What rising inflation could mean for the Bay Area housing market
Inflation has been center stage in the news recently, and I’ve been getting questions about what this might mean for Bay Area housing.
The Consumer Price Index (or CPI, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics) posted a 7.5% annual gain in January 2022. This is a big spike, especially compared to the 2.47% annual gain in January 2021. Let’s take a look at what the CPI measures, and its implications for housing.
What the CPI measures
The CPI measures a “market basket” of real consumer products and services, and tracks their actual prices each month. It includes about 80,000 items from these categories: food, energy, transportation, shelter, medical care, cars, and clothing. Everything else is excluded...
In an annual Gallup poll, Americans chose real estate as the best long-term investment. And it's not the first time it's topped the list, either. Real estate has been on a winning streak for the past eight years, consistently gaining traction as the best ...
While some homeowners may be tempted to hold off until spring to list their houses, you should know – homebuyers aren't waiting. Demand is high today as more people are trying to beat rising mortgage rates. As a result, eager buyers are entering the market or moving their plans up so they can make their purchases as soon as possible.
The most recent ...
When you're selling any item, you usually want to sell it for the greatest profit possible. That happens when there's a strong demand and a limited supply for that item. In the real estate market, that time is right now. If you're thinking of selling your house this year, here are two reasons why now's the time to list.
1. Demand Is Very Strong This Winter
A recent article in ...
In today's sellers' market, many homeowners are weighing their options and trying to decide if they should sell their house. If you're in that group, you may be balancing things like the ongoing health crisis, rising mortgage rates, and your own changing needs to determine your best time to make a move.
However, recent data shows that time may already be here. According to the latest Home Purchase Sentiment Index (HPSI) by Fannie Mae...
Over the past two years, we've lived through one of the most stressful periods in recent history. Because of the health crisis, many of us have spent more time at home and that's led us to re-evaluate both what we need in a house and how much we appreciate having a safe space. If you've found your current home isn't filling all your needs, you may be wondering if it's time to find a new one.
There's reason to believe a change of scenery could boost your happiness. Catherine Hartley, an Assistant Professor at New York University's Department of Psychology and co-author of a study on how new experiences impact happiness, ...
