Is It Too Late to Sell My Home In 2022?

As 2022 enters the final few months, you may be wondering about making your move now to sell a home. "Can I still sell my home?" "Should I sell in 2022 or wait until the spring market of 2023?"

In every situation, this is a personal decision. If now is the right time for you and your family to move, there's no reason not to enter the market by listing. Some sellers, though, have the flexibility and want to ensure they are selling at the ideal time when they can get the best price for their home or the fastest offer.

Let's take a closer look at the market and overall conditions to get a better idea if now is the right time to sell.

What’s to Come in the Mortgage Market

There is no doubt we are entering a bit of a period of the unknown in real estate. For the last few years, most areas have seen a significant amount of growth in home values. That's thanks to fewer people moving, with less overall inventory on the market. On the other hand, mortgage rates have been historically low. It was pretty easy to obtain a loan with a decent credit score and income. In many ways, the recent climate has been that of a seller’s market, with quick offers and competitive bidding, even asking over the market price in some situations. That has changed.

Here are some things to expect in the near future:

• Home prices are likely to come down from the historic highs we have seen in the past 2 years. Experts do not predict any type of crash occurring, but prices will soften due to the measures the Bank of Canada has implemented.
• Mortgage rates are likely to rise again before the end of the year, but it is predicted that rates will stabilize once inflation and housing prices have stabilized. That means, for sellers, some buyers will be holding off purchasing now because of the added cost.
• Supply issues — while some areas are seeing an increase in inventory, most areas are still experiencing a supply shortage due to economic uncertainty.

Mortgage Rates Could Impact Buyers

Home buyers often need the lowest interest rate possible to make the purchase of a home affordable. There is evidence that interest rates are a big factor. Banks will likely continue to make changes to interest rates charged to home buyers.

What does that mean for today's home seller? Monitor mortgage rates both for yourself, if you plan to buy a home now, and from the point of the buyer. Buyers may be fewer, and it may take a bit longer to sell a home if interest rates climb much more.

What to Expect If You Sell in 2022

Many experts believe that the latter half of 2022 will be more of a return to the normal of pre-pandemic periods. It is during this time that home sales, home sale prices, and inventory may stabilize.

Price Adjustments

Selling now could be important if you want to get a good price for your home, but want to get a bargain on your purchase. There has been some indication that home prices are already slowing their rapid increase. In some areas, price reductions are hitting home listings and houses are staying on the market longer.  This gives buyers more time to consider options and negotiate lower prices.

Listing Competition

Home listings are retreating too. In the summer months, many areas saw significant growth in the number of homes listed for sale. Inventory became a bit more flush, providing more opportunities for buyers. For sellers, that means more competition. However, with fewer homes listed in the fall months, that could mean less competition and, as a result, a faster and potentially higher valued sale if you sell in 2022. You just have to be aware that there are also fewer buyers on the market right now due to the interest rate issues. To be successful in listing your home in this market, you need to show the best-looking product to the marketplace and price your home competitively.

The Unknown of 2023

So, should I sell my home in 2023? Some people may feel the desire to put off their home’s sale until next year. Doing so could be met with more uncertainty, though.

Inflation could become an ongoing factor, as could a recession. That could mean a drop in home prices in the coming months to years. While there is some predictability in what is likely to happen in 2022, there are a lot of unknowns about what could happen by next year.

A key factor is home affordability. A few years ago, buyers could get mortgages at rates less than 2%. Now, buyers are looking at rates in the 6%-7% range. That's a significant increase, and wages are not growing at nearly that rate. The result is that homes are becoming less accessible to many people, and that could become more obvious in the real estate market during the first portion of 2023, if not sooner.

What’s It All Mean to You?

As a homeowner hoping to sell, there are a few things to consider. First, the real estate market is calming, returning to more “normal” conditions as it was prior to the pandemic. That’s a good thing overall for sellers who price their homes right and don’t anticipate huge bidding wars. Housing availability is still low, which means selling your home in 2022 could mean getting somewhat of a boost in value if you are in a competitive market.

Overall, your best bet is to have a comparative analysis of your area by your agent. That's going to give you a far better perspective of what's to come. For many property owners, there's no benefit to putting off the sale of your home right now. Instead, it's a good idea to take advantage of the current conditions.