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Among first-time buyers who purchased a property through a mortgage in December 2016–November 2017, 61 percent, on average, made a zero to six percent downpayment, according to the November 2017 REALTORS® Confidence Index Survey. The share of first-time buyers who made a zero to six percent downpayment decreased from an average of 70 percent in… Continue Reading 61 Percent of First-time Buyers Made a Low Downpayment in November 2017

The calendar may have turned to 2018 yesterday, but with one month of 2017 data remaining, here’s a look at some of the top housing highlights from last year: Strongest existing-home sales pace November: 5.81 million Slowest existing-home sales pace  August: 5:35 million Most likely to be happy Home sellers: sales prices consistently rose around… Continue Reading 2017 in Review: Housing Market Superlatives

References are one-stop resource packages on dozens of subjects of interest to REALTORS®. On each page you’ll find links to articles, books, web sites, statistics, and other material on each subject. The list of the most-used references from Information Services for the month of November 2017 was released today: Real Estate Office Policy Manuals Farming &… Continue Reading Top Reference pages for December 2017

By Audra Slinkey, Home Staging Resource Outdoor patio spaces have sure changed in the last few years with the onset of new outdoor materials, furnishings, fixtures, Cantina doors, and the home owner’s desire for more outdoor living and entertaining space.  In fact, according to the 2017 National Association of REALTORS’ Profile of Home Staging report, the… Continue Reading 2018 Outdoor Living Trends: Jaw-Dropping Transformations

Fueled by strong job growth and the strengthening economy, existing-home sales and contract signings both increased in November. Visit (or watch below) https://www.nar.realtor/videos/housing-minute to watch a 50-second, animated video from the National Association of Realtors® summarizing how the housing market performed in November, as well as a look at current consumer sentiment and NAR’s 2018 housing… Continue Reading WATCH: Realtors® December Housing Minute: A 50-Second Video of Market Activity

Holidays, real estate, currency, technology, and collections. Time to decide what to do with your Christmas tree. Be the life of the NYE party by mastering this trick. Is this better than a plain yule log video? Dennis van Zuijlekom/flicker/2011 Sometimes you buy a house to enjoy it, and sometimes you buy it to tear… Continue Reading What We’re Reading: December 25-29

Net neutrality has been repealed on a federal level, but many web users continue to clamor for an open internet. There’s one possible solution that’s gathering steam: cities could build their own internet networks, and run them as public utilities. Electric vehicles, clean home power, battery storage backup, and more: some think 2018 is the… Continue Reading Will Cities Save Net Neutrality? Will 2018 Be Green Tech’s Breakout Year? (Plus Three More Items in Five for Wednesday)

In what reflects the significant amount of pent-up demand in today’s housing market, existing-home sales surged in November to their strongest pace since December 2006. Good news was also found in November’s pending sales data.  Whether it’s been weakening affordability, low supply or hurricanes, sales have been somewhat sluggish since the summer. That changed last… Continue Reading November Sales Surprise to a Near 11-Year High; Contract Signings Also Rise

Whatever you think of the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act,” which President Donald Trump signed into law just before Christmas, much of it goes away on Dec. 31, 2025, which means many of the changes will revert back to what was in place before the bill was signed unless Congress acts to extend the provisions.… Continue Reading Like the Tax Law? Don’t Like It? Remember, Much of It Expires in 2025

Based on the new tax law, there is no change for capital gains on the sale of a home and deductibility of interest paid for a second home[1]. However, the new law[2] affects the deductibility of mortgage interest and real estate taxes: -          New mortgages are capped at $750,000 for purposes of home mortgage interest… Continue Reading Metro Areas Most Affected by the New Tax Law