I hope everyone is having a happy holiday season. Before getting into my predictions for next year, there are three crucial factors to discuss that will shape the real estate market in 2023 and beyond: Interest rates, inflation, and consumer sentiment. All three are intertwined as they influence each other, but it is important to discuss each one individually to understand how each unique variable will influence real estate in 2022 and beyond. I answer the following questions below: what happens to mortgages rates, will inflation peak, will there be a recession, will real estate rise or fall in 2023?
What Happens to Inflation in 2023?
Inflation continues at the highest rate in over 30 years. There should be some break in the continued price acceleration as supply chains “catch up” with demand. Furthermore, we are seeing in the latest retail numbers that prices are starting to dampen demand a little which will help. Unfortunately, there are a few categories that will remain elevated for a while: housing and wages that will factor into the price of goods.
Rent: Remember rent is a lagged indicator meaning we don’t see the effect of rent increases for up to around a year. With the sudden surge in rates, many would be homeowners have been priced out increasing demand for rentals. Rents will come off their highs, but I do not see them plummeting which will mitigate a quick drop in inflation. Remember housing makes up over 30% of the CPI calculation.
Wages also look to continue higher as the work force remains constrained either from retirements or others not reentering the work force for several reasons. For example, as inflation and wages increase, so does childcare costs which makes it more difficult for many to justify working if they are spending close to what they are making on childcare. I do not see this issue getting resolved until possibly late 23 which will lead to continued upward pressure on wages, but likely not as much as in 2022 as demand wanes a little.
Where do interest rates go in 2023?
The Federal reserve finally came around that inflation is not transitory and as a result they accelerated the wind down of their bond purchases which will put them in a position to continue hiking rates into 2023. The median consensus is maybe another .5 to1% next year. This will keep interest rates north of 6.5% Many are predicting a quick reversal in the fed late next year. I do not see this happening as they are forced to hold rates higher for longer. Even with rising wages, they are not coming even close to keeping up with the 50% jump in financing costs from their lows.
What happens to Consumer Sentiment in 2023?
Even with huge inflation and predictions of a downturn, the consumer keeps spending. I think mid 23 the consumer starts to get “tired out” and will eventually slow spending down as they work through built up pandemic savings. This should help slow inflation, but will not lead to a quick reversal.
2023 real estate predictions: rise or fall?
2023 is going to be a transition year, but likely will not happen exactly as economists have planned. Unfortunately, there are more negative than positive risks for real estate heading into 2023.
In the first half of the year I do not see the bottom dropping out of prices. There will be some softening with prices dropping in the 5-10% range. The real test comes the second half of the year when consumers exhaust their pandemic savings and the bills come due for all the spending.
On the commercial side, rising real interest rates should continue to put pressure on cap rates. Remember that the higher the cap rate the lower the value (they work in inverse to each other). On A properties I don’t see huge risks, but on B/C office there will continue to be softness. Retail and Industrial will also come off their highs as cap rates continue to rise to keep up with the rise in treasuries. Rents will not be able to rise fast enough to compensate for the higher cap rates.
The wild card is what happens late 2023 as higher interest rates continue to dampen demand; furthermore, the federal reserve must hold rates higher for longer which will keep rates from falling back to their lows. Worst case scenario 10-20% price drops, likely is somewhere under 15% reset in prices. Some larger commercial properties are at much higher risk for larger price drops. For example large class B office will need a huge reset in prices.
Will there be a recession in 2023?
I’m not 100% convinced it will come as the markets are planning. I think the consumer is holding up better than expected and digesting higher interest rates without too many problems so far. Unfortunately, the risks of recession are mounting as there is always a lag in the economy. If a recession is to hit, I don’t think it happens until late 2023 or possibly even early 2024.
2023 real estate predictions summary
Although the roses will be out and the birds will be singing going into 2023, there is trouble ahead. Unfortunately, I don’t think we are done with inflation based on projections for rents/housing and the tight labor market.
Furthermore, I am skeptical based on history that the federal reserve can engineer a soft landing as the economy has gotten considerably hotter than they anticipated with inflation far outpacing any projections. The federal reserve will need to keep rates higher for far longer than the market is pricing in. This will ultimately lead to a correction, but a correction will not occur immediately as it will take time for the economy to finally digest the news.
Look for the big changes in the market to happen after the first half of the year. For now, enjoy the relative calm in the real estate market, but keep an eye on the wind that is signaling the start of a storm.
We are a Private/ Hard Money Lender funding in cash!
If you were forwarded this message, please subscribe to our newsletter
I need your help! Don’t worry, I’m not asking you to wire money to your long-lost cousin that is going to give you a million dollars if you just send them your bank account! I do need your help though, please like and share our articles on linkedin, twitter, facebook, and other social media. I would greatly appreciate it.
Written by Glen Weinberg, COO/ VP Fairview Commercial Lending. Glen has been published as an expert in hard money lending, real estate valuation, financing, and various other real estate topics in Bloomberg, Businessweek ,the Colorado Real Estate Journal, National Association of Realtors Magazine, The Real Deal real estate news, the CO Biz Magazine, The Denver Post, The Scotsman mortgage broker guide, Mortgage Professional America and various other national publications.
Fairview is a hard money lender specializing in private money loans / non-bank real estate loans in Georgia, Colorado, Illinois, and Florida. They are recognized in the industry as the leader in hard money lending with no upfront fees or any other games. Learn more about Hard Money Lending through our free Hard Money Guide. To get started on a loan all we need is our simple one page application (no upfront fees or other games).
Tags: Hard Money Lender, Private lender, Denver hard money, Georgia hard money, Colorado hard money, Atlanta hard money, Florida hard money, Colorado private lender, Georgia private lender, Private real estate loans, Hard money loans, Private real estate mortgage, Hard money mortgage lender