By Angela Gonzales | Phoenix Business Journal
Leading the nation once again in home price gains, Phoenix appears to be immune to COVID-19.
At 8.2%, Phoenix reported the highest year-over-year gains during March, according to the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Indices, at a time when the national year-over-year gain was 4.4%.
Tina Tamboer, who keeps a pulse on home sale contracts that have been signed as senior housing analyst for The Cromford Report, said April contract numbers show the Phoenix market already has rebounded.
Residential real estate transactions in metro Phoenix take an average of 30 to 45 days to close escrow, which means March sales are more reflective of contracts accepted from mid-January to mid-February, prior to the February stock market crash and stay-at-home orders, she said.
Jim Belfiore, founder of Belfiore Real Estate Consulting, said the Valley’s housing supply remains low and below normal levels, despite demand falling as the economy faltered in late March and April.
“Supply was so low that prices continued to rise,” he said. “With mortgage interest rates at historic lows, those following home prices should not expect them to fall this year.”
Selma Hepp, deputy chief economist for CoreLogic, said the strength in the home price growth is a testament to pent-up demand among Millennials who are viewing historically low mortgage rates and a lull in the market activity as a unique opportunity to purchase their first home.
“The Phoenix housing market continues to see relatively stronger price growth with the index outpacing the national index for 24 consecutive months,” Hepp said. “The strength of the Phoenix housing market extends to all price levels, which are seeing growth rates that are almost double those at the national level.”
Read More (subscriber content)