National News

Farmhouse features are the most profitable trend in starter homes

Starter homes with farmhouse-inspired features and craftsman designs are demanding the highest sales premiums, according to RealEstate.com. In the study, RealEstate.com analyzed the listing descriptions of millions of entry-level homes (homes at the bottom third of the market) to

Gay and Lesbian real estate group requests NAR support of anti-discrimination bills

The National Association of Gay and Lesbian Real Estate Professionals (NAGLREP) has announced their support for two Congressional bills aimed to combat housing discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Congressmen David Cicilline (D-RI), co-chair of the Congressional

Homeownership continues to trend upward

The homeownership rate in the U.S. is trending upward, retaining the same 64.2 percent rate in the first quarter of 2018 as the last quarter of 2017, according to the Census Bureau’s Housing Vacancy Survey (HVS). The current rate

Real Estate in Brief: Housing inventory at record low, Compass and Freddie Mac announce new hires and more

Housing inventory is at a historic low, with nearly 9 percent fewer homes on the market than last year, according to the latest report from Zillow. Over half of the homes available are on the expensive end of the

Pending home sales rise slightly in March

Pending home sales rose for the second straight month in March, though lack of inventory is still having a negative effect on the market, according to a recent report by the National Association of Realtors. The Pending Home Sales

first-time-homebuyers-real-estate-agents-good-news
NAHB: Nearly half of those planning to buy a home this year are first-time buyers

Nearly half of those who are planning to buy a home this year are first-time homebuyers, according to the first edition of Housing Trends Report (HTR) from the National Association of HomeBuilders. The survey found that 17 percent of respondents

Homes in districts that were once redlined still lag in value

Homes in neighborhoods that were “redlined,” a practice that began in the 1930s to prevent people of certain races economic classes from buying in certain areas, still have relatively low value compared to other homes in their respective cities,

home-solar-systems-appraisal-value-real-estate-residential-energy-renewable
Buyers show increasing interest in sustainable homes

Sustainable and eco-friendly homes are becoming increasingly desirable to homebuyers. In a recent survey from the National Association of Realtors’ Sustainability Program, Realtor respondents reported that the majority of homebuyers — 61 percent — are interested in green living. Additionally, 71 percent say

rsz_condobuilding.jpg
Real Estate in Brief: Construction growth sees big increase, Lennar partners with Amazon and more

The real value of the construction industry rose 8.5 percent in the fourth quarter of 2017, the largest increase since the first quarter of 2016, according to the latest report from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. This surge is an encouraging

March existing home sales growing but still seeing constraints

March marked the second straight month of increases for existing-home sales in the country. Total existing-home sales rose 1.1 percent to an annual rate (seasonally adjusted) of 5.60 million, up from 5.54 million in February, according to NAR’s most

March home prices see largest increase in four years

This March, the market saw an increase of 8.9 percent in median sales price from a year ago, achieving the highest rise in price in over four years, according to Redfin. The median home sale price in March was

NAR: Housing affordability remains elusive nationwide

Nationally, homes are less affordable than a year ago, meaning fewer households can afford what’s currently on the market based on household income, according to joint research by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and realtor.com. “Wages are growing, which

Hurdlr targets the real estate world with new focus

Hurdlr, a Washington, D.C.-based startup that helps freelancers monitor expenses, taxes and other back end personal business needs, recently announced a new focus on the real estate industry. It will provide agents with goal-setting features paired with its original income-tracking

Zillow: 2017 had fastest-selling market ever

Homebuyers should be prepared for the fast-paced 2018 market, as homes sold faster than ever in 2017, with no signs of slowing down, according to the 2017 Zillow Group Consumer Housing Trends Report. Last year, it took 81 days

Real Estate in Brief: Americans’ confidence gets a boost, HUD initiative for veteran housing and more

Americans were more confident about buying a home in March than in April, according to the latest Fannie Mae’s latest Home Purchase Sentiment Index, which increased 2.5 points in March to 88.3, a significant change compared to the 3.7 point

agent-realtor-buyers-clients-communication-buying-selling-home
RE/MAX: Most of the country is a seller’s market

Those buying a home in the U.S. are facing difficulties as housing prices continue to surge for the 24th straight month, which caused home sales to decline for the fourth straight month, creating a seller’s market across the country.

Oops! We could not locate your form.