Friday, December 30, 2016

The Trump Effect: 12 Ways President Trump may affect the real estate and housing markets. (Part 2)

During the recent presidential campaigning season and the election that saw Donald Trump become our next president, there was little talk about the issues that affect real estate, mortgages and housing. But it was only eight ago during the 2008 race when the collapsing housing market was one of the most prevalent topics for candidates, as the nation was in a free fall of home values due to the mortgage market collapse. 

But now that Donald Trump is officially our 45th U.S. president, his influence on U.S. housing and real estate is a point of interest, once again. While some deride his lack of political experience, there is no arguing with the fact that Trump is one of the most prominent real estate moguls in America, and is looking to make some sweeping changes over the next four (or eight) years that could affect homeowners across the country.

In part one of this blog, we brought you the first six ways President Trump may affect the real estate, mortgage, and housing markets. Now, we'll bring you the final six.

7. Early signs point to Trump bolstering consumer confidence.
A lot of where the housing market turns is determined not just by logic and data, but by the fears, hopes, perceptions and emotions of the masses in the form of consumer confidence.

Therefore, it's understandable that when Trump takes office, financial analysts predict a boost to consumer confidence in Red states (Republican, or those that largely voted for Trump). Meanwhile, people in Blue states might hold off on important financial decisions like buying a new house, hiring more workers, buying a new car, etc. Both of these could become self-fulfilling prophecies in their respective areas, but one thing that is universal is that the business-friendly and pro-growth Trump is expected to stimulate the economy, for better or for worse, with consumer confidence following that trend.

8. It could be easier to get a home loan (again).
President Trump is on record that he intends to encourage banks and lenders to loosen their qualifications for lending on mortgage loans, a stance he confirmed during an August speech at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

With relaxed lending standards, banks will give out more mortgage loans to more people, including those with lower credit, incomes, or people who wouldn’t necessarily qualify now, a change that could really help our 50-year low homeownership levels.

All of this may sound a lot like the mortgage environment back before banks became so gun shy after being ravaged by the mortgage crisis, in a period of unprecedented real estate growth. But will Trump’s policies light a fire under the too-conservative banks, boosting our low home ownership rates once again, or create another white-hot real estate market that’s ready to combust? 

9. By clearing the path for more building, Trump should help increase housing supply.
Our current housing market is characterized by two polar opposite factors - strong demand from buyers, but also extremely low levels of new home construction and supply. In fact, a recent study by the Urban Institute revealed that there are more than 400,000 fewer homes being built than are needed, and in some metropolitan areas (Sacramento!) the situation is even more pronounced.

One of President Trump’s priorities will be to reduce regulatory land-use and zoning restrictions on building,  kick-starting new home construction and eventually better balancing buyer demand and housing supply. In an August meeting of the National Association of Home Builders, Trump said, “there’s no industry, other than probably the energy industry, that is more overregulated than the housing industry. Twenty-five percent of the cost of a home is due to regulation. I think we should get that down to about 2 percent.”

However, Trump’s power to change these regulations will only go so far since a lot of them are enacted on a state and local level, so we’ll have to see how wide the floodgates open on new construction. 

10. Will Trump’s signature unpredictability keep the Fed from raising rates too quickly? 
The Fed is expected to raise interest rates gradually over the next 18 months, but will Trump's influence keep them from raising them too abruptly? With news of Trump's election – and in the month's since - we've experienced an unprecedented stock market rally. But Trump also brings a lot of uncertainty and perceived volatility, filling up newspaper headlines. It's unclear whether the "Trump Effect" will keep driving investors to the stock market, or back into safe vehicles like mortgage-backed securities because of the safety of the real estate market (just like they did with news of Brexit). Trump’s unpredictability – and the erratic nature of how markets and investors have responded to him – should result in the Fed taking a measured, cautious approach to any rate increases.

11. Will the Trump Effect result in lower mortgage rates?
It’s hard to envision mortgage interest rates getting any lower or even staying at the near-historical lows we've enjoyed the last few years. But, like we mentioned above, uncertainty over Trump’s influence on the economy and his unconventional geopolitical maneuvering might actually prolong this period of low interest rates.

If that’s the case, low-interest rates combined with easier lending standards and more supply could lead to another golden era of real estate. However, as we’ve seen before, it can also create a bubble that causes disaster when it inevitably pops.

12. Shake up the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
As we’ve seen with the FHA, Fannie and Freddie, etc. Trump is a staunch adversary of big government agencies, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is no exception. President Trump will surely look to trim the fat from the CFPB, or maybe even do away with it altogether. While the CFPB was created along with the Dodd-Frank Act to protect consumers from predatory lending and financial services, Republicans like Trump believe that the agency’s regulatory quagmire prohibits local and regional banks from actively lending to consumers for home mortgages, small business loans, and the like, ultimately making it harder for Americans to buy homes.


Buying a home this year? You can learn a lot from these past homebuyer regrets.

If you could go back and give your younger, greener self some advice before you bought your first house, what it would be?

While we can’t go back in time to counsel ourselves on what mistakes to avoid when buying or selling a home, we can learn from others’ mistakes, and a new survey of homeowner regrets lets us do just that.

For example, an astonishing 53% of all homeowners polled expressed having at least one regret with their past home purchase, and many had multiple regrets.

Interestingly, that percentage has come down over time, most likely because getting information online about smart home purchases is much easier. There was also plenty of remorse to go around over buying before the real estate crash and the economic downturn in 2009. In fact, from 2003-2009, 63% of homeowners had regrets; and from 2010-2013, 55% of homeowners had regrets.

Here’s a list of the top regrets reported by homeowners:

34% wished they had chosen a larger home

11% would have chosen a smaller home

14% wanted to shop around more for a better mortgage

14% wish they had chosen a different real estate agent

12% said: “I wish I had borrowed less against my home.”

27% wanted to do more remodeling when they bought the home

22% wished they had more information about the home before they decided

18% would have put more money down for the down payment

16% wanted to be more financially secure before they purchased

15% wanted a neighborhood with a closer commute to work

14% wanted more information about the neighborhood before buying

12% didn’t understand the costs of homeownership thoroughly

9% would have chosen a neighborhood with less crime

7% would go back and choose a neighborhood with stronger schools

6% would have rented instead of bought altogether

5% would do less remodeling the home than they did

4% wished they had put less money down for the down payment

2% would have borrowed more against their home

The study found that homeowners were:

5x more likely to wish they had remodeled more than remodeled less
4x times more likely to wish they put a larger down payment, instead of less
3x more likely to wish they purchased a bigger home than a smaller home

Let’s be clear: these numbers only represent homeowner regrets, not renters. In fact, renters have their whole other list of regrets (we won’t cover them all here.) But I will note that the biggest difference between homeowners and renters is that 23% of all renters wished they had bought instead of rented, while just 3% of homeowners wished they had rented instead of bought.

It's also worth noting that there's a huge difference in regards to age and the percentages in assessing homeowner regrets. For example, 75% of millennial homeowners expressed at least once regret, while only 36% of homeowners age 55 or older had any similar misgivings about their home purchase.

66% of Gen Xers, or 35-44 years old, had regrets. Only 53% of Young Boomers ages 45-54 years old, had home buying regrets.  So the indicator is that there are some significant social or culture changes taking place that impact how people feel about homeownership.

 Also, the conditions of the market over time have an impact on buyer attitude. When you bought your home makes a significant difference in the instance of regrets, as well. In fact, if you moved into your current home:

2002 or earlier, 43% of homeowners have regrets
2003-2006, 63% of homeowners have regrets
2007-2009, 63% of homeowners have regrets
2010-2013, 55% of homeowners have regrets

So do you have any regrets with your previous experience buying a home? What would you differently? What information, tools or resources would have helped you avoid these later misgivings? I’d love to hear your experiences and opinions.

The most important part of my job as your Realtor is to help empower you to make the BEST possible decisions when you buy so you do not end up in those statistics.

Contact me if you have any questions about real estate or want to buy or sell a home – regret free!

Friday, December 23, 2016

10 Heartwarming military surprise homecomings.

Every year, the holidays are a time for great fun, friends, and food, but we thought it's also important to remember the men and women that make extraordinary sacrifices so the rest of us can enjoy our lives. However, for the 130,000 military servicemen and women stationed in 150 countries around the world, holidays can be a time of unfamiliarity, loneliness, and missing family. So it makes it even more special when a father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sister or just friend can return home, whether for the holidays or just to surprise their loved ones.

As a huge "Thank You" to the men and women who sacrifice so much for us so far away from home, we wanted to bring you these ten heartwarming military surprise homecomings.

We wish we could bring all the brave men and women of the U.S. military home for the holidays so they could spend time with their loved ones, but short of that, we can celebrate these joyous and emotional homecomings caught on video.

Get the tissues ready, hugged your loved ones, and enjoy!

1. This military family is reunited with their dad who has been away 40 months in 4 separate deployments. 


2. Wife and daughter reuniting with husband after a 7+ month deployment. One of the happiest moments of their life! 


3. Cutest surprise for soldier homecoming on Veterans Day at Seahawks game.


4. Surprise homecoming for military mom-to-be.


5. After being in Afghanistan for 6 months, a soldier gives a surprise SCUBA homecoming to his family!


6. Soldier surprises daughter in class at her school - one of the BEST reactions!


7. Little girl's priceless reaction to her dad's homecoming will leave you in tears! 


8. Soldier surprises family at Blackhawks game.


9. Military dad surprises his daughter during her college graduation ceremony.


10. Soldier receives police escort to surprise his kids in time for Christmas! 






Friday, December 16, 2016

The Alfano Group's top-10 blog posts of 2016!

As the confetti falls on another New Year and the calendar flips to 2017, we’re reminded by how truly incredible 2016 was. To commemorate the last 365 days and say goodbye to 2016, we decided to put together our top-10 blog posts of the year, as determined by reader views.

As always, thanks for reading, sharing, and using The Alfano Group for your real estate needs, and please reach out to us if you need any advice or help buying or selling a home in 2017. Together, let’s make it another great year! 

The Alfano Group's to-10 blog posts from 2016:

















































































































































































































Thursday, December 15, 2016

Ranking the most popular New Year's resolutions for 2017, including homeownership.

As 2016 comes to a close and the confetti falls on bright hopes for 2017, our focus often goes towards our New Year's resolutions. In fact, making resolutions is a self-improvement tradition starting January 1 each and every year, our chance to finally conquer the lofty goals that eluded us over the previous 365 days. 

Whether you want to lose 10 lbs., get a better job, or finally find love, you’re in good company, as the majority of people in the U.S. set lofty goals and resolutions for themselves for the next 12 months. 

Let’s look at some trends, facts and stats about New Year’s resolutions, and how to actually meet your goals this year.

Ranking the most popular New Year's resolutions:

1. Lose weight and eat healthier.
2. Spend less money and save more.
3. Get out of debt.
4. Get a better job or promotion. 
5. Enjoy life to the fullest.
6. Go to the gym and exercise more to get in shape. 
7. Learn something new or take a class.
8. Quit smoking.
9. Cut back on alcohol.
10. Volunteer.
11. Meet someone, fall in love or strengthen a romantic relationship.
12. Spend more quality time with family.
13. Take a trip.
14. Recycle and be more environmentally conscious.
15. Practice wellness, de-stress with more regularity.

Homeownership is a common New Year's resolution.
Among non-homeowners (renters), home ownership is also one of the highest-ranked goals. In fact, a survey by the National Association of Realtors found that 83% of renters say they want to own – often in the coming year or as soon as they are able, making it their most grand resolution. Additionally, 77% of renters believe homeownership is part of their American Dream, and 84% believe owning a home is a good financial decision. 

Why do they rank homeownership as one of their most important aspirations for the coming year? Of course, owning a home goes hand-in-hand with these other New Year’s resolutions on the list that revolve around getting one’s personal financial house in order, including saving (for a down payment) and paying off debt (to save more, get a better debt-to-income ratio, and improve credit score. 

Positive feelings about homeownership over the next 365 days seem to be universal, with a majority of both homeowners (82%) and renters (68%) saying that it’s a good time to buy a home.

Let’s take a look at some other statistics about the New Year’s resolutions we make, some we break, and how we might actually achieve them in 2017:

How many of us make resolutions?
45% of Americans almost always make New Year’s resolutions.
17% of Americans infrequently make New Year’s resolutions.
38% of Americans never make New Year's resolutions.

What do people resolve to do?
47% of resolutions are self-improvement or education goals
38% of resolutions have to do with losing weight
34% of resolutions revolve around making more money
31% of all resolutions have something to do with better relationships

How often do people achieve success?
Only 8% of people successfully achieve their New Year’s resolutions
49% have mixed results with their New Year’s Resolutions
24% never achieve their New Year’s Resolutions every year

Does success have something to do with age?
39% of people in their twenties achieve their resolution each year
14% of people over 50 achieve their resolution each year

How long do we stick to our resolutions?
46% maintain for six months or longer
64% one month or more 
71% two weeks and beyond 
75% at least a  week  

Fun fact: studies indicate that the less happy you are, the more likely you are to make New Year’s resolutions

Of all people who make resolutions:
41% are unhappy with their lives
34% are moderately happy
25% are happy

So how do you improve your chances of achieving your New Year’s resolutions?

1. Make one resolution and focus on it.
2. Make it specific, reasonable, and measurable. People who commit to specific resolutions are 10 times more likely to achieve them compared to general ones.
3. Formulate an action plan to execute to reach that goal.
4. Put it all on paper and schedule your action steps.
5. Hold yourself accountable or better yet, team up with a buddy or group who is trying to achieve the same goals.
6. Set several small plateaus or milestones to mark your progress.
7. Get your family and friends on board to help support and encourage you.
8. Keep your thoughts positive on your progress.
9. Don’t wait until the New Year – get started now to jumpstart your improvement!

***

Good luck with your resolutions this year, and if you don’t quite reach your goals don’t worry – there’s always next year! If you'd like help achieving that penultimate goal of owning a home, purchasing an investment property, or moving up to that dream home, give us a call!  

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

A closer look at Dr. Ben Carson, the man suddenly in charge of HUD.

Only a few weeks after luxury real estate billionaire Donald Trump was elected the 45th President of the United States, his team announced the surprising appointment of Dr. Ben Carson as Trump’s HUD secretary.

Carson, a neurosurgeon by trade, turned presidential candidate who was often at odds with Trump during his party's nominations until the two "buried the hatchet," will be charged with running the mammoth and critically important Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

"I grew up in the inner city and have spent a lot of time there, and have dealt with a lot of patients from that area and recognize that we cannot have a strong nation if we have weak inner cities," Carson said. "I feel that I can make a significant contribution particularly by strengthening communities that are most in need."

But outside of real estate and political circles, many people still don't understand what HUD does – and why it's so important to the housing market for tens of millions of Americans.

HUD was first created as a cabinet-level agency in 1965 with a mission to “create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all.”

The agency carries out that mission by overseeing affordable-housing programs and enforcing fair housing legislation.

HUD actually runs over 100 programs and sub-programs to do that, but a few of its more notable branches include the Federal Housing Administration, or FHA, which helps people of modest means qualify for home loans and achieve homeownership.

HUD plays a vital role in ensuring that families of low-income and humble means have access to good, safe homes and neighborhoods, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity and the like. It does this through sub-programs like the Section 8 housing choice voucher program cities use to offer subsidized housing to the poor, and enforcing the Fair Housing Act that made housing discrimination illegal as part of the Civil Rights Act of 1968.

One of its most important roles is overseeing the distribution of money for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, giving funds to cities for redevelopment of distressed communities after natural disasters like floods, tornadoes, earthquakes and hurricanes. The CDBG also distributes funds to municipalities and states for other redevelopment and community projects that benefit low and moderate income housing.

The CDBG by itself is a huge program, disseminating almost $3 billion every year to 1,000 local communities in the U.S. In fact, since the program was enacted in 1975, the CDBG has given out more than $200 billion in inflation-adjusted dollars!

In fact, rampant spending without data to prove the efficacy of programs like the CDBG are the root criticisms of the agency – and the reason President Trump will rely on HUD Secretary Dr. Ben Carson to revamp it. Critics on both sides of the political aisle have raised concern over the size and nearly unlimited spending by HUD, which for many years received federal funding larger than both the Department of Justice and Department of Education. In 2015, HUD garnered $32 billion in taxpayer money, $8 billion more than the DOJ and almost five times more than the Environmental Protection Agency.

Despite these colossal outlays of funds, since 2000, the number of high-poverty neighborhoods in the U.S. has actually doubled under HUD’s watch, not been reduced.

Will the newly appointed Dr. Ben Carson be the man to change all that? President Trump certainly things so:

"Ben Carson has a brilliant mind and is passionate about strengthening communities and families within those communities," Trump said in a statement. "We have talked at length about my urban renewal agenda and our message of economic revival, very much including our inner cities."

Carson, who grew up in a blighted neighborhood in Detroit and was raised by a single mother, worked his way out of poverty, becoming a neurosurgeon by his 30s. But while his rags-to-riches story resonated with voters and many average Americans during his run for the Republican nomination, many question whether it means he's suited to be HUD secretary. In fact, Carson has no prior experience working in housing, governmental agencies or as a community organizer.

That’s a profound deviation from most of our past HUD secretaries who were rich in political and community experience. George Romney, who served under Richard M. Nixon, was a governor; Jack Kemp, who served under George Bush, was a congressman; Henry Cisneros, who served under Bill Clinton, was a mayor; and so was Julian Castro, Obama’s current HUD secretary.

But chances are the Trump will be pulling the strings on any HUD overhaul, not Carson, since our president is probably the most notable real estate investor and mogul in American history. What will the next four years look like for HUD under Trump and Carson? Analysts, housing experts, and many average Americans are waiting with bated breath! 

Thursday, December 8, 2016

10 Seriously cool small space hacks!

One of the most interesting trends in real estate these days is the move towards smaller floor plans. In fact, buyers are opting for location and amenities over bigger square footage, and builders are responding in kind. From the Tiny House Movement to seriously cool but small urban dwellings, our living spaces have less square footage these days than ten years ago.

Of course, that may be nothing new for people who live in older homes already, as many homes built in the 1940s through 1960s – especially here in Sacramento – are big on charm but a little pinched on square footage.

But none of that means you have to sacrifice utility, convenience or even fun, as there are plenty of creative ways to make great use of the space you already have. Here are our first 10 seriously cool small space hacks, and look for more in parts two and three of this blog.

Mirrors
You may not be able to double the size of your room cheaply and easily, but adding a mirror makes any room look far larger than its true size, creating the perception of more space while also reflecting natural light. You can angle a mirror towards a window or focal point like a fireplace, dining table or large plant to give the room more depth.

Mirrors don’t just have to hang in your living room, either, as they can cover kitchen backsplashes, whole walls, spaces up to the ceiling, entire sides of narrow hallways, or creatively used as decorations, all making your home look bigger.





Storage between the studs
Back in the 1940s and 50s, homes were built much smaller so storage space was at a premium. For that reason, they often had narrow spaces built into the walls just between the studs that housed the ironing board. When you needed it, you simply brought it down into place and then put it back up when done. If you’re in a small house now, just think of the possibilities for additional storage space by utilizing the areas in between your studs!




Back-of-the-couch table
I bet you have at least one sizable sofa in your house, and chances are you have couches and oversized chairs. But behind each and every one of them right now sits…wasted space. Make good use of it with a narrow table that can hold drinks, food, lights, books, or even add stools for a coffee bar type sitting area for sofas with their backs to the room.




Boring stairwell turned cool nook
Staircases are necessary (unless you have an elevator!) but they sure do take up a lot of space. But you can maximize the area under your landing by opening it up and making a cute little reading nook, attach a small door for a doggie hangout, or just an additional space for storage. If the back of your landing is exposed, you can make lockers or cubbies between the studs and add a bench for an instant mudroom.


Under-bed shelving
Do you have a twin, queen or even king–sized bed? How many beds are in your house? That’s a whole lot of wasted space in small homes, but you can make efficient use of it with built-in drawers and shelving. They make specially sized racks for under beds that easily roll out or, at the very least, you can use plastic storage bins to hide shoes and out of season clothing.




Shelving across a window
When you want to hang shelves or dress up small rooms, you’re limited to the wall space around your windows. But whether it’s a diminutive bedroom or cramped kitchen, there’s a great way to include your window areas into “living space.” Just add floating shelves across the span of the window for a great effect. Clear glass or rustic wood shelves work great for this, and you’ll be wondering why people haven’t done this for decades.




Keep a cohesive color scheme
Is your kitchen painted off-white, your living room tan, and your hallway a nice sage green, with multi-colored furniture and decorations to mix it up even more? When someone sees all of these different paints and shades, it instantly chops up the house and makes it appear much smaller. Instead, try painting all the walls and even trim the same color, with the same tone for furniture. It may seem a little “vanilla,” but keeping the same cohesive color will actually make your space appear way larger. You’ll want to stick with an off-white or very light shade for this effect, but any color that you do put in these rooms will really pop.




Magnetic racks
Small kitchens may be short on counter space and cabinets, but one thing they all have is unused wall space. So to make good use of those empty backsplashes or even wall areas, mount magnetic strips and then you can line up your knives, big spoons and other utensils, or even pots and pans.




Rolling kitchen island
So you don’t have room for a center island or breakfast bar in your kitchen but you REALLY want one? There’s an easy solution – just pick up a nice rolling kitchen “island” that can be easily kept in the corner and brought out for parties, big dinners, or whenever else it’s convenient. They make them all different sizes and heights, with bar stools to match, and with butcher block or even granite tops.




This isn’t your grandma's Murphy bed

Beds take up a lot of space, dominating most studio apartments, dorm rooms, and lofts, and cramped bedrooms. But what’s old is new with the resurgence of Murphy beds, which are made a lot sturdier, easier to install and more creative than models from yesteryear. Just by folding your bed back up into the wall, your spare bedroom can now be a place to sleep for guests AND a workout room or office.





Sacramento #4 on list of hottest real estate markets for the coming year - once again.

We don’t have to look far for good news about the real estate market these days, but a recent report shines an even more positive light on forecasted home prices in Sacramento in the coming year.

According to Realtor.com’s annual report on the residential real estate markets they believe will be the hottest in the coming year, Sacramento distinguished itself, once again. In fact, Realtor.com Chief Economist Jonathan Smoke projects Sacramento to be the fourth hottest residential real estate market in the entire country in 2017, with anticipated appreciation rates of 7.2%. Additionally, the report by Realtor.com’s economic analysts predicts that sale volume will also be up 4.9% in 2017.

That follows up on a stellar year for real estate in Sacramento in 2016. Interestingly, a year ago, Sacramento was also ranked #4 in the nation for projected real estate price and sales growth in 2016, making Sacramento the only metropolitan statistical area to rank in the top five both years!

This year’s report also estimates the median home price to be $420,000, so an added 7.18% would bring the median to $450,156,000.

While Sacramento home prices have appreciated rapidly in past years, the region is still primed for growth. Sacramento is the most affordable major city in California, with home prices well less than half of those in San Francisco, San Jose and the Bay Area.

More and more businesses are coming to Sacramento, bringing good-paying jobs, and the new Golden 1 Arena and revitalization in midtown, downtown, the Railyards, East Sacramento, and West Sacramento are well underway. With an extremely tight supply of existing homes and too few new homes under construction, the housing shortage in Sacramento means the price of rent is skyrocketing, further invigorating the residential real estate market.

That’s a notable contrast from Smoke’s predictions for the entire U.S. real estate market, which he expects to slow down slightly, but not falter. According to Smoke and Realtor.com, the U.S. could see an average of 3.9% in home price appreciation and only 1.9% in sales volume growth in 2017.

The report also highlights the fact that many of the fastest-growing real estate markets are in metropolitan areas in the Western United States. In fact, Western cities account for 11 of the top 25 cities on the list for 2017, including 5 cities in California.

On average, the top 10 metropolitan markets on the list will see price gains of 5.8% with an increase in sales volume 6.3%

Here is the data on the top-20 real estate markets expected to grow the fastest according to Realtor.com:

1. Phoenix, AZ
Median Price: $300,000
Projected Price Growth in 2017: 5.94%
Projected Sales Growth in 2017: 7.24%

2. Los Angeles, CA
Median Price: $675,000
Projected Price Growth in 2017: 6.90%
Projected Sales Growth in 2017: 6.03%

3. Boston, MA
Median Price: $480,000
Projected Price Growth in 2017: 6.09%
Projected Sales Growth in 2017: 6.32%

4. Sacramento, CA
Median Price: $420,000
Projected Price Growth in 2017: 7.18%
Projected Sales Growth in 2017: 4.92%

5. Riverside, CA
Median Price: $350,000
Projected Price Growth in 2017: 4.98%
Projected Sales Growth in 2017: 6.88%

6. Jacksonville, FL
Median Price: $284,000
Projected Price Growth in 2017: 4.79%
Projected Sales Growth in 2017: 7.03%

7. Orlando, FL
Median Price: $272,000
Projected Price Growth in 2017: 5.69%
Projected Sales Growth in 2017: 6.10%

8. Raleigh, NC
Median Price: $312,000
Projected Price Growth in 2017: 4.16%
Projected Sales Growth in 2017: 7.55%

9. Tucson, AZ
Median Price: $237,000
Projected Price Growth in 2017: 6.10%
Projected Sales Growth in 2017: 5.47%

10. Portland, OR
Median Price: $420,000
Projected Price Growth in 2017: 6.55%
Projected Sales Growth in 2017: 5.02%

11. Durham, NC
Median Price: $320,000
Projected Price Growth in 2017: 2.55%
Projected Sales Growth in 2017: 8.95%

12. Colorado Springs, CO
Median Price: $335,000
Projected Price Growth in 2017: 4.77%
Projected Sales Growth in 2017: 6.71%

13. Jackson, MS
Median Price: $207,000
Projected Price Growth in 2017: 1.98%
Projected Sales Growth in 2017: 9.44%

14. Detroit, MI
Median Price: $195,000
Projected Price Growth in 2017: 5.17%
Projected Sales Growth in 2017: 6.22%

15. San Diego, CA
Median Price: $620,000
Projected Price Growth in 2017: 6.47%
Projected Sales Growth in 2017: 4.89%

16. Salt Lake City, UT
Median Price: $345,000
Projected Price Growth in 2017: 6.66%
Projected Sales Growth in 2017: 4.67%

17. Deltona, FL
Median Price: $260,000
Projected Price Growth in 2017: 3.10%
Projected Sales Growth in 2017: 8.23%

18. Provo, UT
Median Price: $334,000
Projected Price Growth in 2017: 5.16%
Projected Sales Growth in 2017: 5.84%

19. Austin, TX
Median Price: $385,000
Projected Price Growth in 2017: 3.50%
Projected Sales Growth in 2017: 7.40%

20. Seattle, WA
Median Price: $430,000
Projected Price Growth in 2017: 7.36%
Projected Sales Growth in 2017: 3.41%