Moving to the Bay Area

The San Francisco Bay Area is considered far and wide to be one of the great epicenters of arts and culture in the country. Offering everything from historic landmarks to high-tech points of interest, there’s also plenty of natural beauty to be found in its various state parks and ruggedly beautiful coastal areas. Moving to the Bay Area, you’ll discover that there’s so much to see and do that there may not be time for it all.

Moving Advice

As one of the most auto-centric regions in the country, the Bay Area is known for its frequently colossal traffic jams and generally busy roads, even during downtime hours. This may make your initial arrival into town as a new resident something of a challenge. Here are a few tips to help you avert the inherent catches and snags of moving to the Bay Area.

Although you’ll rarely encounter a vacant freeway at any hour of the day or night, the most heavily congested times of day for road travel are the Monday through Friday rush hours of 6 to 9 a.m. and later from 3 to 7 p.m. Try to schedule your move in the early afternoon if you can.

Many freeways throughout the Bay Area have the left-hand lane dedicated to carpoolers during certain posted hours. Carpools are defined as more than one person in the vehicle, including a child in a car seat. Remember that just because you’ve got more than one person in your vehicle, you’re not required to be in the carpool lane. If you don’t plan on passing traffic, keep to the right.

It’s a good idea to get the lay of the land prior to your arrival to account for any especially steep inclines or narrow streets that could impact a moving van’s progress. If you’re moving to downtown San Francisco, for example, you’ll encounter plenty of hilly streets, so plan your move accordingly.

Determine if you need a moving permit. There’s no requirement for you to obtain a moving van permit when moving the Bay Area, but if you’ve ascertained that parking shortages in the immediate vicinity may cause you to have a tough time unloading a moving van, contact the police department or city offices to find out how to get a permit.

Map out student populations. The California state university system has dozens of campuses scattered throughout the San Francisco Bay area, in addition to many private colleges. This could impact your decision about precisely where to put down roots when moving to the Bay Area, especially if you’re not interested in living in a neighborhood with a heavy student population. Some of the cities with the largest student populations include San Francisco, Berkeley, San Jose and Santa Cruz.

Check the weather. The Bay Area has varying climates, depending on your proximity to the coast or how far inland you’re located. Often, temperature changes from one area to another can be significant. To ensure you’re adequately prepared for your move, check weather forecasts in advance here.

Earthquake activity in the San Francisco Bay Area is frequent, but the majority of tremors are so small they’re undetectable. Quakes of moderate size are relatively infrequent, which may come as something of a surprise to newcomers, especially considering that the Bay Area is the location of the infamous San Andreas Fault.

Don’t forget to fill out a change of address form with the United States Post Office before you move to ensure continuity of mail delivery. The best advice is to submit paperwork one week before your move, since processing can take as long as 7-10 business days.

Neighborhoods

The San Francisco Bay Area is a big place, measuring almost 7,000 square miles. It has a total of nine counties to its credit and six distinct sub-regions that are home to its 7.15 million residents. These six sub-regions are comprised of the following recognized areas.

• San Francisco
• The East Bay
• The North Bay
• The South Bay
• The Peninsula
• Santa Cruz/San Benito Counties

Getting Around

Moving to the Bay Area provides you with a bevy of alternatives to vehicle ownership. For those who live and work within San Francisco city limits, it’s entirely possible to rely solely on public transportation and to not own a vehicle. On the other hand, getting around throughout other sections of the Bay Area will likely require one of two things: a car or plenty of additional time, required to make use of the various public transportation options. The links below will provide you with information on all available public transportation programs in the San Francisco Bay Area.

• BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit)
• Caltrain
• Amtrak
• ACE (Altamont Commuter Express)
• Muni Metro
• VTA (Valley Transportation Authority)
• Northern California Transit and Rideshare Directory

If you’re moving to the Bay Area and are arriving by air, there are three main points of entry serving commercial airlines both domestically and internationally.

• San Francisco International Airport
• Oakland International Airport
• Mineta San Jose International Airport

The Bay Area is served by an extensive system of highways and freeways that enable trans-bay travel and route traffic to and from all points on the map. The major freeways leading into the Bay Area include:

• US Route 101
• Interstate 80
• Interstate 280
• California State Route 1
• California State Route 35
• Interstate 880
• Interstate 680
• Interstate 580
• State Route 152
• State Route 156
• State Route 29

Relocation Resources

If you’re relocating to the Bay Area to find a better way of life for yourself and your family, you’ve chosen the right place. Overall, the San Francisco Bay area is one of the most affluent areas in the nation, boasting two of the wealthiest counties in the United States: Marin County and Santa Clara County. In Marin County, average per capita income is $91,000. In Santa Clara County, the median household income is $93,000.

Although unemployment in California reflects numbers that are above the national average, jobs in the Bay Area remain plentiful for qualified personnel in a variety of industries. Encouraging numbers, like 2015’s reported Gross Domestic Product of $785 billion for the Bay Area (if compared against other countries, this would mean the Bay Area has the seventeenth highest GDP in the world), continue to illustrate that its job market remains healthy, despite far less desirable conditions throughout the rest of the country.

Media Outlets

Are you moving to the Bay Area? If so, one of the first things you’ll want to do is read up about local news and happenings, while keeping your eye on national and international news. Here’s a list of some of the San Francisco Bay Area’s top newspapers and local TV channels.

San Francisco Chronicle
Published seven days a week, the San Francisco Chronicle is one of California’s longest-running publications. Founded in January of 1865 when Abraham Lincoln was still in office, the Chronicle’s daily average circulation is around 225,000, with its Sunday edition fetching close to 290,000 readers. The Chronicle, which has earned top honors by winning six Pulitzer Prizes throughout its history, is full of local, state, national and international news.

Despite its slightly left-leaning political bend, it’s read far and wide and considered to be the premium news source among residents living in San Francisco, as well as the city’s numerous outlying areas. The newspaper’s sections include news, sports, business, entertainment, and a living section that often caters to the city’s LGBT population.

The San Francisco Examiner
Beating out The Chronicle in age by a full two years, The San Francisco Examiner has been churning out daily news since the Civil War was still raging. Throughout its history, the newspaper has hired a number of writers who later went on to become classic American authors, including Jack London, Mark Twain and Ambrose Bierce. In 1965, The Examiner and Chronicle joined forces. These days, The San Francisco Examiner is a free publication that runs six days per week and reaches approximately 200,000 readers with its mix of local news, sports coverage, business and job listings, and local entertainment features.

San Jose Mercury News
Starting out in 1851 as The San Jose Weekly Visitor, today’s San Jose Mercury News reaches an audience almost as wide as San Francisco’s Chronicle and Examiner combined. With close to 530,000 readers during the week and an impressive 602,000 for its Sunday edition, the Mercury is also no stranger to acclaim, having won two Pulitzer Prizes in the 1980s. Considered by most to be a left-leaning publication, it features a healthy mix of national and international news articles, sports, business and entertainment. Local news includes not only the city of San Jose, but also stretches north to neighboring San Francisco and as far south as Santa Cruz.

SF Weekly
The premiere free daily publication catering to San Francisco’s culturally diverse population, SF Weekly is an alternative news publication that focuses on local stories and local arts and entertainment. Its circulation is estimated at between 75,000 and 85,000.

Local TV News Channels
If you’re moving to the Bay Area you can tune into the following local TV stations for full news coverage:

• KGO TV 7 (ABC affiliate)
• KPIX TV 5 (CBS affiliate)
• KTVU TV 2 (Fox affiliate)
• KDTV TV 14 (Univision Spanish language)

Climate

Because of the diversity of geographical regions within the San Francisco Bay Area, it’s impossible to categorize its weather within any single definition. Temperature variations here can be drastic, sometimes as great as 40 degrees from the coast to inland areas in a single day.

• Coastal areas offer the least amount of temperature variation year round, with winters that are mild and wet, and summers that are comparatively cooler than what you’ll find moving further inland. Living on the coast frequently brings fog during the summer months.
• Inland areas that are separated from the Pacific breeze by mountains usually experience the greatest temperature swings, with hot, dry summers and winter nights that can drop to near freezing.

Because of the number of cars on the road at any given time, smog levels in the Bay Area can be heavy, although conditions are not nearly as bad as those you’ll find further down the coast near Los Angeles. The state-run AIRNow website publishes an Air Quality Index (AQI) that offers frequently updated information on air quality.

Schools

If you’re moving to the Bay Area with school-aged children, your first order of business should be to research the quality of learning institutions available. In the state of California, there’s an open enrollment policy that gives you the option of sending your child to any available school—including charter schools—as long as that school in the same district as your home. Below, you will find a listing of the top five elementary, junior and senior high schools in the Bay Area to help you make the wisest scholastic choices for your young.

Top 5 Elementary Schools

1. William Faria Elementary (Cupertino)
2. Nelson S. Dillworth Elementary (San Jose)
3. Mission San Jose Elementary (Fremont)
4. Millikin Elementary (Santa Clara)
5. Herbert Hoover Elementary (Palo Alto)

Top 5 Junior High Schools

1. American Indian Public Charter School II (Oakland)
2. William Hopkins Junior High (Fremont)
3. Redwood Middle (Saratoga)
4. John F. Kennedy Middle (Cupertino)
5. Ardis G. Egan Junior High (Los Altos)

Top 5 High Schools

1. Dr. T.J. Owens Gilroy Early College Academy (Gilroy)
2. Pacific Collegiate Charter (Santa Cruz)
3. Lowell High (San Francisco)
4. Monta Vista High (Cupertino)
5. Palo Alto High (Palo Alto)

Top 5 School Districts

1. Hillsborough School District
2. Las Lomitas School District
3. Los Altos School District
4. Lakeside Joint School District
5. Orinda School District

Government

For helpful information when moving to the Bay Area, visit the following government websites covering a broad range of services from car registration and licensing to tax law considerations.

• The Association of Bay Area Governments is a helpful online resource with links to individual city websites where you can find information on local utilities and trash and recycling services.
• Find vehicle registration and driver’s license information at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
• The California Tax Service Center will answer any tax law questions you may have.
• For recycling information, visit the Bay Area Recycling Outreach Coalition.
• Voter registration for new Bay Area residents is processed through the Secretary of State.
• The California Department of Agriculture has information on rules about the importation of plants, fruits, vegetables, pets, fish, game and livestock.

Top 5 Ways to Break a Lease:

There are a number of reasons why you might want to break a lease on an apartment. In some cases, the law is on your side- for example, when enlisting for military duty, fleeing domestic abuse or moving to a retirement home. But what about all the other sound reasons to move which are not protected by law? While it is totally understandable that you would want to get out of a lease if you’re pregnant and the property is too small, or if you got an amazing job offer across the country, some landlords may not be so sympathetic. And even if they are, it is still a question of money. Remember, your rent equals their income.

What happens if I break my lease?

A lease is a binding legal contract, which means your landlord can demand full payment for the remainder of the lease and even take you to court for it. If they win, you will need to pay much more than the remainder of the rent- think lawyers’ fees and interest. Breaking a rental agreement can also be damaging to your credit score, which will have long lasting effects on your finances.

As with most contracts, there are penalties that you might face to break your lease. The goal is to get the least penalty possible, but do not be surprised if your landlord does not come after you for the full total for the remainder of the lease.

If you really need to move, check out these five tips (before you hire a moving company) on how to get out of a lease early:

1. Find Something Wrong

   One of the ways to get out of a lease without penalty is to find some occurrence in which your landlord was in breach of the contract and use it as a an escape route. In many cases, this is going to be absolutely impossible. If your landlord has always fixed problems promptly and you have no documented complaints even your lawyer may tell you there is no way you are getting out without penalty. However, if he promised to install a fence last summer, add more insulation before the winter, or replace the carpeting and never followed through, you may have a case. If you have had problems with a neighbor being disruptive and the landlord has done nothing to intervene, you may have a valid reason that will hold up in court. Obviously, if there is something seriously wrong with the property and the landlord has not fixed it then you have the legal right to vacate without penalty.

2. Review Contract for Termination Clause

   Reading your rental agreement carefully is highly advised when contemplating breaking a lease. If it reads more like Mandarin than English to you, your local tenant’s rights organization or local legal aid office can help with that. Many landlords today add an early termination clause in their lease to make it fair for the tenant; it’s also beneficial for them as it decreases the risk of dealing with vanishing tenants. Your lease may allow you to terminate with a 60-day notice for job relocation, major life change, or if you need to become the caregiver of a loved one. You might also discover the lease termination fee specified is much lower than you’ve been dreading, which could simplify things significantly.

3. Sublet

   Subletting is not always an option. If your lease specifically says you cannot sublet, do not bother even trying. It is also important to note that you need to find someone completely trustworthy and reliable because you will still be legally responsible for the property. The exception is if your landlord allows the new renter to apply, pay a security deposit, and sign their own lease. If you sublet, you also have to make sure the person will pay you on time so you can pay the landlord. You may want to consider having their rent due on a day mid-month to ensure you have it on time.

4. Lease Termination Agreement

   While your landlord may not be happy with your early departure, they still may be reasonable enough to come to an agreement that sorts out the issue of fees, finding new tenants and other matters pertaining to the property. This type of contract is called a lease termination agreement and it reflects both landlord’s and tenants’ rights and obligations.

5. Pay the Fees (and Lawyer Up)

   What happens when you break a lease depends on what kind of person your landlord is. If they are very strong headed and not open to any kind of agreement or compromise your only option (other than staying in the apartment) might be to cough up whatever the lease specifies in terms of fees and compensation. At this point you should definitely get some professional legal advice- not all leases are created equal and a lawyer might be able to help you bring those fees down.

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Planning Ahead To Avoid Moving Mistakes:

An ounce of prevention can be worth a pound of cure. To keep your move focused and positive, you need to do some planning ahead. Avoiding mistakes in the moving process saves everyone a lot of headaches, and it can help your wallet out, too.

Get everything set up ahead of time

For some people, getting organized and making plans as soon as possible is like second nature. For those who tend to go with the flow, a lot of advance planning isn't as common. No matter your disposition, it's vital that you make sure every concern is addressed early on for a move. Reach out to your movers early on to make sure you can pick a date and time that work for you. You can also set up other helpful options at this time, like packing services and moving special items - like a car, boat or pool table.

Planning ahead also means getting yourself and your family ready for the big change. Developing a plan related to what you'll personally carry to your new home in the family car and the job of each person on moving day means everyone is informed and on the same page.

Writing down a plan for you move can help you make the process as effective as possible.

Packing for success

You can pack up most of your belongings - or have the professionals from Atlas take on this substantial task - and not have to worry about when you'll unbox them. If they remain in their containers for a few days, it's no big deal. However, there are certain things that you and your family will need to have an exceptional desire for in the hours and days after the move.

How can you effectively address this concern? Developing a packing plan and having a discussion about items that should go in an easily accessible box or be carried in the family car is one effective solution. Armed with a list of things that shouldn't be packed up with the rest of your possessions, you can make sure everyone's wants and needs are addressed.

Work through the process

Before you move, sit down and think through what will happen as your belongings are packed up and you travel to your new home. Thinking through all the processes involved and the related eventualities can help you identify something you haven't yet taken care of, or a more efficient way to handle part of the process. This is a general piece of advice, because each move can be significantly different than the next, but applying it to your specific circumstances and ultimately make things a lot easier.

Credit Bureau Experian Launches Real-Time Asset and Income Verification for Mortgages:

Mortgage lenders have come a long way in the past decade. They used to approve loans without the need for income, asset, or employment documentation, and now they can verify all those things in seconds.

Yes, that was half a joke about the recent crisis and half a jab at the mortgage industry for continuing to reside in the Stone Age when it comes to underwriting and approving mortgages.

But it appears the sea change we’ve all been waiting for is well underway. Instead of printing out stacks of paperwork and faxing in documents, mortgage borrowers can now verify many key items digitally.

Perhaps this will shrink the average mortgage application from 500 pages to something a little more manageable. Maybe just 450 pages?

[See the latest mortgage rates from dozens of lenders, updated daily.]

It could also speed things up, as Experian notes some loan approvals can take as long as 70 days. Oh, and let’s not forget the $42 billion price tag to process all these mortgages each year.

Experian Teams with Finicity to Automate Mortgages

The latest step forward in this department comes via a partnership between credit bureau Experian and real-time financial data-sharing company Finicity.

Together, we get Experian’s new “Digital Verification Solutions,” which among other things, will allow for asset and income verification. So instead of having to e-mail/fax your bank statements, paystubs, and tax returns, you can just provide access to such information with the click of a few buttons.

You simply authorize retrieval of your financial data and the company is able to gather, analyze, and send a verification report to your lender, all within minutes.

Their real-time Verification of Asset (VOA) Report gives lenders access to your checking, savings, 401(k) and brokerage accounts.

It contains important details such as average balance, minimum/maximum balance history, flags large deposits and withdrawal transactions, and verifies the account owner.

Their Verification of Income (VOI) Report provides data for up to 24 months, including average monthly income, frequency of income deposits, and income trends.

These automated reports are both more secure and less onerous for the consumer, and safer for the lender because it means less fraud and a lower chance of buybacks.

Ideally, it also means loan officers can spend more time originating mortgages, as opposed to chasing down customers for their latest bank statement, including ALL pages. And there’s no need for second requests because they have access to the data whenever they need it.

So far, their technology covers 80% of all financial institution accounts in the country, meaning you’ll probably be able to use this service whilst applying for a mortgage.

With this technology in place, Experian hopes to get the loan approval process down to as little as 10 days, maybe.

The credit bureau also hopes these new methods of verification will make it easier for those with limited or no credit history (~25% of the U.S. population) to get approved for a mortgage.

The idea is that most consumers have checking and savings account, along with payment obligations such as rent/utility/cell phone bills, which when verified (more easily) can demonstrate the ability to repay a mortgage.

Technology May Make It More Difficult to Get Approved for a Mortgage

Whenever you hear about these “disruptive” technologies, such as Rocket Mortgage from Quicken, it sounds like it’ll be quicker and easier to get approved for a mortgage.

The quick part makes sense, but the easier part is questionable at best. In reality, lenders and underwriters are still doing their typical diligence, just in a different manner or via new processes.

Now imagine if lenders were able to do a “deep dive” into your income and assets using technology, instead of just asking for bank statements from the past two months (which can easily be manipulated)?

Perhaps they’d be able to look at balances over time and income fluctuations and so forth, and then make assessments based on that more intricate data.

In short, technology could actually make it more difficult to fool the lender. We’ve already seen credit reports get an upgrade through the use of trended data, and if innovations like these catch on, it’ll be harder to game the system.

Of course, that’ll be a good thing for mortgage lenders and the housing market. Hopefully more good borrowers will be able to get mortgages while bad borrowers are kept out, a shift that may help us avoid another major crisis.

Miami Moving Advice: Best Places to Move in Miami Dade County:

If you’ve recently been transferred to a place like Miami in South Florida, the first thing on your mind would be to evaluate thebest movers in Miami Dade County. We all know how important it is to hire a quality moving and storage company to handle your move. Not only do they help reduce the amount of stress for you but they also ensure that every aspect is carried out in a professional manner. Knowing you can completely trust the company you hire can prove to be priceless given the hectic pace of life we are faced with today.

Before hiring Miami full service movers

Florida has traditionally been perceived as a vacation destination and a place for the elderly to retire. However, that perception is slowly changing. There are more and more young people moving to different parts of Florida. For those among the younger generation looking to settle down and raise a family, Florida can be the perfect destination. Homes are more affordable here and there are a number of excellent schools too. You can always speak to local Miami movers to get more firsthand information if that’s where you’re moving to.

Of course, when planning your move with a quality moving and storage company, there are several different aspects you would needs to consider such as the area where you would like to reside, its distance from your workplace, affordability, schools in the vicinity etc. If you’re moving with your family, there are other aspects that also need to be factored in such as the crime rate of the city, communities living in that area and so forth. All things considered, here is a list of some of the best cities to move in Miami for families (in no particular order of importance) with the help of Miami full service movers.

Best Places to move in Miami Dade County for Families

Bal Harbour

Bal Harbour is considered Miami’s most fashionable beach destination. Renowned for its centerpiece of Bal Harbour shops, the most productive luxury fashion shopping center in America, it is a great place to explore different shopping avenues, relax at the beach and enjoy golfing at one of the many signature golf courses. However, before evaluating moving companies in Miami you should check to see all that Bal Harbour has to offer you and whether that is exactly what you seek.

With its diverse range of designer boutiques and restaurants, and multiple avenues for entertainment, Bal Harbour has evolved not a coveted destination not only for those looking to visit but also for those seeking to raise families here.

Bay Harbour Island

Before evaluating the best movers in Miami you should evaluate what Bay Harbour Island has to offer you if you plan on moving here. The town of Bay Harbour Island is located in Miami-Dade County, Florida and is considered to be a growing and vibrant community of fine homes, luxury condominiums, and apartments. The town is also home to a great K-8 school, professional offices, retail shops, restaurants, and several other businesses. Its proximity to areas like South Beach, the Bal Harbour shops, downtown Miami, and other areas in Miami-Dade County make it an ideal place to live and work. Of course, you can always speak with local Miami movers to know more about the area’s landscape and the lifestyle it has to offer with its local restaurants and shops.

Coconut Grove

Coconut Grove remains a popular destination for both locals and tourists, and is the oldest, modern neighborhood of Miami. While the area has managed to retain its charm as a bayside village, it is also one of the hippest, most energetic and one of the most inviting destinations in South Florida. Known to locals as ‘The Grove’, it is renowned for its annual major events that include the Coconut Grove Arts Festival, the King Mango Strut parade, and the Goombay Festival. The Coconut Grove Arts Festival has artists, sculptors, jewelers, and craft exhibits from across the country, while the Goombay Festival celebrates Bahamian history and culture with a Junkanoo parade of music and dancing, along with booths displaying arts and crafts, as well as native Bahamian food. If this is the kind of atmosphere you seek, all you need to do is finalize a quality moving and storage company to help you carry out your move.

Coral Gables

Located to the southwest of Downtown Miami, Coral Gables comprises lush green avenues and residential areas characterized by distinct architectural features. Home to one of the most prestigious luxury hotels in Miami – The Biltmore, Coral Gables is a blend of color and detail, and the Mediterranean Revival architecture. Before evaluating Miami full service movers, you should consider all that Coral Gables has to offer you. There are several local and international businesses thriving in the area that are not influenced strongly by seasonal shifts. The area also provides its community with excellent municipal services, convenient access, high quality of life, responsible growth and a diversified economy. If this is something you and your family enjoy, get out your list of moving companies in Miami and begin planning your move.

Brickell Downtown

Brickell lies toward the south of the Miami River. It extends south and crosses Broadway to SE 26 Road/ Rickenbacker Causeway. The area north of Broadway consists of a wide range of shops, boutiques, high-class retail services, fitness centers, coffee shops and eateries, and a wide selection of restaurants. This area is home to Brickell Key, an artificial, triangular-shaped island located at the mouth of the Miami River. This island paradise is absolutely private and exclusive, characterized by its tranquility and unobstructed scenic views of Biscayne Bay. The residents of this community comprise a wide range of young professionals, international business professionals, and top executives of large corporations. If a cosmopolitan lifestyle in an urban setting is what you seek, all you have to do is select a quality moving and storage company and move down here.

Movers Will Avoid Potential Hazards:

It is a lot more difficult to handle relocation when there aren’t any professionals involved. Professional movers have the training, equipment and experience to do the job more efficiently. Not to mention, they are aware of all the potential hazards that as movers, they must keep an eye out for. If one isn’t aware of what to watch for, they could easily end up damaging or losing the possessions.

During the loading and unloading process of the move, the movers will carefully handle all of your property. They will use the techniques they learned n training to lift and move the boxes, furniture and other possessions safely as to not cause harm to themselves or the property. The rollers, dollies, ramps and other tools they bring with them are all designed to assure safety. This makes the relocation much easier on everyone and things will be less likely to get damaged.

Other potential hazards come with being on the road en route to the next location. The driver will pay close attention to the weather and road condition reports. If they spot any potential hazards, they will try to take another route. They will avoid road construction, poor weather, bad neighborhoods, and disheveled roadways.

Not only are the movers trained to stay away from such potential hazards, but they offer insurance coverage for added protection. If anything ends up lost, stolen or broken even while the movers are being cautious, it will be covered by the company’s insurance plan. File a claim if you need to and your possessions will be repaired or replaced.

[Infographic] Home Values Continue Steep Climb in August

Home prices in the country, spurred by low mortgage rates, continue to forge ahead. On average, American home prices have recovered nearly all their losses from the 2006 crash, but when adjusted for inflation they still have some ground to cover at 20% below the 2006 peak.

Home Price Index (HPI) indicates that home prices nationwide, including distressed sales, gained 1.1 percent from June and were 6 percent higher than in July 2015.

Get Pre-Approved to buy a Home

Oregon and Washington continue to top the charts with double digit annual increases of 11.2 and 10.2 percent respectively.  Leading that charge were the cities of Portland – which saw 12.6 percent gains – and Seattle – which saw an 11 percent jump.

They were followed by Colorado at 9.3 percent, West Virginia (8.6 percent) and Utah (7.9 percent.)  Only one state failed to net an annual gain – Connecticut – where prices dipped 1.2 percent.

Price gains in the Midwest were mixed. Home prices in Cleveland and Chicago rose just 2.5 percent and 3.3 percent, respectively, while in Minneapolis they climbed a faster 5.1 percent.

Southern cities saw stronger increases. Home prices jumped 8.9 percent in Dallas, 7.9 percent in Tampa, and 5.8 percent in Atlanta.

Inventory continue to be a key driver in home value appreciation and, with housing start numbers lagging, is poised to dog us well into 2017 at least.

The number of homes for sale has fallen 5.8 percent from a year ago, leaving would-be buyers with fewer choices, according to the National Association of Realtors.

“The tight supply of homes on the market continues to constrain sales, while low mortgage rates and job growth help fuel healthy demand. This results in a pressure cooker effect, and the market’s traditional pressure release valve — new home construction — isn’t helping much, given that new home sales are running more than 40 percent below historically normal levels,” wrote Andrew LePage, research analyst at CoreLogic.

Part of the inventory problem revolves around the lack of a skilled workforce needed to ramp up construction.

“Land and labor shortages will continue to be limiting factors and will constrain supply and restrict the ability to quickly respond to growing demand, while the mortgage market and higher rents will continue to constrain that demand,” said Lennar CEO Stuart Miller

Eight years after the housing bust drove an estimated 30 percent of construction workers into new fields, homebuilders across the country are struggling to find workers at all levels of experience, according to the National Association of Homebuilders.

The association estimates that there are approximately 200,000 unfilled construction jobs in the U.S. – a jump of 81 percent in the last two years.

Nationwide, there are 17 percent fewer people working in construction than at the market peak, with some states – including Arizona, California, Georgia and Missouri – seeing declines of 20 percent or more, according to data from the Associated General Contractors of America.

What happens when you have a shortage? Prices rise. That’s simple supply and demand economics.

Not only is the supply of homes constricted, but the cost of labor is more which bleeds over into inflated home values for new construction and for existing homes too.

The good news is that single family housing starts in June were up 13 percent from the previous year with all housing starts – including multi unit – increasing as well. The positivity carried into July which posted the some of the strongest housing start numbers since the crash.

In other words, hang in there the inventory just might be coming after all. Let’s just hope the record low mortgage rates are around to see it.