Demand for mortgages (home loans) from homebuyers dropped to its lowest point since 1995. This is because interest rates are rising, which makes people worried about inflation and causes the Federal Reserve to consider raising rates for a longer period of time. The number of existing home sales also decreased by 2.2 percent from June to July alone, and was a signficant 16.6 percent lower compared to last year. This is because there are not enough homes available for sale and the mortgage rates are not favorable for buyers. According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, the average rate for a 30-year fixed-rate conforming mortgage increased to 7.31 percent from 7.16 percent the previous week. Wow!
Home insurance companies are reducing the coverage they offer in areas that are at high risk for extreme weather events. This is because the insurance companies believe that climate change is causing more frequent and severe weather patterns. A survey conducted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners found that policies will no longer cover damage caused by hurricanes, wind, and hail in coastal areas and regions prone to wildfires. Allstate plans to limit new policies in hurricane-prone areas and may have specific deductibles or exclusions for wind and hail damage. Recent extreme weather events, such as Hurricane Idalia and Tropical Storm Hilary, have caused significant damage in several states. There have also been costly wildfires in Maui. Over the past three years, insurance companies in the US have paid a record $295.8 billion for natural disaster claims. In the first half of 2023 alone, there were $40 billion in insured losses due to natural disasters, making it one of the most expensive first halves on record. Climate change is causing changes in weather patterns, resulting in longer wildfire seasons, more frequent and intense hurricanes, and a shift in tornado-prone areas. Some homeowners are unable to find insurance coverage, and state governments are having to step in to provide coverage as a last resort. This is resulting in homeowners having difficulty finding insurance and new homebuyers having difficulty buying a home for the first time.
Annoura Realty had a busy month with Mariko closing a big 12 home portfolio on Friday. The same investor had a warehouse in Baytown, who Mariko also helped lease out. Glenshannon’s rental found a tenant after a lengthy search. On the listing side of things, our cute red barn house in Damon made it out of option and is headed for the next hurdle, the appraisal. Fingers crossed for smooth sailing in the next couple of weeks. The tenant in Cypress Pond vacated at the end of August and our investor in California decided to put it on the market for sale. That listing will hit the market this week. Meanwhile, thank you to Jim Brackeen for referring Sharon and Tom to us. Mike and Michelle are doing some easy make ready before we bring that lovely one story in Northfork to market, hopefully later this week. We have one more listing coming up in the Texas Medical Center, a two story townhome in a gated complex. Stay tuned for details on that one! Over on the apartment leasing front, Mariko found a nice unit for a friend’s mom at Charleston at Fannin Station while Mik and Susan found a perfect apartment in the Memorial area for a new Daikin expat. On the horizon are two new expats from the Government of Japan and a new doctor from Oita looking for apartment space in the Med Center. Thank you all for your referrals! Annoura Realty depends on word of mouth advertisting from past clients like you!
The Annouras have been very busy this month again! Koh is still in Europe assisting a paracylist, Mr. Kanno, compete in several races. Altogether, he raced 3 races in France (Pontrieux and Ploermel) and two races in Spain (Xativa and Valencia), taking home four 1st place finishes and one 2nd place finish. Congratulations to coach and athlete! Koh heads back to Houston this week. Meanwhile, Susan went to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico to teach three modules of CIPS classes. Her first class of graduates will be pinned at the NAR conference in Anaheim, California in November! On September 6th, Susan went to San Antonio to attend the annual Texas Realtors Shaping Texas real estate conference. As this year’s TR Global Chair, Susan led the Global Forum and Committee Meeting, as well as three global networking events. Eleven guests from the Mexican Real Estate Association (AMPI), including their national president, was in attendance. With Koh and Susan gone, the boys were back in Houston working hard at school and sports. Ty competed in a national wrestling tournament qualifier called the Super 32 Early Entry and came away as the champion of his weight class, 126 pounds. The Super 32 Tournament will take place in North Carolina in late October.
The Annouras have been moving from here to there to everywhere! First up, Joe went back to Austin to begin year 2 at University of Texas. The whole family did a turnaround trip, driving to Austin and back all on Aug 20. Big changes for Joe include moving off campus into a brand new apartment with 5 other roommates. One problem is the brand new building did not pass inspections and move in could not take place as intended. This was a curve ball for us, but cool headed Joe just rented a storage unit and put all his stuff in there, then headed to a friend’s apartment to crash on her sofa for 5 days. His apartment was all done by the 25th so he moved in. Of course, he forgot many things at home, so now we are arranging the delivery of all the things he forgot to bring with him!? On a more positive note, Joe successfully transferred into McCombs Business School, which is one of his life goals, so we are very proud of him! As for Koh, he was hired by a professional paracyclist from Japan to coach his races in Europe! Koh left on Aug 22 for Paris, France and will stay in Europe for 3 weeks, coaching races in both France and Spain. Zach started middle school at Westbrook Intermediate on Aug 21. At first he was very nervous, but it seems like he has made some new friends and is starting to get used to which classrooms to go to and in what order. Ty took the SAT on Aug 26 and should be finishing up his college applications. It is a quite a task to fill out many college apps and to think about which universities he wants to try for. We can’t believe he is a senior in high school already! Meanwhile, Susan was extremely with her e-board election and right after her victory, she had to go to Galveston for 3 days for a Strategic Leadership Conference with the leaders of HAR. She also attended a 2 day leadership meeting for the rodeo the week before. It’s always a challenge to juggle the family, work, and volunteer activities! A special thanks goes out to Mr. and Mrs. Kwok, Susan’s parents, for stepping up and helping with Zach and Ty while both Susan and Koh are traveling and away from Clear Lake.