First-time homebuyers have been MIA for some time – are they poised for a comeback? The National Association of Realtors reported late last week that first-time homebuyers accounted for 32 percent of existing-home sales in December, which was up

National distressed sales – including real-estate owned (REO) and short sales – fell 1.9 percentage points in November 2015, pushing the distressed share of total sales to its lowest November point since 2007, according to a new report from

According to a new analysis by Zillow, homes within a mile of either a Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods appreciate faster than other homes. Featured in the paperback edition of the real estate marketplace’s book titled, “Zillow Talk: Rewriting

The latest Case-Shiller Indices offered numerable insights into the nation’s housing market Home price growth continues to moderate in the Chicagoland housing market, according to the latest Case-Shiller Home Price Indices from Standard & Poor’s. The latest numbers, which

In December, existing-home sales re-found their footing, making up for the misstep in November. What did we learn? TRID was the cause of November’s slip, but it’s not a problem anymore. “Closing time metrics are showing minor effects of TRID,”

After years of heavy reliance on FICO scores, some lenders are now saying FICO’s view is too narrow, focusing too much on past behavior and not enough on consumers’ present circumstances. Alternative scoring systems have become a viable option,

With the presidential primary just around the corner, ApartmentList.com recently analyzed Census data to see whether Republican- or Democratic-leaning states were more affordable for renters. While the study found that rents tend to be lower in inland states that

According to Lifestory Research’s 2016 Home Builder Study, Taylor Morrison ranks highest in trust among national homebuilders. The study followed more than 100 builder brands in the top housing markets across the United States, and Lifestory Research accumulated 39,079

With how the chips have fallen, homebuyers may benefit from the falling stock market After the Federal Reserve raised interest rates in December, there was immediate concern over whether the increase would raise the costs of housing and harm

According to the National Association of Home Builders, an estimated 1.26 million housing starts are expected this year, 13.4 percent more from the last year. Single-family production is estimated to reach 849,000 units. That is an 18 percent increase

New research finds that millionaire ranks grew strongly in 2015 There were nearly 211,000 millionaire households in the Chicagoland area through the middle of 2015, up 4.6 percent from the same period in 2014. Millionaire households now account for 6 percent

What will the new construction marketplace look like in 2016? The Census Bureau released its latest report on new construction this morning, and as usual, the agency’s analysis had far-reaching implications on where the new construction markets are heading in

If you’re a serious builder, chances are that right now (this very moment), you’re either at the NAHB’s International Builders’ Show or want to be. If you’re among the unlucky few who weren’t able to make the trip to

The next interest rate increase from the Federal Reserve will come at its March 15-16 policy meeting, according to The Wall Street Journal. Approximately 66 percent of the economists surveyed in the Journal pointed to the March meeting as the likeliest for

Move Inc., the operator of realtor.com, has hired Suzanne Zinn Mueller as senior vice president of industry relations. Mueller, having spent a decade with Coldwell Banker Bain in Seattle as a marketing executive, joined Move Inc. in December. Mueller said in an

Builder’s are confident, and that bodes well for housing in the New Year Builders are starting out 2016 on confident footing, and that spells promising things for the year’s housing market. That was the central finding in the National Association