Lower mortgage rates and increased housing inventory are providing Seattle homebuyers with new opportunities, making the fall housing market more competitive than usual, according to Zillow's latest market report released Thursday.Mortgage payments have decreased nationwide, with the typical monthly payment on a Seattle home dropping 3.4% in August.
18 million homes available nationwide."Buyers have more options to choose from for two reasons," said Olsen. "For one, it's easier to qualify for more of the homes on the market now that mortgage rates are a bit lower. Beyond that, more inventory is becoming available — enough to improve buyer negotiating power. Attractive properties in hot markets are still selling quickly, but some metros — or neighborhoods within them — have flipped further in favor of buyers.