Carole's Blog

Gig Harbor waterfront best sales months are here—sellers should be on the market now! My graph is a big part of this week’s blog. By choice, buyers of low and medium-low bank Gig Harbor waterfront buy in early spring for the ability to enjoy it starting in May or June. We are approaching March—traditionally one of the most active months for sales. Relocation, purchases of “tear-down homes” for rebuilding, and purchases where the primary interest is view, rather than accessibility, provide additional sales throughout the year. Sales made in March for Gig Harbor waterfront will likely close in April or May—45-60 days out.

BEST SALES MONTHS: March has been the #1 selling month in 4 of the last 18 years for Gig Harbor waterfront . March has actually ranked either #1, #2, or #3 40% of that period. Last year March was #2 in new sales. Aggregated over the years, the best months are July, September, May, June and August in that order. Those sales typically close 45 days later. But those months’ sales include more second home usage, Key Peninsula and generally under $1m price tag.

2015 Waterfront roundup

MEDIAN SALES PRICE:  2006-08 were boom years for Gig Harbor waterfront  prices—$800-900,000 was the median. But the year just prior to the boom—2005—the median price was where it has been the past 2 years–$600,000.

TOP TIER: The over $1M category produced 1 of every 4 sales in 2015. At the market height 35% of sales were over $1M. That plummeted to 10%—then jumped to 24% last year. 2 of every 3 sales in the top tier were initiated before June, with half by March. Gig Harbor waterfront buyers want to be using the waterfront—either on land or by boat–in the summertime.

INVENTORY: With Gig Harbor waterfront  inventory even tighter this year, new listings, if priced right, disappear as fast as they are listed.  That should keep prices rising in 2016.   The median price of the 37 homes listed in Gig Harbor/Fox Island is $1,100,000 & in Key Peninsula $745,000 for 8 homes. That 45-house total is down from the past couple years. If, on the other hand, many of the 175 waterfront “pent-up sellers” enter the market, it could hold down prices. 175 is my take of the number of Gig Harbor waterfront sellers who would sell and move—if market conditions & prices permit.

I believe the earliest sellers of Gig Harbor waterfront  to the marketplace this year will get the benefit of low inventory, coupled with historic low interest.

Gig Harbor home prices catch up to “boom” years. Gig Harbor resale home prices have climbed back to 2006’s boom year $420,000…and just 6.6% off that year’s summer bubble.

So that is the resale market for Gig Harbor home prices. New construction is another matter. Off 35% from its 2007 high, the forces at work may not allow local prices to catch up for several reasons.  National and regional builders, rather than local small builders of 10 years ago, are building smaller on smaller lots (thank you Growth Management), with less detailing for the main part. Many of current lots, other than Harbor Hill, were picked up at rock bottom prices from banks who acquired them in the recession. Lot prices will increase as new inventory comes online…but the pipeline is slim and then in-fill lots will be the future. I believe Gig Harbor North will be built-out by 2017, considerably ahead of original plans.

Highlights for Gig Harbor home prices

• It’s a seller’s market up to $750,000, with just a 3.8 month supply, even in the $500-750,000 category. Last year that range was working through a 13.4 month supply
• It is averaging just 3 months market time in the $500-750,000 range, less below $500,000
• 39% of the 228 listings, and 1 of 4 sales last month were new homes
• Inventory is down 30% and contracts written are running about 20% higher than a year ago

• Highlights for Key Peninsula home sales

• Resale home prices are running $244,000 for last 3 quarters—same as 2007-2008 “best years”
• Distressed sales still hover at 15%, but down from 35% 2 years ago
• New construction has not returned in any measurable way

Here are my observations…and predictions for Gig Harbor home prices

Interest rates finally started their climb which will bring buyers to the buying table sooner than later, even though these are historically some of the lowest. I expect rates to remain under 5% for the year.

Lending requirements are beginning to loosen a bit which will particularly help first-time buyers.

Wages are still a drag on the economy. That will either slow the creep for Gig Harbor home prices or continue to magnify the difference of who can buy and who can’t.

Inventory will remain low for two reasons. Sellers are waiting to cash in more of their equity with higher Gig Harbor home prices. But more likely those same sellers can’t find a home to move into. There is a very large “supply” of sellers with “pent-up” selling desires.

Waterfront home sales are “behind” 150 or more that should have sold historically during the period of the recession. The 120+ sales in each of the last three years hasn’t caught up to the recession years with only 4-5 dozen home sales.

Year of the new house, with most buyers settling for less privacy, yard and trees. But new.