Buying in the Future? Start Saving Today

By Suzanne De Vita

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This Could Take a While

With inventory low and prices rebounding, affordability has become one of the foremost housing issues—both for buyers entering the market, and homeowners looking for a new, but practically priced property after selling. According to new research, accumulating enough for a down payment can take over seven years—and even longer in pricey spots.

If the average buyer earning the median national income saved 10 percent of it per month, it would take 7.2 years to amass a 20 percent down payment on the average home in the U.S., according to an analysis recently released by Zillow. Buyers in California are in for the longest savings stretch: 18.4 years in Los Angeles; 18.3 years in San Francisco; and 21.8 years in San Jose—the longest of the markets in the report. Buyers have an easier path in Pittsburgh, where it takes 4.8 years, and in Cincinnati, Indianapolis and St. Louis, where it takes 5.1 years.

The disparity between earnings growth and home prices is substantial, the analysis shows. Incomes have increased 52.6 percent in the past 20 years, while appreciation has hit 98.6 percent.

“The simple fact that home values have far outpaced income growth, lengthening the time needed to save for a down payment, contributes to millennials’ struggles to enter homeownership,” says Skylar Olsen, director of Economic Research at Zillow. “Saving up for a down payment can be tough, especially when the cost of everyday life outpaces the money you put into the bank. It requires good budgeting and long-term planning. It’s one reason why more and more first-time home buyers are looking to family and friends for financial help when coming up with their down payment.”

While 20 percent down is ideal by many measures, it’s not a requirement; in fact, borrowers can be eligible for as low as 3 percent, depending on the loan and their situation. For guidance, contact your REALTOR®.

“Even if you don’t have plans to buy a home in the next year or two, it’s not a bad idea to start setting aside savings for a future home purchase,” Olsen says. “It’s also important to remember that there are many options for mortgages requiring less than 20 percent down.”

For more information, please visit www.zillow.com.

Suzanne De Vita is RISMedia’s online news editor. Email her your real estate news ideas a

Buyers Flocking to ‘Harshest’ Market Yet

By Suzanne De Vita




The climate is gradually moving toward spring-like temperatures…but it is burning up in housing, with prices rising 8 percent year-over-year, according to a new realtor.com® report. The climb in March sent the median list price to $280,000—above the prior record $275,000 from July 2017.


Based on data from realtor.com, there were 1.29 million March listings (a decline of 8 percent year-over-year), and homes lasted 63 days on-market (a 7 percent decline year-over-year and a 24 percent decline month-over-month).


“Our latest inventory data tells us buyers are out in full force this spring,” says Javier Vivas, director of Economic Research for realtor.com. “Never in history have there been more eyes on fewer homes than today. At the end of March, we observed price gains that put us on pace for half of the homes listed this summer to be above $300,000. Buyers are not just paying more for the same home; the mix of homes in the market is rapidly changing.”

According to Vivas, the most affordable homes are the most scarce—and the most sought-after.

“The injection of new listings above $350,000 remains healthy, but inventory between $200,000 and $350,000 remains anemic and non-existent under $200,000,” Vivas says. “This bodes well for buyers in the upper and luxury tiers but paints a darker picture for the entry-level market. If the pattern holds, one in 12 listings nationally will be listed above $1,000,000 this summer, while only one in three will be listed under the $200,000—the sweet spot targeted by nearly half of all buyers. In February, above-$1,000,000 homes made up only one in every 40 home sales.”

The crunch, explains Vivas, has been percolating for some time.

“March housing trends show the inventory depletion we’ve seen over the last two buying seasons is carrying over to this year,” says Vivas. “It’s going to be a languid search for buyers this season as they face the harshest, most competitive buying conditions yet.”

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10 Investment Tips For Beginners

     If you are thinking about getting into investment, you are likely unsure of how to start and what you should be investing in. The world of investment can be very intimidating for the first-timer. In fact, it can often be confusing for those who are experienced. The following are 10 tips that will help you get started in the world of investment.

 1. Set Investment Goals Now
          It is time to decide what you want to get out of investing. Obviously, your ultimate goal is to make money, but everyone’s needs are different. Things to consider include income, capital appreciation, and safety of capital. Also, consider your age, your personal circumstances, and your financial position. 
  2.     Invest Early 
          The earlier you start investing, the better. For one thing, the sooner you start, the less money you will need every year to achieve your investing goals. Your earnings will compound over time, so don’t be afraid to start investing, even if you are a college student- or better yet, in your last year of high school.    3. Make Investments Automatic 
          Set aside a certain amount of money to be automatically invested each month. You can set up automatic investment plans through various brokerage service firms and automated investment services like Wealthfront. By doing this, you will avoid stalling and consistently invest. 
  4. Look at Your Finances 
          Before you can begin investing, you need to look at how much money you have to invest. Be realistic about it. Make sure that you leave yourself with enough money to pay for your regular monthly bills, loan payments, etc. You don’t need a lot of money to get started with investing- but there are risks. You don’t want to leave yourself short of paying other important bills. 
  5. Learn About Investing 
          Once you have your finances in order, it is time to start learning about investing. Study basic terminology, so you know how to make coherent decisions. Learn about stocks, bonds, mutual funds and certificates of deposits (CD’s). Don’t forget about other details that include diversification, portfolio optimization and market efficiency. 
  6. Set Up Retirement Accounts 
          There are many tax advantages to having retirement accounts. In some cases, initial investments are tax-deductible, such as IRA’s and 401 K’s. Others require you to pay taxes up front, but not when you withdraw funds during retirement; these include Roth IRA’s (Individual Retirement Arrangement). Also, make sure to find out if your employer matches personal retirement contributions. 
  7. Be Wary of Commissions 
          Professionals will try to talk you into buying investments that give them high commissions. Don’t do this without some serious research. Some so-called professionals are well known for selling products that pay them big commissions, but don’t pay much to their buyers. 
  8. Diversify Your Investments 
          The market fluctuates constantly, and things always go up and down. To avoid losing too much money when stocks go down, make sure you have a diversified portfolio. That way, you will have some stocks that are rising, even when others are falling. Another option is to invest in overseas markets since they are notably different from the ones in the United States. 
  9. Study Your Portfolio 
          It is important that you always study your portfolio. What is right for your portfolio today, may not be the best for it tomorrow. It is important to know what you have, and where you might need to make changes in the future. When the economic climate shifts, be prepared to make investment changes as well.   10. Keep Informed 
          It is a good idea to always study the markets. Read up on the things you have invested in, and look for resources that keep up with market trends, as well as the global economy.