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Homes to buy are more affordable in many US metros than renters think, research suggests
Home ownership in the United States has slowly fallen in recent years to currently its lowest level since 1965 but new research from the National Association of Realtors suggests that could be halted. The research shows that there are many affordable metro areas and a large segment of current people who rent their home earn enough income to qualify to buy a property. NAR reviewed employment growth, household income and qualifying income levels in nearly100 of the largest metropolitan statistical areas across the country to determine which areas with employment gains above the recent national average also have the largest share of renters who can currently afford to buy a home. Of the top 10 metro areas with the highest share of renters who earn enough to buy, nine were either in the South or Midwest, including three cities in Ohio. Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, pointed out that there has been a significant increase in renter households both among young adults and those who lost their home since the economic downturn, especially in metro areas that have seen robust job creation and a resulting influx of new residents. ‘Even in a time of expanding home sales, steady job growth and historically low mortgage rates, the homeownership rate recently tumbled to its lowest level in over five decades as many renters struggle to juggle escalating rents without commensurate income gains,’ he said. ‘However, this new study reveals that there are several affordable, middle tier markets with solid job gains and a large segment of renters who earn enough to buy,’ he added. The top 10 metro areas highlighted in NAR’s study were all outside of the West Coast and each had a share of renters who qualify to buy that was well above the national level of 28%. Top is Toledo in Ohio and Little Rock in Arkansas both with 46%, followed by Dayton in Ohio at 44%, Lakeland in Florida, St. Louis in Missouri and Columbia in South Carolina all at 41%, Atlanta at 40% and then Columbus in Ohio, Tampa in Florida and Ogden in Utah all at 38%. According to Yun, it's no surprise that many of the markets with the most renters qualified to buy are in the Midwest and South. The median existing home sales price in these two regions continue to be lower than the Northeast and West, and while many of these areas were slower to recover from the recession, improvements in their local labour markets in the past year have pushed their hiring levels to at or above the national average growth rate. ‘Overall housing affordability and local job market strength play a pivotal role in a renter's decision on whether to buy a home or sign another lease. The good news is that other recent NAR survey data shows that those residing in the two regions were the most likely to say that now is a good time… Continue reading
Stamp duty change and Brexit result in falling prices in prime central London
Prime central London property prices fell again in the first quarter of 2016 but transaction levels increased marginally, according to the latest index to be published. Overall the market was notably quieter during due to a combination of the uncertainty surrounding the European Union referendum and a slowdown following a boost in the first quarter ahead of stamp duty changes in April. The market has also been influenced by higher stamp duty for high value properties, according to the report from real estate firm JLL which adds that potential buyers adopted a wait and see attitude ahead of the referendum vote. Since the vote to leave the EU, and the subsequent weakening of sterling, several international buyers have been more active although a good deal of uncertainty remains, especially in terms of the medium term outlook, the report says. However, the fact that the vote is now in the past also seems to have encouraged a few more domestic buyers back into the market. The number of properties on the market has increased again during the second quarter as vendors fail to sell or elect not to sell at prices unacceptable to them. This additional choice and bargaining power for purchasers is contributing to both the scale of price falls and the slowdown in transactions. ‘Given recent uncertainty it is unsurprising that prices have weakened again. On average prices have fallen by 3.3% in the year to quarter two, but they have also declined in every quarter since the first quarter of 2015 as a variety of influences have impacted on confidence and switched the balance of power in favour of buyers,’ said Neil Chegwidden, residential research director at JLL. The data also shows that prices slipped by 0.9% in the second quarter of 2016 having fallen by 1.1% in the first quarter and price falls over the past year have been greater for higher value properties although large lateral flats continue to hold their value better than other large apartments or houses. On average prices have declined by 6% over the 18 months to the second quarter of 2016 with higher value property prices down by an average 10% and prices have fallen across all price ranges during quarter two and over the last year. The sub £2 million market continues to be the most resilient. However, prices have fallen in each quarter since the first quarter of 2015. On average prices in the sub £2 million bracket have fallen by 2.6% over the 12 months. Meanwhile, prices in the £2 million to £5 million market have been declining for 18 months now, with prices down 2.9% during the year to the second quarter. Prices in the £5 million to £10 million price bracket and the £10 million plus market have been impacted most notably by the stamp duty changes. Prices have dropped by 4.4% in the year to quarter two in the £5 million to… Continue reading
More affordable houses to be built at key London regeneration site
The Mayor of London has approved plans for the first major housing development at the Old Oak regeneration site in West London, after intervening to boost the number of affordable homes in the scheme. The Oaklands development will see 605 new homes built, together with a nursery, health centre and commercial space. A target of 50% affordable housing has been agreed for the development, following an intervention by the Mayor Sadiq Khan to boost the number of affordable homes through investment and a profit-sharing mechanism. Old Oak and Park Royal has the potential to deliver 25,500 new homes and 65,000 jobs over the next 30 to 40 years, as well as becoming the key transport interchange for Crossrail and HS2. ‘The development marks a significant step in realising the huge potential of this part of the capital. I am pleased that we have been able to increase the proportion of genuinely affordable homes as part of our ongoing efforts to fix the capital's housing crisis,’ said Khan. ‘The scale and ambition for this development shows London is very much open for business. Despite the uncertainty caused by the UK's vote to leave the European Union, it remains clear that developers and investors see long term potential in our city,’ he added. According to Neil Hadden, chief executive at Genesis Housing Association, the redevelopment at Oaklands in one of Hammersmith and Fulham's most important regeneration sites. ‘We will now be able to provide hundreds more affordable homes for Londoners on a once derelict site. Partnerships such as the one we have with Queens Park Rangers Football Club (QPR) enable us to invest, not only in building new homes, but in developing new communities. We will now be able to provide hundreds more affordable homes for Londoners on a once derelict site,’ he added. QPR co-chairman Tony Fernandes said the firm is committed to bringing forward other development sites in Old Oak as soon as possible to create the homes that London desperately needs. Of the 242 affordable homes, half will be for social and affordable rent, with the other half being for shared ownership. The application was approved by the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation, the organisation that has planning control over the Old Oak regeneration site, on July 13, 2016. The project will also include a new link road into Old Oak which could unlock further development north of the Grand Union Canal. The initial application from Queens Park Rangers Football Club and their development partner Genesis Housing Association proposed 200 affordable homes or 33% of the total. The scheme has now attracted GLA Affordable Housing Grant Funding to raise the number of affordable homes to 242, some 40% of the total with a review mechanism to ensure that any surplus profit as the scheme is implemented will be used to provide more affordable units up to 50%. Continue reading
