Realtors® are more optimistic as they head into the spring-selling season, with their housing outlook for the next six months looking more upbeat, according to the January Realtors® Confidence Index, a survey of more than 4,000 Realtors® on the latest housing conditions in their local markets. Even though housing activity has been bumpy so far – the National Association of Realtors® reported this week that existing-home sales tumbled to a nine-month low in January – economists polled by Reuters are optimistic that a turnaround will occur due to a strengthening job market that is expected to offset some of that drag. Realtors® cited the effect of mortgage rates – less than 4 percent lately – and a reduction in Federal Housing Administration mortgage insurance premiums as two big reasons for renewed optimism. Some national markets, however, did show a slight dip in confidence in January. In some areas of the country the harsh weather was causing market slowdowns. Marcia Anderson, 2015 president of the Kosciusko Board of Realtors®, said in Kosciusko County in spite of colder than normal temperatures and snow, county-wide real estate activity was still good. “In fact, we are short on inventory in certain price ranges. Interest rates continue to be low for now – both buyers and sellers can take advantage of that. Kosciusko County remains a very favorable place to do business and be a homeowner,” she is quoted as saying.
