What’s Going to Happen with Mortgage Rates in 2022?
In an article from Keeping Matters Current, here are some housing market predictions for 2022. This one is focused on mortgage rates and inventory.
Stay tuned for more blogs on the predictions for 2022!
If you are watching the housing market you know the past year saw the lowest mortgage rates in the history of real estate. If you are waiting for those rates to come back down, you may be waiting a very long time.
What’s important is that while homes right now may be less affordable than they were a year ago, they’re still extremely affordable.
If we look at the 30-year mortgage rate chronicled by Freddie Mac, we can see the average rates by decade:
- 1970s: 8.86%
- 1980s: 12.7%
- 1990s: 8.12%
- 2000s: 6.29%
- 2010s: 4.09%
While experts don’t project that mortgage rates will rise a large amount, any increase would mean an increase in monthly mortgage payments.
A couple of decimal points may not seem like a lot to most people, but it could make or break someone’s budget. For buyers that are playing the waiting game, the best advice I can give to them is that a rise in mortgage rates coupled with continued home price appreciation means you are better off to buy now than wait to see what will happen. Start building your equity NOW!
Will Housing Inventory Rise in 2022?
Inventory has been, without a doubt, the biggest player in the anything but ordinary real estate market we’ve experienced in the last two years. The good news is, there are many factors that lead industry experts to anticipate a rise in homes for sale.
Of homeowners planning to enter the market in the next year:
- 65% – Have just listed (19%) or plan to list this winter
- 93% – Have already taken steps toward listing their home, including working with an agent (28%)
- 36% – Have researched the value of their home and others in their neighborhood
The other big factor playing into a possible rise in inventory is a large amount of equity accumulated nationwide in 2021. According to experts, homeowners gained an average of $56,700 in equity in the past 12 months, a big incentive for sellers to list this winter.
While more inventory may take a bit of the edge off of today’s competitive market, it’s important for me to remind you that it doesn’t mean prices will fall or homes will become more affordable. There will just be more available to choose from.
If you have any questions about these 2022 housing market predictions, please feel free to call me at 214-769-2947 or Mindy, my buyer’s specialist at 214-674-8004.
Beth Brake REALTOR® 214-769-2947
Mindy Short REALTOR® Buyer Specialist 214-674-8004
Positively impacting your life as you move toward your dreams.