June 2017

Written by Robert H. Ruth

The last 10 years has seen a profound swing in our economy and the Housing Market.  Recently, ( last week of June, 2017) I looked at 5 components of the Housing Market and the US Economy to see what changes have occurred in the last 10 years.  Specifically, I looked at

• The Dow Jones Industrial Average,
• the U.S.  Unemployment Rate,
• the Median Sales Price of Single Family Homes in the US,
• the Average Rate on a 30 Year Fixed Rate Mortgage,
• the Income needed to qualify for  a home at the Median Sales Price

Here are the changes in each category, and my comments on each.  I think you’ll agree that the numbers are very interesting.

Dow Jones Industrial Average

-DJIA on 6/21/2007: 13,545
-DJIA on

Written by Robert H. Ruth

Second home season is officially here!  While buying a primary residence is a substantial commitment financially, with long ranging impacts, purchasing a second / vacation home is an even larger commitment, so careful deliberate planning is paramount if you are in the market to purchase a second home this year.   Here are five important issues to consider when contemplating a second home purchase:

How familiar are you with the area?

• Buying a home as an annual vacation destination or to use on weekends or Holidays is a very serious commitment. You better make sure you like the area you are purchasing in because you’ll be spending a huge amount of your free time there. Many buyers I work with have

Written by Robert H. Ruth

What is the State of the Market?

The market is experiencing increasing sales volume fueled by a shortage of inventory. 

• Current inventory is less than 4 months, 2 months in some metro areas
• Home price appreciation is up over 6% YTD, and could increase by 10% this year
• Demand is at the strongest levels since 2012

Factors Influencing Growth

Interest rates are not dramatically increasing as had been expected, but rather, have moderated as has the 10 Yr. Treasury Yield: