Buyers: Recessions are Good for Most Home Buyers, Sellers Get Off the Fence as Mortgage Rates Continue to Drop

The real estate market has been nothing short of, well, just plain weird in the last month.  Inventory has crept up, but Buyers are still sitting on the sidelines waiting for the perfect rate.  Media talk of recession has many spooked, but a recession of any magnitude can be an opportunity for buyers and sellers.  But, don't just take my word for it, hear what our smart economists at the Cromford Report have to say about each segment, and as we approach market balance - let's have a solid plan in place whether your goal is to buy or sell; let's get the most value for you no matter what your goal. 


For Buyers:
It may be hard to believe, but recessions are historically the beginning of a turnaround for the housing market. After enduring more than 2 years of declining sales, sellers and buyers may start moving and transacting again. While recessions are negative for the economy (as they coincide with higher unemployment), two things typically occur that turn the housing market positive.

The first is home value stabilization. In every recession since 1970 (except for one infamous recession in 2008) home values had minimal fluctuation and appreciation year-over-year. The second is mortgage rates. Every recession since 1970 saw mortgage rates decline while at least 90% of the labor force remained employed. According to the August employment report from the Arizona Dept of Economic Opportunity, private sector earnings rose 7.3% annually in June, and 5.3% in July. Both rates are higher than the rate of inflation, and higher than the rate of home price appreciation. The combination creates an environment for increased home sales as affordability improves due to higher incomes, lower rates, and flat home appreciation.

Unfortunately, Mortgage News Daily showed zero improvement in purchase mortgage applications in August. The housing market simply doesn’t move as fast as the stock market, and it takes time for buyers to warm their engines and apply for mortgages after rates begin their decline. Partly because they wait to see if rates continue down or stabilize, but also because they don’t have an acceptable home in sight for motivation. As a result, application data often picks up after showings increase.

Future buyers may have one other obstacle to overcome, and that’s selling their existing home. This is what Greater Phoenix is experiencing now. As expectations of sustained rate declines increase, it’s sellers who are getting off the fence first. Weekly new listings are up 11% since rates began their decline on August 1st. These sellers will most likely become buyers within 1-3 months. This creates a good opportunity for buyers who are ready today. An early boost in supply without an offsetting boost in competing buyers means the buying environment will remain relaxed and accommodating over the next few months until the new year begins.

For Sellers:
September and October are the last hurrahs for home sale activity as 2024 enters its last stretch. New listings activated during this time should be well priced and in competitive condition to the listings around them. The median marketing time before contract is currently 33 days, so most properties listed in September should expect a contract in October. However, sellers who wait to list until late October will run into holiday speed-bumps that could tack on an extra 1-2 weeks before an acceptable contract.

While lower mortgage rates are expected to boost demand in price ranges under $2M, they don’t have much effect on the high-end luxury market where 55% of sales over $2M are cash. Recessions are not good for luxury because they coincide with poor stock market performance and stagnate corporate profits, which are the primary drivers for demand in this segment. So far, multiple headlines warning of an approaching recession are not tanking the stock market, and luxury listings under contract for September are higher than any other year. Other good news for luxury sellers, high cancellation rates from May-July dropped supply counts and launched Paradise Valley back into a seller’s market. In fact, all luxury sellers in the Northeast Valley saw market improvements from lower supply counts.

However, uncertainty can still stall luxury sales in the 4th quarter. If unemployment rates continue to rise and uncertainty grows over a recession and the November election, the hope of an October rally could fade and contract activity stagnate until the election and holiday seasons have run their course. Hope and optimism will return at the kickoff of 2025 along with perfect weather, tourism, and an increasing flow of contracts.