Marshall Malone, REALTOR® AT RealtySouth
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Why Now Is the Perfect Time to Sell Your House

7/31/2019

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As a homeowner, it’s always tempting to dream about the next big project you’re going to tackle. The possibilities are endless. Should I renovate? Should I refinance? Should I stay? Should I move? The list goes on and on.
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In today’s housing market, it’s actually a great time to shift your thoughts toward selling your house and moving up into the home of your dreams. Here’s why:
Inventory is on the rise, but there’s still an overall shortage of houses for sale (less than a 6-month supply found in a more normal market), so homes are going under contract quickly. In fact, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) Realtors® Confidence Index Survey reports that right now homes are only staying on the market for an average of 27 days. That’s less than one month, an even more accelerated pace from the 36-day trend we saw last spring.
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The same report also indicates there are more interested buyers than active sellers today, which is one of the big factors driving home prices higher.
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Bottom LineThere’s still time to make a move before the school year starts and the fall weather sets in. Maybe it’s time to make a change. Let’s get together to determine if selling now is the right decision for your family.
The information contained, and the opinions expressed, in this article are not intended to be construed as investment advice. Marshall Malone does not guarantee or warrant the accuracy or completeness of the information or opinions contained herein. Nothing herein should be construed as investment advice. You should always conduct your own research and due diligence and obtain professional advice before making any investment decision. Marshall Malone will not be liable for any loss or damage caused by your reliance on the information or opinions contained herein.
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How to Increase Your Equity Over the Next 5 Years

7/30/2019

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Many of the questions currently surrounding the real estate industry focus on home prices and where they are heading. The most recent Home Price Expectation Survey (HPES) helps target these projected answers.
Here are the results from the Q2 2019 Survey:
  • Home values will appreciate by 4.1% in 2019
  • The average annual appreciation will be 3.2% over the next 5 years
  • The cumulative appreciation will be 16.8% by 2023
  • Even experts representing the most “bearish” quartile of the survey project a cumulative appreciation of over 6.7% by 2023
What does this mean for you?A substantial portion of family wealth comes from home equity. As the value of a family’s home (an asset) increases, so does their equity.
Using the projections from the HPES, here is a look at the potential equity a family could earn over the next five years if they purchased a $250,000 home in January of 2019:
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Based on gains in home equity, their family wealth could increase by $42,000 over that five-year period.
Bottom LineIf you don’t yet own a home, now may be the time to purchase. Owning or moving up to your dream home could allow you to ride the increase in equity of a growing asset.
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The information contained, and the opinions expressed, in this article are not intended to be construed as investment advice. Marshall Malone does not guarantee or warrant the accuracy or completeness of the information or opinions contained herein. Nothing herein should be construed as investment advice. You should always conduct your own research and due diligence and obtain professional advice before making any investment decision. Marshall Malone will not be liable for any loss or damage caused by your reliance on the information or opinions contained herein.
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3 Expert Insights On Inventory In The Current Market

7/29/2019

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The current housing landscape in Birmingham presents greater home values, low interest rates, and high buyer demand. All of these factors point to the strong market forecasted to continue throughout the rest of the year.

There is, however, one thing that may cause the industry to tap the brakes: an overall lack of housing inventory. Buyer demand naturally increases during the summer months, but the current supply is not keeping up.

Here is a look at what a few industry experts have to say:
Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at National Association of Realtors
“Imbalance persists for mid-to-lower priced homes with solid demand and insufficient supply, which is consequently pushing up home prices.”

Mark Fleming, Chief Economist of First American
“Market conditions are ripe for increasing home sales with one glaring exception. The supply of homes for sale remains tight, keeping existing home sales below potential.”

Danielle Hale, Chief Economist of Realtor.com
“We’re not seeing as many new listings come up on the market…It was only 18 months ago that the number of homes for sale hit its lowest level in recorded history and sparked the fiercest competition among buyers we’ve ever seen.”

Bottom Line
If you’re thinking of selling, now may be the time. Demand for your house will be strong during a period when there is very little competition, ideally leading to a quick sale and a great return on your investment.
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The information contained, and the opinions expressed, in this article are not intended to be construed as investment advice. Marshall Malone does not guarantee or warrant the accuracy or completeness of the information or opinions contained herein. Nothing herein should be construed as investment advice. You should always conduct your own research and due diligence and obtain professional advice before making any investment decision. Marshall Malone will not be liable for any loss or damage caused by your reliance on the information or opinions contained herein.
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5 Things You Should Know About This Market

7/29/2019

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Turn Your Home Into a Showpiece

7/25/2019

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I spoke to two different people yesterday about where to prioritize their funds before selling their home. One replied, "everyone knows it's kitchen and bathrooms that should get the most attention." He described lighting and granite counters for his last few renovations. This was a successful flipper, and I did not disagree. Recent data, however, tells us the following:
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The Heat is On

7/25/2019

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What Experts are Saying About the Current Housing Market

7/23/2019

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We’re halfway through the year, and with a decline in interest rates as well as home price and wage appreciation, many are wondering what the experts predict for the second half of 2019.

Here’s what some have to say:Danielle Hale, Chief Economist at realtor.com
“Lower mortgage rates, higher wages and more homes for sale have helped counteract rising home prices, and ultimately, made it so that buyers are able to afford more than last year.”
“Our outlook implies 4% growth for the remaining months of the year, predicated on…more supply than last year, the decline in mortgage rates, moderating home price appreciation and improving affordability.”

Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at NAR
“Rates of 4% and, in some cases even lower, create extremely attractive conditions for consumers. Buyers, for good reason, are anxious to purchase and lock in at these rates.”

Doug Duncan, Chief Economist for Fannie Mae
“Moderating home price appreciation and attractive mortgage rates continue to support affordability, particularly as home builders are now paying more attention to the entry-level portion of the housing market.”

Kaycee Miller in a Realtor Magazine article
“At the moment, some observers suggest the housing market is indeed headed for a slowdown. But no need to panic — experts say the financial and economic factors that were in play during the big crash a decade ago don’t exist today.”

Bottom LineThe housing market will be stronger for the rest of 2019 in Birmingham. If you’d like to know more about your specific market, let’s get together to chat about what’s happening in our area.

The information contained, and the opinions expressed, in this article are not intended to be construed as investment advice. Marshall Malone does not guarantee or warrant the accuracy or completeness of the information or opinions contained herein. Nothing herein should be construed as investment advice. You should always conduct your own research and due diligence and obtain professional advice before making any investment decision. Marshall Malone will not be liable for any loss or damage caused by your reliance on the information or opinions contained herein.

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The Cost of Waiting: Interest Rates Edition

7/19/2019

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Some Highlights:
  • Interest rates are projected to increase steadily heading into 2020.
  • The higher your interest rate, the more money you will end up paying for your home and the higher your monthly payment will be.
  • Rates are still low right now – don’t wait until they hit 5% to start searching for your dream home!
The information contained, and the opinions expressed, in this article are not intended to be construed as investment advice. Marshall Malone does not guarantee or warrant the accuracy or completeness of the information or opinions contained herein. Nothing herein should be construed as investment advice. You should always conduct your own research and due diligence and obtain professional advice before making any investment decision. Marshall Malone will not be liable for any loss or damage caused by your reliance on the information or opinions contained herein.
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You Won't Believe This About Real Estate Investors in Bham...

7/18/2019

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Over 10% of all residential homes are purchased by investors, and that number continues to rise. Who are these investors?

Many have speculated that the large institutional conglomerates such as Blackstone, American Homes 4 Rent, and Colony Starwood dominate investor purchases. However, a special report on investor home buying by CoreLogic, Don’t Call it a Comeback: Housing Investors Have Been Here for Years, shows this is not the case.
Ralph McLaughlin, CoreLogic’s Deputy Chief Economist and author of the report, explained his findings at the recent National Association of Real Estate Editors conference in Austin:

“Investor buying activity in the U.S. is at record highs. And our records go back confidently, about 20 years…

What’s going on and why? Well, it turns out, it’s not the big institutional guys that are leading the increase in home buying. It’s actually the smaller guys. It’s those that have bought between one and ten properties over this 20-year period, they’re the ones that are really leading the increase in investor home buying.”

Here is the breakdown of the percentage of purchasers by type of investor over the last six years according to the report:As the graph shows, the percentage of “Mom & Pop” investors is currently dominating the number of homes purchased by investors, as the percentage of homes purchased by both professional and institutional investors is falling.

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Bottom Line: 
Most houses purchased by an investor are bought by small investors... looking to diversify their financial portfolio by adding a real estate component.

Birmingham has seen small investors target neighborhoods like Norwood and East Lake, which has brought some controversial opinions about gentrification. But it isn't just corporations.  Millennials of all types are discovering they can buy a home for very little and invest their time and energy into fixing them up over time.  Homes that you could purchase for $10,000 are now going for $50-$80,000. They are being turned into $200,000 homes.  What happened to Crestwood and Avondale is spreading.

If you are investing in real estate as either a landlord or someone who fixes-up and flips the house, let’s chat about the ways you can build or liquidate your current portfolio of properties.

« What a Difference a Year Makes for Sellers
The information contained, and the opinions expressed, in this article are not intended to be construed as investment advice. Marshall Malone does not guarantee or warrant the accuracy or completeness of the information or opinions contained herein. Nothing herein should be construed as investment advice. You should always conduct your own research and due diligence and obtain professional advice before making any investment decision. Marshall Malone will not be liable for any loss or damage caused by your reliance on the information or opinions contained herein.  

Thank you "Keeping Current Matters" for much of this information, which I have combined with my own observations.
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​Now’s the Time to Move-Up and Upgrade Your Current Home!

7/17/2019

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Homes priced at the top 25% of the price range for a particular area of the country are considered “premium homes.” In today’s real estate market, there are deals to be had at the higher end! This is great news for homeowners wanting to upgrade from their current house.

Much of the demand for housing over the past couple of years has come from first-time buyers looking for their starter home. Many of the more expensive homes listed for sale have not seen as much interest.

According to ILHM’s Luxury Report, this mismatch in demand and inventory of luxury and premium homes has created a Buyer’s Market. For the purpose of the report, a luxury home was defined as one that costs $1 million or more.

“A Buyer’s Market indicates that buyers have greater control over the price point. This market type is demonstrated by a substantial number of homes on the market and few sales, suggesting demand for residential properties is slow for that market and/or price point.”

The authors of the report were quick to point out that current conditions at the higher end of the market are no cause for concern.

“While luxury homes may take longer to sell than in previous years, the slower pace, increased inventory levels and larger differences between list and sold prices, represent a normalization of the market, not a downturn.”

Luxury can mean different things to different people. To one person, luxury is a secluded home with plenty of property and privacy. To another, it could be a penthouse at the center of a bustling city. Knowing what characteristics mean luxury to you will help your agent find you the home of your dreams.
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Bottom Line
If you are debating upgrading your current house to a premium or luxury home, now is the time!  In Birmingham, they are flying.

The information contained, and the opinions expressed, in this article are not intended to be construed as investment advice. Marshall Malone. does not guarantee or warrant the accuracy or completeness of the information or opinions contained herein. Nothing herein should be construed as investment advice. You should always conduct your own research and due diligence and obtain professional advice before making any investment decision. Marshall Malone will not be liable for any loss or damage caused by your reliance on the information or opinions contained herein.

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    Marshall Is...

    ...a third generation realtor. His brothers, parents, and grandfather were all realtors in Alabama. He has spent much of his life as an entrepreneur, having started 4 businesses, and he considers hospitality a key element in everything he does. Marshall will go the extra mile for you. 

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