Zillow’s latest market report unveils a surprising revelation that challenges the status quo. Instead of the expected rise in buyer and seller activity due to increased year-over-year changes in mortgage rates, Southern metros like Austin, Nashville, and Atlanta are experiencing a shift towards buyer-friendly conditions, in contrast to the trend observed in recent years.
The housing market nationwide may remain neutral, but certain metro areas in Florida, Georgia, Texas, Tennessee, and Louisiana are now favoring buyers. This shift, especially in the South and Southeast, raises questions about the reasons behind these buyer-friendly conditions and whether they will persist or fade away as a fleeting market trend.
- New Construction Is Paying Off
The significant increase in home construction across key metro areas in the South, such as Austin, San Antonio, New Orleans, Nashville, and Atlanta, is directly contributing to market rebalancing. More homes being built correlates with markets tipping in favor of buyers, as highlighted by Zillow’s latest market heat index. The surge in construction activity has led to an increased supply of resale homes, empowering buyers with more negotiating leverage. - Sellers’ Attitudes Are Shifting
Former seller-favoring markets, like Austin, are witnessing a change in sellers’ attitudes towards more flexibility. Lowering price expectations and offering reduced prices on listings, like the 25% in Austin, sends a clear signal to buyers that the market is cooling. Nashville and Atlanta also show similar patterns with a significant percentage of reduced-price listings, indicating a shift towards a buyer’s market.
Investors eyeing the Southern market should leverage the current buyer-friendly conditions while doing thorough local research to identify opportunities. Despite mortgage rates decreasing, areas with premium and competitive properties may still retain their competitiveness, albeit with a slight easing in asking prices for investors seeking distressed properties. The supply-demand balance in these regions is subject to change as new buyers enter the market, potentially rekindling competition in the near future.
In conclusion, investors looking to capitalize on the current buyer-friendly conditions in the South should act swiftly. With booming new construction and more realistic seller attitudes prevalent in major metros in Texas, Tennessee, and Georgia, there exists a window of opportunity to secure investment properties before the market dynamics shift once again. While the Southern buyer’s market may be temporary due to factors like falling mortgage rates and continued migration trends, proactive investors can reap the benefits of favorable conditions if they act promptly.
