National News

Real Estate in Brief: NAR supports proposed association health plan rule

The National Association of Realtors has expressed support for a new regulation proposed by the U.S. Department of Labor that would expand the definition of “employer” to encompass “working owners” and could result in trade associations like NAR being able

2017’s first-time homebuyer market was strongest since 2006

In 2017, more than 2 million new or existing homes were purchased by first-time homebuyers, according to the First-Time Homebuyer Market Report from Genworth Mortgage Insurance, an operating segment of Genworth Financial, Inc. The report, which measured data from the

Hispanic homeownership continues five-year growth streak in 2017

In recent years, Hispanics have accounted for more of the U.S. population growth than any other race or ethnicity, and they’re having a huge effect on the country’s housing market. According to a new report from the Hispanic Wealth

Despite costs, millennials gravitate toward large cities

Millennials are flocking to tech hubs and cultural hot spots in search a good time and promising earning potential. In a recent analysis, the data team at realtor.com found that millennials are willing to bear the extra expenses of

ValueInsured report: Millennials want to buy homes, but worry about finances

A majority of millennials wish to someday own a home, but are unsure if their dream will become a reality, according to a recent survey by ValueInsured. The Modern Homebuyer Survey found that the desire to own a home among millennials

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices adds first international franchisee

Warren Buffett’s real estate company, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, announced on March 5 its purchase of Berlin-based Rubina Real Estate GmbH, which marks its first international franchisee. The German company, which is led by Carstein Heinreich, will change its name in

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Real Estate in Brief: Dodd-Frank rewrite set for Senate vote

A Dodd-Frank rewrite is headed to the U.S. Senate floor for a vote, according to Bloomberg. The Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act would roll back or eliminate parts of the Dodd-Frank Act, including relieving smaller lenders

Redfin: More homebuyers than ever bid on homes before seeing them in person

More than one-third of people — 35 percent — who bought homes last year submitted a bid without ever seeing the homes in person. According to a recent Redfin, this is an increase from 33 percent in May 2017 and significantly

Keller Williams hopes to become the Amazon of real estate

When Amazon opened for business in 1995, Jeff Bezos hoped to create the biggest bookstore in the world. Over the course of the next two decades, Amazon not only accomplished that feat, but also expanded its reach to become

Pending home sales drop to lowest level since 2014

The Pending Home Sales Index dropped 4.7 percent in January after three months of increased activity. Based on contract signings, the forward-looking index fell from a downwardly revised 109.8 in December 2017 to 104.6 in January 2018. The Pending

Starter homes surge in value over the past five years

As the demand for entry-level homes continues to rise across the country, a new report shows owners of entry-level and starter homes are gaining equity faster than owners of higher-end homes. Owners of starter homes have seen their equity

Luxury home prices level off after post-recession housing boom

After eight years of the post-recession housing boom and the record-breaking price increases of recent years, the luxury residential market stabilized in 2017, according the luxury market report by The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing, a partner in the

Real Estate in Brief: FHA to expand foreclosure relief for 2017 disaster victims

The Federal Housing Administration revealed its plans on Feb. 22 to broaden foreclosure relief for the victims of 2017’s natural disasters. The move would affect all FHA-insured homeowners in areas affected by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, as well as

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Digital app Abode aspires to make buying homes more accessible

Abode, a new free digital platform that aims to make the homebuying and selling process easier for both consumers and real estate agents, was launched in 2017 by tech entrepreneurs Kyle Stoner and Carson Junginger. “People often describe buying

Zillow: Home value growth is slowing nationwide as mortgage rates rise

National home values are rising at their slowest pace since November 2016, according to the most recent Zillow Real Estate Market Report. Home values increased 6.7 percent last year to a median home value of $207,600, marking the slowest pace

Existing-home sales down for the second consecutive month in January

Existing-home sales fell 3.2 percent in January for the second consecutive month, according to the National Association of Realtors. Last month’s total existing-home sales, including single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, saw the largest annual decline in more than

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