National News

Buyers continue to seek out luxury homes even as prices soar in Q3

Luxury home prices grew 4.9 percent in the third quarter of 2017 compared to the same time last year as inventory tightened on the top end of the market. This marked the first quarter in which luxury inventory fell

NAR and NAHB show concern with the new GOP tax plan

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) and the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB) have both come out against the new GOP tax plan that was revealed on Thursday. One of the most significant changes in the tax plan involves

Why do we argue with our neighbors?

Are you new to your neighborhood and looking to make friends? It may not be as easy as it used to be. According to a new survey, 40 percent of Americans avoid their neighbors altogether. The Homes.com survey also reveals that

Airbnb dips its toes into real estate with branded apartments

Airbnb is getting more involved in the real estate industry, as it recently announced its partnership with Newgard, a Florida developer, to create a new residential rental complex called Niido. Located in Kissimmee, Florida, the multifamily building includes 324

The 2017 buyer and seller: Who are they?

With just one month left in the year, it’s clear that the dominant characteristic of the 2017 housing market has been low inventory. While that’s resulted in higher prices and fewer sales overall, one thing is clear: People are

Lennar and CalAtlantic merger creates nation’s largest homebuilder

Lennar and CalAtlantic Group announced a $5.7 billion stock-and-cash deal on Oct. 29 to create the largest homebuilder in the United States. This is the largest homebuilder merger since the financial crisis. With this deal, the companies said it

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U.S. homes shrinking while prices remain the same

Home developers around the country are having to be more resourceful, as the amount of available land in the United States shrinks while builders require higher wages and the price of materials increase. The result, according to a recent

NAR reports increase in buyer, seller confidence

The National Association of Realtors recently released its REALTORS Confidence Index (RCI) to gauge Realtors’ feelings about the overall market, including local real estate market conditions, characteristics of buyers and sellers, and external factors affecting homeownership and sales. Overall, the confidence index

New app to boost agent safety would ‘Forewarn’ of potential risks

House hunters and potential buyers can search for homes all they want, but most still need and want to view a home with an agent. Sometimes the two parties have been in contact throughout the process, and sometimes, the

Past-due mortgages increase after Harvey and Irma

Following the aftermath of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, the amount of non-current mortgages and mortgage delinquencies in Texas and Florida have risen significantly since this past September. Since the storms hit, disaster-afflicted areas have seen a 9 percent spike

Lenders, agents trump online sources as top mortgage influencers

The internet offers scores of tips and resources for finding a mortgage, but according to a recent survey conducted by Fannie Mae’s Economic & Strategic Research group, homebuyers feel more comfortable shopping for mortgages with assistance from specialists. According

NAR invests in new e-closing platform

The National Association of Realtors’ investment branch, Second Century Ventures, recently announced its investment in Notarize, an online notarizing service bringing mortgage signings and closings into the 21st century. “As one of the only 13 investments SCV has made

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How many working hours does it take to buy a home?

The ability to own your own home is a dream for most Americans, but depending on which part of the country you live in, that may require more working hours than in other locations. A recent report from How Much

Home sales decline for third consecutive month while prices rise

For third month in a row, there was a decline in home sales in September. However, the average home sale price continues to rise. A recent Redfin report shows that in September, home sales fell by 8.1 percent — the

Rising sea levels pose biggest threat to owners of less-expensive homes

It’s common knowledge that ships and boats can sink, but can you imagine a sunken community? A recent report revealed that $916 billion worth of U.S. homes could end up underwater due to the sea level increasing by just

Single-family rental investors should look in this Houston ZIP code

Single-family rental homes are a great investment choice, but buying property in the right location is key. ATTOM Data Solutions recently put together a list of the top 25 U.S. ZIP codes for investing in single-family rental homes, and a

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