National News

Second-home demand up 70% from pre-pandemic levels

Demand for second homes was up 70% from pre-pandemic levels in October, according to a new report from Redfin. This outpaced August’s 48% gain but was below January’s record 91% growth.

NAR Board of Directors meeting reveals statistics about member dues, operations

As of Sept. 30, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) had collected $229.6 in dues from its 1.542 million members, according to a RealTrends report.

Millionaire German shepherd to sell Miami mansion formerly owned by Madonna

The world’s wealthiest dog is about to get a little richer. Worth nearly half a billion dollars, the German shepherd named Gunther VI recently listed the former Miami estate of Madonna for $31.75 million, according to a press release.

@properties goes global with purchase of Christie’s International Real Estate

@properties is continuing its expansion strategy on an international scale, announcing today its plan to purchase Christie’s International Real Estate.

Conroe among the Top 10 ‘boomtowns’ in America

Conroe was ranked as one of the top “boomtowns” in America for 2021, according to a study by SmartAsset. 

Houston top destination for Californians

Houston is the leading destination for people moving from California to Texas, according to a recent report. Harris County is the most popular site in Texas for relocating Californians. Nearly 8,500 people moved to the county from California in

Zillow: Most home buyers middle-aged, married, college-educated

The average American home buyer is 45 years old, married or partnered, college-educated and likely to purchase a home located in the South, according to Zillow’s 2021 Consumer Housing Trends Report.  Individuals ages 30-39 make up the largest population

More homebuyers choosing to live in diverse neighborhoods

As more house hunters are opting to live in socially, racially and culturally diverse communities, developers are formulating strategies to list more inclusive properties on the market, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.  Developers’ strategies include

NAR recognizes Houston Realtor with Good Neighbor Award

Houston Realtor Sydney Ealy was one of five winners of the 2021 Good Neighbor Awards, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). For 22 years, the NAR has recognized Realtors who “make an extraordinary impact on their communities

Mortgage applications rise despite increase in interest rates

At the same time, the increase in interest rates drove fewer borrowers to refinance their loans, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Freddie Mac to offer $3B in affordable housing bonds

Freddie Mac plans to offer at least $3 billion in single-family affordable housing bonds to support affordable homeownership and serve historically underserved markets, according to a press release. To underscore this effort, the company is offering approximately $285 million

RE/MAX: Houston housing market takes a pause in September

Days on market rose 7.4% from August, and months supply of inventory slid 5.6%, according to RE/MAX’s National Housing Report. 

Redfin: Climate change will exacerbate U.S. housing shortage

Climate change will negatively impact the already-stunted housing inventory in the U.S., according to a recent Redfin report.

Zillow: Unprecedented housing market shift has had little impact on sellers

While the past year has been unprecedented in terms of economic change and a global pandemic, most U.S. home sellers’ experiences were similar to past years, according to Zillow’s latest consumer housing trends report.  Consistent with the past three

EXIT Realty nurtures mental health, well-being in workplace

As COVID-19 continues to negatively impact people and workplaces, EXIT Realty Corp. International announced it is working to maintain the health and well-being of its agents and brokers through a series of programs, including its Focus on Good Health initiative.

HUD now considering climate change when underwriting loans

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently announced a plan that will implement new policies to combat global warming, according to a press release. 

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