Index came in two times higher than expected. The Producer Price Index (which shows wholesale prices) showed up three times higher, signifying an increase in costs-of-goods and impending inflation. Retail sales were expected to show an increase of 1.2 percent. Instead, it came in for the month up 5.3 percent, demonstrating American's thirst to spend and their demand on supply. Personal income also saw its biggest monthly gain jumping 10 percent, with yet another stimulus check on its way.

Meanwhile, inflationary numbers remain muted. But for how long? Entering into March and April, expect to see the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) year-over-year rise sharply. This increase is not due to extreme appreciation, but a weak comparison as core inflationary numbers were down 0.1 percent and 0.4 percent in March and April 2020. These higher than 2 percent inflationary numbers could upset the market and raise interest rates higher or trouble an already over euphoric equities market.

Inventory

Tight inventory continues to be the agony of every buyer and buyer's agent, especially those trying to get under contract with VA, FHA or down payment assistance loans. Some of these pressures were underway long before Covid while they ignited others.

• Strong Demographics: 33 percent of homebuyers today, and for the next decade, are first-time homebuyers with nothing to sell, taking from an already stressed market, with nothing to give in return.
• At the other end of the spectrum, Baby Boomers are delaying downsizing, moving into assisted living, nursing homes or in with family due to their heightened pandemic risk, holding onto the homes younger families need.
• For new builders, NAHB noted lumber continues its spike up with futures up another 35 percent on top of their 170 percent rise over the last ten months. Although catching headlines, this is only one straw for struggling builders still recovering from the housing crash. Labor shortages due to strict immigration policies, local building restrictions, tight lending and now increasing land, labor and supply costs all affect our builder's ability to bring empty homes to the market.
• The extended forbearance, foreclosure and eviction policies during this pandemic, unlike the housing crash, are protecting the current 2.6 million homeowners with government-backed loans, keeping existing homes off the market. Homeowners are given the gift of time to build equity and restructure debt.
• Low rates have also created a phenomenon called rate lock, where sellers want nothing more than to hold onto a rate we might not see again. Rate lock practices will give momentum to an already increasing homeownership rate or lure sellers to join the other mom and pop investors who added seven million additional single-family homes to the rental market over the last decade.

But this isn't the whole story. Interestingly, there is enough inventory to break records on sales. 62,985 homes in DMAR's 11 county area sold in 2020, for a record-breaking year, and another 3,641 sold in February, up 13.43 percent month-over-month and 3.70 percent year-over-year. It's a Days-on-Market issue, not solely an inventory one. Homes are coming on and selling faster than you can sell chips at an edibles convention.

Median Days in the MLS dropped another 66.67 percent to a speedy five days, and Months of Inventory stayed rooted under two weeks' worth. Close to List didn't surprise anyone coming in at 102.54 percent for single-family homes but did show attached are finding their way back into favor at 100.66 percent. Prices overall were the headliner as DMAR's Median Price was up another 4.40 percent month-over-month and 18.75 percent year-over-year in February. CoreLogic echoed Denver's price exuberance with their appreciation recording a strong 9.2 percent growth, showing sellers just how much homebuyers are willing to pay for their chance.

Buyers

Buyers, don't give up yet! Patience is a virtue, and your time is coming. Yes, there are more of you than ever before, but we expect homeownership rates to drop and interest rates to rise. If this happens, the frantic buyer will trade in their Sunday house shopping for baseball and Disney tickets. Rates will temper the recreational buyer who's thinking about moving up because, with 87 percent of homes below 80 percent loan-to-value, there's a lot of equity chilling at a low rate. Those folks will stay put with a rate lock.

Having a partner, you know, like, and trust, has never been more important. Today's housing market is challenging as we navigate 2.7 million fewer homes for sale than in 2007 with 8 million more households. Even with increasing rates, investing in a home will still be one of the greatest financial decisions you will ever make.

Keeping you updated,

Nicole Rueth of The Rueth Team of Fairway Mortgage

The views, opinions and positions expressed within this guest post are those of the author alone and do not necessarily represent those of the Denver Metro Association of REALTORS®. The accuracy, completeness and validity of any statements made within this article are not guaranteed. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions or representations. The copyright of this content belongs to the author and any liability with regards to infringement of intellectual property rights remains with them.

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