Zillow: Home Values Rise 7% in 2016

Staff Report

Friday, January 20th, 2017

Home values rose 6.8 percent from last December, the fastest annual pace of the year. The Zillow Home Value Index is $193,800, just below the highest value set in April 2007, according to the December Zillow Real Estate Market Reports.

Home value appreciation slowed slightly in Portland, but remains the fastest in the nation, up 13.8 percent from last December. Tampa, Seattle and Dallas saw similarly high home value growth, with home values growing nearly 12 percent from a year ago.

Hot home values characterized 2016 all the way to the end – and they show no sign of slowing in 2017. However, as the new year begins, flattening rents could take the heat off buyers who are struggling to find a home amid low inventory and give them more time to search for the right home.

"Home values ended 2016 growing at their fastest pace of the year, which could be an indication of what to expect in 2017," said Zillow Chief Economist Dr. Svenja Gudell. "Lack of inventory will remain a major concern for home buyers this year. Especially lack of available entry-level homes coupled with high demand will continue to rapidly drive up home values in the near future. Buyers should make sure they get pre-approved for a mortgage, and be prepared to move quickly, especially in hot markets like Seattle and Portland. It's not uncommon for buyers to make at least two offers during their home search."

Rent appreciation stabilized at 1.5 percent annual growth, less than half the pace rents were growing at last year. The median monthly rent payment in the U.S. is $1,403.

The fastest rent appreciation occurred along the West Coast.  Seattle led the nation in rising rents, with rents growing 8.4 percent in December, followed by Portland and Sacramento.

Inventory is still a concern for home buyers across the country; finding an affordable home is the top concern for people searching for homes. There are 4.6 percent fewer available homes than there were a year ago. Among the nation's largest markets, Boston and Minneapolis saw the biggest declines in inventory over the past year.

Metropolitan Area

 Zillow Home Value Index

Year-over-Year ZHVI Change

 Zillow Rent Index

Year-over-Year ZRI Change

Year-over-Year Inventory Change

United States

$193,800

6.8%

$1,403

1.5%

-4.6%

New York/Northern New Jersey

$402,700

6.3%

$2,392

0.2%

-9.0%

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA

$594,100

6.5%

$2,625

5.3%

-5.0%

Chicago, IL

$204,700

5.4%

$1,632

-0.2%

-8.1%

Dallas-Fort Worth, TX

$201,400

11.6%

$1,560

3.9%

-7.7%

Philadelphia, PA

$214,800

4.6%

$1,573

0.9%

-12.1%

Houston, TX

$176,100

6.6%

$1,556

-1.5%

0.6%

Washington, DC

$380,200

3.4%

$2,122

0.7%

-13.8%

Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL

$247,000

9.0%

$1,871

2.3%

14.6%

Atlanta, GA

$173,300

7.4%

$1,333

4.6%

-3.2%

Boston, MA

$412,300

6.5%

$2,329

3.7%

-21.6%

San Francisco, CA

$829,700

4.8%

$3,371

1.0%

-6.5%

Detroit, MI

$135,900

10.0%

$1,170

3.1%

-17.9%

Riverside, CA

$319,400

6.8%

$1,746

3.2%

-9.0%

Phoenix, AZ

$230,500

6.8%

$1,304

4.2%

4.9%

Seattle, WA

$413,700

11.7%

$2,097

8.4%

-8.3%

Minneapolis-St Paul, MN

$236,200

6.5%

$1,558

3.9%

-19.9%

San Diego, CA

$529,500

6.3%

$2,443

5.3%

-0.6%

St. Louis, MO

$148,900

7.1%

$1,126

0.3%

-13.0%

Tampa, FL

$179,600

11.8%

$1,340

3.3%

-11.6%

Baltimore, MD

$257,800

3.8%

$1,728

0.8%

-14.1%

Denver, CO

$355,400

9.6%

$2,003

2.6%

2.7%

Pittsburgh, PA

$133,700

4.7%

$1,074

-1.9%

-1.0%

Portland, OR

$354,400

13.8%

$1,805

6.8%

1.9%

Charlotte, NC

$168,000

7.4%

$1,246

2.0%

-10.4%

Sacramento, CA

$352,700

7.4%

$1,708

6.7%

-4.0%

San Antonio, TX

$156,900

6.4%

$1,324

1.8%

8.0%

Orlando, FL

$200,500

10.7%

$1,387

3.4%

-12.3%

Cincinnati, OH

$148,700

5.8%

$1,249

2.1%

-16.8%

Cleveland, OH

$130,700

4.7%

$1,143

1.5%

-10.0%

Kansas City, MO

$152,900

5.9%

$1,246

3.8%

-18.4%

Las Vegas, NV

$215,400

9.8%

$1,245

2.7%

25.7%

Columbus, OH

$162,200

5.1%

$1,292

1.7%

-16.5%

Indianapolis, IN

$134,300

2.1%

$1,186

0.3%

-12.9%

San Jose, CA

$963,700

4.0%

$3,470

0.9%

-13.9%

Austin, TX

$261,500

8.2%

$1,698

0.8%

15.1%