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In Vikas Bajaj’s excellent Page One piece titled [Buyers Scarce, Many Condos Are for Rent [NYT]](http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/16/realestate/16rentals.html), he explores whats happening in the DC market and it’s not pretty.
I recall last year about this time, when everyone was impressed with the +90% increase in Manhattan inventory over the previous 18 months, Washington, DC inventory had increased well over 200% in DC during the same period. The DC condo market had been built for speculators. The absence of investors/flippers is what saved Manhattan and other markets during this housing boom, something also experienced in Manhattan about 20 years ago. Vikas contrasts DC with the situation in Manhattan.
That’s a bubble
Based on the stats, presented in the article, there were about 24,000 condos listed for sale during 4Q in DC. With about 600 units sold in 4Q there, that means it would take 40 months for the current supply to be absorbed by the current pace of sales. More supply is coming on, although slowing down and demand is not expected to surge. It’s likely that 6-7 months is the norm for absorption in DC, like in many markets.
Getting lucky
While the article makes an important point by illustrating the wide void between supply and demand, I was struck by how lucky the one investor interviewed was who couldn’t get what he originally paid for his unit nor would the rental value cover his mortgage. Not only had his broker stopped him from buying several more units to begin with (the broker must have seen the writing on the wall early) but the owner has actually received a range of offers for his unit. He didn’t accept any yet because they were about roughly 10% below his break even. With the significant amount of overhang in this market, I am surprised he received any offers. With the tremendous disparity between supply and demand as well as the weakness of the rental market, it would appear that a 10% discount off the original purchase price would be very generous. Is this yet another bad decision on his part?
Falling rents
Based on the article and what I have read elsewhere, it seems likely that inventory will remain at high levels or even continue to rise in DC as a flood of investors will look to remain whole by renting their units. The excess supply could drive rents down further.
This is also complicated by stalled condos being converted to rentals. The developers interviewed seemed somewhat calm about the conversion as an option. Their tone seemed to be: yes, it provides less of a return because condo construction is higher, but it’s an alternative. The problem is that this type of thinking doesn’t consider the large amount of competition from other condo developers in the same boat.
The one thing DC has going for it is a strong economy with significant employment potential over the next several years. There is an economic theory that correlates investor speculation with optimism over future job growth which will cushion the blow of oversupplied condo markets. That’s seems to be the case in the primary speculative markets like DC, Miami, Las Vegas and San Diego and maybe that’s why no one seems to be in a panic, or perhaps the euphoria still hasn’t worn off?
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Pshaw. The Times reporter includes Boston in his list of cities where the condo market has collapsed and sales have slowed to a trickle.
This is inaccurate, and I’m surprised and disappointed by the Times.
I am not a cheerleader. I have a pretty realistic view of the current real estate market, both here in Boston and in the US, and what the reporter is saying is happening / has happened in Boston is just incorrect.
We’re not Miami, we’re not Las Vegas, we’re not Washington DC.
But you still have Boston Baked Beans…
John, I have been hearing from many lenders and real estate people that the market in Boston is seein a sharp lull in activity, especially new condo units. You seem to be saying the market is doing ok? Can you elaborate just a little?
Well, perhaps the people you are speaking to have more up-to-date information, but based on November sales, things still look fairly strong.
From The Boston Globe 12/26/06:
Condo sales [in November 2006] fell by 10.1 percent from November 2005, but the decrease was not as steep as it had been in the previous four months, when sales dropped between 19 and 28 percent. Statewide, the median condo sale price was $269,900, a dip of 1.8 percent.
Last month, 2,222 condos were sold in the state, an amount that is less than comparable months in 2004 and 2005, but that exceeded all other November sales dating back at least to 1987.
Those are state figures; within the City of Boston, however, I think sales continued to be strong, although off from 2005 & 2004 numbers.
If there are 24,000 condos on the market in D.C. and they are selling at the rate of 600 units a quarter, that’s 40 QUARTERS of inventory, or 10 years. Seems like there’s a misplaced decimal point there somewhere.
Hence, a bubble.
John,
Thank you for this information. I am one of the buyers that is “on the fence”. In ’03 all of my friends were buying and they were making less money than I was. I couldn’t believe it. My boss at the time would constantly say, “You can’t play if you’re not in the game. Just get in the game.” I spent many an evening in the Dr.’s chair asking how all this was all possible. Well, my boss played and lost his shirt and his job at the e-lending/e-closing company we worked at. I work at Freddie Mac and the change in the REIC is rippling through the company. Very quietly, more and more contractors are being let go and many “pet” projects are coming under more funding scrutiny. I expect to be let go within two weeks, but I have options. I digress.
I’m just glad I didn’t pay 250k (which is all I can afford by myself) for a 1 br condo I would stuck in and hate today.