National News

Fed raises rates, but dials back plans for future hikes

During their final policy meeting of 2018 this week, Federal Reserve officials voted unanimously to continue the central bank’s pace of gradual interest rate increases. As was widely expected, the Fed announced at the conclusion of its Federal Open

Existing home sales grow in November on inventory gains

The National Association of Realtors reported Wednesday that existing home sales in November were up 1.9 percent from the previous month. That makes November the second consecutive month of increasing home sales as prices continue to moderate and listings

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Real Estate in Brief: Best days to close, new renter data and more

The holiday season is all about finding the best deals on gifts for friends and family, but it may also be one of the best times to find a bargain on the biggest purchase most of us will ever

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Freddie Mac warns housing supply problem is compounding

One of the biggest threats to the U.S. real estate market next year will be a familiar one, according to Freddie Mac economists: a lack of inventory due to sluggish building activity. In its latest Insight Report, Freddie Mac

First-time homebuyer activity hit post-recession highs this year

First-time homebuyers made up the largest share of the U.S. home purchase market since 2005 during the first nine months of 2018, according to a recent report from Genworth Mortgage Insurance. That means despite persistent concerns about housing affordability

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How confident should we be in the housing market?

If you’re feeling like home prices can’t go up forever, you’re not alone. The November edition of Fannie Mae’s monthly Home Purchase Sentiment Index cites a 13 percent drop in confidence that prices will continue to climb over a

Millennial renters aspire to homeownership, but getting there could take decades

It may not be surprising by now to hear that the next generation of young adults wants to follow in their parents’ footsteps and become homeowners soon. That’s also increasingly true for those who are currently renters. A new

Real Estate in Brief: Fewer cost-burdened households, millennials delay homeownership and more

The number of households in the U.S. considered cost-burdened last year had slightly fallen, according to a JCHS analysis. The study reviewed data from the 2017 American Community Survey, finding that between 2016 and 2017 the percentage of cost-burdened households (households paying over 30 percent of total household income

White House nominates FHFA critic to lead agency

The Wall Street Journal reported Dec. 10 that President Donald Trump was expected to nominate Mark Calabria to replace the outgoing director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the federal regulator tasked with managing government-sponsored mortgage corporations Fannie Mae

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Real Estate in Brief: HQ2 listings, short-term rentals for brokers and more

Real estate website MyHQHome.com plans to launch in January, taking advantage of the Amazon HQ2 real estate gold rush. Several brokerages have joined forces in constructing the website, aiming to target Amazon employees relocating to the company’s two new city locations, Crystal City,

Why millennials are buying more homes in suburbs than cities

Assumptions about how millennials will spend their money as they progress through adulthood continue to be proven inaccurate, or at least misunderstood. This is particularly true in real estate, specifically the places where Americans now in their 20s and

For-sale inventory records first annual increase since 2008

Housing inventory is steadily recharging around the U.S., giving potential buyers more options. RE/MAX’s latest national housing report found October was the first month to show a year-over-year increase in inventory in nearly 10 years. Compared to one year

Real Estate in Brief: Flood Insurance Program extension, new down payment options and more

Last Thursday, the U.S. Senate granted the National Flood Insurance Program another six-month extension while the House of Representatives granted the same program an extension of seven days. “NAR is relieved that authorization of the National Flood Insurance Program

Why competition for real estate talent is increasing

On average, American workers aren’t in love with their jobs. In a survey released prior to Labor Day this year, researchers from The Conference Board estimated that barely half of U.S. employees (51 percent) are actually satisfied with their job

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Economists differ on 2019 real estate outlook

As 2018 winds down, so too have several leading indicators of home sales activity: New and existing home sales, builder sentiment, price growth and more have taken a turn for the worse in the closing months of the year.

Oct. pending home sales complicate short-term housing outlook

The latest report on pending home sales recorded in October, released today by the National Association of Realtors, showed more signs of a short-term slowdown. NAR’s pending home sales index declined by 2.6 percent last month compared to September,

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