Below is NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun’s reaction to this morning’s U.S. Commerce report of a June rebound in housing starts: “Though a recovery in housing starts in June is welcome news, more consistent gains are needed to help rebalance the housing market. The latest 1.22 million in total housing starts is still well below… Continue Reading Instant Reaction: June Housing Starts
WASHINGTON (July 18, 2017) – Fueled by a substantial increase in sales dollar volume from Canadian buyers, foreign investment in U.S. residential real estate skyrocketed to a new high, as transactions grew in each of the top five countries where buyers originated. This is according to an annual survey of residential purchases from international buyers… Continue Reading Foreign U.S. Home Sales Dollar Volume Surges 49 Percent to Record $153 Billion
Reports of delayed appraisals and rising appraisal costs flourished in 2016. In this article, we try to shed light on potential paths the industry might take moving forward given trends in demographics, training, and automation. This analysis suggests that while industry constraints may improve in the short-run, the long-term constraints are significant. Furthermore, neither expanded… Continue Reading The Future of Appraisal: It’s Not Simple
At the national level, housing affordability is down from last month and down from a year ago. Mortgage rates increased to 4.01 percent this May, up compared to 3.83 percent a year ago. Housing affordability declined from a year ago in May moving the index down 5.4 percent from 161.8 to 153.0. The median sales… Continue Reading May 2017 Housing Affordability Index
By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine Two-toned colored kitchens are gaining popularity this year. White and gray painted cabinets are dominating kitchen color schemes, according to the 2017 Kitchen & Bath Design Trends survey conducted by the National Kitchen and Bath Association. Photo by Rebecca Hay Designs – Look for kitchen pictures Particularly gray-toned kitchen… Continue Reading Hot Home Trend to Watch: The Two-Toned Kitchen
We can all agree that the American Dream of homeownership is a sentiment that Americans have held for generations. It is to no surprise that the vast majority of people see owning a home as the best way to invest their money. Yet, affordability concerns continue to loom in consumer’s minds as home prices steadily… Continue Reading Taking America’s Pulse on Homeownership
Commercial real estate finds itself at the intersection of major global changes. Activity has remained moderate in the world’s economies, with further monetary easing continuing on several continents, according to the Expectations & Market Realities in Real Estate 2017: Intersection of Global Change report, released by Deloitte, the National Association of REALTORS®, and Situs RERC.… Continue Reading Cash Comprises 30 Percent of Sales in REALTOR® Commercial Markets
Affordable housing, heat, technology, property management, engineering, and architecture. New tech campus plans include housing, of which 15 percent will be affordable housing. This new geothermal system from Google’s Alphabet is a bargain compared to conventional systems. Check out how interactive technology is changing traditional spaces. Do you know what a spirit level is? Did… Continue Reading What We’re Reading: July 10-14
Matterport, a virtual reality company, contributed to this post to let agents and brokers know about a free e-book on using virtual reality in real estate that it’s making available. Top real estate agents and brokers agree—virtual reality is the future of real estate. With incredible ease and accessibility, home buyers can have the immersive experience… Continue Reading Are you Using Virtual Reality to Win More Buyers and Sellers? Learn How to Get Started
How much sellers spend to stage their home will vary by where they are and what they have done, but generally speaking they can expect to pay about $600. Staging tends to break out into three categories: 1) The consultation, which can run between $300 and $600, depending on home size, home location, and so… Continue Reading Is $600 for Staging Worth It? A Report Says Yes