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Business Outlook Archive


The Future of Mortgages

The current trend in real estate has been quite positive. For an extended period of time, we have seen pretty consistent growth in sales and home prices. After years of dealing with poor market conditions, we are all breathing a sigh of relief. Nevertheless, the industry must be vigilant in ensuring that nothing is done to impede or reverse the housing recovery, particularly by Congress and the regulators in Washington. Despite the improved sales numbers, however, mortgage credit remains tight. Nowhere is this more evident than in the consistently high percentage of cash purchasers in the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) monthly existing home


For Rent Media Solutions™ Introduces YouTube Apartment Search App

For Rent Media Solutions™ has introduced a new way to search for apartments. Consumers are now able to explore rental listings from within the ForRent.com© branded YouTube channel.


Immigration Reform Could Generate $500 Billion in New Real Estate Transactions

If current legislation that creates a path to legalization for 11 million undocumented immigrants is passed, the nation’s Hispanic real estate leaders estimate that it would create a new pool of 3 million homeowners and pump more than $500 billion in sales, income and spending into the U.S. housing economy. According to an info graphic released by the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP), the chain reaction triggered by home purchases would drive demand for more than $500 billion in real estate transactions and an additional $233 billion in origination fees, real estate commissions and consumer spending associated with homeownership.


Rate Increases Ahead for Some National Flood Insurance Program Policyholders

Changes are coming to the critically important National Flood Insurance Program that could impact real estate transactions and property owners across the country. That's according to experts from the Federal Emergency Management Agency,


Appraisal Institute: How Landscaping Can Impact Home Values

The Appraisal Institute recently advised homeowners to properly maintain their landscaping, which can significantly affect property values. “If a landscaping change is positive, it can often enhance price and reduce a home’s time on the market,” says Appraisal Institute President Richard L. Borges II, MAI, SRA. “But if the change is negative, it can lower the price and lengthen the time a home remains for sale.” Curb appeal is essential when selling a home, Borges says, noting it’s the homeowner’s opportunity to make a great first impression. A home with lackluster landscaping or an exterior in desperate need of a fresh coat of paint will likely be unappealing


Short Sale Approval and Valuation Issues Continue to Impact Housing Market

Both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have implemented policies to expedite the short sales process, including new resources to help determine property values, according to panelists at a property valuation forum during the REALTORS® Midyear Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo. Short sales continue to represent a significant portion of the real estate market. According to the National Association of REALTORS® short sales accounted for 9 percent of transactions during the first quarter of 2013. The short sale process can be frustrating for home buyers, sellers and REALTORS® given that approvals are often complex,


HUD and Census Bureau Announce New Construction Activity in April

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Census Bureau today announced the following new residential construction statistics for April 2013:


April realtor.com® Report Shows Housing Recovery Accelerating

Realtor.com®, a leader in online real estate operated by Move, Inc., released its April data showing that the U.S. housing market is on its way to a broad-based recovery, an accelerated trend since March. The home-buying season shifted into high gear last month as inventory and home list prices on realtor.com® increased by 4.12 percent and 2.63 percent, month over month, respectively. As of April, homes are on the market nationwide approximately 81 days—a decrease of nearly 11 percent since April 2012—highlighting that while new homes are entering the market they are not available for long.


FNC Index: U.S. Home Prices Up 0.4 Percent in March

The latest FNC Residential Price Index™ (RPI) shows the U.S. housing market continued to recover, recording in March the 13th consecutive price increase. In recent months, the ongoing housing recovery has maintained


Builder Confidence Improves in May

Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes improved three points to a 44 reading on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) for May, released recently. This gain, from a downwardly revised 41 in April, reflected improvement in all three index components – current sales conditions, sales expectations and traffic of prospective buyers. “Builders are noting an increased sense of urgency among potential buyers as a result of thinning inventories of homes for sale, continuing affordable mortgage rates and strengthening local economies,” notes National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Chairman Rick Judson,


REALTORS® Bring Public Policy Priorities to Capitol Hill

REALTORS® from across the nation will be meeting with regulators, lawmakers and industry leaders in Washington this week to address critical real estate issues affecting individuals, communities, and the nation as the REALTORS® Midyear Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo begins. More than 9,000 REALTORS® and guests are expected to attend the meetings, which will run here through May 18. “REALTORS® are leading advocates for homeownership and private property rights, and want to ensure that their point-of-view on important housing and investment issues is heard at all levels of government,” says National Association of REALTORS® President Gary Thomas.


Freddie Mac Announces Immediate Availability of Streamlined Modification for Delinquent Borrowers

Freddie Mac recently announced it is making its new Streamlined Modification program immediately available to all eligible borrowers nationwide in order to expedite financial relief for potentially thousands of distressed families. Freddie Mac's Streamlined Modification program had originally been scheduled to start on July 1, 2013. The recent announcement extends to the entire country Freddie Mac's decision to make the Streamlined Modification immediately available to eligible Hurricane Sandy victims.


Drastic Drop in Mass. Foreclosure Activity in March

Regional Spotlight—A significant decline in Massachusetts foreclosures during the month of March indicates the foreclosure crisis is over, according to an article in Monday's issue of Banker & Tradesman. Lenders filed 284 petitions to foreclose in March, an 82 percent decrease from 1,621 in March 2012, according to data from The Warren Group, publisher of Banker & Tradesman. A total of 2,080 petitions to foreclose have been filed in Massachusetts during the first quarter, a 52 percent decrease from 4,348 in the first quarter of last year. Petitions to foreclose represent the first step in the foreclosure process in Massachusetts.


About RISMedia’s Real Estate Information Network® (RREIN)

RISMedia launched RISMedia’s Real Estate Information Network® (RREIN) in 2010 in an effort to combat the consumer perception of “brokerage sameness” and identify those real estate firms most committed to serving the needs of today’s consumers. Today RREIN has grown into an elite network of the nation’s leading real estate ...


Monday Morning Mobile: Is It Finally Here?

Is it finally here? Can we trust that the official break has happened and we are not going to have to… Break out the winter clothes again?


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