New Survey Shows Local Real Estate Markets Heat Up With Investors

CAMPBELL, Calif., May 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Real estate investors by three to one(1) will be more active in their local markets compared to typical homebuyers in the next 24 months, and 69 percent of investors say it'll be easier to find properties in the near future(2), according to a new national survey of real estate investors released today by Move, Inc. (NASDAQ: MOVE), the leader in online real estate.

The Move Investor survey also suggests local markets will be heating up with renewed investor interest and activity. Compared to a year ago, 62 percent of investors are paying more attention to home values in their local markets. Only 43.5 percent say it will be harder to find bargains and 41.5 percent expect it'll be easier to sell their properties in the next six months. Meanwhile, 22 percent of investors are bullish and expect prices to rise in the next six to 12 months, and 53.5 percent expect prices to remain relatively the same. Twenty-three percent (23%) expect prices will fall in the next six to 12 months.

The Move Investor survey also shows investors are positioned to compete vigorously with traditional first-time homebuyers for hot deals. Two-thirds of investors (65.5%) said they expect the problems first-time buyers are having in getting mortgages will make it easier for them to compete for properties. One in five investors (18.5%) say they'll be cash-only buyers, a strategy that's out of reach for most first-time buyers. Eight out ten (80.5%) expect cash discounts from sellers.

Today's Investors, Not Stereotypical Deal Driven Experienced Flippers

Contrary to the tactics used by investors known as 'flippers,' 50 percent of today's real estate investors plan to hold their properties for five plus years. Only 11 percent expect to sell within 12 months of purchase. Two-thirds (67.5%) say they're investing for the long term.

Fifty-nine percent (59%) told Move they're new to real estate investing, with 33.5 percent considering their first investment purchase and 8.5 percent in the process of buying and selling their first investment property. Another 17 percent said they just completed their first transaction and plan to make more. Only 36.5 percent have experience in more than one property transaction.  

When it comes to repairs and maintenance, 56.5 percent of investors say the repair and maintenance of investment property has not been difficult. Moving forward, 42 percent plan to invest their own time and energy to improve, repair and maintain their properties. The remainder said they'll hire a contractor for repairs (29.5%) or purchase move-in-ready properties (28%). The majority (65.7%), don't expect repair costs to exceed 20 percent of the property's purchase price.

"This data suggests today's climate is hot for investing and is attracting a lot of new people that don't fit the stereotypical deal-driven flippers that buy and sell properties quickly," said Move, Inc. Chief Executive Officer, Steve Berkowitz. "They're mostly entrepreneurial individuals that will make vital contributions to local communities by investing their own money and sweat equity to improve and maintain properties. These personal sacrifices made over the long run will help improve housing stocks, home values, property tax bases, and thousands of local communities."

Investors Combine Cash and Credit to Snap Up Properties

While cash is king in many circles, 75.5 percent plan to combine cash and credit to purchase properties as they build their real estate portfolio. In fact, 59.5 percent plan to put less than half down on their next property purchase and they'll finance the rest. Those planning to use more than 50 percent cash and finance the remainder, account for 16 percent of today's investors. Investors told Move the second most difficult challenge has been in finding financing (57%).

"The fact that most real estate investors plan on combing cash and credit for their purchases goes against the conventional wisdom that investor transactions today are mostly cash-only sales. We were surprised to learn that 75 percent of investors are financing portions of their purchases. This suggests they're seeing tremendous or once in a lifetime opportunities and may be tapping into credit or taking out second trusts on existing properties. The data also shows they're expecting high returns to match the level of investment they're making in an arena that is new to many investors," Berkowitz said.

High Risk Leads to High ROI Expectations

Based on the investments they're making in today's environment, real estate investors clearly expect high yield returns. Nearly half (48%) expect a profit of 20 percent or more from their property investments, a 4 percent annual rate of return over five years. Another 40 percent expect a profit of 10 percent, and only 6.5 percent expecting a 5 percent or less return on investment. Half (50%) of today's real estate investors plan to hold their properties for five plus years.

Property Investments May Become Gateway to Homeownership For Many

While the survey shows investors will outnumber traditional homebuyers three to one in the next two years, 27 percent said they'll buy a primary residence as a first-time buyer as their first real estate investment. Nearly half (49%) plan to live in their investment property until it's sold or turned into a rental property. Slightly more than half (56.5%) will put their investments to work as rental properties, and 28 percent plan to purchase vacation property that they'll eventually sell. The Move Investor survey also found 30 percent of real estate investors are interested in buying retirement property as an investment.

"The survey suggests some first-time buyers may be looking at investing as a strategy to becoming homeowners," Berkowitz said. "While today's market is tough for some, it's also motivating millions to take an unconventional approach and creatively search for new ways of entering the housing market. This data also suggests the dream of homeownership is alive for millions that are keeping their eye on the future and using their initial home as the first in a series of what may become many investments in real estate. Investment opportunities -- perhaps next door or down the street -- will continue to knock at the door for many local investors with the vision, faith and interest in their local markets."

About the Survey

The survey was conducted by OmniTel, the weekly national RDD Probability Sample telephone omnibus service of GfK Custom Research North America. It is based on interviews conducted April 11 through 15.  Each Omnitel study consist of 1,000 completed interviews, made up of male and female adults (in approximately equal number), all 18 years of age and over.  Supplemental interviews were added to the national study in order to end up with a stable base size of 200 real estate investors. The supplemental interviews utilized the same sampling frame as the national frame.  The margin of error on weighted data is +/- 3% and higher for subgroups. The raw data are weighted by a custom designed computer program, which automatically develops a weighting factor for each respondent. This procedure employs five variables: age, sex, education, race and geographic region. Each interview is assigned a single weight derived from the relationship between the actual proportion of the population with its specific combination of age, sex, education, race and geographic characteristics and the proportion in our sample that week. Tabular results show both weighted and unweighted bases for these demographic variables.

About MOVE, INC.

Move, Inc. (NASDAQ:MOVE) is the leader in online real estate with 14.1 million monthly visitors(3) to its online network of websites. Move, Inc. operates: Move.com, a leading destination for information on new homes and rental listings, moving, home and garden and home finance; REALTOR.com®, the official website of the National Association of REALTORS®; MortgageMatch.com, Moving.com; SeniorHousingNet; ListHub; and TOP PRODUCER Systems. Move, Inc. is based in Campbell, California.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements, including information about management's view of Move's future expectations, plans and prospects, within the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the results of Move, its subsidiaries, divisions and concepts to be materially different than those expressed or implied in such statements. These risk factors and others are included from time to time in documents Move files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to, its Form 10-Ks, Form 10-Qs and Form 8-Ks. Other unknown or unpredictable factors also could have material adverse effects on Move's future results. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date hereof. Move cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Finally, Move expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

(1) Move, Inc., Investor Survey - 33% of investors plan to purchase property in the next two years compared to 8.6% of all  homebuyers

(2) Next six months - April 17, 2011 to October 17, 2011

(3) comScore April 2011 Media Metrix, Key Measures Report

SOURCE Move, Inc.