FAU Study: Lower Gas Prices Boost Home Sales

Researchers found statistical evidence to indicate that for every $1 per gallon decrease in gasoline prices, the average time to sell a property decreases by 25 days.

PALM COAST, FL – July 7, 2015 – Falling gas prices can shorten the time it takes a house to sell and can increase the selling price, according to results from an ongoing longitudinal study by Florida Atlantic University (FAU) and Longwood University faculty.

Using data from central Virginia spanning over 10 years of gas price changes and housing transactions, researchers found statistical evidence to indicate that for every $1 per gallon decrease in gasoline prices, the average time to sell a property decreases by 25 days.

In addition, for every $1 per gallon decrease in gasoline prices, the average selling price rises by 2.4 percent – roughly $4,000 per sold property in the study.

A $1 decrease is also shown to increase a seller's chances of selling and closing by roughly 20 percent.

"In the event of a forced sale, these odds are very welcome news for a seller who might already own a second property and must close," says Ken Johnson, Ph.D., a real estate economist, associate dean of graduate programs and professor in FAU's College of Business.

Following a 42-cent jump in the last two months, gas prices are again falling nationwide as the Fourth of July weekend approaches. Gas prices are down nearly $1 from where they were a year ago, and prices this summer are expected to be the lowest they've been since 2009 "due to stabilizing crude oil costs and as refineries complete seasonal maintenance," according to the American Automobile Association (AAA).

In the housing market, contracts to purchase previously owned U.S. homes reached a nine-year high in May, according to the National Association of Realtors.

Lower gas prices lead to increased consumer confidence and more disposable income for potential buyers, says Bennie D. Waller, Ph.D., professor of finance and real estate and director of the Center for Financial Responsibility at Longwood University.

Although the researchers continue to add data to their testing sample, these outcomes appear to be consistent over time, according to both Johnson and Waller.

"At this point in time, we do not foresee any significant change in the outcomes/numbers as we wind down the study," said Johnson.

© 2015 Florida Realtors® All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission.

1 reply
  1. moreno
    moreno says:

    gas price.

    Want is going to sell homes here in Palm Coast, is business, stores,school and something for someone to look forward in this city. Thats all they worry about, how about jobs, and places for famiy to do and come here. The problem with Palm Coast you have a nice city now use the area to have everything so people dont have to go to Jacksonville, or daytona or orlando to shop. the gas price can go down here too.

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