206-999-1690
larryreichle@remax.net
LOGIN | REGISTER

Larry & Kathy Reichle

Issaquah Real Estate | Call: 206-999-1690

LARRY & KATHY REICHLE, EASTSIDE REAL ESTATE TEAM

Call or Text Us – 206-999-1690

  • Home
  • About
    • About Larry & Kathy Reichle
    • Testimonials
    • Larry and Kathy’s Resume
    • References
  • Home Search
    • Search Options
      • Map Search
      • Advanced Home Search
      • Simple Home Search
      • Search by Address
      • Search by City
    • Search by Communities
      • Bellevue Real Estate
      • Issaquah Real Estate
      • Kirkland Real Estate
      • Maple Valley Real Estate
      • Redmond Real Estate
      • Sammamish Real Estate
  • Buyer
    • Lender
    • Thinking of Buying?
    • Mortgage Calculators
    • My Search Account
  • Seller
    • Thinking of Selling?
    • Our Sold Listings
  • What’s MY Home’s Value
  • Blog
    • Eastside Real Estate Blog
    • Issaquah Community Blog
  • Contact Information

Why is Seattle home inventory so low?

March 27, 2018 by Kathy Reichle Leave a Comment

Current homeowners are staying put—leaving fewer options for first-time buyers

Low inventory was the theme of last year’s Seattle real estate news, and so far this year, inventory has been even more sparse. The latest data from Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS) shows less than a month of inventory available in King County during February—as opposed to about a month that time last year.

It’s a statewide, and nationwide, problem, but it’s especially pronounced in Seattle; according to a report released by Remax earlier this week, the Seattle metro area is tied only with Denver for lowest housing inventory and has one of the fastest markets in the country, driving up competition and prices for would-be buyers.

But why is inventory staying so low—and getting lower?

According to a survey by Equation Research on behalf of home financing company Valueinsured, with real estate prices at a record high—Seattle homes are routinely seeing year-over-year increases in the double-digits—current homeowners are unsure of their prospects after selling. 65 percent of Seattle homeowners who would be open to selling are choosing to hold off because they don’t want to buy their next home in this market.

Those same homeowners wouldn’t blame potential buyers for not wanting to buy in the current market. 67 percent of surveyed homeowners said that people who buy in their neighborhood right now are “overpaying.”

It speaks to a general air of uncertainty around Seattle’s home prices; 30 percent of homeowners surveyed said they are “not confident” that their current home, or any home bought today, will be worth more by the end of 2019. 48 percent of Seattle residents don’t consider the current market healthy.

“Experienced homeowners and buyers know we are at the top and are sitting out to avoid buying,” said Valueinsured’s CEO Joe Melendez in a statement on the survey. “Inventory is, therefore, pushed way down, inflating prices for those who are willing to buy high. But for the most part, there are not enough people who are willing to buy high. That’s why sales volume is down. It is not a sustainable picture.”

Overall, Seattle residents were “more pessimistic” than the rest of the United States, with 76 percent believing they could “witness another 2008-style housing crisis again in their lifetime.” (There are huge differences between the market then and the market now, although the prices do gate many out of homeownership.) That increased among millennial, interested first-time buyers to 85 percent.

A more negative outlook among people who aren’t yet homeowners shouldn’t be a shocker; those who already own a home tend to be in a much better economic position than those who don’t. According to data from the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, 45.4 percent of Seattle-area renters were cost-burdened in 2015—meaning their housing costs make up more than 30 percent of their income—as opposed to 25.4 percent of homeowners. That same data found that median owner income in the metro is $96,400, compared to $50,000 for renters.

That means, despite a general uneasiness around the market, current homeowners tend to feel a little more secure in owning a home. Despite many not being willing to move, a whopping 82 percent of current homeowners said they could afford a down payment on their next home, as opposed to 25 percent of first-time, millennial buyers. Among senior homeowners—65-plus and planning on downsizing—20 percent plan to buy a new home without a mortgage.

Regardless, with the coming of spring, inventory could improve when the March numbers roll in. “The arrival of daylight savings triggers a burst in new listings,” said J. Lennox Scott, chairman and CEO of John L. Scott Real Estate, in a statement with the NWMLS numbers. “More listings lead to more sales.”

An inventory crunch, as many argue, isn’t the only thing driving up home prices in Seattle, and it’s not like we’re adding new homes for sale at the same rate as we’re bringing rental homes on the market—or new people to the region—anyway. But shrinking inventory certainly isn’t helping.

By Sarah Anne Lloyd

Filed Under: Amazon, Eastside Real Estate Blog, Greater Seattle Jobs, Issaquah Lifestyle Blog, Issaquah Real Estate, Seattle, What's Trending Tagged With: Finances, Home ownership, Home Trends, Seattle Employment, Trending Topics

We look forward to hearing from you Cancel reply

Eastside Real Estate Blog

The Cost Of Purchasing A Home In The U.S. Increased 55% Last Year. But It’s Still A Great Time To Buy A House For These Five Reasons

I’ve always been all-in on homeownership. Yet, for the first time in two decades since the beginning … [Read More...]

New Listings Signal Hope Is On The Horizon For Home Buyers

At the midpoint of April, housing markets are reflecting a changing landscape, according to a new … [Read More...]

Upscale Kitchen Features That Can Boost A Home’s Value

Between preparing to host family and friends for Thanksgiving and making gift lists and checking … [Read More...]

Contact Us

Issaquah real estate

Larry & Kathy Reichle

371 NE Gilman Blvd. #160
Issaquah, WA 98027

Phone: 206-999-1690

Contact Us

Digital Millennium Copyright Act Notice (DMCA)

Real Estate Tools

  • Search AccountCreate your Custom Home Search Account
  • Map ViewSearch For Eastside Real Estate With A Map Style Search
  • Email AlertsSign Up To Get New Listings Delivered To You via Email
  • My Home’s ValueCustom Tool To Get the Accurate Price of your Home

Eastside Real Estate Blog

The Cost Of Purchasing A Home In The U.S. Increased 55% Last Year. But It’s Still A Great Time To Buy A House For These Five Reasons

I’ve always been all-in on homeownership. Yet, for the first time in two decades … Read More

New Listings Signal Hope Is On The Horizon For Home Buyers

At the midpoint of April, housing markets are reflecting a changing landscape, … Read More

Real Estate in the Pacific Northwest

Real Estate in the Pacific Northwest

  • Aberdeen, WA Real Estate
  • Acme, WA Real Estate
  • Addy, WA Real Estate
  • Adna, WA Real Estate
  • Airway Heights, WA Real Estate
  • Alger, WA Real Estate
  • Algona, WA Real Estate
  • Allyn, WA Real Estate
  • Aloha, WA Real Estate
  • Amanda Park, WA Real Estate
  • Amboy, WA Real Estate
  • Anacortes, WA Real Estate
  • Anderson Island, WA Real Estate
  • Appleton, WA Real Estate
  • Ardenvoir, WA Real Estate
  • Ariel, WA Real Estate
  • Arlington, WA Real Estate
  • Ashford, WA Real Estate
  • Auburn, WA Real Estate
  • Bainbridge Island, WA Real Estate
  • Baring, WA Real Estate
  • Battle Ground, WA Real Estate
  • Bay Center, WA Real Estate
  • Beaux Arts, WA Real Estate
  • Beaver, WA Real Estate
  • Belfair, WA Real Estate
  • Bellevue, WA Real Estate
  • Bellingham, WA Real Estate
  • Benton City, WA Real Estate
  • Beverly, WA Real Estate
  • Bickleton, WA Real Estate
  • Birch Bay, WA Real Estate
  • Black Diamond, WA Real Estate
  • Blaine, WA Real Estate
  • Blakely Island, WA Real Estate
  • Boistfort, WA Real Estate
  • Bonney Lake, WA Real Estate
  • Bothell, WA Real Estate
  • Bow, WA Real Estate
  • Brady, WA Real Estate
  • Bremerton, WA Real Estate
  • Brewster, WA Real Estate
  • Bridgeport, WA Real Estate
  • Brier, WA Real Estate
  • Brinnon, WA Real Estate
  • Brush Prairie, WA Real Estate
  • Buckley, WA Real Estate
  • Bucoda, WA Real Estate
  • Burien, WA Real Estate
  • Burlington, WA Real Estate
  • Camano Island, WA Real Estate
  • Camas, WA Real Estate
  • Carbonado, WA Real Estate
  • Carlsborg, WA Real Estate
  • Carlton, WA Real Estate
  • Carnation, WA Real Estate
  • Carrolls, WA Real Estate
  • Cashmere, WA Real Estate
  • Castle Rock, WA Real Estate
  • Cathlamet, WA Real Estate
  • Center Island, WA Real Estate
  • Centerville, WA Real Estate
  • Centralia, WA Real Estate
  • Chehalis, WA Real Estate
  • Chelan, WA Real Estate
  • Chelan Falls, WA Real Estate
  • Cheney, WA Real Estate
  • Chimacum, WA Real Estate
  • Chinook, WA Real Estate
  • Cinebar, WA Real Estate
  • Clallam Bay, WA Real Estate
  • Cle Elum, WA Real Estate
  • Clearlake, WA Real Estate
  • Clinton, WA Real Estate
  • Clyde Hill, WA Real Estate
  • College Place, WA Real Estate
  • Colville, WA Real Estate
  • Conconully, WA Real Estate
  • Concrete, WA Real Estate
  • Connell, WA Real Estate
  • Conway, WA Real Estate
  • Copalis Beach, WA Real Estate
  • Copalis Crossing, WA Real Estate
  • Cosmopolis, WA Real Estate
  • Cougar, WA Real Estate
  • Coulee City, WA Real Estate
  • Coulee Dam, WA Real Estate
  • Coupeville, WA Real Estate
  • Covington, WA Real Estate
  • Crane Island, WA Real Estate
  • Creston, WA Real Estate
  • Curlew, WA Real Estate
  • Curtis, WA Real Estate
  • Custer, WA Real Estate
  • Cypress Island, WA Real Estate
  • Danville, WA Real Estate
  • Darrington, WA Real Estate
  • Davenport, WA Real Estate
  • Decatur Island, WA Real Estate
  • Deer Meadows, WA Real Estate
  • Deming, WA Real Estate
  • Des Moines, WA Real Estate
  • Doty, WA Real Estate
  • Dryad, WA Real Estate
  • Dupont, WA Real Estate
  • Duvall, WA Real Estate
  • East Olympia, WA Real Estate
  • East Wenatchee, WA Real Estate
  • Easton, WA Real Estate
  • Eatonville, WA Real Estate
  • Edgewood, WA Real Estate
  • Edison, WA Real Estate
  • Edmonds, WA Real Estate
  • Elbe, WA Real Estate
  • Electric City, WA Real Estate
  • Ellensburg, WA Real Estate
  • Elma, WA Real Estate
  • Elmer City, WA Real Estate
  • Entiat, WA Real Estate
  • Enumclaw, WA Real Estate
  • Ephrata, WA Real Estate
  • Ethel, WA Real Estate
  • Everett, WA Real Estate
  • Everson, WA Real Estate
  • Fall City, WA Real Estate
  • Federal Way, WA Real Estate
  • Ferndale, WA Real Estate
  • Fife, WA Real Estate
  • Fircrest, WA Real Estate
  • Ford, WA Real Estate
  • Forks, WA Real Estate
  • Fox Island, WA Real Estate
  • Freeland, WA Real Estate
  • Fruitland, WA Real Estate
  • Gardiner, WA Real Estate
  • George, WA Real Estate
  • Gig Harbor, WA Real Estate
  • Glacier, WA Real Estate
  • Glenoma, WA Real Estate
  • Gold Bar, WA Real Estate
  • Goldendale, WA Real Estate
  • Goose Prairie, WA Real Estate
  • Graham, WA Real Estate
  • Grand Coulee, WA Real Estate
  • Grand Mound, WA Real Estate
  • Grandview, WA Real Estate
  • Granite Falls, WA Real Estate
  • Grapeview, WA Real Estate
  • Grayland, WA Real Estate
  • Grays River, WA Real Estate
  • Greenbank, WA Real Estate
  • Greenwater, WA Real Estate
  • Guemes Island, WA Real Estate
  • Hansville, WA Real Estate
  • Harrah, WA Real Estate
  • Harrington, WA Real Estate
  • Hartline, WA Real Estate
  • Henry Island, WA Real Estate
  • Hobart, WA Real Estate
  • Hoodsport, WA Real Estate
  • Hoquiam, WA Real Estate
  • Humptulips, WA Real Estate
  • Hunters, WA Real Estate
  • Hunts Point, WA Real Estate
  • Ilwaco, WA Real Estate
  • Index, WA Real Estate
  • Indianola, WA Real Estate
  • Ione, WA Real Estate
  • Issaquah, WA Real Estate
  • Juanita, WA Real Estate
  • Kalama, WA Real Estate
  • Kapowsin, WA Real Estate
  • Keller, WA Real Estate
  • Kelso, WA Real Estate
  • Kendall, WA Real Estate
  • Kenmore, WA Real Estate
  • Kent, WA Real Estate
  • Kettle Falls, WA Real Estate
  • Keyport, WA Real Estate
  • Kingston, WA Real Estate
  • Kirkland, WA Real Estate
  • Kittitas, WA Real Estate
  • La Center, WA Real Estate
  • La Conner, WA Real Estate
  • Lacey, WA Real Estate
  • Lake City, WA Real Estate
  • Lake Forest Park, WA Real Estate
  • Lake Stevens, WA Real Estate
  • Lake Tapps, WA Real Estate
  • Lakebay, WA Real Estate
  • Lakewood, WA Real Estate
  • Langley, WA Real Estate
  • Leavenworth, WA Real Estate
  • Lebam, WA Real Estate
  • Lilliwaup, WA Real Estate
  • Lincoln, WA Real Estate
  • Lind, WA Real Estate
  • Long Beach, WA Real Estate
  • Longbranch, WA Real Estate
  • Longview, WA Real Estate
  • Loomis, WA Real Estate
  • Loon Lake, WA Real Estate
  • Lopez Island, WA Real Estate
  • Lummi Island, WA Real Estate
  • Lyle, WA Real Estate
  • Lyman, WA Real Estate
  • Lynden, WA Real Estate
  • Lynnwood, WA Real Estate
  • Machias, WA Real Estate
  • Malaga, WA Real Estate
  • Malo, WA Real Estate
  • Malone, WA Real Estate
  • Malott, WA Real Estate
  • Manchester, WA Real Estate
  • Mansfield, WA Real Estate
  • Manson, WA Real Estate
  • Maple Falls, WA Real Estate
  • Maple Valley, WA Real Estate
  • Marblemount, WA Real Estate
  • Marlin, WA Real Estate
  • Marysville, WA Real Estate
  • Mattawa, WA Real Estate
  • Mazama, WA Real Estate
  • McCleary, WA Real Estate
  • McKenna, WA Real Estate
  • Medical Lake, WA Real Estate
  • Medina, WA Real Estate
  • Mercer Island, WA Real Estate
  • Metaline Falls, WA Real Estate
  • Methow, WA Real Estate
  • Mill Creek, WA Real Estate
  • Milton, WA Real Estate
  • Mineral, WA Real Estate
  • Moclips, WA Real Estate
  • Monitor, WA Real Estate
  • Monroe, WA Real Estate
  • Montesano, WA Real Estate
  • Morton, WA Real Estate
  • Moses Lake, WA Real Estate
  • Mossyrock, WA Real Estate
  • Mount Vernon, WA Real Estate
  • Mountlake Terrace, WA Real Estate
  • Moxee, WA Real Estate
  • Mukilteo, WA Real Estate
  • Naches, WA Real Estate
  • Nahcotta, WA Real Estate
  • Napavine, WA Real Estate
  • Naselle, WA Real Estate
  • Neilton, WA Real Estate
  • Nespelem, WA Real Estate
  • Newcastle, WA Real Estate
  • Newport, WA Real Estate
  • Nooksack, WA Real Estate
  • Nordland, WA Real Estate
  • Normandy Park, WA Real Estate
  • North Bend, WA Real Estate
  • North Cove, WA Real Estate
  • Northport, WA Real Estate
  • Oak Harbor, WA Real Estate
  • Oakville, WA Real Estate
  • Obstruction Island, WA Real Estate
  • Ocean City, WA Real Estate
  • Ocean Park, WA Real Estate
  • Ocean Shores, WA Real Estate
  • Ocosta, WA Real Estate
  • Odessa, WA Real Estate
  • Okanogan, WA Real Estate
  • Olalla, WA Real Estate
  • Olympia, WA Real Estate
  • Omak, WA Real Estate
  • Onalaska, WA Real Estate
  • Orcas Island, WA Real Estate
  • Orondo, WA Real Estate
  • Oroville, WA Real Estate
  • Orting, WA Real Estate
  • Othello, WA Real Estate
  • Outlook, WA Real Estate
  • Oyhat, WA Real Estate
  • Oysterville, WA Real Estate
  • Pacific, WA Real Estate
  • Pacific Beach, WA Real Estate
  • Packwood, WA Real Estate
  • Parkland, WA Real Estate
  • Pasco, WA Real Estate
  • Pateros, WA Real Estate
  • Pe Ell, WA Real Estate
  • Pearl Island, WA Real Estate
  • Peshastin, WA Real Estate
  • Point Roberts, WA Real Estate
  • Port Angeles, WA Real Estate
  • Port Hadlock, WA Real Estate
  • Port Ludlow, WA Real Estate
  • Port Orchard, WA Real Estate
  • Port Townsend, WA Real Estate
  • Poulsbo, WA Real Estate
  • Preston, WA Real Estate
  • Prosser, WA Real Estate
  • Pullman, WA Real Estate
  • Purdy, WA Real Estate
  • Puyallup, WA Real Estate
  • Quilcene, WA Real Estate
  • Quinault, WA Real Estate
  • Quincy, WA Real Estate
  • Rainier, WA Real Estate
  • Randle, WA Real Estate
  • Ravensdale, WA Real Estate
  • Raymond, WA Real Estate
  • Reardan, WA Real Estate
  • Redmond, WA Real Estate
  • Renton, WA Real Estate
  • Republic, WA Real Estate
  • Rice, WA Real Estate
  • Richland, WA Real Estate
  • Ridgefield, WA Real Estate
  • Ritzville, WA Real Estate
  • Riverside, WA Real Estate
  • Rochester, WA Real Estate
  • Rock Island, WA Real Estate
  • Rockport, WA Real Estate
  • Ronald, WA Real Estate
  • Rosburg, WA Real Estate
  • Roslyn, WA Real Estate
  • Roy, WA Real Estate
  • Royal City, WA Real Estate
  • Ruston, WA Real Estate
  • Ryderwood, WA Real Estate
  • Salkum, WA Real Estate
  • Sammamish, WA Real Estate
  • San Juan Island, WA Real Estate
  • Satsop, WA Real Estate
  • Seabeck, WA Real Estate
  • Seatac, WA Real Estate
  • Seattle, WA Real Estate
  • Seaview, WA Real Estate
  • Sedro Woolley, WA Real Estate
  • Sekiu, WA Real Estate
  • Selah, WA Real Estate
  • Sequim, WA Real Estate
  • Seven Bays, WA Real Estate
  • Shaw Island, WA Real Estate
  • Shelton, WA Real Estate
  • Shoreline, WA Real Estate
  • Silver Creek, WA Real Estate
  • Silverdale, WA Real Estate
  • Silverlake, WA Real Estate
  • Skamokawa, WA Real Estate
  • Skykomish, WA Real Estate
  • Snohomish, WA Real Estate
  • Snoqualmie, WA Real Estate
  • Snoqualmie Pass, WA Real Estate
  • Soap Lake, WA Real Estate
  • South Bend, WA Real Estate
  • South Cle Elum, WA Real Estate
  • South Colby, WA Real Estate
  • South Prairie, WA Real Estate
  • Southworth, WA Real Estate
  • Spanaway, WA Real Estate
  • Spokane, WA Real Estate
  • Spokane Valley, WA Real Estate
  • Springdale, WA Real Estate
  • Stanwood, WA Real Estate
  • Stehekin, WA Real Estate
  • Steilacoom, WA Real Estate
  • Stevenson, WA Real Estate
  • Stuart Island, WA Real Estate
  • Sultan, WA Real Estate
  • Sumas, WA Real Estate
  • Sumner, WA Real Estate
  • Suquamish, WA Real Estate
  • Tacoma, WA Real Estate
  • Taholah, WA Real Estate
  • Tahuya, WA Real Estate
  • Tenino, WA Real Estate
  • Thornton, WA Real Estate
  • Thorp, WA Real Estate
  • Tieton, WA Real Estate
  • Tokeland, WA Real Estate
  • Toledo, WA Real Estate
  • Tonasket, WA Real Estate
  • Toppenish, WA Real Estate
  • Touchet, WA Real Estate
  • Toutle, WA Real Estate
  • Tracyton, WA Real Estate
  • Tukwila, WA Real Estate
  • Tulalip, WA Real Estate
  • Tumtum, WA Real Estate
  • Tumwater, WA Real Estate
  • Twisp, WA Real Estate
  • Union, WA Real Estate
  • University Place, WA Real Estate
  • Usk, WA Real Estate
  • Vader, WA Real Estate
  • Vancouver, WA Real Estate
  • Vantage, WA Real Estate
  • Vashon, WA Real Estate
  • Vaughn, WA Real Estate
  • Waitsburg, WA Real Estate
  • Waldron Island, WA Real Estate
  • Walla Walla, WA Real Estate
  • Wapato, WA Real Estate
  • Warden, WA Real Estate
  • Washougal, WA Real Estate
  • Washtucna, WA Real Estate
  • Waterville, WA Real Estate
  • Wauconda, WA Real Estate
  • Wauna, WA Real Estate
  • Wenatchee, WA Real Estate
  • Westport, WA Real Estate
  • White Pass, WA Real Estate
  • White Salmon, WA Real Estate
  • Wilbur, WA Real Estate
  • Wilkeson, WA Real Estate
  • Wilson Creek, WA Real Estate
  • Winlock, WA Real Estate
  • Winthrop, WA Real Estate
  • Woodinville, WA Real Estate
  • Woodland, WA Real Estate
  • Woodway, WA Real Estate
  • Yacolt, WA Real Estate
  • Yakima, WA Real Estate
  • Yarrow Point, WA Real Estate
  • Yelm, WA Real Estate
  • Zillah, WA Real Estate

CRS logoCRS logoCRS logoCRS logo

Copyright © 2023 | XML Sitemap | Sitemap |Privacy Policy

Designed by Om Spark LLC

Copyright © 2023 · Curb Appeal Evolved on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

 

Loading Comments...