Dallas may be a city on the rise, but in 2008 its new home sales tumbled. According to statistics released earlier this month by housing analyst MetroStudy Inc., sales in the Dallas-Fort Worth area dropped by 30 percent in the final quarter of 2008, leaving many new lots vacant.
This problem is rooted in America's subprime mortgage. First-time buyers are unable to attain loans because down payments are too high and lenders are adhering to stricter lending standards. But it also due to hesitant buyers'a public mindset that says now is not the right time to purchase real estate.
A public mindset, though, is just that'public'a collection of opinions that shape our society. It does not pertain to individuals. For some people, with housing prices plummeting, now is an ideal time to invest in real estate. For others, people still working to save for a down payment or find the right location, now is not the time to buy. Either way, it is a personal circumstance, one that is ultimately influenced by larger public opinion.
Popular opinion can be paralyzing and it can be liberating. It's exactly what got the real estate market into its current state. When banks were lending at will, and when buyers took advantage and got in over their heads with mortgages they couldn't afford, the real estate bubble burst. Now popular opinion is telling people not to buy. The trick, after serious consideration and analysis, is to simply ask yourself if now is the right time to buy.
With so much property sitting on the market in Dallas, prices will inevitably fall. But buyers must also beware of saturation. If too many homes are on the market and not selling, a standoff could occur, rendering helpless both buyers and sellers alike.
The Dallas Morning News ran an article recently about the situation.
Builders and analysts are wondering how much more new-home sales will fall.
"That's the million-dollar question, and a lot of that depends on what happens in the economy," said David Brown, who heads MetroStudy's Dallas office. "If you put it in perspective with the downturn that happened in the 1980s, the decline then from the peak was a 55 percent drop in sales."
Local builders responded by trimming starts of new houses to the lowest level in 17 years. Only 3,727 homes were started in the final three months of 2008.
With this news in hand it is up to buyers to determine his or her timing. If it is financially viable, go forward with a purchase. If it is not, rent an apartment until your capital and the market look more favorable'this at least mirrors the trend, when public opinion rules, it's best to rent an apartment.
About the Author:
Michael Russell writes about a variety of subjects, including real estate, environmentalism, and modern architecture. This article discusses real estate trends in Dallas. If you would like to learn more about Dallas apartments, visit Apartment Finder.