Trulia anticipates the homeownership rate – 63.9 percent as of the third quarter this year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau – to continue the slight upward trend. Interested buyers will have to remain diligent about their research and keep a close eye out for new properties coming on the market. It will also be imperative for buyers to have their financing in order and tap attentive real estate agents to help make an appealing offer on a house, as there will likely be more than one offer on available homes in many markets.

Affordable homes will still be found in the suburbs and outlying neighborhoods of major markets. Millennials have been late to home buying due to slower income growth than previous generations, points out Michael Fallon, chief investment officer for The Fallon Company, a real estate development and investment company based in Boston. That makes moving to a more affordable neighborhood key, but it’s unclear if millennials are slow to embrace the suburbs because they like the convenience of city living or they simply don’t feel confident enough to buy. “We haven’t seen that shift to the suburbs yet,” he says. “The contention is maybe that won’t happen.”

For sellers, on the other hand, enthusiasm is up – likely because home prices have continued to climb in recent years. The Trulia survey reports 31 percent of respondents believe 2018 will be an even better year to sell than 2017. Of course, this enthusiasm doesn’t translate to more options for buyers: Americans may feel it’s a great year to sell their home, but only 6 percent of homeowners currently plan to do so in 2018, according to Trulia. The lack of new inventory spells opportunity for those who choose to sell but will keep many would-be first-time buyers from jumping into homeownership due to stiff competition.

New Construction and Development

Since the Great Recession, one of the housing market’s biggest struggles has been a lack of new inventory coming on the market. New construction hasn’t kept pace with the growth of U.S. households, and while construction has picked up in recent years, much of the development has been in multifamily buildings – apartments for rent or condominium communities – leaving many prospective homebuyers out in the cold.

“Much of [the new development] centers around trying to create an environment that allows tenants and residents – all users – to have that live, work and play feel,” with a mix of retail, office and residential spaces so residents don’t have to travel far, Fallon says.

In addition to more mixed-use communities that blend commercial and residential property, expect the size of individual apartments, condos, and houses to get smaller as well. Jeremy Swillinger, a licensed real estate salesperson at Level Group Inc. in New York City, says many new apartments and condos in the city are shrinking to increase profit for developers, and residents so far have been willing to compromise. These smaller footprints are appearing in many other major markets as well.

“Four years ago, developers were making two-bedrooms that were 1,200 square feet, now they’re making them 1,000 square feet,” Swillinger says. “From the buyer’s angle, it’s: ‘It’s not enough square feet for me, but it’ll still work.’ They want to stay in the city.”

Renting

If more first-time buyers don’t embrace the suburbs, the share of renters versus homeowners in the U.S. will continue to grow in 2018. New construction following the recession has largely focused on meeting demand for rental options, and major cities, in particular, are beginning to experience some relief in rental rates – and even incentives for renters – with the completion of many new properties.

“If you’re a renter, there are options – there are incentives, there’s free months’ rent. You have the pick of the litter, currently,” Swillinger says.

You won’t see rental rates in a luxury buildings suddenly dropping to midlevel prices, but you can expect a bit more power when it comes to negotiating your lease. Especially if you’re looking at a neighborhood where more than one new building is beginning to lease to tenants, leasing agents will have to up the ante to attract tenants.

And if more consumers opt to purchase a home in 2018, renters will have even more bargaining power – not always in the rent itself, but with incentives like free rent for a month or two, free parking spaces or waived amenities fees.

Tax Changes for Homeowners

Residents in big coastal markets like New York and Los Angeles may see more change coming their way with tax reform, which passed into law as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in December 2017.

The taxes you file this year for 2017 will be unaffected, but beginning with your 2018 taxes, the maximum amount of mortgage debt you can deduct interest form has been reduced to $750,000 for new mortgages. Existing mortgages have been grandfathered in with the previous cap of $1 million.

Additionally, the ability to deduct state and local property taxes has been capped at $10,000, where a limit didn’t previously exist.

Experts agree that the changes should have the biggest effect on coastal markets – particularly in New England – where property taxes are highest, while the middle of the country will be largely unaffected

Courtesy of realestate.usnews.com and Credit to Devon

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