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Real Estate Trends Archive


Housing Passes One Million Mark

Housing construction passed the psychological mark of one million starts in March coming in at 1.036 million homes, up 7 percent from an upwardly revised February level of 968,000. The surge was due to a 31 percent increase in apartment construction to a level of 417,000 units, the highest since January 2006. Single-family construction fell 4.8 percent to 619,000 from an upwardly revised February level, which was the highest since May 2008. The first quarter single-family average was 628,000 up 6 percent from the fourth quarter 2012. Housing permits were down 3.9 percent but from a February high not seen since July 2008. The first quarter average was 915,000 up 2.6 percent from the fourth quarter. Builders were stock piling permits in February


Freddie Mac CreditSmart® Online Tutorial Helps Prepare Future Borrowers for Homeownership

Freddie Mac recently announced a free, online CreditSmart(R) tutorial  to provide working families and new or inexperienced borrowers with basic sound information about building savings, personal credit, and making wise


First-Quarter Economic Growth Stronger Than Expected

Recent data indicate that economic growth in the first quarter has accelerated to an above-trend—but likely unsustainable—pace of 3.2 percent, according to Fannie Mae’s Economic & Strategic Research Group.


The Vacation Home Makes a Comeback

As the market continues to shift, one industry trend seems to be making continuous waves: vacation homes. With low prices and mortgage rates still available in most parts of the country, affluent buyers—or those who have always dreamed of a cabin on a lake—are making their move and purchasing second homes in exotic locations to be used as vacation getaways. According to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), sales of investment and vacation homes jumped in 2011, with the combined marketshare rising to the highest level since 2005. NAR’s 2012 Investment and Vacation Home Buyers Survey, covering existing- and new-home transactions in 2011, showed vacation-home sales rose


Great Spaces: Home Fit for a Lion

Built by Paul Williams in 1941, this Hollywood estate was originally the home of Bert Lahr, also known as the Cowardly Lion from the 1939 hit movie musical “The Wizard of Oz.” The gated, private property, which consisted of 6,000 square feet


REALTORS® Applaud FHA for Taking Steps to Improve Its Financial Stability

While the Federal Housing Administration still faces challenges ahead, the agency has already taken a number of significant steps to mitigate risk and increase the solvency and strength of the mortgage-insurance fund. That’s according to National Association of REALTORS® President Gary Thomas, who testified today before the U.S. House Financial Services Subcommittee on Insurance, Housing and Community Opportunity about the future of the FHA. “Realtors® believe that recent increases to premiums, increased down payments for some borrowers and greater risk management controls will help to substantially improve


HARP Mortgage Refinancing Program Extended by Two Years

(MCT)—Underwater homeowners with Fannie Mae- and Freddie Mac-backed mortgages will be able to try to refinance their mortgages for another two years. The Federal Housing Finance Agency announced Thursday that Fannie and Freddie’s Home Affordable Refinance Program, which was set to expire Dec. 31, will be extended until the end of 2015. “More than 2 million homeowners have refinanced through HARP, proving it a useful tool for reducing risk,” FHFA acting director Edward DeMarco said in a statement.


PropertyInfo Corporation and zipLogix to Provide an Integrated Forms and Transaction Management Process for the Real Estate Industry

PropertyInfo Corporation, a Stewart® company, recently announced the agreement of zipLogix and PropertyInfo to provide an integrated forms and transaction management system with zipForm®, the industry’s leading forms software and SureClose®, the most widely used transaction management system. ...


FHA Reform Efforts Must Ensure Borrowers Have Access to Affordable Home Loans

With tight mortgage lending standards preventing well-qualified home buyers from obtaining home loans and impeding the housing and economic recovery, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) recently expressed support for congressional efforts to reform the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) but urged lawmakers to proceed in a cautious manner to avoid any disruptions to the nation’s housing finance system. Testifying before the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance, NAHB First Vice Chairman Kevin Kelly, a builder and developer from Wilmington, Del., points out the vital role


Monday Morning Mobile: Mobile Madness

The month of March is typically associated with March Madness, the term used to describe the NCAA College Basketball tournament. However, this year, March Madness not only applied to sporting events but to mobile


4 Myths of Online Real Estate Lead Generation

Using the internet to capture real estate leads can be an exciting way to earn new business. It can also be a major undertaking for those without the training, understanding or systems to manage online lead generation.


Mortgage Rates Edge Down for Second Week

Freddie Mac recently released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), showing average fixed mortgage rates edging down for the second consecutive week following weak employment reports.


Q1 Outlook Survey: Consumer Confidence in Real Estate, Home Prices Reaches Year-Long High

Prudential Real Estate, an HSF Affiliates LLC company, recently released results of its first quarter Consumer Outlook Survey showing that Americans’ sentiment toward real estate is growing increasingly favorable.


Beware the 3 Percent Cap on Fees and Points

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (the Bureau) issued a somewhat final Ability to Repay (ATR) Qualified Mortgage (QM) rule in January. The pleasant surprise was the inclusion of a safe harbor for many QM loans. NAR and its industry partners fought for several months to ensure that the less safe ...


Realogy Announces Preliminary First Quarter 2013 Results

Realogy Holdings Corp recently provided preliminary estimates of certain of its financial and operational results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2013: • Net revenue is expected to be in the range of $950 million to $960 million, representing an increase of 9 percent to 10 percent compared to first quarter 2012. • Adjusted EBITDA(1) is expected to be in the range of $70 million to $74 million, representing a 32 percent to 40 percent increase from prior year results.


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