Michigan Real Estate News

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Home Buyers Face Bidding Wars

Due to a record low supply of homes on the market, 56% of home buyers face bidding wars in their offers. This is an increase of 52% from December of 2020. More than half of the homes listed go under contract in less than two weeks. Lower interest rates are making expensive homes more affordable, but a low market supply forces homebuyers to act quickly.

Mortgage Forebearance Crashes to a Halt

With 2.7 million Americans still taking advantage of mortgage forebearance programs as late as mid-January 2021, the reality of a housing crisis looms. The CARES Act programs will end at the end of March unless changes are made to the rules. Most of the programs have a 12-month cap. If no intervention occurs, 600,000 Americans will have to begin paying their mortgages again.

Overvalued Housing Markets: A New Nationwide Epidemic

In a new report, Fitch Ratings estimates that home prices are 5.5% overvalued nationally. However, Michigan is one of the few states where housing is undervalued.

The demand for housing far exceeds the available inventory nationwide. This trend is due, in part, to homeowners’ reluctance to list homes during the pandemic. Metro areas around the United States are overvalued by more than 10%. Las Vegas (28%) and Dallas-Fort Worth (20.24%) are prime examples. Idaho (30-34%) is the highest overvalued state on the list, with Nevada coming in a close second.