Castro Valley, CA (PRWEB) March 27, 2015
Best Real Estate Market in Eight Years
According to the March 2015 U.S. Economic and Housing Market Outlook report from the Office of the Chief Economist of Freddie Mac,(1) 2015 will be the best year since 2007 for home sales and housing construction.
The three major affordability drivers in housing markets are house prices, interest rates and income. Housing prices are considered affordable nationally, when looking at payment-to-income and price-to-rent ratios. The San Francisco market shows the Multi-Indicator Market Index trend as improving(2).
The second affordability driver, interest rates, are significantly lower than they were a year ago. The April 2014 30 year mortgage rate was 4.34 percent, while the March 2015 rate is 3.86 percent(3).
Low Down Payments from Credit Worthy Buyers
Additionally, the down payment hurdle is beginning to shrink because of the new Freddie Mac program offering credit worthy borrowers 3 percent down payment mortgage initiatives. On March 23, Freddie Mac started buying mortgages with down payments of only 3 percent. This is the first time in 5 years that down payments have been this low on Freddie Mac loans. Another big factor making home purchasing more attractive and affordable is the reduced mortgage insurance premiums made available with Freddie Mac’s “Home Possible” program.
Other factors which make 2015 a great time to buy are rising rents. Rental markets have seen the lowest levels of vacant properties since 2000, causing a rapid rise in rents across the country. Job prospects for younger households have also improved. As rents rise, home ownership becomes more attractive and makes more financial sense.
Great Time to Sell
“All of these factors make it a great time to sell,” states Murline Monat real estate agent specializing in Castro Valley Neighborhoods, a community in the East Bay Hills of San Francisco. “With all of these factors making it a great time to buy, this means more buyers can enter the market, giving sellers a great incentive to put their homes on the market to get the best possible price.”
A long-time Bay Area resident, Murline brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her realty career – including an M.S in Industrial Psychology, building her own home, and group facilitation. Her background makes her an excellent champion for her clients. By ensuring her clients are appropriately informed throughout the purchasing or selling process, coordinating all the parties involved, and negotiating the best deal, Murline’s reputation in the community and realty industry is impeccable.
Before becoming a realtor in 2009, Murline Monat spent her time analyzing sales trends for both large corporations and small businesses. The difference between retail sales trends and real estate trends are minimal and she is able to support her clients in one of the most important lifestyle choices they will make. These decisions “bring great comfort and satisfaction to individuals and to families. I love being a part of that process.”
A Bay Area resident since the age of 5, Murline and her husband made Castro Valley their home because of its central location for both of their careers at the time. While a practical choice, the decision to live in Castro Valley has always been a happy one.
Contact Information
Murline Monat
Empire Realty Associates, Inc.
Danville, CA 94526
510-406-0114
925-523-9852
MMonat(at)EmpireRA(dot)com
CastroValleyNeighborhoods.com
MurlineMonat.com
(1) http://www.freddiemac.com/finance/pdf/march_2015_public_outlook.pdf