Absorption Rate
Definition of "Absorption rate"
The real estate market uses the absorption rate to assess at which rate are available homes sold. This evaluation method is used for specific markets for specific periods of time. To calculate the absorption rate, the number of homes sold during that time is divided by the number of homes available. Through this calculation, it can be identified how fast homes are sold in any area during any period of time. The equation can be reversed to determine how long a house is expected to wait on the market before it is sold.
What is Absorption Rate in Real Estate?
As mentioned above, analyzing the absorption rate can give insight into how fast houses are sold in an area during a period of time. When the absorption rate is analyzed, new homes for sale that enter the market are not considered based on the data available at that time.
The absorption rate can also help market analysts to understand whether they are dealing with a seller’s market or a buyer’s market. If the absorption rate is high, typically above 20%, that means that homes sell fast and that the demand will shrink rapidly. This also means that the real estate market leans towards becoming a seller’s market. However, when the absorption rate is low, usually below 15%, homes don’t sell as fast and might saturate the market into becoming a buyer’s market.
How does the Absorption Rate affect the Real Estate Market?
The sale price is one of the most important effects of the absorption rate on the real estate market. When the market is thriving and homes are sold in no time, then a real estate agent can increase a listing price. When demand is high, prices can rise to take advantage of it. The opposite can happen if the market is struggling. Prices can drop as demand is low.
The absorption rate can also help buyers and sellers decide when it’s best to buy or sell a property. Naturally, a seller’s market with a high absorption rate tells owners to sell as prices are growing, and similarly, a buyer’s market with a low absorption rate tells investors to buy as prices are dropping.
For developers, the absorption rate can signal a need for new housing as demand increases in an area or lack of demand and a drop in construction.
Popular Real Estate Terms
Provision in an insurance policy that caps the insurer's liability by stipulating that the owner of the property that has experienced damage must have another policy that covers usually at ...
A land property estate contingent upon the occurrence or lack of occurrence of a particular event whereupon it can be created, augmented, or dismantled. ...
Insulation covered on each side by a material, such as metal. ...
Listing of property that is open, meaning there is no one real estate agent who has the sole right to sell the property. ...
Temporary financing meeting a developer's financial difference between a construction loan and a permanent mortgage. ...
Intent to deceive or never to carry out the provisions of an agreement. ...
Loan with a significant down payment with the balance being paid in equal periodic payments over a short time period. There is no interest charge. An example is when a seller of real ...
Analysis of a real estate sales data to appraise real estate values. Sources of real estate sales data used in the market data approach include the official records of deeds and leases ...
Tenant agrees to a replacement landlord. ...
Have a question or comment?
We're here to help.