Home sellers are making bank in today’s market, realizing a 24.1 percent, or $39,900, gain in 2016, according to a recent analysis by Zillow.
Sellers on the West Coast—where home prices have rocketed since the recession—saw higher returns, with those in Oakland, Calif., taking home the most at 78 percent, or $235,000.
Duration is key. The average seller turning a $39,900 profit, the analysis shows, held on to their home for seven years and five months. The average seller in Oakland hung on to their home for seven years and three months.
The top 10 markets:
“The housing market can change a lot in 10 years, and you see that reflected in this top 10 list,” says Dr. Svenja Gudell, chief economist at Zillow. “Buying a home is one of the biggest financial decisions people will make in their lifetime, and it really paid off for sellers in these cities. Every city on this list has been growing extremely fast over the past decade, with the majority passing peak home value hit during the housing bubble.”
The ability to amass wealth over the long term makes real estate the No. 1 investment for most Americans, despite proven results from stocks and other vehicles.
“It’s extremely difficult to time the market, but if you’re a longtime homeowner in one of these cities, you could potentially see a great return on your investment,” Gudell says.
For more information, please visit www.zillow.com.
Suzanne De Vita is RISMedia’s online news editor. Email her your real estate news ideas at sdevita@rismedia.com.
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