Home Prices, Election, Covid-19, Oh My!
It’s been quite a November and we’re only 13 days into it.
Many of us thought after November 3rd the Democrats and Republicans would stop their constant fighting and we’d know who the Presidential candidate would be sworn into office in January. To add to our worries, Covid-19 high positivity rates smacked us again.
But there is a bright light in our housing market.
People from around the country are buying homes where they’ve been vacationing. They’re buying homes in leisure destinations as permanent residences and as secondary homes. Our Palm Springs area is one of those destination hotspots. And we locals know why; weather, beautiful scenery, lifestyle, and fabulous homes at fantastic prices.
2020 has proven to be a very big year in the real estate market in the Coachella Valley. Buyers who had been waiting for “the right time” to purchase a home found this year to be that right time.
Our residential inventory is still very low in all prices points, with the exception of the uber high-end properties. If a property is priced correctly, based on its location, sun exposure, floor plan and other factors in its community, it will sell – and sell quickly. But even in this hot market, sellers must remember that buyers set market prices, not sellers. It is a sellers’ peril if they disregard this reality. If they do, they won’t sell their homes.
As we approach the holidays, realtors would generally see a slight slowdown before our January to April active season. However, since Covid-19 people keep streaming into the desert searching for their ‘desert dream home’.
There’s been a huge surge of sales in the detached home market. In the past 1-1/2 months, home sales experienced a 39.3% increase year-over-year. The average home sale is a tick over $600,000. In the $700,000 to $800,000 price bracket, sales increased 96%. In the million-dollar and over price bracket, sales went from an average of 45 units to over 110 units a month, an increase of 144%.
Entry level homes priced between $250,000 to $350,000 are very hard to find. If a single-family home comes on to the market in this price range, it won’t list for long. In this price range it’s easier to find a condo.
With the start of our selling season, we anticipate seeing more homes hit the market, which may ease some of the upward pressure on home sales. However, as with everything else this year, nothing is running its usual course.
Stay tuned. Stay connected.
If you’re thinking about moving to the Palm Springs area, you may not know that Palm Springs is just one city of nine in the Coachella Valley.
Visitors often refer to our desert cities as Palm Springs. True, just about everyone throughout the world knows about the city, so it’s easy to understand why the name ‘Palm Springs’ is synonymous with the region. As popular but not as well known, are nearby cities that attract both visitors and home buyers. Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells and La Quinta offer what Palm Springs became famous for; majestic desert mountains, beautiful weather, sunshine, tennis, golf, and more…
The Costs: Before you begin your search for your dream get-away home, talk to your tax professional about how a second home will impact your tax situation. The IRS has different rules for people with second homes and vacation homes (defined as such if you stay there at least two weeks a year), so before you do anything, find out how buying a second home will affect your taxes.
Consider the expenses of buying a second property and the ongoing financial commitments involved in maintaining it, such as property taxes, insurance, utilities, gardeners, pool service, and homeowner association monthly fees (if in a gated community). Condominiums make great second homes because you don’t have to worry about the issues owners of detached homes do, like the exterior and outdoor areas. When looking at condos, research the homeowners’ associations (HOAs). Ask about monthly fees, special assessments and community rules.
If you’re looking for an investment property, a low price is not the only consideration. A turnkey operation is ideal. Look for properties that don’t need extensive repairs or much maintenance and steadily generates a steady positive cash flow. When buying a rental property, budget for added costs, such as marketing the home to potential renters, hiring a property manager and making repairs.
As with any home purchase, you’ll need to factor in closing costs and a down payment, which in the case of a second home or investment property will be sizable. Typically, you’ll need to put down at least 25 percent of the purchase price.
Down the road, if you decide the property isn’t working out for you, how hard will it be to sell it or rent it out? How much will it cost you? Planning ahead and coming up with a plan B will help you deal with potential surprises.
The City: Location, location, location. One of the keys in being successful in investing in a second home is your awareness of the neighborhood you’ve decided to target. Take the extra time to study the demographics of a specific neighborhood before making an investment. Ask your realtor if the community is primarily comprised of baby boomers, families with children, or filled with rental properties. Ask how your targeted area compares with others in that city.
The Knowledge of the Coachella Valley: Many times when people talk about Palm Springs, they’re actually referring to other cities in the Coachella Valley, like Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, Indian Wells, and La Quinta.
Average Daily Minimum-Maximum Temperatures in January, February, March, April, May, June:
41 – 69/45 – 74/48 – 79/ 54 – 87/60 – 94/66 – 103
July, August, September, October, November, December:
74–108, 75–107, 67–102, 59–92, 48–79, 42–70