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The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller National Index shows that U.S. prices of single-family homes continue to rise. The national index level in November reached a new high and is up 5.6 percent from a year earlier. But what does this mean for homeowners? Home prices affect the wealth of homeowners. As the price of housing increases, [...]
WASHINGTON (January 30, 2017) — Pending home sales picked up in December as solid increases in the South and West offset weakening activity in the Northeast and Midwest, according to the National Association of Realtors®. The Pending Home Sales Index,* a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings, increased 1.6 percent to 109.0 in December from [...]
REALTORS® reported that first-time homebuyers accounted for 32 percent of residential sales in 2016 (30 percent in 2015), according to the December 2016 REALTORS® Confidence Index Survey Report, a monthly survey of REALTORS® about their sales activity and local market conditions.[1] Sustained job growth and improving incomes along with the aging of the Millennial generation [...]
Happy Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day! When we aren’t frantically trying to pop an entire roll of the stuff, bubble wrap usually enters our lives when we are in the process of packing up a home. In honor of Bubble Wrap Day, here are a few packing tips from HouseLogic, the comprehensive website for homeowners from the [...]
This quarter marks the 13thSurvey of Mortgage Originators in which lenders shared insights about current trends in lending. This survey covered lenders’ experiences in the 4th quarter of 2016 and included questions on shortages of appraisers and the impact of rising mortgage rates. Lenders remain optimistic, but wary of rising rates with the majority indicating [...]
Photo courtesy Fixr.net Article Submitted by Fixr.com While a lot of people use the New Year as a way to make improvements to their health or personal life, this is also a great time of year to make improvements to your home as well. The cold months of the year mean you’re spending more time [...]
At the International Builders’ Show earlier this month, I was lucky enough to meet up with Mina Starsiak at the Owens Corning booth on the expo floor. Starsiak—a licensed real estate pro and REALTOR®—and her real estate attorney mother, Karen E. Laine, have been rehabbing and selling homes in the Fountain Square neighborhood of Indianapolis [...]
Oscars, shortcomings, seafood, technology, taxes, weather, and images. The Academy of Arts and Sciences has released this year’s list of nominees! Which movie do you think tied with Titanic for most nominations? Let’s be honest, not all of Alexa’s skills are impressive. Why are salmon prices about to spike? Alaska Fish Habitat Partner/flickr/2013 Given this [...]
The following is NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun’s reaction to this morning’s U.S. Department of Commerce report on Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the fourth quarter of 2016: “The economic growth of 1.9% in the final quarter was again a slow grind producing no excitement. For the year as a whole, growth was only 1.6%, [...]
WASHINGTON (January 26, 2017) — Do you know a Realtor® who not only helps people buy and sell houses but also serves the community through volunteer work? The National Association of Realtors® is currently accepting applications for REALTOR® Magazine's Good Neighbor Awards from Realtors® who have made an impact on the world through community service. [...]