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☆ What a $418 million settlement on home-sale commissions may mean for you
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-20 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

As proposed, the settlement would have the NAR completely remove commissions from its MLS system by July. watch nowIn the meantime, it's "business as usual" for buyers and sellers, Cobreiro said. What the settlement could mean for homebuyersThe settlement agreement doesn't say that the buyer's agent will not be paid nor that the buyer's agent cannot charge fees. While commission fees are negotiable between involved parties, knowing what cards you have on the table as a homebuyer will be more important now than before. As a result of the settlement, the seller will no longer be responsible for commission fees for a buyer's agent.

Persons: Cobreiro, Cobriero, Amanda Pendleton Organizations: MLS, Zillow, Federal Reserve

☆ Home prices rose 2.4 times faster than inflation since 1960s, study finds. What that means for homebuyers
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-19 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

"When demand for other consumer products comes up, or when it increases, it's usually not too hard for people to scale up supply," Brannon said. Moreover, the current housing affordability makes 64.2% of owners and renters have negative feelings about the economy, Redfin found. In fact, affordable housing is a pressing topic for both liberal and conservative voters: the topic is ranked as No. 1 for liberals while it's No.3 for conservatives, according to a separate survey by The Real Estate Witch. To address the issue, President Biden announced in early March as part of his budget for fiscal 2025, a plan to cut housing costs, boost supply and expand access to affordable housing.

Persons: Brannon, Kirabo Jackson, Qualtrics, Redfin, it's, doesn't, Brennon, Biden Organizations: Westend61, U.S . Census, White House Council, Economic Advisers, CNBC Locations: U.S

☆ The best time to sell your home — in 2023, listings in this period sold for $7,700 more, research finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Spring, the season when home buying and selling activity kicks off, is around the corner. Available housing supply is already rebounding: The number of new listings jumped 14.8% from a year ago, the largest annual gain since May 2021, according to new data from Redfin, a real estate site. Buyers are typically looking to land a new home before their children's new school year while a seller's house benefits from the fresh flowers and renewed greenery post-winter. In 2023, homes listed in the first two weeks of June sold for 2.3% more, a $7,700 boost on a typical U.S. home, according to a new Zillow analysis. "We've learned that real estate cycles don't always happen [at this] time of year," said Melissa Cohn, regional vice president at William Raveis Mortgage.

Persons: Amanda Pendleton, We've, Melissa Cohn Organizations: Zillow, Finance, William, Mortgage Locations: Redfin, U.S

☆ Renters face a competitive spring market: What to know about 3 kinds of properties you may see
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

"In a condo or co-op building, upfront costs and fees are determined at the building level and they can vary significantly," Romero said. To compare, for a typical rental building, according to New York state law, the application fee is capped at $20, and the security deposit is limited to one month's rent, Romero said. Rhode Island has a new state law that prohibits landlords, rental agents and property managers from charging application fees to rental applicants beyond the actual cost of conducting certain background checks if needed. What to know about renting a condo or co-opTo be sure: condos and co-op properties are primarily targeted to people who want to buy. If you come across condos or co-ops in your rental search, here are a few things to consider: 1.

Persons: " Romero, Romero, Frank Dong Organizations: Getty, Rhode, Ruby Locations: New York, . Wisconsin

☆ What kind of 'Barbie' are you? Here are the Barbieland jobs that most real-life women hold, according to government data
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

In the "Barbie" movie, the narrator says, "Barbie has a great day every day." As women's participation in the labor force has increased over the years, the group continues to face hurdles along the way. "We have the tightest labor market for women in the past 20-something years," Bustamante said. "As the labor market gets tighter and tighter and tighter, women's employment rises faster than men's," Pollak said. "To think of just the scale of construction employment and women are still such a marginal piece of that sector," he said.

Persons: Margot Robbie, Barbie, Julia Pollak, R, Bustamante, Pollak, " Pollak Organizations: Mattel, Warner Bros, U.S . Bureau of Labor Statistics, Roosevelt Institute, Census, National Women's Law, Warner Brothers Pictures Locations: New York, U.S

☆ Homebuyers need to earn 80% more than in 2020 to afford a house in this market. It's not just due to high mortgage rates
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Factors beyond high mortgage rates are affecting housing affordability for many Americans, according to experts. Almost four years ago, a household earning $59,000 annually could afford a new mortgage without spending more than 30% of their monthly income and with a 10% down payment, according to a recent report by Zillow Group. While the typical household in 2024 makes about $81,000 a year, up from $66,000 in 2020, wages have not kept up with housing costs. "Since January of 2020, the typical mortgage payment on the typical home in the U.S. has nearly doubled," said Orphe Divounguy, a senior economist at Zillow. Nowadays, potential homebuyers need to make about $106,500 a year in order to afford the typical home today, an 80% increase from January 2020, according to Zillow.

Persons: Orphe Divounguy, Kirabo Jackson, Jackson Organizations: Zillow Group, Finance, White House Council, Economic Advisers Locations: U.S, Zillow

In each case, substitute materials were used to make furniture that was less expensive but also less durable than the solid wood pieces that previous generations bought. "In the 1980s, you could buy a sofa for $399. You could probably still buy a sofa for $399," Koehler said. But choosing a more expensive piece isn't necessarily a guarantee of better quality, Koehler said. You can also check the furniture description to see whether it is made from solid wood or particle board under a veneer.

Persons: CoCo Ree Lemery, Lemery, Mark Schumacher, Koehler Organizations: Purdue University, Home, CNBC, telltale

☆ 'A budget is a picture of what your money is doing,' The Budgetnista says. Here's where to start
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-03 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Karan Kapoor | The Image Bank | Getty ImagesHaving a strong budget can help you build financial wellness. "A budget is a picture of what your money is doing," Tiffany Aliche, also known as The Budgetnista, told CNBC during a Women & Wealth livestream. You have to understand what your money is doing," said Aliche, a personal financial educator and author of "Get Good with Money." Make a list of expenses: The first thing to do is write a list of all the things you spend money on within a given month, said Aliche. It can also help to list out expenses you don't pay every month, such as annual memberships or quarterly taxes.

Persons: Karan Kapoor, Tiffany Aliche, Sophia Bera Daigle, who's Organizations: Bank, Getty, CNBC, Wealth, Gen, CNBC Financial Locations: Austin , Texas

Customers look at appliances for sale at a Best Buy store in Miami, Florida, Oct. 8, 2021. However, the machine broke for the same reason again a few months later, and then again shortly after that. After the mechanic's third visit, Rathner said he told her, "You need to stop calling me and just buy a new dryer. watch nowHomeowners spend about 34% more on appliances than they did 15 years ago, "above and beyond inflation," Tomalak said. "Homeowners are purchasing appliances with more bells and whistles, but which become obsolete sooner and have more aspects to repair versus appliances years ago," he said.

Persons: Joe Raedle, Sara Rathner didn't, Rathner, Todd Tomalak, Tomalak, Brian Laung Aoaeh, Aoaeh Organizations: Getty, Finance, Zonda Media, Refashiond Ventures Locations: Miami , Florida, Richmond , Virginia, New York

☆ 36% of homebuyers and sellers don’t know they can negotiate real estate agent fees. Here’s how to do it
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

In this article TREE Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNTFuse | Corbis | Getty ImagesHow real estate agent commissions workIn 2023, the average commission was 5.37%, LendingTree found. Yet 48% of homebuyers and sellers didn't know how much their agent received in commission for their latest home transaction, according to LendingTree. "[Real estate agents] are doing a lot of work behind the scenes that isn't necessarily [or] immediately apparent to sellers and buyers," he said. How to negotiate real estate agent feesWhile real estate agents must be upfront with their fees, buyers and sellers should make sure to ask questions about what they are charging and why. If you're working with a dual agent, or a real estate agent who's representing both the buyer and seller, you might point out to them that they don't have to split the commission with anyone.

Persons: LendingTree Organizations: Federal Reserve, National Association of Realtors . Technology, Antitrust

You get tax forms such as W-2s and 1099s from employers and financial institutions each year. "It's the [IRS] matching software that's the biggest, most consistent problem for taxpayers," said Bill Smith, national director of tax technical services at financial services firm CBIZ MHM. Since the IRS already has a copy of your tax forms, its software can easily flag missing forms, Smith explained. When to expect tax formsWhile many tax forms must be sent by Jan. 31, others won't arrive until mid-February or beyond. While most taxpayers will receive forms from their employers or financial institutions, some may not, especially for small amounts.

Persons: Bill Smith, CBIZ, Smith, Henry Grzes, Tom O'Saben, Jan, " Smith, O'Saben Organizations: IRS, American Institute of CPAs, National Association of Tax, NEC, SA

☆ Aspiring homeowners say they face two major obstacles to buying. Here's why 20% say it'll 'never' happen
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

With various factors keeping homeownership out of reach for Americans, many aspiring homeowners are pessimistic, doubting they ever achieve that goal. Would-be buyers point to two major obstacles holding them back, according to a new Bankrate report. About half, 51%, point to a high cost of living, and 54% say they have insufficient income given where home prices are now. The site polled 2,267 U.S. adults, 864 of whom are aspiring homeowners, in late January. Meanwhile, 30% said it could take at least five years while 10% said it could take them a decade or longer.

Persons: Bankrate, homebuyers, Mark Hamrick, Hamrick Organizations: Finance

☆ 'If your parents are homeowners, you're more likely to be a homeowner,' housing expert says. Here's why
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

If a parent is a homeowner, they are more likely to assist with their kid's down payment, she said. But it's harder for those with parents who are not homeowners: "Renter households are often precluded from bringing more people into their home. Having homeowner parents is 'like a 5 percentage point bonus'Young adults with homeowner parents are more likely to become homeowners themselves because they can obtain more information about the mortgage application process directly from their parents, the Urban Institute found. "Because the parents are so knowledgeable about homeownership, they're more likely to encourage their kids to do it and show them how to do it," Myers said. "It's like a 5 percentage point bonus by having parents who are homeowners."

Persons: Skylar Olsen, Myers, that's, Zers, Intuit Credit Karma, Wachter Organizations: Digitalvision, Getty, National Association of Realtors, Urban Institute, Intuit Credit Locations: Washington ,

☆ With mortgage rates remaining high, renting is less expensive than buying
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

watch nowThe costs of owning a home can be more stable compared to rent prices. Yet, the upfront cost of a down payment is high for most Americans, Wachter said. Mortgage rates also remain high for potential homebuyers, spiking back to 7.06% from 6.87%. The interest rate affects the monthly cost of a home, which can make or break affordability for a homebuyer. Rent prices are also expensive

Persons: Wachter Organizations: Getty Locations: U.S

☆ 52% of Black Americans say homeownership is a mark of success, report finds. But it can conflict with other goals
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Maskot | Digitalvision | Getty Images'Homeownership has a lot more expenses than renting'"Homeownership has a lot more expenses than renting: taxes, insurance, maintenance, down payment. All these factors need to be considered," said Cherry, a member of CNBC's Financial Advisor Council. "Understand what it is to be a homeowner and how things work," said Elliott, also a member of CNBC's Financial Advisor Council. "The cost of homeownership versus renting has been made [it] daunting to become a homeowner. "At the end of the day, what good is being a homeowner when you can't provide basic necessities for yourself and your loved ones?"

Persons: Cherry, Kamila Elliott, Elliott, Susan M, Wachter, Preston D, Jacob Channel Organizations: Digitalvision, Getty, CNBC's, CFP, Wealth Partners, CNBC, Council, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Cherry Locations: Atlanta, U.S

☆ More Black women are becoming homeowners — it doesn’t mean it's easier, economist says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Black women are outpacing Black men when it comes homebuying. Single female homebuyers are most common among Black women, representing 27% of Black homebuyers, according to the 2023 Snapshot of Race and Home Buying in America report by the National Association of Realtors. More from Personal Finance:Rental markets are cooling, but it 'doesn't mean they're falling'What renters need to know to make rent count for credit'Housing affordability is reshaping migration trends,' economist saysBut single Black women buyers still face plenty of challenges. "There are instances where Black people are buying homes, Black women are buying homes. That doesn't mean that it's easy for them and that doesn't mean that it's not being made unnecessarily difficult by certain societal hurdles that stand in the way, that should not exist," said Jacob Channel, a senior economist at LendingTree.

Persons: Realtor.com, Jacob Channel Organizations: National Association of Realtors, Finance Locations: America

☆ People are moving out of cities with poor air quality — but many end up facing other climate risks
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Much of the Sunbelt "has [a] low air-quality risk but it has high heat risk, high flood risk, high wind risk from things like hurricanes," she said. When looking at moving trends within counties and cities from 2000 to 2020 paired with flood risks, researchers at First Street Foundation noticed clear signals of people moving away from areas exposed to flooding. Additionally, more than 3.2 million (35.5%) of those residents said they left specifically because of the flood risk. 'I personally was impacted by air quality'Over 85% of homes in 13 major cities are highly exposed to poor air quality; nine are in California and the rest are spread out in Washington, Oregon and Idaho, Redfin found. "I personally was impacted by air quality," Fairweather said.

Persons: Eduardo Munoz Alvarez, Fairweather, We're, Jeremy Porter, Porter, Redfin Organizations: Getty, First Street Foundation, CNBC, riskier metros Locations: West Coast, Sunbelt, Arizona , Florida , Nevada , North Carolina, South Carolina , Texas, Tennessee, New York, U.S, California, Washington , Oregon, Idaho, Seattle, Wisconsin, riskier

☆ Black Americans still face 'disproportionately steep hurdles' to homeownership, expert says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Homeownership is out of reach for many Americans — especially for Black Americans. In the country's largest metropolitan areas, Black people own a disproportionately small share of homes relative to population size, according to a new report from LendingTree. In 2022, Black people made up an average of 14.99% of the population across the 50 largest metropolitan areas of the U.S., but owned an average of 10.15% of owner-occupied homes in such places, the report found. "Relatively speaking, Black people don't own that many homes," said Jacob Channel, a senior economist at LendingTree who authored the study. The study ranks the nation's 50 largest metropolitan statistical areas by the difference between the percentage of owner-occupied homes in a metro owned by those who identify as Black and the share of an area's population that identifies as Black.

Persons: Homeownership, Jacob Channel, LendingTree Organizations: Black, Finance, IRS, Survey Locations: LendingTree, U.S, Memphis , Tennessee

☆ Renters are most exposed to climate hazards in these two states, a Harvard study finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-12 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Jodi Jacobson | E+ | Getty ImagesMore than 18 million rental units are located in areas exposed to extreme weather hazards, according to the American Rental Housing Report from Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies. While most states have at least one "high-risk" county with 2,000 or more rental units, many are concentrated in California and Florida. How many rentals are at risk in California and FloridaHarvard researchers found the number of rental units exposed to climate hazards in the U.S. by combining an area's risk of economic loss from natural disasters with the number of rental units in those areas, Wedeen said. Florida, for example, has many rental units as well as census tracts, or neighborhoods, that FEMA identified as having at least moderate risk, Wedeen said. Florida has 2.4 million rental units at risk, or about 89% of its rental stock, according to the Harvard study.

Persons: Jodi Jacobson, Sophia Wedeen, Wedeen Organizations: American, Harvard University's, for Housing Studies, Federal Emergency Management, Survey, Joint Center for Housing Studies, Florida Harvard, FEMA, Finance, Harvard Locations: California, Florida, Harvard, U.S

☆ Gen Z couples are more likely than older generations to keep finances separate. Here's why
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Deciding to combine your finances with your significant other can be a big step in the relationship. Nearly 2 in 5 couples, or 39%, of couples who live together completely combine their finances, whether they're married or not, according to a new report by Bankrate. Gen Z adults, or those between the ages 18 to 27, are the most likely to keep their finances completely separate from their significant other, with 38%. By contrast, baby boomers, or adults age 60 to 78, are the most likely generation to fully combine their finances with their spouse or partner, at 44%. Almost half, or 46%, of people who are in relationships keep their finances separate to avoid losing their financial independence, according to a recent survey from the financial services company.

Persons: they're, Gen, Bankrate, Will, Lindsay Bryan, Podvin, Bryan Organizations: Bankrate, Finance, Bread

☆ Over 18 million rental units are exposed to climate hazards as extreme weather becomes more common, Harvard study finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

D3sign | Stone | Getty ImagesExtreme weather and climate hazards are becoming more frequent, posing a unique threat not only for homeowners, but for renters. Over 18 million rental units across the U.S. are exposed to climate and weather-related hazards, according to the latest American Rental Housing Report from Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies. While they're a smaller share of the rental stock, 52% of manufactured units are located in areas with extreme weather exposure. "It's sort of a compounding risk when we see these increases in climate hazards and start impacting people who can't afford to move away from the risk." Check what type of disasters are included in your renters insurance policy.

Persons: Sophia Wedeen, Jeremy Porter, Wedeen, Porter Organizations: Harvard University's, for Housing Studies, Harvard, FEMA, Survey, Joint Center for Housing Studies, Finance, NOAA National Centers for Environmental, First Street Foundation Locations: U.S, New York

☆ Gen Z, millennials want to invest — but many aren't, CNBC/Generation Lab survey finds. Here are the issues
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Rockaa | E+ | Getty ImagesDespite earning more, many Gen Z adults and millennials are having a hard time finding room in their budgets to invest. In fact, 61% are not saving for retirement each month. The survey polled 1,013 people ages 18 to 34 in the U.S. in late January. A prime culprit: higher expenses that have limited their ability to put money aside for savings and investments. "They're cutting costs, they're tipping less, they're trying to spend less eating out … living with parents … they're not acting like the economy is as good as it is," Beschloss said.

Persons: Cyrus Beschloss, … they're, Beschloss Organizations: CNBC, Generation Locations: USA, U.S, It's

☆ Rental markets are softening, but half of U.S. tenants spend more than they can afford, Harvard report finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Rent prices are coming down in some areas, but not at the pace needed to relieve tenants struggling to pay rent. Half of renters in the U.S. spent more than 30% of their income in 2022 on rent and utilities, according to the new America's Rental Housing report by the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. The report considers those who spend 30% or more of their income on housing "rent burdened" or "cost burdened," which means those high costs may make it difficult for them to meet other essential expenses. The share of cost-burdened renters increased by 3.2 percentage points from 2019 to 2022. While cost burden has increased across income levels, the consequences are much higher for low-income households, said Airgood-Obrycki.

Persons: Whitney Airgood Organizations: Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, Finance Locations: U.S, Here's

☆ Rental markets are cooling, but it 'doesn't mean they're falling,' Harvard researcher says. Here's what that means for renters
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Recep-bg | E+ | Getty ImagesRent costs are beginning come down after record-high asking prices. "Rental markets are cooling, but in a lot of places, it doesn't mean they're falling. It means they're growing at a slower pace," said Whitney Airgood-Obrycki, senior research associate focused on affordable housing at the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. Prices are beginning to come down as supply boosts vacancy and demand slows from record highs in 2022. Increasing the supply of higher-rent Class A units often encourages tenants to upgrade to new units, making prices in those units level out and boosting vacancy in Class B and C units, Airgood-Obrycki said.

Persons: Whitney Airgood, Susan M, Wachter, Obrycki Organizations: Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, Prices, Finance, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania Locations: Here’s, Airgood

☆ ‘Positive’ labor market data can still feel awful for workers, job seekers. Here's why
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Layoffs and discharges changed little at 1.6 million, remaining at a rate of 1% for the fourth consecutive month. In November, the hires rate fell to 3.5%, the lowest rate since 2014 outside of the Covid-19 pandemic recession. For all of 2023, the hires rate averaged 3.8%, making it only the 11th best year out of 23, she said. There were more job openings a few years ago because of the high turnover. From October to November, job opening rates decreased in four states, increased in two and were little changed in 44 states and the District of Columbia.

Persons: Julia Pollak, Pollak, Elise Gould, Gould, Bustamante Organizations: Getty, U.S . Bureau of Labor Statistics, Labor, Economic Policy Institute, Employers, District of Columbia, Bureau of Labor Statistics Locations: Montana, Arizona, Oregon, California, Connecticut

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