Why Are Housing Inventory Levels So Low In Harrisonburg And Rockingham County?


Why Are Housing Inventory Levels So Low In Harrisonburg And Rockingham County?
By Scott Rogers • March 29, 2023
First, Harrisonburg is a popular place to live. Beyond everyone who is living here now, we continue to see new folks planning to make Harrisonburg their home, including but not limited to... recent graduates of JMU, EMU or Bridgewater College new employees of JMU, Sentara RMH, Merck and other large (or small) employers in our area parents of local college graduates who are retiring to this area to be closer to kids and grandkids retirees from urban areas within a few hour radius looking to relocate to a smaller, but vibrant college town So, lots of people want to make Harrisonburg their home. Second, I think that more people are moving to Harrisonburg than new housing units are being built. If over a five year period, 5000 new people decided to make Harrisonburg their home, we wouldn't see a change in availability of housing if we also saw 5000 new housing units built. I think that the amount of new moving to (or attempting to move to) Harriosnburg over the past 5 to 10 years has exceeded the number of new housing units built during that same timeframe. Third, I think there is an imperfect match between what home buyers want to buy and new housing units that are being built. First of all, plenty of the new housing units that have been built over the past ten years have been rentals - apartments or otherwise - which hasn't helped provide housing for would be home buyers at all. Furthermore, the "for sale" housing that is being built in this area certainly meets the needs of some buyers, but probably not most or all buyers. If you're hoping to buy a home that is within the location, size parameters and price parameters of one of our area's new home communities -- great, you'll be in good shape! If what you are hoping to buy is not the type / size / price of new homes being built in our area, then the new housing units being built don't help you out at all. As such... the popularity of Harrisonburg and the rate at which new housing units are being built, and the type of housing units being built all contribute to a shortage of housing inventory for many price ranges and property types. Receive Updates by Email Recent Articles: Ho, Ho, Ho, Is Santa Bringing Lower Mortgage Interest Rates For Christmas? OK, False Alarm, Most Homes Are Still Selling Very Quickly How Quickly Are Homes Selling These Days? Middleburg at Stone Spring, To Include Up To 500 Apartments, Proposed Adjacent To The Reserve At Stoneport A Rough Two Years For Rising Mortgage Interest Rates Home Buying Activity Will Slow But Not Stop Over The Winter Demand Is Likely To Keep On Rising For Contractors And Home Renovators Update On City Of Harrisonburg Townhouse Market Trying To Buy A Home... A Story Of Being All In, Then Bowing Out, And Now Being Ready To Jump In Again Sometimes Upgrade Your Home (Selling And Buying) Results In An Even Larger Upgrade In Your Monthly Payment
Have any questions? Contact Scott Rogers at 540-578-0102 or scott@funkhousergroup.com
Based on information from the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Association of REALTORS® or its MLS, for the period Jan 1, 2000 through Dec 11, 2023 (unless otherwise noted).
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