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☆ Who will build new homes in Trump’s America?
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-19 | by ( Samantha Delouya | Julia Vargas Jones | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Trump has said that undocumented immigrants share the blame for America’s once-in-a-generation home affordability crisis, but the president-elect’s deportation plans may backfire, driving up the cost of homebuying even further. There is a need for more construction workers, as well: There were 282,000 construction jobs open as of September, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Immigrant labor is really important for our ability to continue to build homes affordably,” said Tobin. More than one-third of construction workers in the labor force are foreign-born, according to the US Census Bureau’s 2023 American Community Survey. In some states, that share is much higher: In California, New Jersey and Texas, more than half of construction workers are immigrants.

Persons: CNN — Duewight Garcia overstayed, Garcia, ” Garcia, Donald Trump’s, Trump, America’s, Riordan Frost, Frost, ” Frost, Jim Tobin, ”, Tobin, “, Duewight Garcia, Edward Pinto, ” Pinto, Stan Marek, MAREK, it’s, ” Marek, Trump’s, Ohio Sen, JD Vance, ” Vance, Marek, they’re, Jennie Murray, ” CNN’s Tami Luhby Organizations: CNN, New, Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, National Association of Home Builders, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Pew Research, Survey, American, National Immigration Forum, Trump, Housing Center, American Enterprise Institute, Labor, The New York Times, National Immigration Locations: Honduras, New York City, America, California , New Jersey, Texas, New York, California, Wells Fargo, Houston

☆ You need to make $108,000 to afford a home in America
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-13 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

That’s nearly double the household income of $56,800 needed to afford a new home in 2019. Just 36% of US households earned enough to afford a new home, compared to 59% in Q3 2019. A shortage of homes in the US, combined with increased demand, helped create intense competition, leading to skyrocketing home prices in cities across America. A major contributor to the home affordability crisis: rising mortgage rates. Mortgage rates, which are the interest rates a lender charges on a home loan, ballooned in 2022 and 2023 as the Federal Reserve hiked interest rates to combat inflation.

Persons: That’s, Louis, ” Barbara Denham Organizations: CNN, Oxford Economics, Midwest, Oxford, Federal Reserve Locations: America, San Jose , California, California, San Francisco , Los Angeles, San Diego, Cleveland , Louisville, Detroit, St, Florida , Arizona, South Carolina

☆ Buying a home is expensive. What about ordering one for delivery?
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-11 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Manufactured housing, sometimes called mobile homes, are homes made in a factory rather than constructed on site, and they have been surging in popularity this year amid America’s housing crisis. Instead, they’re turning to the internet for lower-cost options, whether a pop-up foldable house kit, a tiny home or a traditional mobile home. Amazon is not the first major retailer to sell manufactured homes. More than 100 years ago, American retailer Sears, Roebuck and Co began selling kit homes from its catalog, with some for under $1,000. A 2023 Urban Institute paper argued that mobile homes were “uniquely vulnerable” to natural disasters compared to other housing.

Persons: Julie Johnson, homeownership, SSRS, George Rose, Donald Trump, Sears, Marc Norman, ” Norman, Katie Currid, “, Norman, Johnson, ” Johnson, Rebecca Blackwell, Johnson’s, Julie Johnson's, Patrick Harker, ” Harker, ”, ” CNN’s Chris Isidore Organizations: CNN, Facebook, National Association of Realtors, Getty, Census Bureau, Sears, Roebuck, Schack Institute of Real, New York University, Daily News, Urban, Hurricane, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, “ Locations: North Carolina, America, Boulder City, Boulder City , Nevada, Staunton , Virginia, Staunton, Mobile, Hurricane Milton, Englewood , Florida

☆ A shadow ‘financial crisis’ has cost the world $2 trillion
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-10 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

That’s a lot of damage – but it’s only a small fraction of what climate change has cost people around the world. A new report is flashing a warning signal about climate change and natural disasters, finding that their total economic damage has skyrocketed into the trillions. “Just as the global financial crisis was met with a swift and concerted response from world leaders, we need governments to understand that the economic impact of climate change necessitates a response of similar speed and decisiveness,” said John W.H. Trump has promised to undo climate regulations in the country, including rolling back pollution limits on tailpipes and power plants. Separate data released last week by Europe’s Copernicus Climate Change Service confirms that the world will likely surpass a grim milestone this year: 2024 is likely to be the hottest year on record.

Persons: Hurricane Helene, Hurricane, ”, John W.H, Denton AO, Donald Trump, Trump, ” Denton, Europe’s Copernicus Organizations: CNN, International Chamber of Commerce, United Nations, ICC Locations: Hurricane, Hurricane Milton, CoreLogic, Azerbaijan, Paris

☆ Americans who bought homes in 2024 were older and richer than ever
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-04 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Like first-time buyers, the typical repeat buyer has gotten older, with their median age increasing to 61 years from 58 last year. Repeat buyers’ median household income rose to $114,300 from $111,700 in the last year, as well, according to the NAR. First-time homebuyers may have trouble competing with repeat buyers, who could possibly have sold an existing home to purchase a new one. Repeat buyers were able to enter the housing market with much larger down payments (median 23%) than first-time homebuyers (median 9%). Thirty-one percent of repeat buyers paid all cash for their homes.

Persons: homebuyers, homebuyer, ”, Jessica Lautz, ” Lautz Organizations: CNN, National Association of Realtors, NAR Locations: America

☆ Rent and home prices are through the roof. Harris and Trump each say they have the answer
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-02 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

That shortage also affects rent prices. In August, Harris unveiled a multi-pronged plan to lower housing costs. The plan also includes two main proposals to lower rent costs. Both plans to lower rent would be subject to congressional approval, meaning that the measures may be difficult to pass even if Harris wins the presidency. Unlike Harris, Trump has not rolled out a formal housing plan, but he has tied plans to deport undocumented immigrants to housing.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Donald Trump, “ It’s, ”, Jim Parrott, That’s, ” Parrott, Mario Tama, Freddie Mac, Harris, Trump, “ We’re, homeownership, SSRS, “, Nick Pappas Organizations: CNN, Urban Institute, National Economic Council, SSRS, National Association of Realtors, Trump, Economic, of New, Treasury, Federal Reserve, “ Locations: Arizona , Nevada , Wisconsin , Michigan, Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina, Los Angeles , California, America, of New York, Kansas

☆ As the housing affordability crisis deepens, Airbnb and Vrbo face backlash
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-28 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —It’s been more than six years since Irvine, California, banned short-term rentals — and the city’s mayor hasn’t looked back. “I certainly don’t think it’s a major driver of the housing affordability crisis,” Nieuwerburgh said. “The reality is that there just simply aren’t enough short-term rentals out there to really make a difference,” Yedinsky said. In Irvine, although Mayor Khan said the ban had been well received, Irvine’s housing affordability issues aren’t yet solved. Each Airbnb or other short-term rental host must pay a fee to the city to operate as a short-term rental business.

Persons: CNN — It’s, hasn’t, “ It’s, ”, Farrah Khan, ” Irvine, Michael Seiler, College of William & Mary, “, ” Theo Yedinsky, Stijn Van Nieuwerburgh, ” Nieuwerburgh, I’m, Airbnb, ” Yedinsky, ” Vrbo, Sieler, Khan, ” Khan, “ We’re, —, Dan Enright, ” Enright, Enright Organizations: CNN, College of William &, Public, Research, Harvard Business, Columbia University, Telluride Locations: Irvine , California, Irvine, Orange County, Telluride, Colorado’s Rocky, Virginia, New York City

☆ Housing affordability: Kamala Harris wants to take on corporate landlords and rent increases
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-21 | by ( Samantha Delouya | Rachel Wilson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

While rent prices are undoubtedly rising, it’s unclear how much of the jump is due to corporate investors who buy up multiple properties. “Community after community feels taken advantage of by Wall Street investors and corporate landlords who have bought thousands of single-family homes during recent downturns,” Harris’ policy platform reads. A CNN analysis found that rent increases recently outpaced wage growth in cities with a meaningful presence of big investors. Ownership by corporate landlords, which CNN calculated by combining limited liability entities, real estate corporations and real estate investment trusts, stood at 16%. The number of single-family homes under construction dramatically decreased after the 2008 financial crisis, and construction never really returned to pre-recession levels.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Harris, ” Harris, Michael Seiler, College of William & Mary, “, we’re, ” Seiler, Laurie Goodman, ” Goodman, Donald Trump, ” Jared Kushner, Trump’s, CoreLogic, Goodman, “ There’s, ” Organizations: CNN, White House, Wall Street, College of William &, Urban Institute, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Housing Finance, Center, SSRS, Republican, Census Locations: United States, Atlanta, Jacksonville , Florida, Charlotte, North Carolina, Zillow

☆ Florida residents weigh whether to leave after destructive storms
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-14 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Then, in late September, Hurricane Helene flooded the rental home she now shares with her husband and 10-month-old baby. The storm made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane in the Siesta Key area of Florida, causing damage and flooding throughout Central Florida. According to Bankrate, the average annual homeowners insurance premium in Florida is $3,242 more than the national average. But traditional homeowners’ insurance doesn’t cover flood damage. Most of the water damage sustained from Helene would be covered by flood insurance, often provided by the National Flood Insurance Program, and backed by the government.

Persons: Idalia, Rachel Muse, Connealy, Hurricane Helene, ”, “, Hurricane Milton, Joe Raedle, Josh Hanoud, Hanoud, hasn’t, “ We’ve, what’s, “ I’m, Tina Villanueva, Villanueva, Helene, Milton, Bankrate, Hurricane Helene, Maria, Rebecca Blackwell, there’s, Chuck Nyce, Nyce, CoreLogic, G, Michael Harris ’, Harris, Michael Harris, ” Harris, “ I’ve, we’ve Organizations: CNN, Hurricane, Hurricane Milton, Florida State University, National Flood Insurance, Insurance Information Institute Locations: St . Petersburg , Florida, “, Hurricane Milton, Tampa, Florida, Hurricane, Punta Gorda , Florida, Central Florida, Zillow . Florida, Bradenton Beach, Maria Island , Florida, Belleair , Florida, Belleair

☆ Mortgage rates surged for the second-straight week after hitting two-year lows
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-10 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Prospective homebuyers waiting on the sidelines for a further drop in mortgage rates received unwelcome news on Thursday. The average rate on a standard, 30-year fixed mortgage was 6.32% in the week ending October 10, mortgage financing provider Freddie Mac said Thursday. It was the largest one-week increase in mortgage rates since April and the second straight week rates jumped higher after falling to a two-year low last month. Soon after, the average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage fell to its lowest since September 2022 at 6.08%. The recent bounce in mortgage rates underscores the uneven path toward greater home affordability.

Persons: Freddie Mac, ”, Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Organizations: CNN, Fed

☆ Zillow will now show climate risk data on for-sale property listings
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-08 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

As intensifying natural disasters threaten growing swaths of the country, assessing an area’s climate risk has become an essential part of shopping for a new home for many Americans. According to a recent Zillow survey, more than 4 out of 5 prospective homebuyers consider climate risks when they shop. Home shoppers can explore climate risk data on Zillow’s site through color-coded maps or on individual listings. The feature not only shows a home’s risks today, but it also estimates a home’s climate risks 15 years and 30 years into the future, which are the typical lengths of fixed mortgages. “Climate risks are now a critical factor in home-buying decisions,” Skylar Olsen, chief economist at Zillow, said in a statement.

Persons: Zillow, ” Skylar Olsen, Hurricane Helene Organizations: CNN, First Locations: United States, Hurricane Milton, Florida, Hurricane

☆ What these homebuyers and owners told us an interest rate cut means to them
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-07 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Last month, the Federal Reserve cut its benchmark interest rate by half a percentage point and signaled that more cuts are coming. He hopes interest rate cuts will increase his buying power. Mortgage rates have steadily fallen in anticipation of further interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve. Mortgage rates have steadily fallen in anticipation of further interest rate cuts from the Fed, with the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate dropping to 6.12% in the week ended October 3, according to Freddie Mac. “Even a decent interest rate today far exceeds what we’ve been planning and budgeting on since we bought this home,” said Tony, who said his interest rate was 3.75%.

Persons: Robert Galvez, ”, Galvez, “, ” Galvez, Kamala Harris ’, homebuyers, Brandon Bell, Tony, Freddie Mac, it’s, Safiya Reid, Nico Williams, Reid, Nico Williams “ I’m, ” Reid, she’s Organizations: CNN, Federal Reserve, National Association of Realtors, Federal Housing Administration, NACA Locations: New Hampshire, Atlanta, Okinawa, Japan

☆ A new report from Redfin shows how stuck the housing market really is
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-30 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

A rate cut by the Federal Reserve this month has fueled hopes that the interest rate-sensitive housing market will soon experience a fresh jolt. “What this data tells us is that the housing market in 2024 has been really frozen,” said Chen Zhao, Redfin’s economic research lead. Zhao said a market where 30 to 40 of every 1,000 homes changed hands would signify a healthier housing landscape. “That very low inventory on the market was one of the primary drivers of there being so little turnover.”A shortage of new home construction also contributed to America’s sluggish housing market. “Getting to a healthy housing market is very hard from this point,” Zhao said.

Persons: ”, Chen Zhao, “, Zhao, Redfin, —, Jeremiah Vancans, Vancans, ’, Patrick Chamberlin, Chamberlin, Freddie Mac, it’s, ” Zhao, we’ve Organizations: CNN, Federal Reserve, California ., “, Boston, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, National Association of Realtors Locations: —, Redfin, California, California . Los Angeles, Los Angeles, Austin , Texas, The Texas, Sun Belt, New York City, Phoenix

☆ It will take more than just a drop in interest rates to save the housing market
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-23 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

But while lower mortgage rates may translate to more buying power for homebuyers, America’s housing market woes aren’t likely to be solved solely by rate cuts. But Enterprise Community Partners, the nonprofit where Donovan currently serves as CEO, estimates that the US needs 7 million new units in order to stabilize the housing market. “There are a lot of factors that have affected the housing supply and these are complicated issues to solve. “We’re not expecting mortgage rates to fall that much further, and we still think that the mortgage rate ‘lock-in’ effect will still be there,” Dougherty said. “Things will probably pick up as rates come down, but we’re not looking for a high-octane rebound,” Dougherty said of the housing market.

Persons: they’d, aren’t, ’, ”, Shaun Donovan, Kamala Harris, Donald Trump, ” Donovan, Harris, Trump, Donovan, Jerome Powell’s, Freddie Mac, Charles Dougherty, That’s, “ We’re, ” Dougherty, ” Powell, that’s, Dougherty, “ It’s, ” Ryan McLennan Organizations: CNN, Housing, Urban Development, National Association of Realtors, Partners, Federal, Fed, National Association of Home Builders, homebuilders, Consumer Financial Locations: America, Wells Fargo, Houston, homebuying

☆ What does the Fed’s interest rate cut mean for homeowners and potential buyers?
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-20 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve cut interest rates for the first time since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, slashing its benchmark rate by half a percentage point and signaling more rate cuts by the end of the year. The supply of homes for sale hasn’t kept up with demand as homeowners who locked in ultra-low pandemic-era mortgage rates were less willing to sell their homes in a higher mortgage rate environment. Some experts believe falling rates could entice more homeowners to put their homes up for sale. In the past few months, rates have steadily fallen in anticipation of interest rate cuts. Does the Fed’s recent interest rate cut and the potential for more rate cuts in the future change your outlook as a homeowner or a potential homebuyer?

Persons: hasn’t, Freddie Mac Organizations: CNN, Federal Reserve

The Marriner S. Eccles Federal Reserve building in Washington, DC, on June 25. Ting Shen/Bloomberg/Getty ImagesAfter all the hype that’s been brewing for over a year, you might think that once the Federal Reserve finally cuts interest rates the economy will look and feel completely different. Sure, the stock market could have some big swings the second the Fed releases its interest rate decision at 2 pm ET on Wednesday and when Fed Chair Jerome Powell speaks a half hour later. Mortgage rates and the interest rates Americans pay on a variety of loans will quickly drop as well. That’s because when the Fed lowers or raises rates, it takes a while for the full effect of those moves to be felt across the economy.

Persons: Ting Shen, there’s, Jerome Powell, Milton Friedman, Read Organizations: Eccles Federal Reserve, Bloomberg, Federal Reserve, Fed Locations: Washington ,

☆ The Fed’s rate cuts could have unintended consequences for the housing market
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-18 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The market had become all but impenetrable after mortgage rates went from historic lows in 2020 to their highest levels in a generation last year. “And I think if we even go down to 5.9%, that would be really psychologically impactful to the housing market. The current 6.2% mortgage rate average is, of course, preferable to last year’s peak of 7.8% — a difference that could translate to hundreds of dollars in monthly payments. As my colleague Samantha Delouya wrote this week, a drop in mortgage rates could be a double-edged sword. “A further drop in mortgage rates could bring a surge of demand that makes it tougher to actually buy a house.”

Persons: ” Daniel Alpert, Alpert, “, ” Daryl Fairweather, Samantha Delouya, ”, Greg McBride Organizations: New, New York CNN, Federal Reserve, Westwood Capital, Fed, Bankrate Locations: New York

☆ Here’s what you should know about buying a home ahead of a likely interest rate cut
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-16 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

While the Fed doesn’t directly set mortgage rates, its actions affect borrowing costs throughout the economy. The most apparent effect: An interest rate cut could help ease the upward pressure on mortgage rates, making one piece of the homebuying equation more affordable. Most investors are betting that the Fed will cut its benchmark interest rate by just a quarter-point on Wednesday. Some financial advisers counsel to wait until you can get a mortgage rate that is a full percentage point below the rate you’re already paying, said Fairweather. “If you got a 7.5% mortgage rate, you may already be in the money to refinance,” she said.

Persons: Freddie Mac, ”, Daryl Fairweather, Redfin’s, “, it’s, Fairweather, We’re, Greg McBride, “ It’s, Leo Pareja Organizations: CNN, Federal Reserve, homebuyers, National Association of Realtors, Bankrate, eXp Realty Locations: Wells, ”

☆ Nearly half of US renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing costs
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-12 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Nearly half of all renter households in the US were cost-burdened in 2023, meaning they paid more than 30% of their income towards housing costs, according to new government data. “Housing costs rose between 2022 and 2023 for both homeowners and renters,” Molly Ross, a survey statistician at the Census Bureau, said in a statement. Households that spend more than 30% of their income on rent, mortgage payments or other housing costs are considered “cost-burdened” by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. In 2023, 56.2% of Black or African American households spent more than 30% of their income on housing costs, compared to 49.7% of the total population. About 2.5 million, or 30.6%, of Black households were considered “severely cost-burdened,” meaning they spent more than 50% of their income on housing costs in 2023.

Persons: Molly Ross, Kamala Harris, Donald Trump, Trump Organizations: CNN, Survey, Census, US Department of Housing, Urban Development, Federal Reserve Locations: Florida, Texas , California , New York, Louisiana, Illinois , Kansas , Minnesota, New Mexico , New York, West Virginia

☆ Apple’s new AirPods are also hearing aids. Can they really save you thousands of dollars?
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-10 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The company said the wireless headphones will double as clinical-grade over-the-counter hearing aids for those who need them. But over-the-counter hearing aids like these aren’t always the solution for hearing loss. Over-the-counter hearing aids, such as Apple’s offering, also are not a treatment for “severe or profound” hearing loss, according to the FDA. If it can also serve as a hearing aid, I think that’s really exciting.”Apple’s announcement was applauded by some hearing aid users on social media, as well. But many noted one clear advantage traditional hearing aids have over AirPods: Hearing aids have battery life measured in days, not hours.

Persons: Apple, ”, Sumbul Ahmad Desai, Desai, Barbara Kelley, ” Kelley, Kelley, “ There’s, “ Organizations: CNN, Food and Drug Administration, FDA, Apple, American Heart Association, of America Locations: United States, Germany, Japan

People walk past an Apple store in the Americana at Brand shopping center on December 26, 2023 in Glendale, California. Apple Intelligence — the collective brandname for all of Apple’s own AI tools — is intended to be more of a personal assistant than anything else. What about your data: Since Apple Intelligence and ChatGPT will be used for largely different purposes, the amount and type of information users send to each AI may be different, too. While Apple users will have to send their personal information and AI queries to OpenAI if they want to use ChatGPT, Apple has said that most of the time Apple Intelligence won’t be sending user data anywhere. As much as possible, Apple will try to process AI prompts directly on your device using smaller AI models.

Persons: Mario Tama, you’ve, ChatGPT, Siri, Apple Organizations: Apple, Brand, Apple Intelligence Locations: Glendale , California

Both the iPhone 16 and the iPhone 16 Pro will be available for pre-order on Friday and in stores on September 20, Apple announced. They’re also available in two sizes: 6.1 inches for the iPhone 16 and 6.7 inches for iPhone 16 Plus. IPhone 16 ProThe new iPhone 16 Pro. From AppleThe iPhone 16 Pro, Apple’s higher-end iPhone, features even more AI features than the iPhone 16. Price: The new Apple iPhone 16 Pro will cost $999 and the iPhone 16 Pro Max will be $1,199, the company announced Monday.

Persons: Dan Ives, Wedbush, haven’t, Apple, ” Craig Federighi, Siri, Erica, ultramarine, Max, AirPods Organizations: CNN, Apple, Apple Watch, Apple Apple, Apple Intelligence, Pro, US Food and Drug Administration, Apple Watch Apple

☆ How buyers and sellers are navigating real estate’s seismic shake-up
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-19 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Traditionally, home sellers in the US have been responsible for paying real estate commissions. The standard 5% or 6% commission was usually split between the seller’s broker and the buyer’s broker, referred to as cooperative compensation. After August 17, sellers and their agents are prohibited from advertising how much they would pay to a buyer’s agent in the MLS. Given the new rules, McMahan said she might reconsider her offer of a 3% buyers’ broker commission the next time she sells her home. These agreements are intended to inform buyers that they may be responsible for covering their Realtor’s commission payment themselves if a seller chooses not to offer it.

Persons: Dana McMahan, ” McMahan, “, McMahan, ”, —, David Ryder, Bill Colson, Colson, ” Colson Organizations: CNN, National Association of Realtors, Realtors, MLS, ”, NAR, Bloomberg, Getty, Maryland, Navy Locations: Louisville , Kentucky, Blue Ridge , Georgia, Maryland, Georgia

☆ The NAR settlement comes into effect today: Here’s what changing and why
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-17 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Here’s what you need to know:Two key changesHistorically, buyers were not expected to pay their real estate broker directly. That’s because Realtor commission fees — to both the buyers’ agent and the sellers’ agent — were paid by a home seller. Tiffany Hagler-Geard/Bloomberg/Getty ImagesThe second change affects the relationship between prospective home buyers and their real estate agents. A key element to these agreements is that a buyer’s agent cannot receive more compensation than what the buyer initially signed onto, even if a seller is willing to offer more. The National Association of Realtors agreed to settle litigation over commission rules for US real estate agents, clearing the way for possible changes in how Americans buy and sell homes.

Persons: CNN —, Kevin Sears, ”, —, Tanya Monestier, “, Tiffany Hagler, They’re, Norm Miller, Monestier, “ You’re, ” Leo Pareja, ” Pareja, David Ryder, ‘ let’s, University of San Diego’s Miller, Miller Organizations: CNN, National Association of Realtors, Realtors, MLS, University, Buffalo School of Law, Geard, Bloomberg, Getty, Buyers, University of San, eXp Realty Locations: Larchmont , New York, University of San Diego, Seattle , Washington, US

☆ Israel’s credit rating cut as conflicts drag on
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-12 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Israel’s credit rating was downgraded by Fitch Ratings on Monday, after the agency cited concerns around the ongoing war with Hamas and geopolitical risks. Analysts from Fitch said the “the conflict in Gaza could last well into 2025,” and there are risks of the conflict spreading. The agency predicts Israel’s budget deficit to reach 7.8% of its GDP in 2024, compared to 4.1% in 2023. Fitch also expects Israel’s debt-to-GDP to remain above 70% into 2025, whereas the median A rating ratio is 55%. Moody’s Investor Service downgraded Israel’s credit rating from A1 to A2 in February.

Persons: Fitch, ” Fitch, Fitch, Moody’s, ”, Samantha Delouya Organizations: CNN, Fitch, Lebanese, Moody’s Investor, Hamas Locations: Gaza, ”, Israel

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