Michael Crist

In the monthly REALTORS® Confidence Index Survey, the National Association of REALTORS® asks members the characteristics of the most recent sale that closed in the reference month, including “Was the buyer a first-time buyer?” The share of first-time home buyers accounted for 33 percent of residential sales in October 2016 (34 percent in September 2016;… Continue Reading First-time Homebuyers: 33 Percent of Residential Sales in October 2016

Since 1997, the Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers has collected data on the sources of buyers’ downpayment for when they purchase a home. This year, 88 percent of all buyers financed their home and 98 percent of buyers ages 18 through 44 financed the home. All buyers financed a median of 90 percent of… Continue Reading The Sources of Downpayments Among Different Buyer Types

In the monthly REALTORS® Confidence Index Survey, the National Association of REALTORS® asks members “For the last house that you closed in the past month, how long was it on the market from listing time to the time the seller accepted the buyer’s offer?” Properties stayed on the market for fewer days in October 2016… Continue Reading Properties Were Typically on the Market for 41 Days in October 2016

WASHINGTON (December 5, 2016) – In response to the announcement of Dr. Ben Carson as President-Elect Donald J. Trump’s selection for Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, NAR President William E. Brown issued the following statement: “Realtors® know that the incoming Secretary of Housing and Urban Development has a big job ahead. Potential homebuyers face… Continue Reading National Association of Realtors® Congratulates Dr. Ben Carson, Nominee for Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

Either way you look at it, buyers know that commuting costs are high. Some buyers need to be closer to their job while others need to be closer to school districts. The National Association of REALTORS® released its 2016 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers report to understand the trends of buyers and sellers. One… Continue Reading How Commuting Costs Factor Into Home Buying

Example of modular housing; Photo credit: Method Homes By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine Prefab housing is shaking up the architecture world, touting attention-getting designs that are giving factory-built housing a new reputation. Manufacturers are also adding in greater abilities for home buyers to customize these homes, despite sections of them being mass produced in… Continue Reading Prefab Housing: What It Really Is and Why You Should Care

Sam DeBord By Sam DeBord Excerpted from Sam DeBord’s contribution to the book “The Honest Real Estate Agent” (2016) by Mario Jannatpour. This is the question that inevitably comes up for new real estate agents within their first few years of business. There are fees to be paid to the licensing agency, the brokerage, and… Continue Reading Why Do I Have To Become a REALTOR®?

We are in a digital age and home buyers use the internet at various stages in their home search process. NAR data from the 2016 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers shows that the first step in the buying process is to look online for properties—44 percent of buyers started here (up from 42 in… Continue Reading Home Buyers: Search Online For A Home, Close With An Agent