National News

Trulia: Houston Asking Prices Rise 13.3% in September

Asking prices may have slowed nationwide in September, but was that the case here in Houston? Asking prices in Houston’s housing market were up a robust 13.3 percent year-over-year in September, along with a 3.0 percent increase from the

4 Key Concepts on the Government Shutdown and Housing

It’s been several days now of the government shutdown, and it’s becoming more clear how it could potentially impact the housing market. The government shutdown went into effect at midnight on Oct. 1, and ever since then, there has

How Much Do Homes Cost in Top Tier School Districts?

Strong school districts are often a top selling point for certain neighborhoods, but how do they translate to the median price of the area? It’s gotta be among the most common of questions that real estate agents receive –

McGraw Hill: Residential Construction in Houston Down 14% in August

Construction in the Bayou City declined somewhat in August, though the city is still putting up some of the best numbers in the nation. First, the bad news – residential construction in Houston fell 14 percent from August 2012

CoreLogic: Home Prices Slow in August, Still Up 12.4% YOY

Though monthly home price growth slowed in August, it still posted strong year-over-year returns, according to CoreLogic. Well, the great home-price honeymoon may be drawing to a close. According to the latest Home Price Index from CoreLogic, home prices

RE/MAX IPO Exceeds Expectations, Raises $220 Million

RE/MAX’s IPO exceeded expectations on Wednesday, raising more than $220 million in funding. RE/MAX became the latest real estate business to expand to the stock market with its IPO on Wednesday – and like those earlier companies, its IPO

8 Key Trends in Consumer Finances in 2013

How do American consumers feel about not only the housing market, but their chances at homeownership? A new Bankrate.com survey provides insight. There are many reasons for homeownership. From privacy, to expression, to carving ones own unique niche in

How Last Year’s Housing Bust Impacted This Year’s Mortgages

According to The Wall Street Journal, banks made more mortgages last year than in any year since the housing downturn in 2000, with interest rates reaching their lowest levels on record. Researchers at the Federal Reserve analyzed the federal lending

Did Housing Activity in Houston Slow Down in August?

Housing had a great summer, but is the double-team threat of waning affordability and rising mortgage rates slowing activity? From the start of 2013 through May, the housing market nationwide performed quite well, with a number of factors –

NAR: Pending Home Sales Slow in August

Pending home sales were down in August, though they did retain their yearly returns. Tight levels of inventory, higher mortgage rates and rising home prices continued to impact pending home sales in August, according to the latest analysis from

FHA Taps Treasury for $1.7 Billion in Unconventional Bailout Funds

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) stated on Friday that it would need approximately $1.7 billion in Treasury funds for the 2013 fiscal year, though there are some intriguing caveats to the nature of the bailout funds. This is the

How Would a Government Shutdown Impact the Housing Market?

A government shutdown is looming in Washington, and should one occur, it could have wide-ranging effects on the nation’s economy – including housing. Well, it’s that time again. As you’ve surely seen in the headlines, political gridlock has once

Census Bureau: New Home Sales Leap 7.9% in August

New home sales performed better than expected in August; what does that indicate about the housing recovery? New single-family home sales defied expectations in August, posting both monthly and yearly increases in the latest report from the U.S. Census Bureau

How New-Home Sizes Define the Housing Recovery

New-home sizes hit new highs in 2012, and many saw it as a return of the McMansion; new data, though, suggests that’s not quite accurate. The news was a shot to heart of any small-home enthusiast: after falling gradually

6 Important Details About Residential Mortgages in 2012

The residential mortgage marketplace has come a very long way since 2008; how healthy though, truly, is that marketplace? On the surface, the news is highly encouraging: according to new data compiled by the Federal Reserve, banks handed out

The 7 Most Prevalent Sentiments of Today’s Luxury Homebuyers

Luxury homebuyers are a unique brand of consumer – what sentiments are most prevalent when they are searching for homes? Any real estate agent will tell you that the luxury homebuyer is a unique brand of consumer, one with

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