By Living Room Realty, August 3, 2023
Find out what’s happening in the Portland real estate market for Early-August 2023.
What’s up all, I’m Tony Le with the Houselab team at Living Room Realty, here to tell you what you need to know about the market for early August 2023.
Let’s face it, the current housing market presents some challenges. Inventory in Portland is limited, interest rates are still relatively high compared to this time last year, and sellers who were able to lock in those low interest rates aren’t looking to sell any time soon. As a buyer, things can look daunting, but don’t give up just yet.
Market Action Index
The good news for buyers is that the Market Action Index is currently sitting at 49, down from 53 last month and inching towards a buyers market. Inventory, while still limited, is also up, currently sitting at an average of 1,235 homes with a Median List Price of $689,950.
Rate Buydowns
One of the strategies that sellers are offering are rate buy down credits to potential buyers. There are two common types. Option #1 A permanent rate buy down and Option #2 a 2-1 rate buy down.
The key difference between a permanent rate buy down and the increasingly common 2-1 rate buy down, is that the 2-1 is temporary, lasting two years. Typically the first year will be 2 percentage points lower than the current rate and the second year will be 1 percentage point lower before returning to the “normal” interest rate at the time of closing. If you have any questions about buy downs, reach out to your agent or lender for more information.
When Should I Buy?
The question is, when will rates go down? And even more importantly, when they do drop, and the market floods with new buyers, what will the competition do to sales prices? Will we see buyers give away the farm, just to get the house? This is why leveraging one of the rate buy-downs in today’s less aggressive market could be the key to getting your dream home.
Make A Move
Living Room Realty is committed to connecting you with as much information to help you make an informed decision. If you’re ready to make a move, give us a call today. We’d love to help you find your next Living Room.
