National News

Apartment Construction Drives Market in 2015

Without the surging apartment sector, where would new construction be in 2015? Housing starts in September were up 6.5 percent from August and 17.5 percent from Sept. 2014 to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.026 million, which is the

BoA Survey: Millennials Confident, Yet Stressed About Money

According to the new Better Money Habits Millennial Report from Bank of America, while 84 percent of Millennials are self-reliant when it comes to managing their own finances, 41 percent are constantly stressed about money. Moreover, the report found that money stress

90 Percent of Homes are Under Insulated

Ninety percent of all U.S. homes are under insulated, according to a new report released by the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA). The report pulled data from the 2009 Residential Energy Consumption Survey and used insulation estimation techniques

Boston on List of Top Cities for Trick-or-Treating

According to Zillow, Boston is No. 7 on the list of best cities for trick-or-treating. San Francisco has topped the list for the fifth year in a row. Other repeats include Minneapolis, Denver and Seattle, along with new appearances by Nashville,

SOC Reports the New Median Size of Single Family Homes

The new median size for single family homes is 2,450 square feet. According to the 2014 Survey of Construction (SOC) data from the Census Bureau and NAHB analysis, this is the second highest average since 2009. Tweet: The new median

62% of Americans Have Almost No Savings

Yet another study finds that a majority of Americans are on financially insecure footing Sixty-two percent of Americans have inadequate savings. That alarming statistic was the main finding of a Google Consumer Survey that GoBankingRates, a national website that

Wire Fraud Scammers Target Real Estate Agents, Clients

Resurgence of wire fraud scams alarms NAR Wire fraud, or fraud using telecommunications technology, is on the rise in real estate transactions, according to a new report in the Washington Post. The scam works like this: hackers gain access to either

House Passes Bill to Delay TRID, Again

On Oct. 3, lenders finally reached the much-delayed compliance deadline imposed by TRID. However, in an effort to assist smaller lending, title and escrow companies reach a level of sustainable compliance with the new documentation, a bipartisan bill was introduced, and

Newly Formed NAHB Young Professional Committee

The National Association of Home Builders Young Professionals Committee was recently formed to inspire young homebuilding professionals under the age of 45 to become association leaders. New members will be involved in national networking, education and advocacy initiatives. And when filling out an application, the association is recommending

9 Surprising Stats about the State of Housing in 2015

Housing has made considerable progress the last few years, but elements of the downturn still linger. Recently, there have been many promising developments in housing. New construction, for instance, is becoming more affordable, and new home sales are up

Mortgage Rates Drop on Weak Jobs Report

Average fixed mortgage rates have lowered following September’s jobs report, according to Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey. With the 30-year FRM falling from 3.85 to 3.76 percent, average rates have now been below 4 percent for 11 consecutive weeks, while including the

Survey: Americans Bargain Shop For All Things – Except Loans

LendingTree’s survey reveals that though Americans bargain shop for many things, they do not adequately research financial loans. Out of the 1,024 people surveyed (ages 25 and up), 79 percent of Americans claimed to be bargains shoppers. An overwhelming  83

Massachusetts Sees Rise in “Zombie” Foreclosures

Chicago holds a majority of zombie foreclosures, vacant homes Despite a 43 percent national drop of “zombie” foreclosures, they still remain a problem in several parts of the country, according to a RealtyTrac study, including Massachusetts who saw an increase. The study,

MBA: Mortgage Applications Increase Dramatically

According to the new Mortgage Applications Survey from the Mortgage Bankers Association, mortgage applications increased 25.5 percent from the week prior. Refinancing activity increased by 24 percent, while purchase mortgages rose by 27 percent. Refinancing comprised 57.4 percent of all mortgage

Average Rent in Boston Approaches $2,000 Tipping Point

The rental market in Boston has been red-hot for some time now, and it is approaching a milestone The average rent in Boston’s housing market is nearly $2,000, and the area’s rental growth remains strong. Those were the main findings in the latest

China’s Economic Strife May Be America’s Gain Says AREAA Chair

China is currently steeped in economic turmoil, and its tumbling stock prices and overinflated real estate market have industry professionals asking the question: How will this affect the U.S. real estate market? The answer has major implications for agents, brokerages

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