At the helm of the real estate sector, CEOs are afforded an expansive overview of industry trends. One such trend is the surprising shift from credit to cash purchases in the housing market. This shift is expected to disrupt business in unforeseen ways and has resulted in a significant rise of cash house buying companies. Data suggests an increase from 20% cash sales in 2009 to a staggering 35% in 2017 and this percentage continues to rise.
Your Traditional Home Buyer is Changing
Gone are the days when buyers would walk in the bank for pre-approved mortgages. Nowadays, more home buyers value flexible and convenient transactions and are willing to go at lengths to achieve them. Technological advancements make managing large sums of money faster and safer, attracting more buyers to break tradition and adapt to these evolving trends.
Cash Purchases Strike a Perfect Balance
The allure of cash purchases aligns perfectly with a buyer’s pragmatic objectives –immediate possession, less paperwork, no interests, and reduced chances of sale fall through due to loan approval delays. It cultivates a sense of empowerment and ownership that some find irresistible.
A View Down the Upward Cash Purchase Trajectory
What originally started as a tactic for rich investors purchasing luxury homes has now become a broad market trend. The demographic of the average cash home buyer has expanded exponentially. This trend is only projected to amplify further in the coming years.
The Allure of Cash for Sellers
Housing markets can be wildly unpredictable and sellers favour certainty above all else. In contrast to traditional credit-based transactions, cash offers eliminate the risk of loan rejection, decreasing deal fall-through rate.
Transforming the Real Estate Industry Landscape
The real estate market is adjusting to this new trend. The availability of numerous fintech companies eases, and in some cases, encourages, cash home buying. They offer easy accessibility to sizeable cash pools while maintaining impeccable security.
FinTech Fuelling Cash Purchases
Many people dismiss cash purchases as an option for the affluent, not realizing how technological advancements have democratized this buying power. Companies in the fintech sector offer platforms that provide buyers rapid access to their financial resources making large transactions possible at short notices.
Nuances of Cash Transactions
While the process may seem straightforward, cash transactions are not without complexities. The size of the transaction often requires legal checks and documentation to ensure compliance with anti-money laundering laws. These may pose challenges for your buyers who are new to the method.
Leveraging Cash Sales to Your Advantage
Witnessing your industry morph in real-time affords an excellent opportunity for proactive action. Given the advantages of cash transactions for both buyers and sellers, shaping business operations around these preferences can result in profitable dividends.
A Smooth Sail for Cash Buyers
The importance of customer service should not be undervalued in these times of change. Ensuring a seamless transition from credit to cash purchases will endear your company to new and existing buyers, superiorly positioning your real estate firm in the market.
Bridge Finance and its Role
Bridge finance solutions can be leveraged by those keen on adopting cash buying but lack immediate funds. These short-term loans can be particularly useful during competitive bidding scenarios or auctions, allowing you to secure attractive properties before arranging long term financing.
Educate Your Buyers
As real estate CEOs, it is your responsibility to inform buyers about this developing trend and its implications. You need to make sure they understand the convenience, benefits and potential challenges of cash transactions.
Preparing for Consequences
This trend towards an all-cash market could potentially destabilize some aspects of the real estate market as we know it. Shaping your company’s strategic direction now will greatly mitigate any future upheavals brought on by these changes.
A Look at the Future
There is much speculation around what a dominant cash economy might mean for the industry. While it may be too soon to predict with accuracy, it is essential to surveil this trend closely, understand its impact, and strategize accordingly.
The Final Word
In this shifting market landscape, where buyer’s preferences are leaning towards cash transactions, one thing has become clear – change in the real estate sector is inevitable. Therefore, being proactive, strategic and adaptable in these changing times will set a successful path forward for you in the real estate market.