Boomers Make Noise While Millennials Exercise Patience in Quest for Homes

[Scottsdale, AZ] (August, 24, 2016) — Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, part of the HSF Affiliates LLC family of real estate brokerage franchise networks, and Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Arizona Properties today released results of its latest Homeowner Sentiment Survey indicating that current and prospective homeowners remain optimistic about the current state of the U.S. real estate market. Respondents cite higher home values, increasing housing inventory and low interest rates as the main reasons for their optimism.
The survey showed that 66% of existing homeowners view the U.S. real estate market favorably, representing a 5-percentage point jump since spring to the highest level in more than a year. Favorability also grew most among baby boomers, who are making noise with a newly favorable attitude toward the housing market. To date, boomers have been the most pessimistic group tracked in the ongoing survey but the latest results reveal a full 60% of boomers view the housing market favorably, a 6-point increase since last spring.
“We find this data particularly interesting in light of the housing-inventory shortage seen in many markets,” said Gino Blefari, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices. “As homeowners feel increasingly confident about the outlook of housing and their homeownership investments, they are more likely to consider a move for themselves – up, down or laterally to another market. Perhaps this is a signal that more existing homes may gradually come to market freeing up more options for first-time and move-up buyers.”
Millennials Are Most Optimistic
Among all respondents, millennials are most optimistic about the real estate market and are the most satisfied with the U.S. economy. In fact, 76% of respondents ages 18 to 34 view housing favorably, up a point from last spring and a full 17 percentage points from November. A large majority of millennials (85%) also believe that owning a home is an important part of the “American Dream,” a sentiment shared with older generations.
Mortgage rates remain low but how low is up to interpretation. Just 13% of millennial respondents described loan rates as “low” while 53% categorized them as “average.” Additionally, millennials indicated that their biggest challenge in purchasing a home is securing a low mortgage rate. Gen-Xers said their largest barrier to homeownership is saving money for the purchase, while boomers – in concert with their growing confidence – said their biggest challenge is “finding a home that suits their family’s wants and needs.”
The possibility of rising mortgage rates remains a concern among all demographic groups surveyed. Not surprisingly, 81% of prospective homebuyers expressed concern about rate increases. “Mortgage rates have been low for so long it’s only reasonable for rates to rise a little at some point down the road,” said Stephen Phillips, president of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices. “If and when rates do rise, it’s also reasonable to expect only a gradual increase over time – no rate shock.”

 
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Consumer Sentiment Survey Methodology
Interviews with 2,521 respondents were conducted online by Edelman Intelligence in June 2016. The respondents captured were either current homeowners (individuals who currently own a home as a primary residence) or prospective homeowners (individuals who do not currently own a home and are likely to buy a home as their primary residence in the next six months). The margin of error is +/-2.2% for current homeowners and +/- 4.4% for prospective homeowners.
ABOUT BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOMESERVICES ARIZONA PROPERTIES
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Arizona Properties is a part of Americana Holdings, which also includes Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties and Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Nevada Properties. The firms are leaders in their respective markets with 25 offices and 2,200 agents, comprising the largest independently owned Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices franchise in the world. Combined, the companies sold $3.1 billion in real estate in 2015.
In 2014, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices was named “Real Estate Agency Brand of the Year” by consumers in the 26th annual Harris Poll EquiTrend® study of the largest real estate networks. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices has 54,000 agents in 1,600 offices around the world. For more information, visit www.bhhsaz.com or call 480-505-6300.
 
About Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and HSF Affiliates LLC
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, based in Irvine, CA, is a real estate brokerage network built for a new era in residential real estate. The network, among the few organizations entrusted to use the world-renowned Berkshire Hathaway name, brings to the real estate market a definitive mark of trust, integrity, stability and longevity. Visit www.berkshirehathawayhs.com.
Irvine, CA-based HSF Affiliates LLC operates Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, Prudential Real Estate and Real Living Real Estate franchise networks. The company is a joint venture of which HomeServices of America, Inc., the nation’s second-largest, full-service residential brokerage firm, is a majority owner. HomeServices of America is an affiliate of world-renowned Berkshire Hathaway Inc.
Prudential, the Prudential logo and the Rock symbol are service marks of Prudential Financial, Inc. and its related entities, and are used under license with no other affiliation with Prudential.
Media Contacts:
Sarah Thornton
(702) 796-7777
sarah@sarahthorntonpr.com
 
Kevin Ostler
(949) 794-7980
kevinostler@hsfranchise.com