REI Wealth Monthly Issue 09 | Page 76

FOUR PILLARS OF THE CURRENT HOUSING RECOVERY TRACY ROYCE 1. Increase in the sale of non-distressed properties: Wall Street As shown by the records of the Journal, short sales and foreclosures accounted for nearly 18% of all made in April. The credit for the increase in sales goes to the banks offering loans at record low interest rates. In short, buyers can swallow the increase in housing prices because of the minimal increase in the mortgage payment. the sales made in April, which is 10% down from the last year. Many experts are surprised that the unavailability of distressed properties 3. Sudden boom in listings last month: It had no impact over the number of sales is a very well known fact that Spring brings incurred this month. Further, it shows that thousands of buyers into the market, and this buyers are moving towards non-distressed could account for the 11.9% rise in sales in the properties. However, those needing to short housing market. There has been an increase sale are poised to unload their property faster, of 1.8% in the current real estate inventory and whether by a successful short sale, or the the overall increase in inventory in 2013 is bank taking the home back. recorded to be 4.8%. 2. Increase in sales as compared to last year: According to the reports of the WSJ, the number of homes listed for sale (2.16 million) was down by 13.6% as compared to last year, yet it had no impact over the number of sales