National News

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NAR names new marketing, government affairs leaders

The National Association of Realtors announced new additions to the senior leadership staff of its marketing and government affairs divisions. According to an Oct. 2 press release, the association named Victoria Gillespie as chief marketing and communications officer, effective immediately,

The share of homes selling above list price continues decline, now below 2016 levels

As home price growth slows, the percentage of homes that are going for above their asking price is decreasing. For the four weeks ending on September 23, Redfin found that only 22.9 percent of the homes sold for more than their asking

Report: Gender and racial inequality continues to impact housing affordability

While housing is still affordable on a national level, growth in household income is decelerating while gender and racial gaps persists. A new study by Free and Clear looked at data provided by the Census Bureau’s 2017 household income report

Homeowners feeling more confident in the economy, ready to sell

As home prices continue to rise across the country, homeowners appear ready to sell their homes. A record 77 percent of Americans believe that now is a good time to sell their home, according to the National Association of

Real Estate In Brief: Rising interest rates, the smart home market and more

The Federal Reserve attempts to regulate accelerated inflation by raising interest rates for the third time this year, as reported by HousingWire. The Fed’s key rates have increased by .25 percent, to a current total of 2.25 percent. This rate hike is now the eighth since 2015, as

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Sen. Warren introduces $450 billion bill to fund housing affordability

Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren introduced an expansive bill to Congress Sept. 26 that would fund a wide spectrum of initiatives to bolster housing finance and enable more Americans to become homeowners. Called the American Housing and Economic Mobility Act

What homebuyers, sellers with children are looking for from their agent

There is no one-size-fits-all way to help people buy and sell homes. Depending on what stage of life they are in, the needs and preferences of the client will change entirely. Buying or selling a home can be a

Pending home sales continue to see declines

Pending home sales fell for the eighth straight month on an annual basis, according to the August report from the National Association of Realtors. The Pending Home Sales Index dropped 1.8 percent from July’s 106.1 to 104.2 in August,

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South Florida agent sues NAR, Move Inc. over unsolicited text messages

A South Florida agent is suing NAR and Move, Inc. because of unsolicited text messages that she received through Realtor.com. In the class action lawsuit, Courtney Silverman alleges that “in their persistent efforts to advertise and solicit business, defendants,

Homebuyer traffic remains strong despite slight slowdown

Realtors across many states in the nation reported slower homebuying activity in August as the Realtors Buyer Traffic Index fell to 57 from 69 in August 2017, according to the August 2018 Realtors Confidence Index Survey. Homebuying activity in

Housing legislation struggles through Congress

The cost of living in a home has outpaced the wage growth of the average U.S. citizen, and is becoming an urgent concern for millions. Apartment List found that housing affordability is an evident determining factor for the quality of life

Real Estate in Brief: FTC website crack-down, HUD hiring for loyalty, and Zillow’s lawsuit

According to Housing Wire, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) cracked down on a string of real estate websites allegedly targeting Section 8 renters, charging a weekly subscription fee for false rental listings. The FTC alleges that brothers and company owners Steven and Kevin (Kaveh) Shayan operated a set

LGBT+ couples are showing a stronger desire to purchase homes

Although housing discrimination continues to be an issue for many in the LGBT+ community, more LGBT+ couples are buying homes. The National Association of Gay and Lesbian Real Estate Professionals (NAGLREP) put out its annual report looking at LGBT+

Existing-home sales steady in August after months of declines

After four months of declines, existing-home sales stayed steady in August from July, according to the National Association of Realtors’ monthly report. “Strong gains in the Northeast and a moderate uptick in the Midwest helped to balance out any

Homebuyers purchase second vacation homes for profit over personal use

Over the past decade, the property market for second homes and online travel operations have transformed significantly. A survey developed by real estate adviser Savills and HomeAway found that recent buyers are prioritizing the purchasing of second vacation homes for financial benefits rather

New construction activity finally climbs in August

The U.S. Census Bureau’s monthly New Residential Construction report showed builders broke ground on new homes and apartment buildings at a much higher rate in August compared to the prior month or last August. Housing starts grew by 9.2

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