Top Real Estate Trends in 2016

2016 has been an interesting year in the real estate world with new trends, the continuation of old ones and, of course, a few surprises along the way. With the new year around the corner, now is the perfect time to take stock of what we've learned in 2016 and use those lessons to develop a real estate marketing plan that will make 2017 your best year yet.
Let's take a look at the most important real estate trends in 2016.
Real Estate Time Capsule: The Trends to Remember from a Busy 2016 in Real Estate
- Millennial Buyers – The Millennial generation is now hitting the age of homeownership, as buyers between 25 and 34 years old now make up the largest demographic of homebuyers and the largest group of first-time homebuyers. Make sure that your real estate marketing is targeting Millennial buyers.
- Urban & Suburban – You may read that those young homebuyers are flocking to the suburbs or that they're totally focused on cities. The truth is somewhere in between, but there's no doubt that young shoppers are interested in having key amenities like gyms, shopping areas and entertainment options close to home. A well-planned suburb can just as easily fill that need, so it really comes down to the buyer's overall preferences.
- Skip the Starter – Millennial buyers are also more likely to skip a starter home, instead opting for more expensive homes that they can envision holding onto for a long time. This may require those buyers to save for a bit longer before entering the market, but that hasn't been a major deterrent. People are looking for long-term homes.
- Social Shoppers – Real estate shoppers of all ages are increasingly using online tools to evaluate homes, neighbors, and even real estate agents. They read reviews, talk real estate on social media, and use big-name real estate portals to search for homes. If you've been putting off building your real estate social media presence, now is the time to change that.
- Evolving Agents – The popularity of online real estate shopping tools has also caused the role of real estate agents to evolve. Buyers may need a bit less help to find homes that suit their preferences, but still want significant help from their agent on the financial side of the deal. A skilled, trusted real estate agent is still an invaluable resource for most shoppers.
- The End of Parking Lots – Okay, so it's not really the end, but city planners are definitely beginning to think about redeveloping parking lots into more usable spaces. Fewer people are buying cars and more are relying on ride-share services, so this trend isn't likely to subside any time soon. The good news? Getting rid of those parking lots will create new space for the amenities that attract today's home-buyers.
At Delta Media Group, we rely on the latest real estate data to create timely, effective online marketing for real estate agents. The trend of young people making up the largest chunk of the real estate market is likely to continue into the foreseeable future, and we're here to help you reach that tech-savvy audience. Contact Delta Media Group for all of your real estate marketing needs, and get ready to make 2017 your best year yet!
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