When you look at home values you get a better picture if you look at long term trends and not short term trends.  Quarterly home prices go up and down but yearly growth and long term growth give you a much better picture of where the market is going. 

Home values in Jackson County hit their all-time high in 2006, but then begin to fall as the housing caused recession hit. Prices continued to decline until they leveled in 2012, and begin to rise in 2013. Prices have continued to rise into 2016 and we ended the year with prices increasing 62.4% since their low in 2012.  Home prices are still 7.5% lower than the all-time high in 2006 so we have a year or so before home prices are back at their all-time highs. We predict that home prices will continue to increase in 2017 due to three factors.  There is a very low supply of homes on the market with is pushing prices up, rental rates are extremely high, so in many cased it’s cheaper to buy then rent , and we have an increasing amount of retirees moving to the area. All three of these trends will lead to higher home prices. 

As for any average growth in home prices you have some areas that have faster price growth than others.  Lower priced homes in Medford and Central Point have seen price growth that is twice that of price growth in Ashland and Jacksonville. Here are some numbers:

5 Year % Change in Existing Home Prices Median Price in 2016 

Ashland + 39.1% $394,000

Talent + 64.8% $278,500

Phoenix + 47.6% $222,900

Jacksonville + 43.8% $365,000

East Medford + 61.1% $265,750

West Medford + 85.3% $161,250

Eagle Point + 63.3% $249,000

5 Year % change in Jackson County 62.4% 

The number of homes selling is also on the increase, even though there is very little inventory available. In 2016 there were 2633 Homes that sold in Jackson County compared to an all-time high of 2647 in 2006. 

The Rental Market continues to see 2% Vacancy which are at their lowest level since 2000. Rental prices have increase and supply is limited to we see the same trend for 2017.  

Mortgage Rates have increased and now the average 30-year fixed mortgage rates are expected to average over 4 percent in 2017.  The Federal Reserve announced they may increase the prime rate in 2017 which may drive up mortgage rates. At the same time mortgage rates have increase some government loans such as FHA have decreased the fees they charge for mortgage insurance so the net to the borrower can be the same as prior to the increase. 

As we begin a new year and a new administration leading our nation there is a lot of uncertainly, but home sales are local and Jackson County seems more effected by the number of ageing baby boomers retiring then by any other factor. At last, home prices are nearing the record high and home sales are in reach of the all-time record, and best of all, the trend seems to be sustainable.