National News

NAR investment arm opens applications for 2022 U.S. REACH programs

The REACH program aims to identify and accelerate the most promising new technology companies in real estate and adjacent industries, including banking, insurance and home services.

Mortgage applications fall over Thanksgiving week as rates rise

“Despite higher mortgage rates, purchase applications had a strong week, mostly driven by a 6% increase in conventional loan applications.” — MBA associate vice president of economic and industry forecasting Joel Kan

S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller: Home-price gains take a pause

“If I had to choose only one word to describe September 2021’s housing price data, the word would be ‘deceleration. Housing prices continued to show remarkable strength in September, though the pace of price increases declined slightly.” — S&P DJI managing director Craig Lazzara.

Pending-home sales rebound in October

“Motivated by fast-rising rents and the anticipated increase in mortgage rates, consumers that are on strong financial footing are signing contracts to purchase a home sooner rather than later.” — NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun

New-home sales flat in October as median price hits new high

The seasonally adjusted estimate of new houses for sale at the end of September was 389,000, representing a supply of 6.3 months at the current sales rate, the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development reported.

How was October 2021 for Realtors?

The new REALTORS® Confidence Index survey is here, and thousands of Realtors have weighed in to reveal the current shape of the housing market.

NAR: Existing-home sales rise again in October

The U.S. housing market kept firing on all cylinders, as the demand for residential real estate drove prices higher for the 116th month in a row, marking the longest streak on record.

Could the Boston housing market normalize in 2022?

It’s been a crazy year for real estate with bidding wars, record home prices and historically low inventory, but that may all come to an end in 2022.

RE/MAX: Signs of Houston’s tight housing market persist in October

Among the 51 metro areas surveyed in October, closed transactions were down 6.4% from September, nearly twice the average pre-pandemic decline of 3.3% between 2015 and 2019, RE/MAX said, citing its National Housing Report.

NAHB: Builder confidence continues to rise in November despite supply issues

November’s reading of 83 was up three points from October, driven by low existing inventories and strong buyer demand, the National Association of Home Builders reported, citing the latest NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index.

Supply chain woes hamper housing starts in October

Housing observers noted that demand for housing remains robust despite the lack of new supply.

NAR announces new MLS guidelines for increased transparency

The National Association of Realtors® announced new, pro-consumer changes to its guidance for local Multiple Listing Service broker marketplaces.

The pace of home prices continued to rise in the third quarter, but at a slower clip

Seventy-eight percent of the 183 U.S. markets monitored by the National Association of Realtors had double-digit increases in their median home prices, a decline from the second quarter, when 94% of markets saw double-digit increases.

Affordable home supply jumps as mortgage forbearance programs end

The supply of affordable homes on the market rose a record 13% in the third quarter as mortgage forbearance programs ended, prompting low-cost homeowners to put their properties on the market.

Atlanta, Houston real estate professionals elected to LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance executive roles

Atlanta’s Rodney Mason, who serves as vice president of mortgage lending with Guaranteed Rate, was named treasurer of the nonprofit, while Anita Blue, who works as an agent and credit restoration consultant at Cap Tex Realty, was named national vice president.

Mortgage applications decline despite drop in interest rates

“Mortgage rates decreased for the first time since August, as concerns about supply-chain bottlenecks, waning consumer confidence, weaker economic growth and rising inflation pushed Treasury yields lower.” — MBA associate vice president of economic and industry forecasting Joel Kan

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