Michael Crist

Bond Yields and Mortgage Rates are Moving Up This week has been an eventful one for bond markets. Just before the election, ten-year yields began to increase from the 1.8 percent yield they had held somewhat consistently in the second half of October. As of yesterday’s close, ten-year yields are now over 2.2 percent. Mortgage… Continue Reading How Recent Mortgage Rate Increases Affect Housing Affordability

Existing-home sales rose 3.2 percent in September from one month prior while new home sales increased 3.1 percent.  These headline figures are seasonally adjusted figures and are reported in the news.  However, for everyday practitioners, simple raw counts of home sales are often more meaningful than the seasonally adjusted figures.  The raw count determines income… Continue Reading Raw Count of Home Sales (September 2016)

Changing and improving technology influences nearly every aspect of our lives, so it makes sense that it also affects the way homeowners and their agents market and sell homes. So what are the tools consumers and their agents should be using when trying to sell their home? According to the National Association of REALTORS®, 95… Continue Reading Story Ideas: The Importance of Technology in Selling Your Home

NAR members and Association staff can borrow up to six electronic books, digital audios and/or videos at no cost, through the Virtual Library eBooks Collection. Members can also borrow up to three books for 30 days from the Library Catalog for a nominal fee of $10. Call Information Central at 800.874.6500 for assistance. 1+1=3: Changing… Continue Reading New eBooks – November 2016

Photo credit: Karen Eubank, Eubank Staging & Design By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine The National Association of Home Builders has in recent years pointed to a dwindling interest in whirlpools in the master bathroom, but that doesn’t mean home owners are ready to banish bathtubs all together. Sure, home owners have been swapping out… Continue Reading Home Trends to Watch: Adding the Bathtub Back In

Alexis Craig By Alexis Craig What if I told you that you could generate $100,000 extra in gross commission income with only a minimal investment? You probably think I’m full of it, especially if you’re not even making over $100,00 right now. But that’s because most people think the only way to increase their income… Continue Reading A Follow Up Funnel That Will Increase Conversion Rates

I was tired. It was midday through my third day covering the 2016 REALTORS® Conference & Expo, and I had just wolfed down lunch while trying to have a reasoned conversation about news judgement and real estate. Finally, I knew I was going to have to rush back to get a decent spot from which… Continue Reading How Affordable Housing Can Actually Succeed on the Open Market

Nature, listings, mail, drones, logos, hotels, maps, dogs, halftime shows, and coffee vessels. The earth and communities are still recovering years after natural devastation. Think about how much thought and effort you put into a listing, then look at how little was put into these. This is the time of year a doorman would be… Continue Reading What We’re Reading: November 8-11

Today we honor those who have served our country, and those who are actively serving in the military, or have a spouse who is currently or has served in the past. Looking at data from the recently released 2016 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, we can see home buying trends among active-duty service members… Continue Reading Veteran’s Day 2016: Active-Duty Military and Veteran Home Buyers