“Is the housing market ready for a crash?”
“Will I ever be able to afford a house?”
“Zillow says my house is worth $________.”
These are headlines that both the Seattle and national media are spreading. Here’s the reality:
Housing prices are appreciating at record rates. However, if we go back to 2007, when the market was at it’s peak before the crash, prices have increased 52% – that comes out to 5% a year appreciation over the 10 years.
Buying a home is within reach for many. The media often says it’s hard to get a mortgage, but that’s not the reality. The two most important factors for getting a mortgage are your credit score and the amount of debt you have. Only a lender can tell you if you qualify or not.
The “Zestimate” from Zillow is not an accurate representation of what your home will sell for. Zillow is an automated valuation, there are other companies who provide similar numbers. Because it’s automated, the algorithm has no idea of the special features of a home, the quality of the finishes or view, and any updates that have been done without permits. Even Zillow admits that their numbers are not accurate – the last time I looked Zillow said their Zestimates typically are off 10-20%.
So didn’t listen to the media! Talk to a real estate professional to get your questions answered. You can reach me at 206-790-0081 or mailto:[email protected].