National News

Is your listing right for auction?

Real estate auctions can be very helpful for the right property, in the right situation. Use this simple checklist to determine if it’s a good move for you and your client.

Federal Reserve approves first rate cut in 11 years

The cut will likely lower the interest rates that consumers and businesses pay on many types of debt, including mortgages. But since financial analysts had been expecting the Fed to reduce rates for some time now, the rate cut is effectively priced into some products like the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage and savings account yields.

With new funding round, Compass may soon go public

An initial public offering of Compass stock is expected within the next 24 months, according to at least one tech source. As some of the more traditional brokerage models struggle, does this move matter for agents?

Pending home sales finally grow year-over-year in June

The National Association of Realtors’ Pending Home Sales Index broke a 17-month streak of year-over-year declines to log an annual increase in June. Last month also marked the second month in a row in which nationwide pending home sales grew, a fresh sign that homebuyers are finally emboldened by falling interest rates.

Economists: Recession likely in 2020 but housing won’t tank

A poll of more than 100 real estate economists and experts finds half of the respondents think a recession will begin in 2020. Learn about their reasons for such assertions and predictions for the housing market overall in the next few years.

Down payment assistance gains favor with buyers

As housing costs have continued to grow faster than the average buyer’s income, more are tapping into resources that can lower the substantial up-front costs of purchasing a home. But that could bring some major changes and a degree of uncertainty to the housing market.

Expert advice for families moving to a new neighborhood

What do kids need in a new home? Experts in family studies, psychology and household finance provide insight on some key elements that real estate agents’ clients should consider if they are searching for property with a family in mind.

What do agents actually think about their income?

Ninety-nine percent of agents told researchers they are proud of what they do. But just 21 percent said they would recommend the career to others.

Despite uncertainty, June new-home sales grow over last year

While sales of existing homes continue to underwhelm, housing market analysts are feeling more optimistic about new construction. The Census Bureau reported new-home sales in June came 7 percent above the revised sales pace for May, and 4.5 percent above the estimate for June 2018. The report did come with caveats, however.

Partner Content
Regions Bank moves into Chicagoland with purpose and passion

Regions Bank continues to set its sights on growth, all while keeping a focus on customer service. And as the bank settles into its newest market of Chicagoland, there are a number of synchronicities that have executives at Regions excited about the move.

Can Amazon revive Realogy? Ecommerce giant launches broker partnership

Anyone who’s bought a home knows that it’s usually only a matter of days after closing that their mailbox is inundated with marketing materials. The idea from Amazon is to give consumers an incentive to use an agent through one of Realogy’s brands, while giving Amazon a reason to attract customers who, presumably, will come back for more as they set up their new homes. 

June home sales slip as affordable homes sell out

The national existing-home market nearly gave up the ground won in May with a less-than-stellar showing for June sales, according to the National Association of Realtors. Sales of existing homes in June came in 1.7 percent below the previous month’s total, reaching a seasonally adjusted annual pace of 5.27 million.

Harvard report: Home remodeling growth could slow way down soon

Weakening home sales, a sluggish new construction market and slowing growth in permitting for home improvement projects have all impacted the pace of remodeling, particularly projects undertaken with the goal of putting properties on the market for a quick sale.

Millennials are feeling better about housing costs this year

About half of millennials say they wouldn’t need to stretch in order to afford mortgage payments. At this same time last year, only 40 percent of millennial homebuyers said they would have no trouble making mortgage payments on time.

Veterans in the legal weed industry face barriers to housing benefits

With the coming expansion of legal cannabis use in Illinois, real estate professionals need to be prepared for issues that may crop up in their transactions when state and federal laws clash, and one potential result of this mismatch is showing up in the mortgage process.

Agents support the rise of Hispanic homeowners

Hispanic people account for the majority of growth in the U.S. homeownership rate. We asked top-ranked agents how real estate professionals can help sustain that trend.

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