News / Features

Move Files Whistleblower Letter, Zillow Retaliates

The legal battle between Move and Zillow continues. The legal feud between newly formed Zillow Group and Move, Inc., operator of realtor.com, has been a veritable barn burner these last several months, as the companies continue to exchange one

TILA-RESPA: Nearly Half of Lenders Unprepared

New TILA-RESPA rules will come into effect in August, but a new survey shows lenders are struggling to prepare. Effective August 1, lenders will be responsible for altering procedures to respond to the new TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure Rule, aimed

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

It Takes Just 1.5 Years to Break Even on a Houston House – With Big Conditions

It takes a very short amount of time to break even on a house nationwide, but such privileges come with significant conditions. It takes just 1.5 years to break-even on a mortgage in Houston, meaning the point at which the total

5 Troubling Signs of Consumer Uncertainty in Housing and the Economy

Despite recent improvements, there remain considerable uncertainties for consumers when it comes to housing and the economy. Everywhere you look, nowadays, there seems to be a new study or report proclaiming good news about both housing and the greater

CoreLogic: Share of Houston Cash Sales Drops Double Digits

A new CoreLogic study details the fall of cash sale shares across the country. A home is a good investment, but a normalizing market has somewhat thinned out the opportunities to make quick, high yield sales, and as a

Home Price Growth Far Outpacing Wage Growth in Houston

Sure, home prices are rising, but is that really a good thing, other economic indicators considering? Home prices have grown faster than wages in 76 percent of U.S. housing markets in the last two years, and Houston – where home

Houston Bounces Back for Record Breaking March

Houston’s market is heading towards a fork, where one direction means stability and the other a bubble. After a relatively disappointing February in which sales volume declined, Houston home sales are again in the green, with single-family purchases rising

NRT LLC Acquires One of Houston’s Top Residential Real Estate Firms

Coldwell Banker United Realtors, one of the largest residential real estate firms in Houston, has been acquired by NRT LLC in a massive deal affecting dozens of offices in four states. NRT LLC, a subsidiary of New Jersey-based Realogy

CoreLogic: Houston Posts Strong Price Gains in February

Moderate home price gains in February suggest the market may be stabilizing. Home prices continued their strong ascent in February, according to CoreLogic’s newest Home Price Index. Including distressed sales, home prices climbed 5.6 percent from the same time

The 5 Things You Should Know About the New Jobs Report

Did job growth slow in March, or continue on its strong, steady path? The Labor Department announced earlier today that the U.S. economy added 126,000 jobs in March, which not only ends a 12-month streak of 200,000-plus jobs added,

Houston’s Rental Market Remains Affordable, But For How Long?

It’s been common knowledge that Houston’s rental market is a relative steal, but is that still the case? For some time now, Houston’s rental narrative has been one of remarkable consistency. Compared to other big cities, the narrative has gone, Houston’s rents are downright

Location, Location, Location: A New Mantra

A new study from Logwood University attempts explains the relationship between an agent’s effort and the property’s location. A new study from Logwood University in Farmville, Va. is emphasizing the importance location plays in the home selling process, but not

Houston Loses Multifamily Developments, Gains Opportunity

Multifamily developments are leaving Houston, but their departure could open the door for something else: more single-family homes. Rising oil prices are still down relative to trends spanning the last half-decade despite 12 consecutive weeks of U.S crude inventory growth.