Michigan Real Estate News

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Michigan’s Residential Real Estate Market Is Stabilizing

The 2023 real estate market is finally starting to look like it might normalize. Seasonality is back in the resale market, and rent increases and high supply costs have mostly stabilized. However, interest rates will remain high, pricing some buyers out of home ownership. Some materials costs continue to be issues. While materials costs have rebounded for the most part, builders are now more conditioned to check on lead times and suggest alternatives if long waits are indicated. Building materials that once took eight months to arrive are now arriving after 4-6 weeks. Lumber is at pre-pandemic prices, while materials like concrete continue to be expensive. Rents are stabilizing. Fewer people are leaving apartments to buy homes, and people are doubling up. Home sale prices are dropping in some areas, like Wyandotte, Southgate and Riverview. Experts are expecting the industry market to contract, with realtors who are inexperienced in a tight market leaving the business.

 

 

Regional Home Sales Decline Despite Interest Rate Drop

Regional home sales declined into the double digits in November, but prices remained high. RealComp and RE/MAX of Southeastern Michigan released reports on Tuesday confirming that buyers won’t have any price relief when compared to last year. The two separate reports reveal that the number of home sales in Southeast Michigan dropped by more than 14% from October to November. Even with a considerable interest rate drop, the largest since 2008, consumers aren’t enthusiastic. Many are delaying listing their homes for sale because buyer demand is weakening, and they don’t want to risk their current lower mortgage rates.

 

Grand Rapids Booms With New Projects

Grand Rapids is close to a achieving a record number of new developments. Despite supply chain issues, inflated costs and interest rates, and labor shortages, the city reported big numbers for new private investment in 2021. According the Grand Rapid’s Economic Development Director, it’s set to outpace 2021’s record again this year. Although its 2022 outcomes won’t be reported until the first quarter of 2023, the data is obvious. Although the city wants to retain the companies that have found their home in Grand Rapids and attract new ones, its biggest issue is an a housing shortage across all price points. Nine projects are in the works for 2023, promising to bolster Grand Rapids’ economy. They include business incubators, a community kitchen, co-working and retail spaces, a healthcare facility and a few affordable housing projects.