成人X站

MYNORTHWEST NEWS

King County home prices likely to continue to rise

Jan 6, 2017, 12:40 PM

The median cost of a home in King County is still going up by double digits compared to last year’s prices.

Matthew Gardner, chief economist at Windermere Realty, says it’s not a housing bubble.

Related: No need for St. Joseph in hot King County housing market

“I certainly don’t see a contraction of prices at all. Or even actually a flattening,” he said. “However, I do see home price growth drop back into the single to high-single digit range in 2017 and possibly into 2018 as well.”

The median home in King County sold for more than $500,000 in December, which is a 12 percent increase from 2015.

Neighboring counties are also seeing double-digit increases, partially because the number of homes for sale is going down.

A ‘less hot’ housing market

Gardner’s comment echoes what CEO of John L. Scott Real Estate told 成人X站 7 at the end of 2016.

At the end of December, Lennox Scott said King, Kitsap, Pierce, and Snohomish are at least 10 percent more expensive than they were a year ago. However, he estimates that growth in 2017 may be between 8-9 percent overall.

鈥淲e鈥檙e just talking degrees of hotness. We鈥檙e just coming down one degree of hotness,鈥 Scott said.

He said housing markets typically go in a 10-year cycle. He described the current phase as being the seventh year of a 10-year cycle.

Scott said two factors typically slow down a cycle: higher interest rates and slower job growth.

Both of those things are happening in 2017, but not to a significant level. Current job growth is more than 3 percent, and the Puget Sound Economic Forecaster predicts 2-3 percent in 2017.

While some scaling back may happen, the first few months of the year will still see a bidding frenzy.

鈥淲hen buyers come out of the woodwork right after the first of the year, there aren鈥檛 a lot of new listings on the market. That doesn鈥檛 happen until the end of February or March,鈥 Scott said.

成人X站 7 contributed to this story.

Please follow our Community Guidelines

MyNorthwest News

courthouse - washington man...

Frank Lenzi

WA man headed to prison for 13 years for possessing child sexual abuse material

A Deming, Washington, man has been sentenced to more than 13 years in federal prison for receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material.

35 minutes ago

armed robbery shelton casino...

Jason Sutich

Man accused of armed robbery attempt at Shelton casino arrested

A would-be armed robber left a casino empty handed this weekend, after being told there was nothing there to steal.

2 hours ago

sexual abuse five new lawsuits...

Frank Sumrall

5 new lawsuits filed over alleged sexual abuse by WA doctor

Five new lawsuits were issued due to the medical centers' alleged failure to protect their patients from alleged sexual abuse by Dr. Mark Mulholland.

2 hours ago

Longview murder suspect los angeles...

Jason Sutich

Longview murder suspect in custody after nearly week-long manhunt

An armed murder suspect from Longview was arrested by law enforcement.

2 hours ago

Point Defiance stabbing suspect Nicholas Matthew...

MyNorthwest Staff

Man found guilty of Point Defiance stabbing that nearly killed woman

A man was found guilty in the Point Defiance stabbing case.

3 hours ago

Mercer Island student teacher...

MyNorthwest Staff

Former Mercer Island teacher accused of sexual abuse, school allegedly covered it up

A Mercer Island High School (MIHS) teacher has been accused of pursuing sexual relationships with teenage students in 2015, and MIHS allegedly covered it up.

3 hours ago

King County home prices likely to continue to rise