Home shoppers may be less likely to face a bidding war compared to a year ago. Just 15% of offers faced competition in April, according to an index by the real estate brokerage Redfin. That is down from 60% a year ago.Even buyers in some of the hottest housing markets are reporting less competition this spring.“Right now could be as good as it gets for buyers who want to avoid getting involved in bidding wars and price escalations,” says Dary
Inspired by reality TV shows on HGTV and other outlets, a new generation of home flippers has been in the market in recent years. These investors hope to make over properties and then make a tidy profit off the sale. But for many, flipping hasn't exactly been made-for-TV.This is one segment of the market where real estate agents should counsel extra caution.“Many newbie investors are encountering the
Mortgage rates are showing signs of moderating this month, following increases in April. Borrowers are discovering much lower rates compared to a year ago.“A combination of low mortgage rates, a strong job market, and modest wage growth should spur home buyer interest and also serve as an incentive for homeowners looking to refinance this spring,” says Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist.Freddie Mac reports the following national aver
Some homeowners may be lured to a beachfront home not just for their own enjoyment but to turn the property into a money-making vacation rental. Vacasa, a vacation rental management firm, ranked vacation rental markets based on aggregate cap rates (the ratio of a property’s net operating income over its cost). Here are the top 10 places that topped Vacasa's list as the best places to buy a beach house in 2019:1. Oc
The number of traditional banks that participate in the Federal Housing Administration’s single-family mortgage insurance program has declined since the housing crisis. Banks have contributed to just 13% of the FHA’s origination volume, down from 44% in 2010, according to a recent report in Housing Wire. Banks have feared strict penalties and that even a minor error could expose them to fines.To drive more bank originations, the agency says i
Inventory shortages are continuing to dig into agents’ home sales volume. In 2018, the typical agent completed 11 transactions, the same as 2017, according to the 2019 Member Profile, released by the National Association of REALTORS® and reflecting 12,700 member responses. However, REALTORS® did see a slight uptick in incomes last year. The median gross income of REALTORS® was $41,800 in 2018—an increase from $39,800 in 2017.For the sixth
Home prices are slowing compared to a year ago. That’s prompting the share of properties considered “equity rich” to decrease and the share of “seriously underwater” properties to grow to 9.1% of all U.S., homes, according to a newly released report reflecting first-quarter data from ATTOM Data Solutions.At the end of the first quarter, more than 5.2 million U.S. properties were seriously underwater, meaning the combined balance of
For years, California markets dominated realtor.com®’s hottest housing market list. But the Midwest and Northeast are drawing in more house hunters online. Several newer markets, including some known for housing affordability, are gaining momentum among home buyers, according to realtor.com®’s monthly rankings for April.Each month, realtor.com® ranks markets based on how fast homes are selling and how many views the metro’s listings rece
A remodeling labor shortage continues to impact housing projects by increasing prices and delaying timetables, a new survey from the National Association of Home Builders shows. Remodeling jobs that involve carpenters, framing crews, bricklayers, and electricians are seeing some of the largest shortages.“The labor shortage continues to be one of the top concerns for remodelers across the country,” says Tim Ellis, the NAHB’s Remodelers chair
A Texas board is concerned appraisals could inflate following a potential breach in home price data to a county’s appraisal district. The Austin Board of REALTORS® is accusing the vendor of its MLS—CoreLogic—of selling home-sold data to a local appraisal organization and enabling “unauthorized exploitation” of MLS home price data in 2018.CoreLogic runs ABoR’s multiple listing service. ABoR claims that CoreLogic “inappropriatel
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