 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Did You Know: Income-Housing Cost Mismatch
Did you know that in 2006 24 percent of renter households spent half or more of their incomes on housing?
Pending Home Sales Rise
Following a sharp drop after the tax credit expiration, pending home sales rise modestly.
Sept. 1, 2010: Recovery or Respite?
Although the second quarter showed positive signs for the market, a slowdown in the economy could curtail growth.
Forecast Update: Mortgage Applications, GDP, Foreclosure Starts, Jobless Claims, Consumer Sentiment
In a new weekly format, NAR Research staff analyzes the week's key data releases and tell you what they mean for you and your business. This week: Mortgage Applications, GDP, Foreclosure Starts, Jobless Claims, Consumer Sentiment
Tax Credits Have Strong Impact in Indianapolis
Employment growth has revived, but the story behind its steady price growth appears unique.
Commercial Real Estate Remains Soft, Favors Expansion
Commercial real estate sectors, hurt by weak job growth, offer incentives conducive to business expansion.
A Steady Foundation in Knoxville
Home prices in Knoxville have moved toward stabilization.
July Existing-Home Sales Fall, Prices Rise
As expected, existing-home sales were sharply lower, but prices continue to gain.
Forecast Update: Mortgage Applications, Producer Price Index, Housing Starts, Unemployment
NAR Research staff analyzes the week's key data releases and tells you what they mean for you and your business. This week: mortgage applications, producer price index, housing starts, unemployment.
Did You Know: REALTOR® Formal Education Levels
Did you know 59 percent of members have at least an associate's degree?
Forecast Update: Mortgage Applications, Unemployment, Wholesale Trade, Labor, Consumer Sentiment
NAR Research staff analyzes the week's key data releases and tell you what they mean for you and your business. This week: mortgage applications, unemployment, wholesale trade, labor, consumer sentiment.
New: Economist's Podcast
Businesses must spend more to help stimulate the lagging economy, but low interest rates are a good sign for housing.
Broad Price Stabilization, Strong Sales
Home prices in more metropolitan areas increased in the 2nd quarter, aided by strong home sales driven by tax credit.
Did You Know: Household Growth
Did you know that household growth in the 2000s fell from about 1.2-1.4 million annually to less than 1.0 million per year?
Surveys of REALTOR® Sentiment/Regional Vice-Presidential Reports
Each report contains the most recent REALTOR® Confidence Index results and commentary from our Regional Vice Presidents.
Forecast Update: ISM Manufacturing Index, Mortgage Applications, Unemployment, Construction Spending
In a new weekly format, NAR Research staff analyzes the week's key data releases and tell you what they mean for you and your business. This week: ISM Manufacturing Index, mortgage applications, unemployment, and construction spending.
Commentary: Homeownership, Rental and Homeowner Vacancy Rates, Metropolitan Statistical Data
Roughly speaking, homeowner vacancy rates have increased since 2005.
Commentary: Homeownership, Rental and Homeowner Vacancy Rates
(Aug. 4) Today's homeownership rate is the same it was in the fourth quarter of 1999.
Pending Home Sales Ease
Pending home sales edged down in the post-tax credit market.
Did You Know: Unemployed Workers per Job Opening
Did you know that at the height of this recession for every job opening there were 6.2 unemployed workers?
Forecast Update:Case-Shiller Price Index, Mortgage Applications, Unemployment, New Home Sales
In a new weekly format, NAR Research staff analyzes the week's key data releases and tell you what they mean for you and your business. This week: Mortgage Applications, FHFA Index, Housing Starts, New Home Sales.
Did You Know: Residential Vacancy Rates
(July 29) Did you know that 35 percent of the metropolitan areas had falling residential vacancy rate between Q3 2009 and Q1 2010?
Did You Know: Who Worked From Home, by Occupation
Did you know that in 2009, professional workers were more likely to work from home?
Did You Know: Percent of Home Financed Has Shifted
Did you know that over the last few years, the portion of the home that's financed has changed?
Did You Know: Who Works From Home, by Income
Did you know that in 2009, higher earning individuals were more likely to work from home?
Existing-Home Sales Slow, Above Year Ago
Existing-home sales slowed in June, but remained at relatively elevated levels.
Video: Mean vs. Median in Home Price Data
(July 21) Economist Danielle Hale discusses means and medians, which one NAR Research prefers to use in home price data, and why.
Did You Know: Reasons People Move, Choose New Location
Did you know that only 4 percent of consumers surveyed in June moved due to job loss?
Economist's Podcast
(July 19) Lawrence Yun says that the recent drop in home sales was expected; prices continue to stabilize.
Forecast Update: GDP, Mortgage Applications, Unemployment Claims, Producer Price Index
In a new weekly format, NAR Research staff analyzes the week's key data releases and tell you what they mean for you and your business.
Get Insights, Grow Your Business
Over 100,000 members are getting INSIGHTS into the housing market every month. Are you?
Commentary: Why Are Loan Modifications So Difficult?
Underwater homeowners have been in the news lately as the foreclosure crisis looms large.
Did You Know: Top Relocation Cities for Movers
Did you know that according to a June 2010 survey, Houston ranked as the top destination city for movers?
Profile of International Home Buying Activity
International home buyers are increasingly attracted to property in the U.S.
Forecast Update: ISM Non-Manufacturing Index, Mortgage Applications, Unemployment
The NAR Research staff now gives you a weekly analysis of the economic data released during the past week, and how current economic conditions are affecting the real estate market.
Did You Know: Primary Occupation Among Members
Did you know that for 77 percent of members, real estate is their only occupation?
Economists Commentary: Regional Market Conditions, Q1 2010
Prices showed steady improvement in many markets, but one big issue remains: rising delinquencies on prime mortgages.
Forecast Update: New Home Sales, Housing Starts, Consumer Price Index and much more. . .
In a new weekly format, NAR Research staff analyzes the week's key data releases and tell you what they mean for you and your business.
Did You Know: Net Worth of Households
Did you know that during the recession, the net worth of households and non-profits declined by more than $16 trillion?
Did You Know: Household Real Estate Assets
Did you know that the value of real estate held by households alone is currently worth 15% more than the entire US economy produces in a year?
Forecast Update: China, New Home Sales, Unemployment, Consumer Sentiment
In a new weekly format, NAR Research staff analyzes the week's key data releases and tell you what they mean for you and your business.
Did You Know: NFIP Flood Insurance Policies, Updated
Did you know that NFIP policies in force increased from around 2 million in the 1980s to 5.7 million in 2009?
May 2010 REALTORS® Confidence Index
Find out how your peers are feeling about the current market and prospects for the future.
Columbia, SC Market Conditions
Like many other markets, Columbia was stymied by both the economy and employment.
Continued Strong Pace for Existing-Home Sales
Existing-home sales remained elevated in May on buyer response to tax credit, low mortgage rates.
Daily Forecast Update: Consumers and Down-Payment Requirements
(June 21) Did you know that 49 percent of consumers say they would never be able to save for a down-payment for a home?
Did You Know: National Flood Insurance Program Policies
Did you know that NFIP policies in force increased from around 2 million in the 1980s to 5.7 million in 2009?
New Economist's Podcast
Chief Economist Lawrence Yun expects home sales to dive in May and June, but sees a more stable environment in the longer term.
Economist's Commentary: Kennewick-Area Market Conditions
Kennewick, WA has one of the strongest housing markets in the country--how does your market compare?
Forecast Update: Consumer Credit, Labor Market, Mortgage Applications
In a new weekly format, NAR Research staff analyzes the week's key data releases and tell you what they mean for you and your business.
Did You Know: Factors Affecting Household Mobility
Did you know that a wide variety of factors have been shown to affect household mobility?
Did You Know: Homeownership Rates Among Hispanic Americans
Did you know that the homeownership rate among Hispanic-Americans fell 3% from 2009?
Did You Know: Social Security Beneficiaries, By State
Did you know that Maine, as well as Florida, draws a large number of retirees?
Did You Know: Home Buyer Tax Credit Claims By Region
Did you know that 734,999 buyers have claimed the home buyer tax credit for purchases made in 2009 as of February 20, 2010?
Did You Know: Firm Affiliation, By Firm Size
Did you know that most members work at independent, non-franchised company?
Did You Know: Foreclosure Recourse and Strategic Mortgage Defaults
Did you know that a homeowner's decision to strategically default on a mortgage is influenced by the bank's recourse options?
Daily Forecast Update: Unemployment Insurance, Mortgage Rates
Unemployment insurance filings were down last week, although they remain frustratingly high.
Did You Know: Local Information by Economic Area
Did you know that there are many great sources of economic data about your local market area?
Daily Forecast Update: Mortgage Purchase Applications
Mortgage purchase applications fell, continuing the post-tax credit declines.
Pending Home Sales Surge Continuing
Pending home sales have risen for three consecutive months, reflecting broad tax credit impact, favorable affordability.
Daily Forecast Update: Personal Income, Consumer Spending
Personal income increased in April from March consistent with expectations.
Did You Know: Real Estate Firm Size and Function
Did you know that the typical agent works at a firm with 29 agents and brokers?
Daily Forecast Update: GDP Revision
Economic growth in the first quarter of 2010 was lower than initially estimated.
Did You Know: Home Remodeling Forecast
Did you know that, according to the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity, home remodeling will rebound by almost 5 percent in 2010?
Daily Forecast Update: Mortgage Purchase Applications, New Home Sales
Mortgage purchase applications continued to fall during week ending May 21.
Did You Know: Realtor® Work Hours and Compensation
Did you know that the typical member works 40 hours a week and nearly all work on a commission-based compensation structure?
Daily Forecast Update: Case-Shiller and Other Price Data
California home values are recovering robustly, affirming earlier NAR price trends.
Did You Know: Member Gross vs. Net Incomes
Did you know that the typical member had a gross income of $35,700 in 2009?
Did You Know: Website Maintenance Expenditure and Business Generated
Did you know that the typical member spent $220 to maintain his/her website in 2009?
Existing-Home Sales Improve in April
Existing-home sales rose thanks to the tax credit, improving consumer confidence, favorable affordability.
Did You Know: Business Sources, Repeat Clients
The typical member had 18 percent of their business in 2009 from repeat consumers and clients.
Daily Forecast Update: 10-Year Treasury, Mortgage Rates
Mortgage rates follow Treasury rates downward.
Daily Forecast Update: Jobless Claims, Interest Rates
The number of workers filing new claims for unemployment benefits unexpectedly increased last week.
Daily Forecast Update: Mortgage Purchase Applications, Consumer Price Index
Mortgage purchase applications fell sharply in the week ending May 14, continuing the post-tax credit decline.
Did You Know: Appraisers
Did you know that the typical appraiser appraised 200 properties in 2009?
Daily Forecast Update: Housing Completions and Starts, Default Rates
Today's data show that housing completions have, not surprisingly, surged in April as tax credit buyers move to close.
Did You Know: Property Managers
Did you known that the typical property manager managed 33 properties in 2009?
Daily Forecast Update: Greece, Europe and U.S.
If Greece is unable to rollover its debt financing it could lead to slower global economic expansion and hold back job growth.
Did You Know: Ten Reasons People Move
Do you know the top 10 reasons people move?
Daily Forecast Update: Retail Sales, Consumer Sentiment
Retail sales rose 0.4 percent in April according to today's Commerce Department report.
Did You Know: Home Buyer Behavior and Attitudes
Did you know that 34 percent of members believe that the primary factor preventing clients from purchasing homes is difficulty obtaining a mortgage?
Did You Know: REALTORS® and Office Staffing
Did you know the 17 percent of members have a personal assistant?
Daily Forecast Update: Mortgage Purchase Applications
Mortgage purchase applications decreased in the week ending May 7, the first week after the homebuyer tax credit expired.
Economist's Podcast: May 2010
Lawrence Yun discusses his outlook for sales and prices and the impact of credit problems in Greece.
Did You Know: REALTOR® Affiliations, Certifications, Designations
Did you know that 44 percent of members have a designation and 24 percent have a certification?
Get Insights, Grow Your Business
Over 100,000 members are getting INSIGHTS into the housing market every month. Are you?
Did You Know: Subprime Mortgage Delinquency and Financial Literacy
Did you know that subprime borrowers with limited financial literacy are more likely to default on their mortgages?
New Data: March Pending Home Sales
Pending home sales increased in March, affirming a spring surge in home sales.
Did You Know: House Price Risk
Did you know that the risk of home prices falling decreased in 42 of the nation's 50 most populated metropolitan statistical areas?
Daily Forecast Update: GDP Increases
"Increasing GDP should result in increased employment and provide support for home sales."
Daily Forecast Update: Case-Shiller Home Price Index
The Case-Shiller home price index showed that home prices are stabilizing in many markets.
Did You Know: Commercial Business Revenue
Did you know that the median gross annual income of commercial members in 2009 was $68,600?
Did You Know: Employment and Unemployment Trends
Did you know that eight states have recorded their highest rate of unemployment (since 1976) during this current recession?
Did You Know: Commercial Business Activity
Did you know that the typical commercial member had five transactions in 2009?
Did You Know: About Commercial Members
Did you know that commercial members have typically been members of NAR for 15 years?
Did You Know: Impact of Recovery Act Programs
Did you know the U.S. Treasury publishes estimates of the impact of recovery act programs, including information on the homebuyer tax credit?
Daily Forecast Update: International Trade and Import/Export Prices
The trade deficit increased in February.
Did You Know: Fannie Mae National Housing Survey
Did you know that nearly two-thirds (65 percent) of survey respondents prefer owning to renting?
Daily Forecast Update: Wholesale Trade
Wholesale trade is gaining ground, with the results from February showing moderate improvement in sales.
Did You Know: Home Buyer "Must-Have" Features
Do you know what features home buyers really look for in a home?
Economist's Commentary: Commercial Real Estate Challenges, Financing
For most commercial Realtors®, the biggest challenge remains the availability of financing to close deals.
Did You Know: U.S. Employment by Foreign Companies
Did you know that affiliates of foreign companies operating in the U.S. employed a lot of U.S. residents?
Did You Know: Homeownership Rates Since 1980
Did you know that The homeownership rate peaked in 2004 at 69.4 percent?
Daily Forecast Update: Mortgage Purchase Applications, ADP Employment Report
Good News: Mortgage rates are likely to ease following this morning's soft employment report.
Did You Know: Zillow Home Price Estimates
Did you know that Zillow estimates overvalue property by 10 percent compared to the sale price?
Daily Forecast Update: Consumer Confidence, Case-Shiller Index
An improvement in consumer confidence indicates a continuation of the weak economic recovery.
Daily Forecast Update: GDP, Corporate Profits, Consumer Sentiment
Consumer sentiment remains shaky, with consumers worried about their employment situations and incomes.
Did You Know: State Employment Trends
Did you know Alaska, North Dakota, and Washington, D.C., were the only three states that saw year-over-year increases in employment between January 2009 and January 2010?
Daily Forecast Update: MBA Purchase Applications, Producer Price Index
Mortgage applications fell last week, with a larger fall in purchase applications than in refinance applications.
Did You Know: Home Purchase Location
Did you know that there are regional differences in the location (e.g., rural, urban, suburban) of home purchases?
Daily Forecast Update: Housing Market Index, Industrial Production
The Housing Market Index, which measures home builders' sentiment was down to 15 in March from 17 in February.
Daily Forecast Update: Consumer Sentiment, Retail Sales
Consumer sentiment is higher than at this time last year, but people continue to be cautious about the future.
Daily Forecast Update: Weekly Mortgage Applications
Mortgage applications posted a noticeable jump last week--increasing for the second straight week.
Daily Forecast Update: 10-Year Treasury
The private MBS market appears to be stepping in as the Federal Reserve winds down its MBS purchase program.
Did You Know: Agent Representation and Compensation
Did you know that repeat buyers were more likely than first-time buyers to sign an agent disclosure statement?
Did You Know: Role of Real Estate Professionals
Did you know that eighty-five percent of home sellers sold their home with the assistance of a real estate agent?
Daily Forecast Update: Vehicle Sales
An increase in sales for two major automakers may mean good things for the housing market.
Did You Know: Foreclosure Rate Trends
Did you know that the states with largest drops in foreclosure starts include California and Nevada?
Housing Units and House Holds
Did you know that over the last decade, the number of households and housing units increased?
Daily Forecast Update: Mortgage Purchase Applications, FDIC Quarterly Report
Both new home sales and mortgage applications tracked downward.
Did You Know: Temporary Staffing Employment
Did you know that January and February are traditionally slower months for temporary staffing employment?
Daily Forecast Update: Mortgage Purchase Applications, New Homes, FDIC and First American Reports
Some less positive news: both new home sales and mortgage applications tracked downward.
Economist's Podcast, February 22, 2010
Chief Economist Lawrence Yun discusses the latest quarterly state sales and metro median price data release.
Did You Know: Owner Occupancy Rates
Did you know that 75.0 million housing units were owner-occupied in the fourth quarter of 2009?
Did You Know: Mortgage Loan Type
Did you know that sixty-four percent of repeat buyers used conventional loans?
Daily Forecast Update: Discount Rate, Consumer Price Index, Real Earnings
Consumer prices barely rose in January, suggesting there will not be acute pressure for mortgage rates to rise.
Daily Forecast Update: Unemployment Insurance Claims, Producer Price Index
Consumer prices barely rose in January, suggesting there will not be acute pressure for mortgage rates to rise.
Did You Know: Environmental Efficiency, Commuting Costs
Did you know that commuting costs were at least "somewhat" important to 78 percent of home buyers?
New: Real Estate INSIGHTS
The latest issue of Real Estate INSIGHTS is now available. Subscribe now or read it online.
Did You Know: Treasury vs. ARM-FRM Spread
Did you know that the share of mortgages that are adjustable rate has been dropping significantly?
Home Starts, Mortgage Applications, Industrial Production
The recovery in home construction will continue to be slow for at least the foreseeable future.
Economists' Commentary: Realtors® Confidence Index
Current market conditions from the members' perspective: the Realtors® Confidence Index for January 2010.
Daily Forecast Update: Home Builders' Confidence Index
The Home Builders' Confidence Index rose in February, although it remains low.
Did You Know: Home Ownership Rates
Did you know that the home ownership rate was 67.2 percent at the end of 2009?
Commentary: First In, Last Out?
Boston was one of the first markets to witness price declines, will it also be at the forefront of a recovery?
Daily Forecast Update: Retail Sales, Mortgage Rates, Consumer Sentiment
Good News: Mortgage rates remain low, helping affordability.
Did You Know: Multifamily Vacancies
Did you know that homeowner vacancy rate hit a record-breaking 2.8 percent in 2008?
New Data: Metro Median Home Prices
Existing-home sales showed strong gains in most states during the fourth quarter, with many more metro areas seeing prices rise from a year earlier.
Daily Forecast Update: Whole Sale Trade, Job Openings
Good news: today’s report showed there were slightly more job openings in December than in November.
Did You Know: Home Purchase Method
Did you know that 79 percent of home buyers using the Internet to search still bought their home through an agent?
Daily Forecast Update: Employment Data
There were net payroll job losses in January yet the unemployment rate fell.
Did You Know: Net Household Wealth
Did you know that the median value homeowners' equity was nearly 10 times the median value of stock wealth for stockholders?
Economists' Commentary: Households and Home Ownership Rates in the U.S.
The home ownership rate showed that 67.2 percent of Americans owned their homes at the end of 2009.
Daily Forecast Update: Jobless Claims, Productivity
The number of people out of work and claiming unemployment benefits at the end of January was higher than expected.
Did You Know: Consumer Spending
Did you know that, according to the latest Gallup poll, 48% of Americans say they are feeling better about their financial situation?
Did You Know: Record Foreclosures
Did you know that almost 3 million homeowners received at least one foreclosure filing during 2009?
Daily Forecast Update: ADP Employment Report, MBA Purchase Applications, etc
Good News: Job losses slowed significantly in January according to a private sector report.
Economists' Commentary: Jumbos Lumber Back on Track
The jumbo market is finally breathing a bit easier.
Did You Know: Multifamily Rental Fortunes
Did you know that larger properties anchor the subsidized housing stock?
Economists' Commentary: The Forecast and Pending Home Sales
December pending home sales index rose modestly, after having plunged in November.
Did You Know: Energy Efficiency
Did you know that if homes built before 2000 used as little energy per square foot as those built since, residential consumption would drop by 22.5 percent?
Commentary: Headed in the Right Direction
The latest Local Market Reports are now available. Find out where your market is headed.
Daily Forecast Update: GDP, Consumer Sentiment, Bernanke Confirmation
Today’s data on the economy have reassured the markets.
Did You Know: Value of Real Estate held by Households
Did you know that after nine consecutive quarters of decline, the aggregate value of household real estate has increased for the second quarter in a row?
Did You Know: Poverty in Suburbs
Did you know that, by 2008, suburbs were home to the largest and fastest-growing poor population in the country?
Daily Forecast Update: Unemployment Insurance Claims, Manufacturer's Orders, etc.
The decline in unemployment insurance claims is welcome news, however, it underscores seasonal volatility in employment trends.
New Data: State-by-State International Business Reports 2009
Check out theses new reports on international business activity in 2009 by state.
Daily Forecast Update: New Home Sales, Mortgage Applications
A recent decline in new construction has helped keep additional inventory off the market to the benefit of the existing home sale market.
Did You Know: Unemployment Rate by County
Did you know that the unemployment rate is 10.0 percent—as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics—but varies considerably by county?
Daily Forecast Update: Case/Shiller Price, FHFA, and Consumer Confidence Indices
Good news: The Consumer Confidence Index for January showed some modest indications of optimism on the current economic climate.
Did You Know: Short Sales
Did you know that that 3 percent of sellers reported that their home sale was a short sale, compared with 5 percent in 2008?
Did You Know: FSBO and Agent-Assisted Sales
Did you know that there was a decrease in for-sale-by-owner (FSBO) sales and a corresponding increase in agent-assisted and other sales in 2009?
Daily Forecast Update: Weekly Mortgage Rate Survey
Good news: mortgage rates have moderated for 2 straight weeks after leaping in early January from record lows.
Did You Know: Older Housing Energy Consumption
Did you know that the stock of older homes provides a prime market for energy-efficient upgrades?
Economists' Commentary: The Late Slowdown in Salt Lake
An in-depth look at the local market report for Salt Lake City.
Daily Forecast Update: Weekly Jobless Claims
Negative news for the weak job market: unemployment claims surprisingly shot up in the past week.
Did You Know: The Remodeling Market
Did you know that households that relocate spend an average of 20-25 percent more on improvements than otherwise similar households that do not move?
Daily Forecast Update: Mortgage applications, Residential Construction, PPI, and FHA Fees
FHA fee increases may be good protection for taxpayers, but increased fees will keep some buyers from being able to make a purchase.
Economists' Commentary: Statewide Demographic Trends
Understanding population flows within a state or region can help REALTORS® better understand trends in the housing market.
Did You Know: Equity by Tenure
Did you know that sellers who owned a home for more than 21 years typically reported a selling price of 203 percent more than the purchase price?
Daily Forecast Update:Shadow Inventory, Tougher FHA Loan Standards, Home Builder Confidence
HUD is seriously reviewing and preparing to beef up the FHA finances; be prepared for any changes to FHA underwriting criteria.
Did You Know: Distance Moved
Did you know that, nationally, home buyers moved a median of 12 miles from their previous residence?
Daily Forecast Update: Industrial Production, CPI, Consumer Sentiment
Good news: Industrial production continued to increase in December.
Did You Know: Foreclosure Roll Rates
Did you know that one in every 7.5 properties is behind on payments or in foreclosure?
Economists' Commentary: Foot Traffic - Getting a Step Ahead
NAR Research looks at the strong relationship between the volume of showings and the volume of listings under contract or pending sale.
Did You Know: REO
Did you know that metro areas in New York and Pennsylvania have the fewest lender-owned properties?
Daily Forecast Update:Mortgage Applications and Home Value Projections
A majority of economists now say home prices have already bottomed and most REALTORS® agree.
Did You Know: Sources of Downpayment
Did you know that 54% of buyers who made a down payment relied on their savings, slightly less than in the previous survey?
Economist’s Podcast: January 2010
NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun discusses the key to housing market recovery and sustainability: jobs, jobs, jobs.
Did You Know: Mortgage Application Process
Did you know that more than 60% of those who financed their homes said that the mortgage application process was no more difficult than expected?
Daily Forecast Update: U.S. Trade Deficit
International trade is recovering as the global economy steadily expands; although, imports rose much faster than exports.
Daily Forecast Update: Consumer Credit
The decrease in consumer credit will likely restrain spending in the near term.
Did You Know: Neighborhood Choice
Did you know that 64 percent of home buyers listed quality of neighborhood as the most important factor influencing their choice?
Economists' Commentary: Back on the Right Track
An in-depth look at the local market report for the Washington, D.C. metro area.
Daily Forecast Update: Employment Data
The job market still struggles despite recent respectable gains in production.
Did You Know: Most Important Factors When Choosing A Real Estate Agent
Did you know that home buyers rate honesty and trustworthiness among the most important factors in choosing an agent?
Daily Forecast Update: Jobless Claims, Fed's OMCM notes, etc
Good News: New jobless claims remain low, a sign of a stabilizing labor markets and improving business expectations.
Did You Know: What Sellers Most Want from Real Estate Agents
Did you know that to sellers the most important task for a real estate agent is selling the home in a specific time-frame?
Daily Forecast Update: Mortgage applications, Employment, ISM-NMI
Mortgage applications waned in late December as mortgage rates ticked up and tax-credit-induced buyers are not yet back in the pipeline.
Did You Know: Distance Moved
Did you know that the distance home sellers move is correlated with their age?
Did You Know: Purchase Transaction
Did you know that in all regions in the country, the purchase transaction tends to involve a professional, either a real estate agent or broker or a builder or builder's agent?
New Data: Pending Home Sales
Pending home sales fell after a surge of activity before the original deadline for the first-time home buyer tax credit, but remain comfortably above a year ago.
Daily Forecast Update: Construction Spending & ISM Manufacturing Index
ISM Manufacturing Index is surprisingly strong and shows evidence of recovery.
Did You Know: Primary Residence and Second Home
Did you know that the median price of second homes was $143,500, compared to $186,000 for primary homes?
Did You Know: Social Networking Websites
Did you know that thirty-five percent of all Realtors® reported using social or professional networking sites?
Daily Forecast Update: Jobless Claims
Unemployment claims continue to fall, a positive trend; however, we still have a long road ahead.
Daily Forecast Update: Brokerage Commission & Factory Activity
Brokerage commission, after taking a tumble for the 4th straight year, will see an increase of 15 percent in 2010.
Did You Know: Satisfaction with Agent
Did you know that 66 percent of buyers would use their real estate agent again or recommend him/her to a friend?
Daily Forecast Update: Case-Shiller Index, Consumer Confidence
Increased consumer confidence is a favorable sign of continued recovery from the Great Recession.
Did You Know: Household Income of First-Time and Repeat Buyers
Did you know that, despite the downturn, incomes didn't change much between 2007 and 2008 among first-time and repeat buyers?
Daily Forecast Update: 10-year Treasury Note
Mortgage rates have been inching higher, though they still remain favorable.
Did You Know: Size of Home Purchased
Did you know that the median size of homes purchased was 1,800 square feet. This is down slightly from 1,825 in the previous year’s survey?
Did You Know: Agent Compensation
Most agents, 81 percent, are paid by the sellers in full, while only a small share of agents, 4 percent, are paid by the buyers.
Daily Forecast Update: New Home Sales, MBA Purchase Applications, Personal Income and Consumer Sentiment
Despite strong increases in existing home sales reported yesterday by NAR, new home sales continue to be very weak
New Data: Another Gain for Existing-Home Sales
Existing-home sales rose again in November as first-time buyers rushed to close sales before the original November 30 deadline for the recently extended and expanded tax credit.
Did You Know: Tenure in Home
Did you know that the median estimated tenure in their homes among homeowners is 10 years?
Daily Forecast Update: Snow Storm & Underwriting Standards
There are indications that banks are now willing to accept lower down payments.
Did You Know: Characteristics of Internet Searchers
Did you know that home buyers who use the Internet to conduct their searches spend twice as much time looking for a home, and visit three times as many properties?
Daily Forecast Update: 10-year Treasury Note, Foreclosure Moratorium
Mortgage rates have been inching higher, though they still remain favorable.
Did You Know: The First-Time Buyer
Did you know that first-time home buyers made up more than 50% of total buyers in October/November 2009?
Local Market Reports Explained
NAR Economist Ken Fears discusses the local market reports: what data is included and why, and how the reports relate to your market.
Daily Forecast Update: Jobless Claims & Leading Indicators
The Leading Economic Index continues to show improvement that is in-line with positive growth in the economy for next year.
Did You Know: Wind Energy Facilities and Property Values
Did you know that proximity to wind energy facilities does not have a significant impact on property values?
Economist's Commentary: Weak Industrial Demand Continues to Drive Up Vacancies
Weak industrial demand continues to drive up vacancies.
Daily Forecast Update: MBA Purchase Applications & Consumer Price Index
Mortgage purchase applications remained low last week, even lower than for the same week in 2008.
Did You Know: Market Confidence as Measured by the Realtors® Confidence Index
Did you know that in recent months Realtor® confidence in the home sales outlook has improved significantly?
Daily Forecast Update: PPI, More Liquidity for Commercial & Jumbo Mortgages, etc
Interest rates on commercial and jumbo mortgages may begin to inch down.
Did You Know: Owner-Occupied Housing Units
Did you know that 75.3 million housing units were owner-occupied in the third quarter of 2009?
Did You Know: Household Net Worth
After seven consecutive quarters of decline, the net worth of households and non-profits increased for the second quarter in a row.
Daily Forecast Update: Census Hiring, Less Maddening Short Sales
A short-term job boost is on the way, and sales of underwater homes could become less frustrating.
Economist's Commentary: Multi-Family Demand Expected to Soften in Fourth Quarter
Increased home buying and a fairly steady supply of new apartments this year will contribute to softening in Q4.
Daily Forecast Update: Retail Sales and Consumer Sentiment
Good news: Retail sales in November were up more than had been anticipated.
Did You Know: Foreclosure and Short Sale Home Prices
Did you know that Realtors® reported that both foreclosures and short sales were selling at prices significantly below the market price?
Economist's Commentary: Retail Demand Improves as Retail Sales Make Modest Gains
Retail demand improves as retail sales make modest gains.
Daily Forecast Update: Trade Deficit and Unemployment Claims
Good news: The U.S. trade deficit improved in November to approximately a $33B deficit.
Did You Know: What is the Unemployment Rate?
Do you know what the unemployment rate actually represents?
Economist's Commentary: Commercial Fundamentals' Increase in New Office Space Drives Vacancy
The main driver of office space demand -- employment --continues to be in negative territory.
Daily Forecast Update: Mortgage Purchase Applications
Record low mortgage rates and the first-time home buyer tax credit continue to draw demand.
Did You Know: Contingent Closing Costs
Contingent closing cost offers on lower priced homes have not increased home prices in the current market.
Economist's Commentary: Commercial Real Estate Mired in Quicksand despite Signs of Economic Recovery
Commercial real estate mired in quicksand despite signs of economic recovery.
Daily Forecast Update: FHA Solvency
FHA mortgages may become more difficult to get due to possible changes in downpayment requirements, insurance fees, and/or credit scores of borrowers.
Did You Know: Home Value
The characteristics that boost a home’s value the most are size, square footage, age, and the number of bathrooms and bedrooms.
Daily Forecast Update: Consumer Credit
Today’s report highlights a continued contraction in consumer credit.
Research Member Spotlight: Live from San Diego
See how some members we caught up with at the Annual Conference in San Diego are putting NAR research to use in their businesses.
Economists' Commentary: Forecast for 2010
4.4 million Americans look to take advantage of the home buyer tax credit before it expires next year.
Did You Know: Environmental Features
Did you know that commuting costs and environmental efficiency have increasingly factored into home buying decisions due to higher energy costs?
Daily Forecast Update: Employment, Freddie Mac, Construction Spending, etc
The unemployment rate fell unexpectedly to 10 percent in November.
Economists' Commentary: The Long Road Home
The latest Local Market Reports are out; this commentary looks in-depth at the Phoenix market.
Did You Know: A Forecasting Technique Focused on Three Numbers
Did you know the three numbers that professional forecasters frequently focus on when analyzing sales trends?
Did You Know: Internet Usage Trends
Did you know that 90% of home buyers use the internet to search for a home?
Did You Know: Purchase Price
Most buyers paid slightly less than the asking price for their homes--the median purchase price being 96 percent of the asking price.
Daily Forecast Update: Pending Home Sales, ISM Index
Good news: consumers are eager to take advantage of the tax credit and historically low mortgage rates.
Realtors®' Confidence Index: What You're Telling Us
Many Realtors® report that, in their pricing expectations, many buyers treat every property as if it were in foreclosure.
Did You Know: Search Process
The length of the typical home search rose to 12 weeks in 2009, from 10 weeks in 2008.
Daily Forecast Update: Chicago PMI
Job losses continue in the Midwest, but are lessening in intensity.
Daily Forecast Update: EHS, Case Shiller, and FHFA House Price Index
For the first time since 2004, the purchase-only index showed better year-over-year appreciation than the all-transaction index.
Did You Know: Price Over Time
Did you know that the housing price bubble is largely gone at the national level?
Economists' Commentary: Existing Home Sales in October
Existing home sales increased solidly for the second straight month, and by the largest percentage gain in a decade.
Did You Know: Demographics of Home Buyers
Did you know that among first-time and repeat buyers there are nearly twice as many single female buyers as single male buyers?
Did You Know: Median Income of Homebuyers Using Mortgage Financing
Did you know that the median income of home buyers using mortgage financing was $71,600 in 2008?
Daily Forecast Update: Gold Prices, Mortgage Rates
Low mortgage rates continue to sustain favorable buying opportunities for clients.
Did You Know: Loans to Purchase Vacation and Investment Homes
Did you know that according to the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data (HMDA), loans to purchase vacation and investment homes declined 30% in 2008?
Daily Forecast Update: Jobless Claims, Delinquency Data
The tax credit should continue to help absorb and quickly clear off foreclosed properties.
Commercial Real Estate Forecast Uncertain
Credit availability is the big unknown that will determine how soon commercial markets recover from the economic downturn.
Did You Know: Median Loan Amount
Did you know that, with the real estate downturn, the median loan amount decreased 4% in 2008?
Good news: Consumers are willing to spend. The economy is boosted upward for this quarter.
(Nov. 17) According to Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data (HMDA), in 2008, only 3% of home buyers used junior lien loans (second mortgages) for home purchases, down from 13% in 2007.
Did You Know: Government Sponsored Enterprises and Mortgage Markets
Did you know that Government Sponsored Enterprises (Fannie, Freddie, Ginnie, etc.) played increased roles in the mortgage markets in 2008?
Did You Know: VA Loan Usage
(Nov. 13) Did you know that VA guaranteed loan usage increased nationally from 3% in 2007 to 5% in 2008?
Did You Know: FHA Loan Usage
Did you know that FHA loan usage increased from 7% in 2007 to 25% in 2008?
Daily Forecast Update: Stocks and Interest Rates
U.S. Stocks opened higher today as economic news from China came in better than expected and investors liked the Federal Reserve's announcement of continued low interest rates.
Did You Know: Loan Types Utilized
Did you know that in 2008 there was a sharp increase in government insured loans and a significant drop in conventional loans?
Daily Forecast Update: State Sales, Quarterly Metro Prices, etc
Today’s data on home sales is positive in most states.
Did You Know: Number of Mortgage Loan Originations
Did you know that mortgage originations for home purchases in 2008 dropped by 23% compared to the previous year?
Did You Know: Share of Itemizing Tax Filers Taking the Mortgage Interest Deduction
Did you know that 90.2 percent of itemizing tax filers took the deduction in Alaska compared 22.8 percent of itemizing tax filers in Wyoming?
Daily Forecast Update: 10-Year Treasury, Gas Prices
Good news: the Treasury rate remains near historical lows.
Economist's Podcast: Tax Credit and Market Forecast
NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun discusses the extended home buyer tax credit, and gives a market update.
Daily Forecast Update: The Tax Credit, Employment
Good news: the home buyer tax credit will be available through the middle of next year and to more potential buyers.
Did You Know: Single Person Households in 2008 vs. 2000
Did you know that, according to recent statistics released by the U.S. Census Bureau, living alone is becoming a norm?
Daily Forecast Update: Unemployment Insurance Claims, Employment Productivity
The decline in unemployment insurance claims provides a bright spot in this week's data.
Did You Know: Number of Taxpayers Taking the Real Estate Tax Deduction
Did you know that the number of filers claiming a deduction for real estate taxes paid in each state varied from 55,928 in North Dakota to 5,344,121 in California?
Did You Know: Number of Taxpayers Taking the Mortgage Interest Deduction
Did you know that the number of taxpayers claiming a mortgage interest deduction in each state varied from 50,351 in North Dakota to 5,221,487 in California?
Daily Forecast Update: ADP Employment Survey, Mortgage Purchase Applications, and more
Mortgage purchase applications slipped for the second straight week despite a moderation in mortgage rates.
Did You Know: Where the High-Income Tax Payers Are Located
Did you know that the number of tax returns filed with $200,000 or more in adjusted gross income ranges from 6,300 in North Dakota to 691,500 in California?
New Data: September Pending Home Sales
Pending home sales rose again, marking eight consecutive monthly gains--the longest streak since measurement began in 2001.
Daily Forecast Update: ISM Index, Pending Home Sales
Home buyers continue to stay in the market and are signing contracts.
Did You Know: Annual Income of REALTORS®, by Firm and Office Size
Did you know that members who work at smaller firms, those with less than 25 agents and brokers in either the office or the firm typically made below $40,000 in 2008?
Did You Know: Residential Vacancies
Did you know that national vacancy rates in the third quarter 2009 were 11.1 percent for rental housing and 2.6 percent for homeowner housing?
Daily Forecast Update: Personal Income, Consumer Sentiment
As expected, the consumer sector was weak in September, with both a drop in spending and no change in income.
Economists' Commentary: Research Spotlight
This month NAR Research's Member Spotlight features Ohio REALTOR® Carol Murphy.
Daily Forecast Update: GDP and Weekly Jobless Benefit Claims
The economy seems to be emerging from the recession. GDP is the broadest measure of economic activity, and the trend is up.
Did You Know: Men's and Women's Earnings
According to the 2008 American Community Survey, for women, the median earnings were $35,471, or 77.9 percent of men's earnings.
Daily Forecast Update: Mortgage Applications and New Home Sales
Mortgage applications for home purchases have been falling the past three weeks in October.
Did You Know: Household Distribution and Housing Costs
Households in the bottom income quartile are most likely to face affordability problems.
Daily Forecast Update: Consumer Confidence, Case/Shiller Index
There were many positive indicators in October, most notably the stock markets.
Did You Know: Monthly Mortgage Payments
Under these assumptions, real monthly payments on a median priced house in 2008 were 20 percent below the 2006 peak.
Did You Know: Cash-Out Refinancing
Did you know that the collapse of cash-out refinancing has left homeowners with less to spend?
Daily Forecast Update: Weekly Mortgage Rates & Federal Reserve
Mortgage rates edged higher for the second straight week, but remain at relatively low levels.
New Data: Existing-Home Sales Show Big Rebound
Existing-home sales bounced back strongly in September with first-time buyers driving much of the activity, marking five gains in six months.
Did You Know: Household Vehicle Travel
Did you know that center city dwellers used their cars much less than their suburban counterparts?
Economists' Commentary: Existing Home Sales in September
Sales surged in September.
Did You Know: State Unemployment Rates
Did you know that Michigan continues to have the highest unemployment rate of any state at 15.3 percent?
Daily Forecast Update: Jobless Claims, FHFA Home Price, Beige Book, Conference Board Indicators
The Federal Reserve’s Beige Book notes that the real estate sector is one of the few bright spots in the economy.
Did You Know: Median Household Income
Did you know that the real median household income in the United States fell 1.2% between 2007 and 2008, from $52,673 to $52,029?
Daily Forecast Update: Weekly Mortgage Applications
Higher mortgage rates and the approaching November 30th deadline for the tax credit seem to impact the market negatively.
Commentary: Retail Properties Struggle with Low Sales, High Distress
Commercial retail space has been in a decline, following significant contractions in demand.
Did You Know: Refinancing Stats
Homeowners who refinanced mortgages in the second quarter secured rates that were typically 20% lower than the original rate.
Daily Forecast Update: Housing Starts and PPI Index
Low inflation allows lenders to loan money at lower rates without much fear of loss in purchasing power.
Economist's Commentary: Industrial Sales Looking for Foothold
Investors are betting on a resurgence of warehouse space in the wake of low business inventories
Daily Forecast Update: CPI and Jobless Claims
The Labor Department announces that, for the first time since 1975, social security benefits will not increase based on cost-of-living.
Did You Know: Walkability of Cities
Did you know that the walkability of cities translates directly into increases in home values?
Economist's Podcast: The Tax Credit and the Economy
NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun discusses reasons for renewing the tax credit and its impact on the economy.
Daily Forecast Update: Retail Sales, Weekly Mortgage Applications
For stronger and more sustained retail sales, housing has to recover.
Did You Know: Social Security to Pay for Housing
Did you know that households dependent on lower incomes or solely on social security payments in retirement are more like to spend more than half their income on housing?
Did You Know: Income Gains at Risk
Did you know that for the first time in decades workers under 55 are on track to end the decade earning less than their predecessors?
Daily Forecast Update: Retail Chain Sales
Good news! Consumers are opening their wallets at shopping malls.
Economist's Commentary: Office Investments Grow in Third Quarter
With the number of distressed properties rising and prices falling, there are signs of activity in the office sector.
Did You Know: Housing Construction
Did you know that the downturn in home building is the worst since World War II?
Daily Forecast Update: International Trade
Surprisingly, the trade deficit narrowed in August, for the first time in four months.
Economists' Commentary: Unleashing Pent-Up Housing Demand and Sustainable Economic Recovery
Stabilization of home values is key to sustainable economic recovery; for this to occur, an extension on the home buyer tax credit is critical.
Daily Forecast Update: Unemployment Claims, Consumer Credit
Although unemployment claims are still high, the number of people being added to the rolls continues to decline.
Did You Know: Purchasing Power
Did you know that more than one-third of borrowers took out adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) loans in 2004?
Did You Know: Property Values by State
Did you know that in 2008 Hawaii recorded the highest median value of owner-occupied homes--$560,200?
Daily Forecast Update: Mortgage Applications
Mortgage rates continue to be near historic lows at less than 5 percent.
Economists' Commentary: Is the Tax Credit Working?
An extension of the current credit through the end of 2010 is expected to yield an additional 350,000 sales.
Daily Forecast Update: 10-Year Treasury and Oil Prices
Good news: the Treasury rate continues to be at historic lows. The low rate bodes well for the cost of borrowing in other financial markets.
Did You Know: Secondary Specialties of Residential Brokerage Specialists
Did you know what the top three secondary specialties among residential specialists are?
Did You Know: Housing Costs
Did you know the average decrease in housing costs for homeowners with mortgages was 0.3 percent between 2007 and 2008?
Daily Forecast Update: ISM Non-Manufacturing Index
Right now, the housing market is being supported by stimulus measures like the tax credit and low mortgage rates.
Commentary: Moving in the Right Direction
New second quarter Metro Price Reports suggest that price stability and even modest growth is emerging.
Daily Forecast Update: Employment
As many key economic indicators are showing improvement, employment is continuing to struggle.
Did You Know: International Commercial Transactions
Did you know that seventy-four percent of all commercial members had no international transactions in 2008?
Did You Know: Work Hours and Time on Commercial Real Estate
Did you know that according to the 2009 Commercial Member Profile, nearly 9 in 10 commercial members work full-time in their career?
Daily Forecast Update: Pending Home Sales, Unemployment Claims
Home buyers are coming to the market to meet the tax credit deadline. Unfortunately, some will not make it because of longer closing processes due to appraisal issues and tighter underwriting standards.
Did You Know: Foreclosures in Low-Income Neighborhoods
Did you know that while the recession has touched almost all households, minorities have been hit especially hard?
Economists' Commentary: Research's Member Spotlight
Each month, NAR Research will be spotlighting a member who has gone above and beyond in their use of Research data, surveys, and other products.
Did You Know: Household Budgets
Did you know that in 2007, nearly three-quarters of severely cost-burdened households had low incomes?
Daily Forecast Update: Case-Shiller Price Index, Consumer Confidence
Case Shiller data from July are consistent with NAR data showing improvement in house prices in the last few months.
Economist's Commentary: Multi-Family Investments Rise in Second Quarter
Amid signs of improvement in parts of the economy, commercial real estate continues to face downward pressure.
Daily Forecast Update: Funds for Local Housing Agencies, Global Imbalance
Federal help to local housing finance agencies will permit more lending. If the borrowers stay well within budget, this will provide permit additional demand support for the housing market.
Did You Know: Commercial Member Property Information Sources
Did you know that seventy percent of members use LoopNet, a California-based online listing service?
Realtors®' Confidence Index in August
NAR surveys REALTORS® monthly on market trends and conditions, making the information available in an on-line summary, The Realtors' Confidence Index.
Did You Know: Commercial Member Business Specialties
Did you know that land sales were identified by 16 percent of commercial members as their primary business specialty?
Daily Forecast Update: Consumer Confidence, Residential Sales, and Durable Goods
We are making progress in emerging from the recession, but the recovery is still somewhat weak.
Economists' Commentary: Existing Home Sales in August
We are ever so close to reaching that self-propelling housing market recovery.
Did You Know: Commercial Member Income
Did you know that in 2008 the median gross annual income of commercial members was $99,900?
Did You Know: Commercial Member Experience
Did you know that among commercial members, the median years experience in real estate is 24?
Daily Forecast Update: Stock Market, Gold and Oil Prices
The rising stock market assures less cautious consumers, but the bigger boost to consumer spending will come from rising housing wealth.
Did You Know: Commercial Member Demographics
Did you know that according to the 2009 Commercial Member Profile, the average commercial member is 56 years old?
Daily Forecast Update: Interest Rates, Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension
A sustainable economic recovery and changes in forecast will depend upon the extension of the first-time home buyer’s tax credit.
Daily Forecast Update: Consumer Credit
With home values recently showing stabilization signs, gains in housing wealth are likely for 2010 and beyond.
Did You Know: Home Equity Cashed Out
Did you know that home equity fell by $5.9 trillion in 2008, down 43% from the 2005 level?
Daily Forecast Update: Housing Starts & Unemployment Claims
Some restraint in new home construction is needed to allow time for existing housing inventory to be absorbed.
Did You Know: Recession "Very Likely Over"
Did you know that Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke has said that the recession is "very likely over?"
Daily Forecast Update: Mortgage Purchase Applications, Consumer Price Index, Industrial Production, Current Account Balance
Home sales continue to chug along at a healthy rate despite this week’s anomalous decline in mortgage applications.
Did You Know: Non-Prime Lending
Did you know that more than 50% of loans originating in San Francisco, San Jose, and San Diego at the height of the housing boom included affordability features?
Did You Know: Household Tenure by Income
Did you know that in 2007 more than 90% of occupied households earning $120,000 or more were occupied by their owners?
Commentary: Multi-Family Vacancy to Rise
In light of rising vacancies in the third quarter, rent growth is expected to decline.
Daily Forecast Update: Retail Sales, Producer Price Index
The rise in retail sales points to an improvement in consumer confidence.
Did You Know: Energy and Environmental Concerns
Did you know the residential sector is responsible for about 21 percent of total energy consumption?
Economists' Commentary: Climbing Out of Recession
The world-wide economic recession is essentially over.
Did You Know: Severely Burdened Households
Did you know that many severely burdened householders are actually employed, retired or disabled?
Daily Forecast Update: Imports & Exports, Wholesale Prices, Consumer Sentiment
he demand for U.S. wholesalers' goods has increased for the 3rd consecutive month and means wholesalers are clearing excess supply.
Did You Know: Seriously Delinquent Mortgages
Did you know that seriously delinquent mortgages are so far concentrated among private label securities?
Daily Forecast Update: Unemployment Claims, Trade Deficit
Unemployment claims are still high but continue to abate in intensity. However, we can expect rising unemployment through the next year or so.
Did You Know: REALTORS® and Designations
Did you know that the median gross personal income REALTORS® with at least one designation was $55,700 based on a 2009 survey?
Daily Forecast Update: Mortgage Applications, Beige Book
Buyers are taking advantage of record low interest rates and home prices, which is making homeownership more affordable now than ever.
Did You Know: REALTORS® and Designations
Did you know REALTORS® who have a designation make significantly higher salaries?
Did You Know: Percent of Homes Financed
Did you know that among all buyers, the percentage of homes financed remained stable at 91 percent from 2006-2008?
Economist's Podcast: September 8, 2009
NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun shares his outlook on jobs and why a shift in consumer perspective is driving a stable housing market.
Daily Forecast Update: Jobless Claims
People continue to struggle unemployment rises, curtailing spending on items large and small.
Did You Know: Foreigner Financing of Purchased Property
Did you know that foreigners frequently pay cash in purchasing U.S. properties, rather than obtaining a mortgage?
Daily Forecast Update: Jobless Claims, ISM Index
Tomorrow's employment situation release will give a fuller picture of conditions, and economists expect the unemployment rate to creep up from its current 9.4 percent.
Did You Know: Where Foreign Buyers Purchased Property
According to NAR’s recently released 2009 Profile of International Home Buying Activity, while foreign buyers purchased U.S. properties throughout the U.S., the two regions most popular were the South and West.
Economist's Commentary: Industrial Rent Expected to Drop 11.4 Percent in 2009
The industrial sector underwent further contraction in the second quarter of the year.
Did You Know: Median Price Paid by International Buyers Purchasing
Did you know that the median price paid for homes purchased by foreign buyers was $247,100 in 2008.
Daily Forecast Update: Employment, Mortgage Applications
Although the economy is expected to show positive growth in the third quarter, unemployment is still expected to increase for approximately the next year
Economists' Commentary: Unemployment Claims- Duration and Exhaustion Rate
While the housing market and stock market are showing signs of recovery, unemployment remains high.
Did You Know: Buyer Origin
According to NAR’s recently released The 2009 Profile of international Home Buying Activity, 31 percent of foreign purchasers of U.S. real estate were from Europe.
Daily Forecast Update: Pending Home Sales, Construction, ISM
Home sales should continue their upward pattern as the real estate market moves into the early fall.
Economist's Commentary: Office Vacancies Rise as Demand Declines
The economy closed the second quarter of the year with negative results, but with a hopeful outlook for the latter half of the year.
Did You Know: Echo Boomers
Did you know that "echo boomers" will help keep demand strong for the next 10 years and beyond, bolstering the markets for rentals and starter homes.
Quick Take: Personal Income & Consumption, Consumer Sentiment
Consumers remain fairly weakened by the economic crisis. The unemployment situation continues to make people more cautious when it comes to spending than usual.
Did You Know: Who Worked at Home, by Income
Did you know that nearly one in three of the highest earners works at home on an average day compared to fewer than one in ten among the lowest earning groups?
Quick Take: Unemployment Insurance Claims, GDP
People receiving unemployment insurance declined this past week.
Did You Know: Who Worked at Home?
Did you know that those who are self-employed were more than 3 times as likely as wage and salary workers to work at home on an average workday.
Quick Take: New Home Sales, Mortgage Applications
The releasing of the pent-up demand should help continue to carry the momentum forward.
Did You Know: Home Buyers by Marital Status
Did you know that married couples who purchased homes typically had a household income of $86,500?
Did You Know: Real House Prices
Home prices in many markets have retreated to pre-boom levels. In the Midwest, where house price appreciation was only modest during the boom, the setbacks have been especially large.
Quick Take: Six Month Bill Auction
Today's auction for 6 month T-Bills produced an investment rate of .259%, compared to a rate of .279% on July 27 and .340% on June 22.
Did You Know: Foreclosures in Once-Booming Markets
Foreclosure rates in California, Arizona, Nevada, and Florida surged from less than 0.9 percent at the start of 2007 to 5.9 percent by the end of 2008.
Economists' Commentary: July Existing Home Sales
Existing home sales increased 7.2 percent from the prior month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.24 million units.
Quick Take: Unemployment Claims, Leading Indicators
Higher unemployment stalls economic growth as consumers are apprehensive about making large purchases.
Did You Know: Home Price-to-Income Ratio
Did you know that conditions are great for home buyers with a steady job and good financing?
New Economic Data: Commercial Leading Indicator
Although commercial real estate activity has been affected by the credit crunch, job losses and weak consumer spending, the decline appears to be slowing.
Did You Know: Luxury Home Buyers and The Search Process
Did you know buyers who purchase luxury homes look for longer and at more homes?
Quick Take: MBA Weekly Index
Interest rates continue to be at levels that will support a recovery in the existing home sales markets nationwide.
Did You Know: Homeownership by Income
Did you know that in the second quarter of 2009 homeownership rates, among households with income greater or equal to the median income, dropped more than for those with less than median income?
Economists' Commentary: International Property Markets
Like the United States, many world markets have seen increases in their property values and experienced a housing bubble and a subsequent bust in the past half a decade.
Quick Take: Housing Starts and Producer Price Index
Overall, low inflationary pressure should mean continuing low mortgage rates, at least through the year's end.
Did You Know: Homeownership by Race
Did you know that in the second quarter of 2009 homeownership rates dropped among all races?
Economists' Commentary: Months Supply - What's in a Number?
Months supply is one of the most insightful statistics used to describe the housing market. It gives a concise assessment of a market’s condition as of that point in time. What is the current supply figure telling us?
Quick Take: Housing Market Index (HMI)
The increased optimism by home builders is positive news for the economy as it tries to rebound from this deep recession.
Did You Know: Who is Buying Homes More Than $500,000
Did you know that 19% of people who bought homes that were more than $500,000 were first-time buyers?
Quick Take: Consumer Price Index, Consumer Sentiment, Industrial Production
Consumers are still facing challenges of large job losses, weak income growth, falling home prices, and rising energy costs.
Economists' Commentary: Greening Homes
Energy efficiency in the housing market is of growing interest to REALTORS® and consumers.
Did You Know: Method Used To Find Real Estate Agent
Did you know that 38% of sellers were referred to their real estate agent by a friend, neighbor, or relative?
Economists' Commentary: Market Outlook for August
The recovery in the housing market will lay the foundation for a sustainable economic recovery.
Economists' Commentary: Census Non-employer and NAR Membership Data
Being self-employed presents unique challenges to REALTORS®, for instance access to affordable health insurance and potentially volatile earnings.
Quick Take: 10-Year Treasury, Oil Prices, Commercial Real Estate
Commercial real estate continues to struggle with mortgage debt refinancing. Extending TALF’s availability for CMBS purchases would provide a measure of relief.
Did You Know: Making Compromises When Buying A Home
Did you know that 19% of recent buyers made some compromises or lowered their expectations about the price of the home they purchased?
Quick Take: Unemployment Claims, Fannie & Freddie Restructuring
Mortgage rates will naturally fluctuate but should remain generally favorable because of an active secondary mortgage market.
Existing Home Sales: Market Remains Bifurcated
According to the Realtors® Confidence Index, distressed home sales have made up a smaller percentage of total sales in recent months.
Quick Take: Purchase Apps, Employment Report, ISM Index, Short Sales and Factory Orders
Sizable job cuts suggest that Friday’s unemployment readings may reach up to 9.9 percent.
Did You Know: How FSBO Sellers Will Sell Their Current Home
Did you know that thirty-eight percent of FSBO sellers who knew their buyer say that they would use a real estate agent to sell their current home?
Quick Take: Pending Home Sales, Income and Savings
Although the upturn in housing looks sustainable, the housing market is still far from being back to normal.
New Economic Data: Uptrend Continues in Pending Home Sales
Pending home sales are up for the fifth consecutive month, the first time in six years for such a streak, according to the National Association of Realtors®.
Did You Know: Importance of Environmentally Friendly Home Features
Did you know that forty-three percent of recent buyers considered a home’s heating and cooling costs very important?
Economists' Commentary: Commercial Investment Trends: Industrial
Although some businesses are considering production increase, it is likely that the industrial sector will remain relatively weak through 2009.
Quick Take: ISM Manufacturing, Construction Spending
Although the manufacturing sector is still shrinking, there are signs that manufacturing growth may be in store in the months ahead.
Economists' Commentary: Research's Member Spotlight
NAR Research spotlights a member who has used our data to better serve clients and share knowledge with other Realtors®: this month, Maria Wells.
Did You Know: London Market Boosted by International Buyers
A weak pound has led to a massive increase in overseas buyers who are buying largely in central London.
Quick Take: Unemployment Insurance Claims, The Beige Book
The economic decline seems to be slowing, and a few regions show signs of possible stabilization.
Did You Know: Distance of Move to New Residence
Did you know that the typical homebuyer moved 15 miles from his or her previous residence?
Quick Take: Case-Shiller Index, Consumer Confidence
As the fall in housing prices slows, buyers who have been waiting for the right time may finally jump back into the market en masse.
Economists' Commentary: Regional Round Up, Part 2
After nearly a decade-long housing boom, it took almost a year and a half for the pricing power to shift from sellers to buyers.
Economists' Commentary: Regional Round Up, Part 1
Foreclosures are having a substantial impact in some markets, while unemployment is the primary concern in other locations.
Did You Know: State Fiscal Conditions
Did you know that according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 47 states face shortfalls in fiscal year 2009 or 2010?
Quick Take: Consumer Sentiment and Jobless Claims
Consumer sentiment remains weak as people across the country are worried about job and income prospects
Did You Know: Homeowner Vacancy Rate
In 2008 the U.S. the homeowner vacancy rate was 2.8 percent, up from 1.6 percent in 2000.
Did You Know: Home Ownership Rate by State
Did you know that the U.S. homeownership rate of 67.8 in 2008 is down from 69 percent in 2004, but up from 67.4 in 2000.
Economists' Commentary: June Existing Home Sales
After four difficult years of a housing recession, the market is clearly healing.
Did You Know: Gross Household Income of REALTORS®
The median gross household income for members in 2008 was $91,500.
Quick Take: Weekly Mortgage Applications and FHFA Index
The mortgage applications (for purchase) index is still a trickle compared to just a year ago.
Did You Know: Tenure at Firm
Did you know that the typical REALTOR® has been at his/her firm for five years?
Quick Take: The Fed's Independence
Mortgage rates are no longer at the rock-bottom rates of less than 5 percent. However, mortgages rates are still well under 6 percent - which can still be considered as being near 50 year lows.
Economists' Commentary: Commercial Investment Trends--Retail Sector Struggles with Growing Distressed Sales
Consumer spending continues to decline, as rising unemployment and a prolonged recession force consumers to cut back. Against this backdrop, demand for retail space has been contracting.
Did You Know: Sales Price and Urgency
Did you know that the typical home seller sold their home for 96 percent of the listed selling price?
Quick Take: Housing Starts and Bank Profits
While the number of jobs counted in jobless claims is lower, it does not tell the full story. Those who have stopped receiving benefits are no longer counted.
Economists' Commentary: Finance 101--Compounding, Interest, and the Housing Market, Part 2
Home buyers who finance their purchase with a mortgage have options on how to pay the interest and principle borrowed that impacts how much they pay monthly, whether that payment changes, and how long it will take to pay off the mortgage.
Did You Know: Buying a Home is a Good Financial Decision
Did you know Americans in their prime home buying years (ages 25 to 44) are more confident than any other age group that buying a home is a good decision?
Economists' Commentary: Finance 101--Compounding, Interest, and the Housing Market, PT 1
The effects of compounding interest can lead a consumer to undersave and underborrow.
Did You Know: Compensation Structure for REALTORS®
Did you know that the dominant method by which REALTORS® are compensated is by percentage split commission?
Quick Take: CPI, Mortgage Applications, Industrial Production
The decline in the purchase index for mortgage applications is negative news; however, the lower rates and increase in refinances should be good overall for the housing market.
Quick Take: 10-Year Treasury Yields and Mortgage Rates
Market timing for the cheapest mortgage rate will be tricky.
Did You Know: Buying a Home Through an Agent
Eighty-one percent of recent home buyers purchased a home through a real estate agent or broker in 2008.
Economists' Commentary: Changing Local Markets
NAR Research has released new Market Price Reports, which cover sales, price and affordability information for more than 150 markets.
Quick Take: International Trade, Imports and Exports, Consumer Sentiment
In contrast to the positive trade news, consumer confidence is continuing to deteriorate with the sentiment index falling more than 6 points to 64.6 for middle of July.
Did You Know: Level of Service Desired
More than four out of five sellers chose an agent who provided a broad range of services and managed most aspects of the sale.
Quick Take: Unemployment Claims
The increase in continuing claims suggests that the labor market is very slack and that businesses are reluctant to hire new employees.
Did You Know: Realtors® Language Fluency and Country of Birth
Did you know that nine percent of REALTORS® were born outside the United States?
Economists' Commentary: The Next Middle Class
Imagine the prospect of 30 to 50 million more people with disposable income and spending potential.
Did You Know: City Expansion
Did you know that the growth rates of the biggest U.S. cities have increased as unemployment and the real-estate slump have slowed migration to the suburbs?
Economists' Commentary: First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit Resources
NAR offers a wealth of information to help everyone make sense of the tax credit.
Did You Know: Repeat Business and Referrals
Did you know that the average REALTOR ® earned 18 percent of his/her business from past clients and customers?
Economists' Commentary: Multi-Family Demand Increases in Second Quarter
The delinquency and foreclosure rates for residential loans continue to register increases.
Did You Know: Size of Home Purchased
The recent American Institute of Architects AIA Home Design Trends Survey shows a shift in buying trends towards small homes.
Quick Take: ISM Index, 10-Year Treasury
The lower 10-year treasury should mean that mortgage rates will remain in the mid-five percent range in the near term, which is historically fairly low.
Economists' Commentary: On Appraisals--The Impact of HVCC
A preliminary analysis indicates that the implementation of the Home Valuation Code of Conduct (HVCC) appears to be having adverse impacts on the housing markets.
Quick Take: The Job Market
The job market remains weak, but declines are occurring at a slower pace than in previous months.
Did You Know: Interest Rates and Mortgage Pay Off
Did you know that lower mortgage rates enable a borrower to pay off a greater share of the loan much faster?
Economists' Commentary: Going Back to Plain Vanilla Financing
A recent Wall Street Journal article suggests that the new consumer protection agency will bring a return to plain vanilla financial products.
Quick Take: PHS, Employment, Manufacturing, Construction Spending and Mortgage Applications
NAR’s pending home sales index increased for the fourth consecutive month, a hint that sales may have already reached bottom.
Did You Know: Interest Rates and Yearly Payments
Did you know that today's mortgage rates, which have been between 5 and 5.5 percent, are generationally low.
Did You Know: FSBO and Agent-Assisted Sales Price
Did you know that all sellers in the Home Buyer and Seller survey reported a median sales price of $204,900?
Economists' Commentary: Second Quarter Retail Demand Declines
The retail sector is trying to regain its footing due to the low level of consumer spending.
Economists' Commentary: Office Demand Declines as Unemployment Rises
Accelerated by the financial crisis of 2008, employment in office-using sectors has been declining.
Did You Know: REALTORS® Staying in the Field
Did you know that 73 percent of REALTORS® reported they were very certain they would stay active in the field?
Quick Take: Personal Income/Consumption, Consumer Sentiment
This marks the fourth consecutive monthly increase in consumer sentiment.
Today's Quick Take
Today’s increase in jobless claims was unexpected as the pace in claims has been slowing.
Did You Know: High End Homes by State
Did you know Connecticut had the highest percentage of homes valued at over a million dollars?
Distressed Property: Below Market Prices in a Bifurcated Market
The existing home sales market is currently bifurcated between distressed and non-distressed sales.
Quick Take: Purchase Applications, Durable Goods Orders, New Home Sales
Overall, today’s economic news shows positive signs yet also indicates that the recovery will be slow.
Did You Know: Homebuyers and Social Media
Did you know half of recent buyers are on social networking sites?
Economists' Commentary: State Fiscal Conditions and Property Taxes: 2009
States and local governments spend and raise money in a variety of ways. Understanding how your state raises revenue will help you understand how it might be affected by the down turn.
Did You Know: Long Term Investment by Gender
Do you know how investors' views of long-term investment vary by gender?
New Economic Data: May Existing-Home Sales
Existing-home sales showed another gain in May, benefiting from favorable affordability conditions and a first-time buyer tax credit.
Quick Take: Credit Crunch Easing?
The credit market should not be considered back-to-normal until credit returns to all real estate loans.
Did You Know: Long Term Investment Trends
How do perceptions of stocks, bonds, savings and real-estate vary in terms of long-tern investment?
Did You Know: Different Residential Property Tax Rates
Property taxes are an important component of state and local government funding.
Quick Take: Appraisal Nightmare
The bottom line is that consumers today often pay more to order appraisals.
Economists' Commentary: Industrial Vacancy Rate Rises in Second Quarter
The industrial sector is facing mounting economic pressure, compounding a general decline in demand.
Did You Know: REALTOR® Business Expenses are Declining
The average total real estate business expenses are declining for all REALTORS®.
Quick Take: Weekly Unemployment Claims and Conference Board's Leading Indicator
Economic recovery may occur this year according to today’s data.
Economists' Commentary: The Realtors®' Confidence Index: Insight on Market Trends
The appraisal process has become a major problem, according to many respondents.
Did You Know: Age of First-Time Homebuyers
Did you know that home affordability is opening the market to younger buyers?
Quick Take: Housing Starts, Producer Prices, Industrial Productivity
Declines in the producer price index and the capacity utilization rate suggest that deflation, and not inflation, is the immediate threat to the economy.
Did You Know: Member Demographics
Did you know that as the housing market has changed so have NAR member demographics?
Quick Take: Housing Market Index
Mortgage rates have risen sharply the past few weeks, going from around 4.8 percent to almost 5.6 percent.
Did You Know: Different Residential Assessment Standard
Did you know that property taxes are an important component of state and local government funding?
Economists' Commentary: Is the Stimulus Bill Too Small?
The application of Okun’s law suggests that the current spending bill is having less of an impact than is desirable.
Did You Know: Home Improvement Projects
Did you know that the typical buyer spent $4,350 on home improvement projects within the first three months of their home purchase?
Quick Take: Mortgage Rates and Expanding Home Buyer Tax Incentives
It is vital for the Fed to not to lose sight of the importance of housing recovery.
Economists' Commentary: FHA Mortgages vs. Subprime Mortgages
Both FHA and subprime mortgages have rising incidences delinquencies, but there is a significant difference in the foreclosures rates between the two.
Quick Take: Retail Sales, Jobless Claims
Today’s news on better-than-expected jobless claims and growth in retail sales pushed stocks higher this morning.
Did You Know: Home Types Purchased
Did you know that eighty-two percent of home buyers reported purchasing a detached single-family home?
Economists' Commentary: June Market Forecast
Lawrence Yun gives insight on what we can expect from the economy in June and for the rest of 2009.
Did You Know: Location of Home Purchase
Did you know that the majority of buyers purchase homes located in suburban areas?
Quick Take: Trade Deficit, Mortgage Applications
The U.S. economy is currently in recession, and the export outlook does not appear to provide the stimulus it needs.
Quick Take: Wholesale Trade
Wholesale trade continues on a downward trend.
Did You Know: Most Desired Home Features
Did you know that the most desired home feature is central air conditioning?
Quick Take: Rising Mortgage Rates, Future Federal Reserve Chairman
Mortgage rates are almost certain to be higher this time next year, but the path is never a smooth line.
Did You Know: Commercial Real Estate Market Survey
Did you know that in April, 43.79 percent of Commercial Realtors® reported financing as their market’s greatest challenge?
Quick Take: Employment Report
The pace of job losses was nearly cut in half in May in comparison to the prior six months of job losses.
Did You Know: REALTORS® and Websites
Did you know that 60% of all REALTORS® reported having a Web site?
Did You Know: Magnet v. Sticky States
Did you know that Nevada is the top "magnet" state, while Texas is the top "sticky" state?
Did You Know: Demographics of Realtors®: Homeownership
Did you know that most members own their primary residence?
Quick Take: Mortgage Refinance Applications
Higher interest rates and a smaller pool of potential owners to refinance have precipitated a decline in refinancing activity.
Did You Know: Affiliate Memberships
Did you know that a quarter of REALTORS® have an affiliate membership?
Quick Take: World Stock Market Upturn, Income and Consumption, ISM Index
Slow yet positive economic growth can be expected in the second half of this year. The growth will likely maintain its momentum going into 2010.
New Economic Data: Pending Home Sales Rise
Bolstered by record low mortgage interest rates and the first-time buyer tax credit, pending home sales rise for the third consecutive month.
Did You Know: Net Regional Migration
The largest net regional migration is between Northeast and South.
Quick Take: Weekly Unemployment Claims, Durable Goods, and New Home Sales
April’s rebound of durable goods may be an indication that the overall economy is on the way to stabilization
Did You Know: Prior Careers of Realtors®
Did you know that of REALTORS® who held jobs in fields other than real estate, 19 percent were in business, management or finance?
Economists' Commentary: Distressed Real Estate--Prices Narrow in Bifurcated Market
In March ’09 distressed property sold at a discount of 20 percent to market, declining in April ’09 to a 9 percent discount relative to market.
Economists' Commentary: Existing-Home Sales in April
Existing home sales rose 2.9 percent in April. Lawrence Yun discusses the EHS numbers in depth.
New Economic Data: Existing-Home Sales Rise in April
Existing-home sales rose in April with strong buyer activity in lower price ranges.
Did You Know: Demographics of Realtors®: Age
Did you know that the median age of REALTORS® is 54-years-old?
Quick Take: Case-Shiller Index, Consumer Confidence
Consumers seem to be more optimistic about the economy and job prospects, while still postponing big-ticket purchases.
Jumbo Loans: Spotlight on Realtors®' Survey
The higher mortgage rates are taking a toll on the market for jumbo homes.
Did You Know: Demographics of Realtors®: Gender
Did you know that sixty percent of Realtors® are female?
Quick Take: UK Ratings, US Debt & Bond Yields
A high deficit and unsustainable debt growth will harm the economy over the long haul.
Did You Know: Real Estate Investments of Realtors®
Did you know that 40 percent of Realtors® noted that they owned other residential properties for investment?
Quick Take: Jobless Claims and Mortgage Rates
Low mortgages rates should induce buyers into the market, but economic questions continue to dog consumer confidence.
Economists' Commentary: Realtors® Confidence Index: Insight on Market Trends
The RCI provides monthly information gathered from Realtors® concerning the existing home sales outlook measuring current and future housing activity.
Did You Know: Realtors and Web Presence
Did you know that in 2008 three-fifths of all REALTORS® reported having a Web site?
Economists' Commentary: Commercial Leading Indicator
The preliminary value of NAR’s CLI declined sharply, suggesting rough waters ahead for the commercial real estate business.
New Economic Data: Commercial Leading Indicator
The general economic downturn, complicated by a severe credit crunch in commercial real estate, is dampening commercial real estate activity.
Quick Take: Housing Starts
A credit targeted only for new home buyers does not help to absorb the high level of existing-home inventory.
Did You Know: Use of Technology
Did you know that technologies gaining popularity among Realtors® include smart phones, Instant Messaging, and GPS?
Quick Take: Home Market Index
We can expect muted growth in new homes as the inventory of existing homes still remains relatively high, and liquidity in this market is scarce.
Quick Take: CPI, PPI, Consumer Sentiment, Jobless Claims, and Industrial Production
Consumers are more optimistic, especially about the future. This is good news for REALTORS®.
Quick Take: Purchase Applications, Retail Sales, Import/Export
Although the mortgage rates are at historic lows, purchase applications have not shown significant improvements.
Quick Take: Trade Deficit, Larger Budget Deficit
In coming months we should expect rising trade deficits to coincide with record budget deficits, commonly referred to as the 'twin deficits'.
Did You Know: Types of Home Improvement
Did you know that the remodeling priorities were similar among first-time buyers, repeat buyers, and those who purchased previously owned residences?
Quick Take: Mortgage Rates, Oil Prices
If oil prices rise to $70 or $80 per barrel, then mortgage rates could also rise.
Economists' Commentary: Commercial Real Estate Faces Threat from CMBS Delinquencies
Adding to a difficult situation, commercial real estate is facing another threat--rising Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities (CMBS) delinquencies.
Did You Know: Amount Spent on Home Improvement
Did you know that the typical buyer spends $4,350 on home improvement projects within the first three months of purchasing a home?
Quick Take: Jobless Claims, Productivity, 10-Year Treasury
The decrease in the weekly jobless claims could point to a slowing of the decline.
Did You Know: Home Improvement Projects
Did you know that 59 percent of home buyers took on home improvement projects within three months of purchasing their home?
Quick Take: Weekly Mortgage Applications, ADP Employment Report
Low mortgage rates and improved confidence should help sales in the second half of 2009.
Economists' Commentary: Bank Stress-Tests
In February, the government began an evaluation of all domestic bank holding companies commonly referred to as a "stress test."
Did You Know: Business Generated from Web Site
Did you know that REALTORS® web site spending is correlated with both the number of online inquiries received and the percentage of business generated via the web site?
Quick Take: ISM Index
NAR predicts positive economic activity growth beginning in the third quarter of this year.
New Economic Data: March Pending Home Sales
Pending home sales rose with many first-time buyers taking advantage of historically good housing affordability conditions, according to the National Association of Realtors®.
Did You Know: Research is on Facebook?
Did you know that as of April 2009, Facebook has more than 200 million users? Now Research joins the social media trend.
Quick Take: Commercial Mortgages, Sticky Property Tax, 10-Year Treasury, Manufacturing
More loans will become available for commercial real estate but residential mortgage rates could be creeping higher.
Did You Know: Commercial Real Estate Market Survey
Did you know that in February, 2009, the most pressing challenge Commercial members reported facing was financing?
Quick Take: Personal Income and Consumption, Weekly Jobless Claims
Consumers have adapted to a weak job market by cutting back spending and increasing savings.
Quick Take: GDP, Weekly Mortgage Applications
Dropping mortgage rates reflect the slow residential housing markets; however, the good news is that interest rates remain low.
Economists' Commentary: Online Social Networking and Realtors®
As this medium of communication and information sharing grows, more Realtors® are getting involved and finding new uses for these tools.
Quick Take: The Case/Shiller Price Index, Consumer Confidence
The latest updates on the Case/Shiller Price Index and consumer confidence figures, including information on the California and Nevada markets.
Did You Know: Inflation Over Time
Did you know that core inflation has been remarkably stable for the last 20-30 years?
Quick Take: Monetary Exit Strategy
Inflation is nowhere in sight, but could easily pop up in a year or two.
Did You Know: Prior Career of Realtors
Did you know that, most often, a Realtor's previous career was the business or management fields?
Quick Take: Durable Goods, New Home Sales, Home Price Dispute
A decline in durable goods orders is not good news for the economy, but a slowing in the rate of decline is a positive sign.
Did You Know: Americans Who Moved in 2008
Did you know that the number of Americans who moved declined in 2008 to 35.2 million?
Economists' Commentary: March Existing-Home Sales Examined
Existing home sales fell in March, but the data still points towards stabilization.
New Economic Data: March Existing-Home Sales Decline; First-Time Buyers Rise
Existing-home sales declined 3.0 percent, but first-time buyers are responding to low mortgage interest rates and tax credits.
View the data>
Did You Know: CPI and Inflation
Did you know that core inflation has historically remained in the 1 to 3 percent range?
Quick Take: Weekly Mortgage Rates
Despite the Easter holiday, trend housing demand remains surprisingly tepid given all of the financial incentives to buy in the current market.
Did You Know: Compromise
Did you know that 19 percent of recent buyers made some compromises or lowered their expectations about the price of the home they purchased?
Quick Take: Short-Sale Lender Approval, Deflation Threat & the Dollar, $100 Million Savings
Though not perfect, a little relief is on the way in speeding up the short-sales process.
Did You Know: Expected Tenure in Home
Among recent buyers, the median expected tenure is ten years, although a large number do not know how long they plan to stay in the home they purchased.
Quick Take: Conference Board Leading Indicators
Economic recovery is not around the corner, according to today’s data. Any meaningful recovery will occur in the fourth quarter at the earliest.
Did You Know: Interactive Median Home Price Map
Did you know that you can find out the median home price, the percent change from last quarter, and the average commute time for your area, using NAR's interactive maps?
Quick Take: Jobless Claims and Housing Starts
Did You Know: House Price Indices
Did you know that there are four major home price indexes that market participants follow? Do you know what they are?
Quick Take: Purchase Applications, the CPI, Industrial Production and the Housing Market Index
Low prices are good for consumers who can also benefit from Fed’s attempt to unlock credit markets and perk up growth.
Did You Know: Hours Worked Per Week
Did you know that sixty percent of REALTORS® worked at least 40 hours a week, and 15 percent worked 60 hours or more?
Quick Take: PPI, Retail Sales, and Bank Profits
Based on recent bank earnings releases, the consumer credit market appears to be improving.
Did You Know: Firm Affiliations for Realtors®
Did you know that four out of five appraisers are affiliated with an independent non-franchised firm?
Did You Know: Where Home Buyers Found Their Homes
Did you know that 34 percent of recent buyers found the home they purchased through their real estate agent in 2008?
Economists' Commentary: Wealth Gain for Homeowners
Homeowners store wealth in a variety of places, but chief among the options is their primary residence.
Quick Take: Jobless Claims, Mortgage Rates, and International Trade
The economic news out today shows a glimmer of hope that we might now be approaching a bottom of this recession.
Did You Know: First Step in the Home Buying Process
Given the convenience of the internet, it is not surprising that one-third of buyers first searched for properties online.
Did You Know: Most Difficult Task for a FSBO Seller
Did you know that two-thirds of FSBO sellers found some aspect of the home sale to be difficult?
Economists' Commentary: Commercial Real Estate--Multi-Family Investment
The multi-family sector, while more resilient, is feeling the effects of the economic recession.
Quick Take: Consumer Credit
Consumer credit outstanding in February 2009 is 2.56 trillion, down from 2.58 trillion in July 2008.
Did You Know: Aging Populations
Did you know that the group of metro areas gaining the most baby boomers are not typically associated with aging populations?
Quick Take: Long Term Interest Rates and Re-Defaulting Mortgages
The key to housing stabilization is whether or not there are sufficient buyers of foreclosed homes.
Economists' Commentary: Fuzzy Housing Inventory
There is a lot of fuzziness in what exactly constitutes excess housing inventory. Lawrence Yun clarifies.
Economists' Commentary: Affordability - Big Improvement in Most Markets
Affordability has been a major concern as home prices in some markets more than doubled earlier in the decade.
Quick Take: Employment Report and the ISM Non-Manufacturing Index
Despite the negative job market report, the lower mortgage rates can trump the impact of job cuts on home sales.
Did You Know: Immigrant Destinations
Did you know that metropolitan areas in the South in general are among the fastest growing immigrant destinations?
Quick Take: Weekly Unemployment Insurance and Mark-to-Market
Relaxing "mark-to-market" accounting rules is good news for the mortgage backed securities market.
Did You Know: Shift in Growth Patterns
Did you know that Americans have one of the highest rates of within-country movement in the industrialized world?
Did You Know: Timing the Home Purchase
Did you know that fourteen percent of buyers were prompted to purchase a home when they did based on improved affordability?
Quick Take: Mortgage Applications, ISM Index, Pending Home Sales
Although record-low mortgage rates have not significantly jump-started the home buying activity, they have certainly tripped a surge in refinancing.
Did You Know: Median Age of REALTORS®
Did you know that over time, the median age has remained relatively constant at 51 or 52?
Quick Take: Case/Shiller Price Index, Consumer Confidence
The low level of consumer confidence continues to be a drag on the housing market.
Economists' Commentary: The Second Home Market in 2008
To assess the state of the vacation and investment buyers market in 2008, NAR Research recently released the latest survey of second-home buyers.
Quick Take: Mortgage Rates, Second Home Activity
The mortgage rates have fallen below 5 percent to their lowest point in roughly 50 years.
Did You Know: Vacation and Investment Property Sales
Did you know that in 2008, Vacation home sales fell 30.8 percent?
Economists' Commentary: How Home Sales Stimulate the Economy
The National Association of Realtors® estimates that each home sale at the median generates $63,101 of economic impact (2008)
Did You Know: Commercial Real Estate Outlook
Did you know that the retail sector is in contraction, fueled by the recession, mounting job losses and a sharp drop in consumer spending?
Quick Take: First-Time Unemployment Insurance Claims and Gross Domestic Product
For the week ending March 21, the Labor Department has reported that first-time claims for unemployment insurance rose by 8,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 644,000.
Did You Know: 'Green' Features
With rising energy costs home buyers are increasingly aware of energy efficiency and other environmentally friendly features of homes.
Quick Take: Mortgage Applications, New Home Sales, Advanced Manufacturers' Report
Mortgage applications registered a jump during this past week, but it was mostly pushed by refinancing activity.
Economists' Commentary: Commercial Real Estate--Multi-Family
The multi-family sector is displaying softening, but positive fundamentals
Quick Take: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index
Housing prices as measured by the FHFA house price index rose 1.7 percent from December to January.
Did You Know: What Sellers Want Most
Did you know that sellers indicated that what they wanted most from their agent was help pricing their home competitively?
Economists' Commentary: On February Existing-Home Sales
Today's data of rising sales are likely to stand, though it is more susceptible to bigger revisions due to winter months.
Did You Know: Where The High-Income Tax Payers Are
The share of returns at or over $200,000 ranges from 1.5 percent or less in Mississippi and West Virginia to greater than 5 percent in Washington, DC and Connecticut.
Did You Know: Consumption and Income in the US
The relationship between income and consumption is more variable than that between wealth and consumption, but has averaged around 90 percent.
Quick Take: Unemployment and the Conference Board Index
Federal efforts to stabilize the housing market will hopefully offset some of the deleterious effects of rising unemployment and reduced consumer demand.
Economists' Commentary: Commercial Real Estate: Retail Investment
The retail sector is in contraction, fueled by the recession, mounting job losses and a sharp drop in consumer spending.
Quick Take: Mortgage Applications, CPI, and the FOMC Meeting
Low inflation or even deflation is the risk the Fed sees for the economy and the CPI numbers support that.
Did You Know: How Much Mortgage Interest Tax Filers Deduct
Did you know that more than $480 billion in mortgage interest was deducted from 2006 tax returns in the US?
Economists' Commentary: Commercial Real Estate: Retail Fundamentals
Consumer spending, the main driver of the economy over the past years, is in decline.
Quick Take: Housing Starts, Building Permits and the Producer Price Index
Today's Quick Take examines the latest housing starts and building permits data as well as the new PPI release.
Did You Know: Personal Consumption vs. Net Worth
Did you know that changes in net worth generally dwarf consumption related changes?
Economists' Commentary: Commercial Real Estate: Industrial Investment
Lack of consumer demand and diminished international trade is driving down industrial investments.
Quick Take: Homebuilder Sentiment and Zero Down Payment Loans
Lawrence Yun examines homebuilder sentiment and zero down payment loan options.
Did You Know: REALTOR® Referrals
Did you know that experienced REALTORS® business originates mostly from referrals?
Quick Take: Unemployment Insurance Claims and Retail Sales
It is not clear whether the retail sales figures mark a cessation in the downward trend of consumer spending, or are only a temporary development.
Did You Know: Home Buyer Financing
Did you know that ninety-three percent of home buyers reported that they financed their home purchase with a mortgage?
Did You Know: REALTORS® Home Ownership
Did you know that, compared with a national homeownership rate of approximately 68 percent, 92 percent of REALTORS® own their home?
Quick Take: Mortgage Applications
Mortgage rates moved down during this past week, with consumers seeking mortgage refinances.
Did You Know: REALTOR® Blogs
Did you know that nearly one in ten REALTORS® younger than 60 years of age has a blog?
Quick Take: Whole Sale Trade, Market-to-Market Accounting
Spotlight on wholesale trade and the needed step of relaxing mark-to-market accounting.
Quick Take: Spotlight on Oil Price, Mortgage Interest Deduction Tweak
Spotlight on oil prices and more on why the mortgage interest deduction tweak is a bad idea.
Economists' Commentary: Homes Sales-- A Bifurcated Market
Jed Smith, Managing Director, Quantitative Research, looks normal and distressed sales in the current housing market.
Did You Know: REALTOR® Education
Did you know that overall, the education among REALTORS® exceeds that of the general population?
Did You Know: Relocation Reports
Did you know that Research produces Relocation Reports for hundreds of counties, free to members?
Quick Take: Employment and Mortgage Interest Deduction
Spotlight on the grim employment situation and why the mortgage interest deduction tweak is a bad idea.
Economists' Commentary : Industrial Commercial Real Estate
Industrial real estate is experiencing a contraction.
Did You Know: RCI By Region
Did you know that Realtors®' Confidence Index was highest in the Northeast in January?
Economists' Commentary: Commercial Real Estate--Office Investment
Office investment was down 75 percent in 2008.
Quick Take: Productivity, Mortgage Rates, and Factory Orders
Spotlight on productivity, mortgage rates, and factory orders.
Did You Know: Spanish Speakers
Did you know that 12.3 percent of people in the US speak Spanish at home?
Quick Take: Mortgage applications, jobless claims, and the ISM non-manufacturing index.
Mortgage applications, jobless claims, and the ISM non-manufacturing index.
Economists' Commentary: Commercial Real Estate--Office Vacancies
The recession continues to take a toll on the commercial real estate sector, and the office market is feeling the pain.
Did You Know: Veteran Population
Did you know that in 2007, Alaska had the highest percentage of Veterans in its civilian population at 15.4 percent?
Economists' Commentary: Pending Home Sales in January
Lawrence Yun gives his insight on the latest Pending Home Sales Index numbers and what they mean.
New Research: Pending Home Sales January 2009
Pending home sales declined on the heels of a weakening economy and with some buyers waiting for clarity on housing stimulus provisions.
Quick Take: Stock Market, Economic Outlook, and ISM Index
The stock market, economic outlook, and the ISM index examined.
Did You Know: Environmental Concerns
Did you know that despite the dire state of the economy, 34 percent of American consumers are more likely to buy environmentally friendly products?
Did You Know: Realtors®' Confidence Index
Did you know that the Realtors® Confidence Index rose for the first time in eight months to 23.2?
Quick Take: Government Spending
Government spending has stepped into the void left by the private sector and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.
Quick Take: Unemployment and Economic Conditions
Unemployment continues to grow, as economic conditions worsen.
Did You Know: Hours Spent at Home
Did you know that the average person spends 7.3 hours at home on any given day?
Economists' Commentary: Existing-Home Sales January 2009
January sales were low, no doubt due to worsening economic conditions.
New Research: Existing-Home Sales January 2009
January Existing-Home Sales Fall, Inventory Down
Did You Know: Owner Occupancy
Did you know that 67.2 percent of occupied housing units are "owner-occupied" in the United States?
Did You Know: Time Spent at Home
Did you know that the average person spends half of any given day at home?
Quick Take: Consumer Confidence and the SP?Case Shiller Index
Spotlight on consumer confidence and the SP/Case-Shiller index.
Did You Know: Housing Costs
Did you know that according to the 2007 American Community Survey, owners are spending more than 30 percent of their income on monthly housing costs?
Economists' Commentary: Economic Stimulus and the Foreclosure Prevention Plan
On February 17, President Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Find out what this will mean for REALTORS®.
Quick Take: Consumer Price Index, Producer Price Index and more. . .
Today's Quick Take looks a the Consumer Price Index, the Producer Price Index and Mortgage Rates.
Did You Know: Newest Homes
Did you know that according to the 2007 American Community Survey, 3.3 percent of the houses in the U.S. were build in 2005 or later?
New Research: Commercial Real Estate Forecast: February
Commercial Real Estate Activity Continuing To Decline
Did You Know: Rising Global Trade
Did you know that international trade activity has been rising much faster than overall economic activity since 1980?
Quick Take: Mortgage Modification Plan, Unemployment Claims, and more. . .
Today's Quick Take discusses the details in the mortgage modification plan, unemployment claims, and the CLI.
Did You Know: Distance of Moves
Did you know that overall, home buyers moved a median of 12 miles from their previous residence?
Quick Take: Mortgage Relief and Applications, and Housing Starts
Today's Quick Take discusses mortgage relief, mortgage applications, and housing starts.
Did You Know: Working From Home
Did you know that nearly one-third of multiple job holders worked from home on an average workday in 2007?
Did You Know: First Time Home Buyers
Did you know that first time buyers make up 41 percent of purchasers?
Economists' Commentary: Home Sellers Seeking Professional Representation Rising
Anna Barlett takes a 'behind the scenes' look at FSBO transactions - and why they can appear misleading.
New Research: Metro Area Home Prices
4th Quarter Metro Area Home Prices Down as Buyers Purchase Distressed Property
Quick Take: Unemployment Insurance, Retail spending and more. . .
Today's Quick Take looks at unemployment insurance claims, retail spending, Fannie Mae easing investor loan rules, and the home buyer tax credit.
Quick Take: Mortgage Applications, International Trade, and more. . .
Today's Quick Take looks at mortgage applications, international trade, and the recently passed stimulus package.
Did You Know: Environmentally Friendly Features
Did you know that with rising energy costs, home buyers are increasingly aware of energy efficiency and other environmentally friendly features of homes?
Quick Take: Stimulus Package, TARP Plans
Today's Quick Take discusses the stimulus package that was just passed, and the still murky TARP plans.
Did You Know: US Dollar Getting "Stronger"
Did you know that recently amid the global financial crisis the dollar has rebounded against many foreign currencies?
Did You Know: Consumer Confidence
Did you know that Consumer Confidence hit a record low in January? Find out how this compares to previous records.
Quick Take: Stimulus Package, TARP
Today's Quick Take discusses the stimulus package and TARP plans still being debated in the Senate, and the ten-year Treasury yield.
Quick Take: Unemployment Statistics, Mortgage Rates
Today's Quick Take looks at Census Bureau employment statistics, and mortgage rates.
Quick Take: Unemployment Insurance Claims, Manufacturers' Orders, and more. . .
George Ratiu examines unemployment insurance claims, manufacturers' orders, shipments and inventories, and a proposed Senate tax credit.
Did You Know: The Misery Index
Jed Smith, Manager of Quantitative Research, examine the Misery Index.
Did You Know: Housing Wealth Trend
Lawrence Yun, NAR's Chief Economist, looks at trends in housing net equity.
Did You Know: Value of Web Site Features
Meredith Dunn, Research Communications Representative, examines what web site features buyers are using to find homes.
Pending Home Sales in December and Forecast
By Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist
New Research: Pending Home Sales December 2009
Pending home sales show healthy gain and the Housing Affordability Index rose by 10.9% in December.
Quick Take: ISM Manufacturing Index, Economic Stimulus
Lawrence Yun, NAR Chief Economist, looks at the ISM Manufacturing Index and current legislative events surrounding the economic stimulus package.
Did You Know: Age and Size of Home
Meredith Dunn, Research Communications Representative, compares the square footage of sold homes to newly purchased homes for several age groups of home buyers.
|
|
|
 |
|
