US home prices increased in January, rising more than 6% year-over-year for the sixth straight month
US home prices increased in January, rising more than 6% year-over-year for the sixth straight month.
Prices were also up 0.5% from December as competition increased in ever-tightening markets and the data from CoreLogic suggests there is little chance of much moderation over the next year.
The firm’s forecast through January 2019 is for a 4.8% rise year-over-year with the hottest markets continuing to outpace the average. California, Florida, Nevada and Oregon are forecast to see a 7% rise.
“Homes with a purchase price less than 75% of the local area median had price growth of 9.0% during the year ending January 2018,” said Dr Frank Nothaft, CoreLogic chief economist. “Homes that sold for more than 125% of median appreciated 5.3% over the same 12-month period. Thus, first-time buyers are facing acute affordability challenges in some high-cost areas.”
“Millennials who are looking to become first-time homeowners find it particularly challenging to find an affordable home in these areas,” said Frank Martell, president and CEO of CoreLogic. “Our projections continue to show tightness in the entry-level market for the foreseeable future, which could further prevent millennials from purchasing homes in 2018 and 2019, even as much of that generation reaches its prime home-buying years.”
