COVID-19 is Driving the Housing Inventory Crisis in Unexpected Ways

Rhea-AI Summary

A recent Zillow survey reveals that 34% of potential home sellers are hesitant to enter the market due to pandemic-related uncertainties. Key factors include financial instability (31%) and changes in employment (27%). The survey shows that nearly 40% believe waiting will yield a better sale price as home values have risen nearly 11% year-over-year. Despite record low mortgage rates, over 30% hold off due to concerns about finding or affording new homes. The U.S. housing market faces a supply crisis with inventory down 37% year-over-year, leaving significantly fewer homes available for sale.

Positive

• Home prices are at all-time highs, up nearly 11% year-over-year.
• Seller optimism has increased, with 56% viewing it as a good time to sell.
• Record low mortgage rates are benefiting buyers.

Negative

• 34% of potential sellers are hesitant due to pandemic uncertainties.
• 31% report financial instability as a reason to hold off selling.
• Over 30% are concerned about finding or affording a new home.
• U.S. housing inventory down 37% year-over-year, indicating a supply crisis.

SEATTLE, Oct. 27, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- A historic inventory crisis is driving up home prices to new highs, but understanding why would-be sellers are sitting on the sideline had been guesswork. Now a new Zillow survey[i] is shedding light on how the pandemic is influencing homeowners who are considering selling in the next three years, and the reasons why they're staying put. 

Life uncertainty, likely caused by COVID-19, is keeping more than a third (34%) of would-be sellers out of the market. Financial anxiety is a big part of that: 31% of homeowners considering selling in the next three years say a current uncertain or precarious financial situation is a reason to stay put, with 27% reporting a recent change in employment with a decrease in hours or pay, and 17% saying they or their spouse/partner were laid off or involuntarily unemployed -- which could be barriers to finding a new home.

A lack of certainty around where they work is another contributing factor. According to Zillow's survey, the most common change for homeowners in the past six months is that they are working from home more often. Previous Zillow research finds two-thirds of those working remotely during the pandemic say they would consider moving if given the flexibility to continue occasionally working from home. However, those plans may be in limbo as homeowners await clear guidance from their employers on when -- or if -- they will return to the office. 

Nearly 40% of homeowners considering selling in the next three years say they anticipate a more favorable sale price if they wait, suggesting they don't feel pressure to list now in order to get a good price. Median sale prices are at all-time highs, up nearly 11% year-over-year for the week ending September 5th. Seller optimism has also rebounded; a September Fannie Mae survey finds a majority (56%) of people think it's a good time to sell, compared to 29% who felt that way in the spring. 

"Potential sellers are likely correct that home prices have yet to reach their peak, but in the long run prices tend to rise, so there's no clear 'right time' to sell," says Zillow senior economist Jeff Tucker. "Homeowners who feel life is uncertain right now may think they can still get a strong price if they delay selling until they have more clarity. The catch is that waiting to sell may raise the cost of a trade-up. This fall's record low mortgage rates, which make a trade-up more affordable on a monthly basis, are not guaranteed to last."

More than 30% of homeowners (31%) considering selling in the next three years say their plans are paused because they are concerned about finding or affording a new home. A 2020 Zillow report[ii] finds 63% of sellers are also buyers; these dual-track homeowners may sell their home for top dollar only to enter an extremely competitive buyer's market where homes are going under contract in 12 days. Near-record low mortgage interest rates are giving buyers a leg up, but homeowners are also taking advantage of those low rates with 15% citing a recent refinance as a reason not to list their home for sale.

Virus safety was one of the least-frequently cited concerns among homeowners who have been hesitant to put their home on the market. Zillow's survey found 25% of potential sellers said they weren't selling because they were concerned about their household's health and safety during the pandemic. The rapid adoption of real estate technology such as 3D Home virtual tours and video tours has allowed many home shoppers to limit in-person showings. Those digital tools coupled with new safety standards and cleaning protocols may be making more would-be sellers feel comfortable during the pandemic. 

A couple of other commonly-mentioned factors are holding homeowners back from selling, but to a far lesser extent. Zillow's survey found 6% of homeowners considering selling in the next three years indicated that taking advantage of mortgage forbearance was a reason to stay put. These programs allow homeowners to pause or reduce their monthly mortgage payments. One out of 10 homeowners said they weren't selling because an adult child or another family member had moved in with them during the pandemic.  

The cumulative effect is a nationwide supply crisis with inventory down 37% year-over-year. COVID-19 shocked the market in early spring, prompting both buyers and sellers to pull back at similar rates. Since then, buyers have returned to the market in force, driven by demographic factors, low mortgage interest rates, and the Great Reshuffling -- a pandemic-driven desire to move to a home better suited for our lives in this new normal. Sellers have been far more reluctant to return, leaving half a million fewer homes on the market than a year ago. These survey results provide a better understanding of all the reasons why many homeowners are putting their selling plans on hold. 

About Zillow

Zillow, the most visited real estate website in the U.S., is building an on-demand real estate experience. Whether selling, buying, renting or financing, customers can turn to Zillow's businesses to find and get into their next home with speed, certainty and ease.

In addition to for-sale and rental listings, Zillow Offers buys and sells homes directly in dozens of markets across the country, allowing sellers control over their timeline. Zillow Home Loans, our affiliate lender, provides our customers with an easy option to get pre-approved and secure financing for their next home purchase.

Millions of people visit Zillow Group sites every month to start their home search, and now they can rely on Zillow to help them finish it — with the same confidence, ease and empowerment they've come to expect from real estate's most trusted brand.

Zillow is owned and operated by Zillow Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:Z and ZG).

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[i] Zillow Group Population Science collected a nationally representative sample of more than 1,000 homeowners (household decision makers that own their home and did not move in the past year). From September 29^th to October 5^th, 2020, the survey asked homeowners questions about their plans to sell and recent life events. Among those who did not have their home listed for sale (99% of the sample), the survey also asked why they were not currently selling.

To achieve national representativeness, quotas for age, ethnicity/race, education, income, region, relationship status, and sex limited oversampling of any given demographic group. In addition to quotas, ZG Population Science used statistical ranking to weight the sample to the US Census Bureau American Community Survey 2018 sample of homeowners. Weighting used the same variables as the quotas. Margins of error are at a 95% confidence interval.

[ii] Zillow Group partnered with independent market research and data analytics firm YouGov® to conduct a nationally representative, online quantitative survey that gathered information from a total of 13,000 key household decision makers, including 3000 buyers, 3000 sellers, 3000 renters that moved in the past year, 3000 homeowners, and 1000 new construction buyers.

 

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SOURCE Zillow

FAQ

What factors are preventing home sellers from listing their properties in 2020?

A Zillow survey indicates financial instability, employment changes, and uncertainty about work locations are major reasons potential sellers are hesitant.

How have home prices changed recently according to Zillow?

Home prices have increased nearly 11% year-over-year, reaching all-time highs.

What percentage of homeowners believe waiting to sell will result in a better price?

Nearly 40% of homeowners considering selling think they will achieve a more favorable sale price if they wait.

What is the current state of U.S. housing inventory?

As of now, U.S. housing inventory is down 37% year-over-year, creating a supply crisis.

How is COVID-19 affecting sellers' confidence in the housing market?

While seller optimism has risen, many are still holding off due to life uncertainties and financial concerns.