The State of Real Estate: A Look Back at What Changed in 2022 (2024)

What a difference a year makes! Whether buying or selling, you’ll see a few big shifts in the real estate market that could be here to stay.

By Glenda Taylor | Published Dec 27, 2022 7:07 PM

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After 2 years of a tight housing market driven by a pandemic and a shortage of inventory, real estate sales took a decidedly downward shift in 2022. As inflation and mortgage rates ticked up, combined with record asking prices, some would-be buyers opted to sit it out and wait for the market to stabilize. Still, homes were selling. Find out who was buying them, how long it took the average house to sell, and where the hot markets were.

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First-time Buyers Slowed

Higher mortgage rates had a dampening effect on those looking to buy their first house. The number of first-time homebuyers went from 34 percent in 2021 to just 26 percent in 2022, according to RealTrends, a leading source of housing news in the U.S. The age of the average first-time home buyer also increased from 33 to 36 years compared to 2021, as potential buyers had to work and save longer in order to afford a down payment and higher monthly payments.

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In general, the bigger the house, the higher the price tag. While the cost of buying a home increased, buyers weren’t interested in downsizing to make a deal. Most home buyers in 2022 purchased homes the same size or larger than their existing homes. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), 32 percent of home sellers turned around and bought homes of equal size, and 41 percent traded up to houses with even more square footage.

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The Burbs Were Popular

Perhaps due to an increase in remote worker opportunities, buyers appeared to be looking for houses in smaller communities and suburbs instead of metropolises. Fully 39 percent of all buyers in 2022 purchased homes in suburban developments, while 29 percent bought in small towns, and 19 percent purchased a new home in a rural location. Typically, buyers can find cheaper housing outside metropolitan areas. This was a trend that started during the pandemic and showed no signs of easing this past year.

Rates Doubled—Sales Dropped

The year started with mortgage interest rates still low enough to entice buyers to take the plunge—the most common mortgage term, a 30-year fixed rate, could be had for about 3.5 percent in January, but that doubled to 7 percent in late November, and buyers started backing off.

Let’s calculate the difference at Bankrate. At 3.5 percent, buying a $500,000 home in January (with a 20-percent down payment) resulted in a monthly principal and interest payment of $1,796. Purchasing the same house (at 7 percent) at the close of November came in at a whopping $2,661 per month in principle and interest.

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Houses Stayed Listed Longer

An average of 2 weeks on the multiple listing isn’t long to wait for a house to sell, but it’s double the time the average house sat one year prior. In 2021, home sellers could figure on their house selling within a week of listing. In 2022, that extended to 2 weeks. The extra week didn’t seem to hurt the asking price, as NAR reports that a home’s final sales price was still a median of 100 percent of its asking price. In other words, buyers were willing to pay the asking price to get the house they wanted. Compared to historic selling trends, 2022 was still a seller’s market.

Homeowners Stayed Put Longer

In 2022, homeowners lived in their existing homes for an average of 10 years before they put them up for sale, compared to just 8 years in 2021. That isn’t necessarily indicative of a trend, since NAR reports that in 2019 and 2020, sellers also tended to remain in their houses for 10 years before selling. However, it could be that homeowners in 2022 were hoping for rates to come down before selling and taking out a mortgage on a new home.

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Agents Are Still the Way to Go

It can be tempting to go the for-sale-by-owner (FSBO) route to keep from paying a real estate agent’s commission, but navigating the selling process can be tricky. In 2022, 86 percent of sellers listed their homes with an agent, and then 39 percent of those sellers used the same agent to purchase a new home. Moreover, sellers seemed happy with the agents they used—85 percent said they would recommend their agent to other buyers and sellers.

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The State of Real Estate: A Look Back at What Changed in 2022 (2024)

FAQs

Why are houses so expensive in 2024? ›

The combination of high mortgage rates, steep home prices and low inventory levels are lining up to make the 2024 housing market a challenging one for both buyers and sellers. But rates have cooled a bit — if that continues throughout the year, as some experts predict, then market activity should heat up in response.

Is the real estate industry growing or declining? ›

Looking ahead, the market is anticipated to exhibit a steady annual growth rate (CAGR 2024-2028) of 4.51%, resulting in a market volume of US$142.90tn by 2028.

Will US housing ever be affordable again? ›

Experts overwhelmingly say that the housing market isn't going to crash anytime soon. The last housing crash helped cause today's lack of supply, which is what's keeping prices from falling. Mortgage rates, however, are expected to fall this year. This will help make homeownership more affordable.

Is real estate always changing? ›

Consider real estate as a living, breathing organism that adjusts to every little change in market trends. Rather than as a dying industry. It's a colorful and detailed mosaic rather than a straightforward story of deterioration. Because of the way technology is developing and the way the economy is always changing.

Why are houses in Texas so cheap? ›

The expansive geography of Texas provides ample land for development, keeping real estate prices competitive. Unlike densely populated states where space is at a premium, Texas's sprawling landscapes allow for more housing developments, leading to a broader range of affordable housing options.

Why is housing so expensive in the US? ›

The law of supply and demand has been in full effect. Many people want to purchase a home, but there simply aren't enough homes on the market. The pandemic, inflation and rising mortgage rates have all worsened the shortage.

Should I sell now or wait until 2024? ›

Best Time to Sell Your House for a Higher Price

April, June, and July are the best months to sell your house in California. The median sale price of houses in June 2023, was $796,400, which is expected to grow more in 2024. However, cities like Arcadia and San Mateo follow an upward trend throughout the year.

Is 2024 a good time to buy a house? ›

Mortgage rates are expected to come down in 2024, and inventory and home sales are likely to increase. Homebuyers and sellers can also expect prices to continue to rise, albeit at a slower clip than the past couple of years.

Where is real estate declining the most? ›

Metro areaPercent home price decline (Q4 2022-Q4 2023)
Jackson, Miss.-14.1%
Cleveland-Elyria, Ohio-8.9%
Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, Fla.-5.9%
Akron, Ohio-5.6%
6 more rows
Mar 2, 2024

What is the best time to buy a house? ›

You'll find the best inventory of houses in spring. If you're after a bargain, consider searching for a house in late autumn or winter. Inventory is lower, but you have a higher likelihood of getting a house below the asking price.

Is a real estate recession coming? ›

Most experts do not expect a housing market crash in 2024 since many homeowners have built up significant home equity. The issue is primarily an affordability crisis. High interest rates and inflated home values have made purchasing a home challenging for first-time homebuyers.

Is Biden doing anything about housing? ›

Lowering Costs for Renters

President Biden is also taking actions to lower costs and promote housing stability for renters. The White House Blueprint for a Renters Bill of Rights lays out the key principles of a fair rental market and has already catalyzed new federal actions to make those principles a reality.

How is anyone supposed to afford a house? ›

Keep your monthly payment to no more than 25% of your take-home pay. If you're a first-time home buyer, put at least 5–10% down. But 20% or more is even better because you'll avoid paying PMI! Pay for closing costs and moving expenses with cash.

Will Gen Z be able to afford houses? ›

But because Gen Z-ers earn more, the share of income required (27 percent) is roughly equal for both generations. Who's Had a Harder Time Buying a Home: You or Your Parents? Owning a home would cost Gen Z-ers about $165,000 during the eight-year period studied, while the millennial cost is greater, about $172,000.

What are the three most important things in real estate? ›

To achieve those goals, the three most important words in real estate are not Location, Location, Location, but Price, Condition, Availability.

What is the market prediction for 2024? ›

The market sees a greater than 80% chance of at least five rate cuts from current levels by the end of 2024. Investor optimism about the economic outlook has improved dramatically from a year ago, but there's still a risk that Fed policy tightening could tip the economy into a recession in 2024.

How is real estate evolving? ›

One of the most significant shifts in real estate investment is the embrace of technological advancements. From artificial intelligence to virtual reality, technology is revolutionizing how investors research, analyze, and manage properties.

Which state is the cheapest to live in? ›

Mississippi: According to World Population Review, in 2023, Mississippi holds the title of the cheapest state to live in the United States. Its cost of living index is 85, and overall costs in the state are 17% lower than the national average.

Is it cheaper to live in Florida or Texas? ›

Cost of Living in Florida vs Texas

Florida offers some of the best living costs in the country but Texas is still the winner with a cost of living index that is actually lower than the nation average. The median listing price of a house in Texas is also $274,500 compared to $300,00 in Florida.

What is the average cost of living in Texas per month? ›

Average Cost of Living in Texas: $45,114 per year

According to 2021 data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis the average total personal consumption cost in Texas is $45,114 per year. Here's how that breaks down. That's $3,760 a month, per person, on average.

What state has the most overpriced housing market? ›

Here's how much homes cost. California is home to some of the most overpriced housing markets in the nation, a new housing study reveals. A total of 11 California cities landed on a list of the top 100 housing markets in the United States created by Florida Atlantic University.

What is the most unaffordable place to live in United States? ›

Of the 10 cities with the most unaffordable neighborhoods, four are in California. Two cities in the Golden State, Los Angeles and San Jose, were found to be 100% unaffordable for the average married couple household.

Are US homes overpriced? ›

An overwhelming majority of homes in the U.S. are overvalued as steep mortgage rates and an ongoing housing shortage push the price of real estate even higher. A new report published by Fitch Ratings found that homes were overvalued by 11.1% at the end of 2023, a trend occurring in about 90% of U.S. metro areas.

What will home rates be in 2024? ›

NAR: Rates Will Decline to 6.5% The National Association of Realtors expects mortgage rates will average 6.8% in the first quarter of 2024, rising to 7.1% in the second quarter, according to its latest Quarterly U.S. Economic Forecast.

Should I buy a house now or wait for a recession? ›

And as you might imagine, recessions are a risky time to buy a home. If you lose your job, for example, a lender will be much less likely to approve your loan application. Even if the recession doesn't affect you directly, if your area is hard-hit, that could have a serious effect on the local real estate market.

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