Buying a House in 2024: Homes that are reasonably priced and in good shape are selling quickly, but buyers do have some negotiating room. Despite high mortgage rates and a persistent lack of available homes, there are some promising signs for buyers in the 2024 market.
Home prices are stabilizing, the frenetic rivalry of recent years has subsided, and houses are remaining on the market a little bit longer.
According to Trevor Gearin, a real estate agent with Century 21 McLennan & Co. in Methuen, Massachusetts, “It’s just not as insane as it was.” “Six months ago, the buyers had little time to reflect. The ability of purchasers to negotiate a little is now apparent.
Buying a House in 2024: What to Expect
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Here are some guidelines on what to expect when looking for a home and how to approach the market.
Home prices flattening
Home prices are anticipated to remain unchanged after significant advances over the previous three years.
The National Association of Realtors (NAR) estimates that the median existing home price will only climb by 0.3% in 2024, which is a sharp contrast to the 9.6% annual growth in 2022 and the startling 18.2% increase in 2021. Existing residences are those that had previous ownership and occupants before being put on the market. After double-digit price increases over the previous two years, the NAR predicts that new home prices will only increase 1.3% in 2023.
15 Steps to Homebuying Process
According to Lawrence Yun, chief economist at NAR, around half of the country may experience modest price hikes while the other half may experience modest price drops. However, Californian markets could be the exception, with San Francisco, for instance, likely to see price decreases of between 10% and 15%.
In certain markets, buyers already have more options, but the supply of homes is still limited. Since there were 3.3 months’ worth of properties available for purchase in October, it would take a little over that long for all of them to be sold at the current rate. There was a 2.4-month supply in October 2021, although a balanced market has a supply of roughly five to six months.
Buyers have more negotiating room
The sellers no longer have complete control like they had a year ago.
In some locations, the market is still neutral, but Ramez Tabri, a San Francisco Bay Area realtor with Century 21 Real Estate Alliance, argues that things are definitely changing in favor of buyers. There are some excellent bargains available.
Even in situations where sellers still have an advantage, buyers are becoming more steadfast. In contrast to last year, when many desperate buyers gave up on home inspections in an effort to win bidding battles, fewer buyers today are doing so. Even some sellers are agreeing to cover a portion of the closing fees for some buyers.
Nate Johnson, president of Real Estate Solutions at RedKey Realty Leaders in St. Louis, says it was unheard of a year ago.
According to Johnson, St. Louis is still a seller’s market, with well-priced, well-kept properties selling quickly. However, some homes are staying on the market for longer, while more expensive homes are getting fewer offers. “A property might have garnered 10 offers a year ago,” he claims. “Three or four offers will be made on that same property.”
Mortgage rates stabilizing
The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage saw a more than twofold increase in interest rates in 2022, going from around 3% at the start of the year to more than 6% in December.
Recent predictions from Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the Mortgage Bankers Association, and the NAR predict that the 30-year fixed will have an average interest rate between 5.2% and 6.8% in 2023.
The Federal Reserve will continue to raise rates; in 2022, it raised the federal funds rate by 4.25 percentage points to combat inflation. However, it has slightly let off the gas. The most recent increase in December was 0.50%, which was less than the prior increases of 0.75%. Economists do not expect a significant increase as a result of the Fed’s most recent action because many lenders had already factored that spike into their rates.
Tips for buying a house in 2024
Here’s how you get ready for the market and compete.
Set up your funds.
Eileen Derks, senior vice president and head of mortgage at Laurel Road in New York, advises taking a close look at your finances six to nine months before you begin looking for a property.
How much money do you have available for a down payment? How much can you spend? What size home can you afford to purchase? According to Derks, the goal is to feel like you own your house rather than that it owns you.
Check your credit score and review your credit records for any mistakes. To improve your score and lower your debt-to-income ratio, pay your bills on time and pay off your debt. Borrowers with excellent credit ratings and low debt-to-income ratios are given the best mortgage rates and terms by lenders.
Dan Hanson, executive director of market retail at loanDepot, with headquarters in Irvine, California, advises setting up a free appointment with a loan officer. You can learn how well your finances are doing and what you can do to raise your financial profile from a mortgage expert.
Understand mortgage options
Many people continue to believe that they must put 20% down, according to Hanson. “That isn’t accurate.”
For example, VA mortgages for veterans and active-duty military personnel demand no down payment and FHA mortgages guaranteed by the Federal Housing Administration only require 3.5% down. Some traditional loans only need a 3% down payment. Additionally, most states provide first-time homebuyers with moderate incomes programs to help with closing costs and down payments.
There are various possibilities, including rehabilitation loans for fixer-uppers, fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgages, among others.
Visit lender websites to learn more about your options.
Shop mortgage lenders
While some lenders specialize, others offer a wide variety of mortgages. Find lenders who provide the mortgage products you’re interested in, then submit applications to several of them so you can compare them.
Never only look at the interest rate. According to Derks, pay attention to the APR, or annual percentage rate, which includes the whole cost of the loan.
Derks continues, “Compare loan estimates from several lenders line by line.” A standard document that lenders are required to give you once you apply, the loan estimate includes information on rates and fees, predicted closing costs, and your monthly mortgage payment.
Hire a good real estate agent
As a house buyer, Johnson advises, “Having a great, talented Realtor on your side will really help you get across the finish line.”
You can find suitable properties with an agent’s assistance, create offers, and bargain with sellers. Johnson asserts, “It’s not just about the money. There are numerous additional terms and conditions.
An offer might be accepted in some circumstances by, for instance, allowing the seller to stay in the house for a few days after closing or being flexible with the closing date.
Find a real estate agent who has extensive market knowledge. To find the appropriate fit, seek recommendations from people you can trust, interview a few agents, and verify references.
