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Folsom Housing Market - Stop Calling It A Bubble!


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#1 Steve Heard

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Posted 16 August 2017 - 01:54 PM

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You hear it about it from your friends and neighbors, you might even see a few experts spout off about it. It's a hot topic on online chats. 'We're in a bubble', 'the market corrects every 10 years, so we're due', 'this just isn't sustainable!', 'Sooner or later, people are going to refuse to pay those ridiculous prices!'

 

What do you think? Are those statements true? Are we 'due' simply because history repeats itself? Are the current prices unsustainable? If so, why? Will people refuse to pay ridiculous prices? Are the prices, in fact, ridiculous? If people don't buy, where will they go? Isn't it hard to find a rental?

 

Optimism vs. Reality

We Realtors are usually an optimistic bunch. We have to be in order to survive, so although people look to us for answers, they are also sometimes skeptical. 'Of course you're going to say everything is great. You only get paid if people are buying!'

 

We also have to be realistic though. If there's a bubble that's about to burst, I want to know about it.

 

Predicting a market crash or correction is kind of like predicting the end of the world. Some day, you'll be right.

 

So, I decided to look at the facts, and mix in my experiences to come up with my opinion.

 

Before I go there, however, lets talk about how we define a bubble. Google it. Most definitions are similar to the one on investopedia.com " A housing bubble is a run-up in housing prices fueled by demand, speculation and exuberance. ... Speculators enter the market, further driving demand. At some point, demand decreases or stagnates at the same time supply increases, resulting in a sharp drop in prices — and the bubble bursts."

 

What happened the last time around?

Back in 2004 and 05, egged on by lenders, Realtors, even friends and neighbors, people were buying as much house as they could get approved for, just knowing they were doing the right thing for their futures. 'Gotta get in now!'

 

Speculators were putting deposits on new construction, only to sell the homes for a profit upon completion.

 

Buyers were camping outside of sales offices to ensure they didn't miss out.

 

It was a crazy time.

 

Although it was happening all over the country, I'm going to focus on Folsom. It's where I live, where most of my sales are, and where I have the most expertise. The Greater Sacramento Region is experiencing pretty much the same thing.

 

Here are a few facts about the Folsom housing market back then: 

  • Average days on market was as low as 18
  • April of 2006, the average price per square foot for Folsom homes hit $271.
  • The average 30 year mortgage at that time was just about 7%.
  • Unemployment was at 4.7%
  • The world didn't realize it then, but there was widespread mortgage fraud, with 'stated income' loans, bribery of underwriters and appraisers, and loan officers targeting the poor and people just not ready for home ownership, offering to get them into homes for nothing down, even with bad credit.
  • Folsom prices jumped 17% in one year.

 

Then, people started talking about the bubble. 'We're due for a correction', 'This isn't sustainable', and 'People are going to refuse to pay these ridiculous prices.

 

It didn't seem to have an effect. Even though interest rates were high, and homes were getting less and less affordable, more and more people were buying.

 

Then...it stopped. The bubble popped. 

  • Standing housing inventory in Folsom was at 143 in May of '05, and had jumped to 359 in October. Home owners panicked, and by the following August, buyers had their choice from 530 homes on the market.
  • The average days on market was 89
  • Unemployment levels were stable until 2008, when they started to creep up. By October of 2009, 10% of the US workforce was unemployed
  • Regulators shut down the mortgage fraud, and it became tougher to get a loan, even with good credit.
  • Of course, prices started to slide - That $271 per square foot average in April was down to $237 per foot a year later, and it kept going from there.
  • Distressed (foreclosure and short-sale) properties became the norm, representing 51% of the Folsom market, compared to 1% today. People we just walking away, turning to rentals, or moving back in with mom and dad.

Every month it got worse, and every month people were saying things like, 'This is just the beginning', and 'I told you so!'

The financial experts were weighing in. 'We won't see a recovery for 10 years', and one even said, 'We won't see those prices again in our lifetime.'

 

Signs of Recovery

 

Eventually, the job market started to improve. Unemployment levels dropped, but housing hadn't caught up yet.

 

Investors, flush with cash, were snapping up homes at what we consider bargain prices. They didn't know if we were at the bottom, but they knew there was an upside, and they were going to take advantage.

 

Companies such as Blackstone opened offices in the Sacramento region to get close to the feeding frenzy.

 

By February of 2012, Folsom homes for sale averaged $148 per square foot. We had hit bottom.

 

Things started to improve. People were optimistic. Unemployment levels continued to drop, and someone declared the crisis was over.

 

Still, there were doubters. 'This is just temporary.' 'Once the investors leave, the market will normalize, and prices will fall.'

 

It didn't happen. Prices started rising. Homes were selling fast. By March of 2013, the average days on market stood at 15.

 

Where are we today?

What's causing the fears of the bubble? Other than the ones who are always predicting the end of the whatever, are their factors we should consider?

Let's compare to the last one:

  • Then: Average days on market, 18 - Now, average days on market: 17
  • Then: Average price per square foot, $271 - Now: $249
  • Then: Unemployment, 4.7% - Now: 4.3%
  • Number of homes on the market, 143 - Now: Folsom homes for sale, 139

Just looking at those stats, one might indeed think that history is repeating itself, and we are in a bubble.

 

Now, before we hit the panic button let's take a look at a couple of other factors:

 

Affordability:

  • Then: 30 year mortgage rate was 7% - A $400,000 mortgage in 2006 would cost you $2661 per month.
  • Now: 30 year mortgages can be had for 4% - That $400,000 mortgage now has a payment of $1910. That's a $751 monthly difference

State Population:

  • Then: Roughly 36 million people
  • Now:  About 40 million

According to the California Department of Housing and Community development,  developers should be building 180,000 units per year to meet the growing demand, but are falling short by about 100,000 per year. Builders cite fees and regulations as major hurdles.

 

Our ace in the hole?

 

There's one other factor; the Bay Area exodus. According the Greater Sacramento Economic Council, roughly 18,000 people leave the Bay Area for the Sac region, and as San Francisco gets more crowded, less affordable, and less safe, Sacramento and it's growing list of amenities becomes more attractive.

 

 

So, we have low interest rates, which make for lower payments, we are short on housing by over 1 million units, we have a strong economy and strong demand for housing.

 

To me, it's not about speculation or exuberance, it is about supply, demand and affordability.

 

I'm going to say that, barring some catastrophe, the housing market is not likely to crash any time soon. No, we're not in a bubble.

 

What do you think? Agree or disagree? Am I missing anything? Am I right, or am I just an overly optimistic

Realtor with a biased opinion?

 

Talk to me.


Steve Heard

Folsom Real Estate Specialist

EXP Realty

BRE#01368503

Owner - MyFolsom.com

916 718 9577 


#2 Agent_007

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Posted 16 August 2017 - 03:43 PM

the rule of 25 or the rule of 33? 

 

what percentage of gross income will people pay to live in a home (PITI, principal, interest, taxes and insurance)?

 

price comes down to basic math. if one has a household income of $10k, the they can afford $2500 per month or up to $3300 per month in housing expenses.

 

http://www.city-data...California.html

 

Folsom may be reaching the top of its own affordability index. But that all changes when Bay Area money comes to Folsom with more disposable cash (down payment).

 

If incomes don't rise along with property values, then transactions will stagnate or decrease as the available pool of buyers will shrink (potentially).

 

Are we in a bubble? I don't know. Would I sell and buy in this current market? No. I'm not in the right window to sell. I still have kids in school and I like my inexpensive mortgage too much.



#3 bdw

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Posted 15 September 2017 - 04:03 PM

Thanks for this analysis! However, I think this indicates that housing won't be the cause of a potential bubble, but not necessarily that a bubble won't occur. The market-cap to GDP ratio is over 130% right now (the second highest since dot-com), meaning domestic stocks hold 30% more "value" than our entire economy (which is by definition a bubble). A stock collapse would not only harm employment and spending, but may cause retirees with 401(k)s to cash out on their home equity -- at the same time decreasing demand and increasing supply. And with interest rates as low as they are, that leaves little room for monetary policies to increase cash flow.

 

I'm not sure how this would affect the exodus from the Bay Area. Those with jobs may finally afford to buy homes, but those without may take it as an opportunity to relocate to lower cost places like the Sacramento area. Hopefully this means such a dip would be less severe here.

 

My gut tells me to expect a small dip in the near future, but nothing near 2007. I certainly wouldn't buy as much house as I could afford right now. But if you buy within your means, plan to stay in your house sufficiently long, and keep an emergency fund, then a dip really shouldn't mean that much.



#4 Steve Heard

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Posted 17 September 2017 - 11:26 AM

 

Folsom may be reaching the top of its own affordability index. But that all changes when Bay Area money comes to Folsom with more disposable cash (down payment).

 

If incomes don't rise along with property values, then transactions will stagnate or decrease as the available pool of buyers will shrink (potentially).

 

 

 

That's where I think Folsom has a leg up on other area communities.; higher incomes, and those leaving the Bay Area find our expensive houses to be cheap, and much more attractive than some other areas. 

 

Thanks for this analysis! However, I think this indicates that housing won't be the cause of a potential bubble, but not necessarily that a bubble won't occur. The market-cap to GDP ratio is over 130% right now (the second highest since dot-com), meaning domestic stocks hold 30% more "value" than our entire economy (which is by definition a bubble). A stock collapse would not only harm employment and spending, but may cause retirees with 401(k)s to cash out on their home equity -- at the same time decreasing demand and increasing supply. And with interest rates as low as they are, that leaves little room for monetary policies to increase cash flow.

 

I'm not sure how this would affect the exodus from the Bay Area. Those with jobs may finally afford to buy homes, but those without may take it as an opportunity to relocate to lower cost places like the Sacramento area. Hopefully this means such a dip would be less severe here.

 

My gut tells me to expect a small dip in the near future, but nothing near 2007. I certainly wouldn't buy as much house as I could afford right now. But if you buy within your means, plan to stay in your house sufficiently long, and keep an emergency fund, then a dip really shouldn't mean that much.

 

Yes, some sort of catastrophe outside of real estate can change everything.

 

There was a report the other day that the Bay Area lost nearly 5000 jobs in August. Will that cause more people to cash out and move? Will they come to Sac? 


Steve Heard

Folsom Real Estate Specialist

EXP Realty

BRE#01368503

Owner - MyFolsom.com

916 718 9577 





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