National News

Home prices increase in first quarter of 2018 as inventory lags

Home prices are creeping up across the country as inventory continues to hover near all-time lows, according to the National Association of Realtors’ first quarter report. Total existing home sales declined slightly in the first quarter of 2018 versus

Amazon and Lennar partner to create Alexa-controlled smart homes

Amazon and Lennar announced its new partnership to provide Alexa-enabled smart homes in certain markets across the country. Homebuyers can get homes that come with features that can be controlled with Alexa including Wi-Fi, smart locks, doorbells, thermostats and

Majority of Americans still think now is a good time to buy

Most Americans think home prices in their area are going to rise, but the majority also still think that now is a good time to buy, according to the latest Gallup poll. Gallup’s annual Economy and Personal Finance poll

Real Estate in Brief: Underwater properties down, the most popular remodeling projects and more

As of the first quarter of the year, over 5 million properties were underwater with a mortgage at least 25 percent more than the property’s estimated market value.  The 5.2 million properties account for 9.5 percent of all U.S. properties

Recent college graduates are living at home more often

Today’s graduates are more likely to be living with their parents than graduates from the previous decade. According to Zillow’s analysis of 2016 Census data, 28 percent of recent graduates live with their parents — up from 19 percent

Agents using Google Maps on their websites could have to pay

Agents and brokers who are embedding Google Maps into their listings will now have to pay to do so. The Google Maps application programing interface (API) allows agents and brokers to embed maps into listings on their websites. This

Homeownership continues to trend upward

The homeownership rate in the U.S. is trending upward, retaining the same 64.2 percent rate in the first quarter of 2018 as the last quarter of 2017, according to the Census Bureau’s Housing Vacancy Survey (HVS). The current rate

Pending home sales up 0.4 percent in March

Pending home sales rose for the second straight month in March, though lack of inventory is still having a negative effect on the market, according to a recent report by the National Association of Realtors. The Pending Home Sales

Gay and lesbian real estate group requests NAR support of anti-discrimination bills

The National Association of Gay and Lesbian Real Estate Professionals (NAGLREP) has announced its support for two Congressional bills aimed to combat housing discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Congressmen David Cicilline (D-RI), co-chair of the Congressional

Real Estate in Brief: Housing inventory at record low, Compass and Freddie Mac announce new hires and more

Housing inventory is at a historic low, with nearly 9 percent fewer homes on the market than last year, according to the latest report from Zillow. Over half of the homes available are on the expensive end of the

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Zillow: 2017 had fastest-selling market ever

Homebuyers should be prepared for the fast-paced 2018 market, as homes sold faster than ever in 2017, with no signs of slowing down, according to the 2017 Zillow Group Consumer Housing Trends Report. Last year, it took 81 days

Homes in districts that were once redlined still lag in value

Homes in neighborhoods that were “redlined,” a practice that began in the 1930s to prevent people of certain races economic classes from buying in certain areas, still have relatively low value compared to other homes in their respective cities,

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NAHB: Nearly half of those planning to buy a home this year are first-time buyers

Nearly half of those who are planning to buy a home this year are first-time homebuyers, according to the first edition of Housing Trends Report (HTR) from the National Association of HomeBuilders. The survey found that 17 percent of respondents

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Limited supply, high demand drive Chicagoland market

As is the case around much of the United States, the low number of homes for sale is fueling competition, driving up prices and holding back the number of sales. That was the case in Chicagoland and throughout the

Buyers show increasing interest in sustainable homes

Sustainable and eco-friendly homes are becoming increasingly desirable to homebuyers. In a recent survey from the National Association of Realtors’ Sustainability Program, Realtor respondents reported that the majority of homebuyers — 61 percent — are interested in green living. Additionally, 71 percent say

March existing home sales growing but still seeing constraints

March marked the second straight month of increases for existing-home sales in the country. Total existing-home sales rose 1.1 percent to an annual rate (seasonally adjusted) of 5.60 million, up from 5.54 million in February, according to NAR’s most

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