NAR released a summary of pending home sales data showing that February’s pending home sales improved 5.5 percent from last month and are up 2.6 percent from a year ago. February’s inclines show consumer confidence is strong going into the busier months of home purchases. Pending sales are homes that have a signed contract to… Continue Reading February 2017 Pending Home Sales
The National Flood Insurance Program provides affordable flood insurance to property owners across 22,000 communities, protecting homes and businesses from major flood disasters. But the program requires Congressional approval, and the clock is ticking. With just six months to go until a critical September 30 deadline, Realtors® are calling on Congress to do something about… Continue Reading Tick Tock! National Flood Insurance Program Expires in Six Months, and Realtors® Are Sounding Alarm Bells
WASHINGTON (March 29, 2017) — Pending home sales rebounded sharply in February to their highest level in nearly a year and second-highest level in over a decade, according to the National Association of Realtors®. All major regions saw a notable hike in contract activity last month. The Pending Home Sales Index,* www.nar.realtor/topics/pending-home-sales, a forward-looking indicator… Continue Reading Pending Home Sales Leap 5.5% in February
Lots of virtual ink is being spilled on the repeal of the laws that prohibited Internet service providers (ISPs) from selling your browsing history without your consent. Here’s why you should care, and here’s what you can do to protect yourself. (If you really want to take a deep dive into this, read this excerpt… Continue Reading ISPs Can Now Sell Your Browsing History (and How to Thwart Them); New Samsung Gear; More in Five for Wednesday
WASHINGTON (March 28, 2017) – The National Association of Realtors® has honored six Realtor® associations across the country with Community Outreach Awards. These awards recognize associations that have worked within their communities to make them a better place to live and do business. “Realtors® are community leaders and are dedicated to building successful neighborhoods and… Continue Reading 6 REALTOR® Associations Honored for Community Outreach
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 that sold in December 2016–February 2017 were typically on the… Continue Reading Properties Typically Sold Faster at 45 Days in February 2017 Amid Tight Supply
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 January reached a new high and is up 5.9 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,… Continue Reading Instant Reaction: January Owners’ Gains Forecast
By Lee Davenport In the film Transformers, I love how Bumble Bee and the other Autobots come to the aid of humans in style (a yellow Camaro with racing stripes and whatnot). Well, bots are not just for the movies. As a real estate pro, you probably understand the need to connect with potential leads… Continue Reading Under the Sells-Scope: ChatFuel
Refinancing soared in 2015 and 2016 as rates fell, while burgeoning home sales pushed over the five million sales mark and the TRID regulation was implemented. In this environment, anecdotes of delayed closing, difficulties getting appraisals and even “rush” fees for quick turn-around appraisals began to percolate. Is this a short-term problem or something more?… Continue Reading Appraisal: A Candle Burnt at Both Ends
While local conditions vary, the REALTORS® Buyer Traffic Index and the REALTORS® Confidence Index—Current Conditions for single-family homes, townhomes, and condominiums remained above 50 in February 2017, indicating that more respondents reported “strong” than “weak” conditions. Both indices were higher than their levels one year ago and in the previous month.[1] The REALTORS® Seller Traffic… Continue Reading Highlights of the February 2017 REALTORS® Confidence Index Survey Report