Rising real estate interest rates impact sellers and buyers in the market. Hypothetically, house prices and property value are directly proportional to mortgage rates. However, the phenomenon is far from clear-cut. An Illinois real estate attorney will tell you that the economy’s health ultimately determines what rises and what falls.
The Link between Economy Health and Interest Rates
Rising mortgage rates will not affect house prices and property value much if the economy improves fast. So if, say, mortgage rates increase by a single point and increase monthly payments, a strong economy will allow employers to increase salaries to compensate for the increase in interest rate.
A robust economy acts as a foundation for job and salary growth. In this case, rising interest rates should not harm the real estate market. However, it seems home buyers and investors can expect increased interest rates this year. Here are some of the things they can expect if or when that happens:
A Reduction in Buyer Demand
Buyers may pull back slightly if interest rates increase to the point that homes become less affordable. If that happens, you can expect fewer bidding wars for properties on the market. As such, interested buyers may not have to resort to risky strategies that they were forced to use last year when interest rates were at the lowest they had been since 1971. A whopping 72% of buyers found themselves in a brutal bidding war.
Refinancing May Slow Down
Last year, rates were low enough that buyers had no qualms getting loans for refinancing that ultimately amounted to $1.6 trillion. Lenders were swamped with refinancing jobs, and real estate owners across the country were able to reduce their monthly payments and long-term interest costs significantly.
However, if interest rates increase this year, refinancing will also slow down, even if the former increases by a small margin. The refinancing process comes with additional costs and stress. Even a slight increase in interest rates may discourage investors and homeowners from going through the hassle of refinancing. It will also hurt their savings.
Price Growth Will Slow Down
The pandemic had one huge benefit for real estate investors and buyers who wanted new space and a fresh new perspective to overcome their stress. It led to rock bottom interest rates and thus highly affordable home prices.
Those trends have long passed, so property prices are expected to grow in 2022. Experts believe those may remain 2 to 6 percent most of the year and manageable.
Contact Covert Marrero Covert for Real Estate Advice
Whether you are a first-time home buyer or an experienced real estate investor, hire a dedicated Illinois real estate attorney from Covert Marrero Covert to enhance your portfolio. Besides handling everything involved in property sales, we can also handle short sales, negotiate with the mortgage company on your behalf and ensure you walk away with complete peace of mind. Get in touch with us for a consultation today before interest rates skyrocket! Don’t wait for those rates to rise before making important investment decisions.
