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By Mike Colpitts
Despite contrary reports in the mass media, a third of the 50
US States real estate markets are still appreciating at
healthy
levels, according to an in depth study conducted by Real
Estate
Add, an information driven website, which provides detailed
information on real estate markets in all 50 states.
Seventeen of the nation’s states are still appreciating
strongly, including seven states located in the southern
portion of the country. The southern states are experiencing
the largest migration of new residents in history.
The southeast is bolstered by warmer climates than the
northern
part of the country, causing an onslaught of new residents as
US
weather patterns change. Many businesses have moved or are
planning on moving to the southeast.
Tennessee, Kentucky, South Carolina, North Carolina, and
Alabama are still growing in population with new residents and
are maintaining strongly appreciating local real estate
markets.
Nashville, Tennessee is the nation’s home of country music,
and
Nashville has seen a rise in appreciation over the past three
years unprecedented in its history. Nashville housing prices
are forecast to appreciate nearly another 7% by the end of
2006.
But Memphis will appreciate a whopping 7.7% by year’s end,
according to the website’s economists.
South Carolina, however, may have one of the longest lasting
and strongest appreciating housing markets in the nation. Many
new businesses have been drawn to South Carolina through tax
incentives, and many retirees are buying more affordable
housing in South Carolina.
The Mississippi and Louisiana housing markets were dealt a
severe blow by Hurricane Katrina nearly a year ago. But both
states real estate markets have turned into strong buyers
markets, where the shortages of housing have fueled a building
boom, mainly confined to areas outside of the disaster zones.
The shortage of construction workers in both states, a lack of
building supplies, and problems with insurance payoffs have
contributed to a rebuilding slowdown.
In the nation’s northern tier of states North Dakota real
estate is still appreciating, mainly because of it’s low cost
of living and growing job markets in a handful of communities.
Idaho, Montana, Utah and Alaska are also still experiencing
positive home appreciation. Alaska hasn’t seen a booming
market
like it is in Anchorage since the oil pipeline boom days of
the
1970's.
Boise, Idaho, selected by numerous publications as one of the
best places to live in America, is also continuing to
experience a housing market that has been appreciating for
more
than three years, and doesn’t show any signs of slowing down
any
time soon.
Utah is another western state that is under going
unprecedented
growth and appreciation. But of all the states in the nation
that have experienced booms and busts in major urban real
estate markets that could have slowed down already, Washington
is still experiencing appreciation.
In Seattle it’s still a sellers market, despite rising
interest
rates and increasing inventories of homes and condos on the
market. Across the Cascade mountain range in eastern
Washington, Spokane has under gone a market of rising
appreciation unlike anything it has experienced for 15 years.
Spokane housing will appreciate another 7.9% in 2006 on
average.
Many states real estate markets have slowed down after 13
years
of low interest rates. It may be difficult to determine just
how
strong many local real estate markets are. Real Estate Add
surveys local markets on a regular basis for changes with
information supplied by title companies, closing attorneys,
lenders and real estate agents.
About The Author: Mike Colpitts is the publisher of Real
Estate
Add, an information driven website, which provides
appreciation
forecasts and unbiased real estate information on local real
estate markets in all 50 States. Visit
www.RealEstateAdd.com
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