Current Market Data

No, Renters are Not Buying Homes Anytime Soon

All the evidence suggests that renters are not rushing to the homebuying sphere. It would seem to be a perfect environment for homebuying. Not only are rents rising by considerable amounts, but relative to the costs of homebuying, it currently

Texas Home Prices Prove That Slow & Steady Wins in Case-Shiller

How are home prices looking, as the spring market gears up for action? Home prices in the Lone Star State area proved the adage that “slow and steady wins the race” in the latest Case-Shiller Home Price Indices from Standard &

Agent Safety: Half of Brokerages Failing

A new study from NAR shows more than 50 percent of brokerages are failing their agents in terms of providing proactive safety procedures. On Sept. 31, 2014, after an exhaustive search, Little Rock, Ark. police found the body of

$10 Trillion Up for Grabs in North American Luxury

A profile of the ultra rich from around the world reveal some interesting facts about luxury real estate buyers. Luxury is a butterfly concept, fluttering about the industry with a thousand hands trying to grab hold. But the idea of luxury

Are We Underestimating the Student Loan Problem?

Student loan debt may be an even bigger problem than we initially thought. Here’s an eye-opening statistic – 31.5 percent of Americans who are paying down their student debt are at least a month behind on their payments. That

4 Important Considerations Behind the ‘Bad’ New Home Sales Numbers

Some news outlets are hyperventilating about the latest new home sales report, but the reality is more encouraging. The Census Bureau released its latest report on new home sales this morning, and on the surface, it’s a doozy. Finishing

Could Houston’s Market Be Finally Slowing Down?

Relatively speaking, our market is not nearly as fast as one might believe. Houston may have garnered a well-deserved reputation for a lively, fast-moving real estate market, but there are signs that the market could be slowing down. According to a new

NAR: March Home Sales Start Spring Off Right

NAR home sales report brings optimism. The National Association of Realtors released its existing-home sales report for March, and the early verdict is good, with sales, prices and inventory showing strong signs of improvement. Across all property types, existing-home sales

Investors Flip: Taking Back the Market

While banks took over the majority of flipping in the downturn, with high prices and low inventory, investors are again reentering the game. In the wake of the financial crisis, when home prices were low and demand nonexistent, the

Marijuana: A Growing Real Estate Issue

The explosion of the legal cannabis market is have a significant impact on real estate. Here’s what you can expect… Breaking taboos and dusty standards, the impact of marijuana is proving more economically beneficial than previously imagined, leading to

Are Houston Home Sellers Undervaluing Their Properties?

We may think we have a firm grasp of our market’s value, but new research suggests that’s not the case. Houston homeowners undervalue their listings by 3.58 percent, at least compared to what certified appraisers judge as the value of the

The Top 5 Reasons People Buy Homes

Many people buy houses, but what are the specific reasons for those purchases? The answers may surprise you. Why did American consumers purchase homes in 2014? And how did those reasons differ generation to generation? In our continuing coverage

Do March’s Disappointing Homebuilding Stats Suggest Market Weakness?

Last month’s homebuilding numbers were a big letdown – what does that suggest about the larger economic climate? Housing construction turned in a disappointing month in March, according to the latest analysis from the U.S. Census Bureau. The numbers were

3 Reasons To Be Optimistic on Housing in 2015

Freddie Mac is optimistic on housing in 2015, and for a number of reasons. One of housing’s most active participants is highly optimistic for the industry’s future, though even it acknowledges that challenges remain. That was the main takeaway

CoreLogic: Houston Stays Ahead of the Foreclosure Curve

Foreclosure levels fall across the country, but remain well above pre-crisis levels. CoreLogic today released its February 2015 National Foreclsoure Report, and the findings were indicative of a trend we’ve been seeing since last year, which is decline. Since

The Suburban Switch: How Longer Commutes Affect Homebuying

Suburban sprawl is giving way to walkability. But what does this mean for the people stuck in the suburbs? The lay of the land is changing. Where once work and life shared common vicinity, these days, people, whether by

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