By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine Furniture is getting curvier this year. Rounded options are pushing out the sharp-edge designs. It can be a nod to the 60’s and 70’s but contemporary fabrics and details are keeping it from looking dated. You’ll likely notice softer lines, curves, and ruching are growing more popular, designers say.… Continue Reading Hot Home Trend: Furnishings With Curves
Through the first half of 2018, existing-home sales are down just a tad, by 2.2%, while new home sales are up 7.4%. Home prices continue to move higher by 5%. Distressed property sales have fallen to historic lows, comprising only 3% of total sales in recent months. The one area of concern is increasing housing… Continue Reading No Housing Recession Over Horizon
“Blood Moon”, jobs and dating apps, Game of Thrones, the importance of reading, the Bank of Mom and Dad and emotional ties to your house. We couldn’t see the “Blood Moon” from the U.S., but a German astronaut on the International Space Station got some great pictures. Would you market your job on a dating… Continue Reading What We’re Reading: July 30-August 3
When BICs and sellers agree the residential listing (e.g. SCR220, SCR210) is to be transferred from BIC#1 to BIC#2, REALTORS® have an ethical duty to ensure the forms match the real world listing practice. SCR standard forms may be timely/property released, terminated, amended, renewed, transferred, or created by both "in person" wet blue ink on… Continue Reading Keep those Listing Agreements Updated
Foreign buyers purchase property across the United States, but 52 percent of international buyers are still concentrated in five states: Florida, California, Texas, Arizona, and New York, according to NAR’s recently released 2018 Profile of International Activity in U.S. Residential Real Estate. [1],[2] Foreign buyers 266,800 U.S. existing homes during April 2017‒March 2018. Florida was… Continue Reading Florida, California, and Texas: Top Foreign Buyer Destinations, According to 2018 NAR Survey
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 Member Support at 800.874.6500 for assistance. The Happiness Advantage by Shawn… Continue Reading New Books–August 2018
Advertising Traffic Tickets Did you know that you can file certain ethics complaints that do not require a full formal hearing in Columbia? Please see the SCR citation level offenses listed below. Most citation offenses are for advertising issues. Just like a traffic ticket, these citation offenses are generally less serious offenses and just like… Continue Reading Citation Offenses are like Traffic Citations
NAR President Elizabeth Mendenhall released the following statement after today’s U.S. Senate vote on legislation extending flood insurance funding. The bill, which cleared the House last week, is expected to be signed into law by the President before tonight’s midnight deadline. “We applaud lawmakers for taking this needed action to prevent disruptions to closings in… Continue Reading NAR Applauds Senate Passage of Flood Insurance Extension
NAR released a summary of pending home sales data showing that June’s pending home sales pace was up 0.9 percent last month but fell 2.5 percent from a year ago. Pending sales represent homes that have a signed contract to purchase on them but have yet to close. They tend to lead existing-home Sales data… Continue Reading June 2018 Pending Home Sales
Amid strong demand and tight supply, REALTORS® reported that properties that sold in June 2018 were typically on the market for 26 days, faster than one year ago (28 days) and the same time as in May 2018, according to the June 2018 REALTORS® Confidence Index Survey.[1] The median days on market have been broadly… Continue Reading Fastest-Selling Markets in June 2018