Most experts agree that the robust housing market since 2016 came to a sliding stop in early 2022. However, they use various levels of sugar-coating in their statements. It happened subtly but firmly. By October 2022 end the number of homes sold had dropped by about 30%, compared to one year ago, according to the National Association of Realtors. The main factor to cause this was a steep and rapid increase in mortgage lending rates. These rates are currently at a 20-year high level.
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The old Chinese saying ” may you live in interesting times ” applies to our current housing market. We have experienced double-digit price increases in home values in recent years. A mad rush to buy homes during the pandemic, combined with the homes being in short supply and near-zero interest rates for mortgages, inflated house prices by over 40%, shutting out many first-time buyers during the last couple of years.
U.S. Federal Reserve has hiked the interest rates by a cumulative 255 basis points since March, and more are expected over the coming months, essentially guaranteeing a slowdown in the housing market which is highly sensitive to the cost of borrowing.
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