National News

Builder Confidence at Highest Level Since Nov. 2005

Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes in August rose one point to a level of 61 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). That is the highest reading since November

Judge Allows Primary Trade Secrets Complaint Against Zillow

In October, we reported on a budding legal battle between Zillow and Top Agent Network (TAN).  Tan claimed the popular syndication portal had stolen proprietary trade secrets under the guise of investor interest to create its “Coming Soon” feature. Today, a

Reading the Tea Leaves: What the Economy Can Tell Us About the Future of Building

Homebuilding is in a state of flux across the nation. With growing barriers in lending and land availability forcing traditionally entry-level homebuilders into the upper ends of the market, it is unclear what the future of the industry and

Is the McMansion Returning to Glory?

Square footage is growing faster now than it did during the housing boom, but the culture of the McMansion may be changing. After being scared away by the 2008 financial and housing crisis, the McMansion is slowly returning to

Why Boston Renters are Not Buying Homes

Rising rents, new research shows, are not an incentive to buy a house Renters in the Boston metro area are spending substantially more money on their monthly rent than is historically the case. That was the finding of a new

As Housing Market Improves, Average Down Payments Rise

Recent study shows national increase in average down payments. In 2015’s second quarter, the average down payment in Massachusetts was 19.15 percent, which was an increase from the first quarter’s 18.31 percent, according to a recent study by online loan marketplace, Lending

Major Google Air Quality Partnership May Soon Influence Home Pricing Decisions

Technology has drastically improved the efficacy of searching for the right home. Prior to enlisting the services of an agent, buyers, who in all likelihood have a pre-established criterion for their ideal neighborhood and home, are scoping out concerns

CoreLogic: Massachusetts Home Prices Drop 5 Percent

Massachusetts defies nationwide trend of rising home prices Massachusetts was one of four states who saw home price depreciation in CoreLogic’s June 2015 Home Price Index (HPI). Massachusetts saw a drop of 5 percent, the largest statewide drop. Connecticut (-0.6 percent),

TILA-RESPA: New Bills Aim to Address Concerns

The House Financial Services Committee passed two bills to help ease TRID worries On Oct. 3, the new TILA-RESPA integrated disclosure (TRID) rule will come into affect, and the industry is struggling in preparation, despite the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Boston Has Healthiest Home Market in Nation

Low mortgage costs and high equity contributed to a healthy housing market in Boston Boston has the healthiest housing market in the nation, according to a new WalletHub study. The study, which compared the 25 largest metropolitan areas in the

Real Estate Loses Big Investors, Gains Confidence

Institutional investors leaving real estate, but Americans still confident housing is a good investment In the immediate wake of the economic downturn, the housing market took a plunge that was devastating for homeowners but ideal for the opportunistic. In the years

Pending Home Sales Fall, Suggesting Market Slowdown

Contract signings declined for the first time in 2015, according to new research Pending home sales declined 1.8 percent from May to June, according to new analysis from the National Association of Realtors. Although the Pending Home Sales Index,

Boston Home Prices Lead the Nation in Latest Case-Shiller

Home prices were positive for the Boston housing market in May’s Case-Shiller Home prices in the Boston housing market rose 1.5 percent from April to May, and 2.2 percent from May 2014, according to the latest Case-Shiller Home Price Indices

Possible Raise for Jumbo Loans Cap

With rising home prices pushing more loans out of conforming range and into jumbo range, could the jumbo loan cap increase? With the national median home price at a historic high, the Federal Housing Finance Agency has begun to reach

New Home Sales Rise to Best Level Since 2008

The news for new home sales was much better than the Census Bureau’s report led on Sales of new homes in June were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 482,000, a 21.2 percent year-to-date increase from 2014 that

Existing-Home Prices Reach All-Time High

This June, median home prices and existing-home sales turn the market around According to a new report by the National Association of Realtors, the combined effect of rising demand and limited supply have helped raise the national median sales

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