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☆ A Controversial Vacation Homes Tax Is Dividing Lake Tahoe
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-05 | by ( Amanda Yen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

My grandparents' vacation cabin in Lake Tahoe is the stuff of legend. My grandparents' little house in South Lake Tahoe, which they bought for $113,000 in 1984, quickly became a haven for my family. Framers of the Tahoe tax measure took inspiration from Berkeley, California, which adopted a vacancy tax this year. Since the city of South Lake Tahoe was incorporated in 1965, it's been populated by a healthy mix of year-round and seasonal residents. As of October 2024, the median sales price for homes in South Lake Tahoe was $750,000, according to Realtor.com.

Persons: George Rose, it's, Amelia Richmond, —, Steve Teshara, Teshara, Frederic Lewis, Sherri Maslyar, Jeff Cowen, we'd, Amanda Yen, I'd Organizations: of Commerce, South Tahoe Association of Realtors, BI, Colorado and, Survey, Tahoe Chamber of Commerce, Realtors ' Association, Business, Tahoe, Planning Association Locations: Tahoe, South Lake, Berkeley , California, Oahu, Colorado, Aspen, Vail, Breckenridge, Bay, Colorado and Utah, Park City , Utah, Richmond, Emerald

☆ Pending home sales took an unexpected leap higher last month, but rates are now much higher
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

These so-called "pending" sales were at the highest level since March and 2.6% higher than September of last year. Since pending sales are based on signed contracts, representing people out shopping during the month, it is the most current indicator of buyer demand. "Further gains are expected if the economy continues to add jobs, inventory levels grow, and mortgage rates hold steady." Regionally pending sales were higher year over year in the Northeast and West and flat in the Midwest and South. The levels of mortgage demand are still historically low, and sales, while higher, are as well.

Persons: Lawrence Yun, Selma Hepp Organizations: National Association of Realtors, Analysts, Mortgage News, Realtors, Mortgage, Association Locations: Northeast, West, Midwest, homebuyers

Condo owners unable to pay an assessment can be foreclosed on by their condo association. After that, she plans to move back into her Florida condo, but in the meantime, she’s been living with her adult son. But that’s what happens when prior boards don’t do their job.”But the decision ended up pitting the building’s owners against each other, with some owners saying the work was unnecessary. “These guys ruined my early retirement plan.”Lopez, who helped craft the legislation, said she is looking for ways to provide relief to condo owners once Florida’s Legislature reconvenes next year. Stone would like to see the state Legislature give buildings and condo owners more time to comply with the regulations so they would be able to spread out the costs.

Persons: Janet Stone, she’s, ’ ”, Stone, We’ve, ”, Vicki Lopez, “, —, Greg Batista, he’s, reapplied, ” Stone, Krista Goodrich, they’ve, Batista, Joseph Hernandez, Edgardo Defortuna, ” Defortuna, Jeremy Maurice, Maurice, ” Maurice, Steve Davis, Cristian Murray, ” Murray, ” Lopez, reconvenes, “ I’m, I’m Organizations: Florida House, NBC, Yacht, Surfside, Condo, realtors, Statewide, Dade, University of Miami Locations: Florida’s, Las Vegas, Ormond Beach , Florida, Florida, Champlain, Miami, ”, Daytona Beach, Orlando, Miami Beach, Hollywood , Florida, Ormond Beach, Redfin, Volusia County, South, Dade County

☆ June home sales slump, pointing to a buyer's market as supply increases
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-23 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

"We're seeing a slow shift from a seller's market to a buyer's market," said Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the Realtors. These inventory levels are the highest supply since May 2020, boosted by homes sitting on the market longer. Supply of homes for sale is weakest on the lower end, but is seeing a new surge now. While the sales price nationally is high, new listing prices are lower. Either home sales rise, or, if the prices do not rise, the prices would buckle down," Yun added.

Persons: Lawrence Yun, Danielle Hale, Yun Organizations: National Association of Realtors, Realtors, Realtor.com, Investors Locations: Patchogue, N.Y, Patchogue , New York

☆ Want a low mortgage rate? Take someone else’s
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-31 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

This means that a buyer keeps the seller’s repayment period, mortgage balance and, notably, the seller’s lower mortgage rate. Securing that ultra-low mortgage rate means that Harper will save thousands of dollars in monthly payments. “I just decided I wanted to see how low I could pay on the interest rate,” Harper said. And while the mortgage rate on the second loan may be high, the total monthly payment could still be lower — if the assumed mortgage rate is low enough. Snagging a low mortgage rate like Harper’s in today’s high interest rate environment may seem like a dream come true to some prospective homebuyers, but the process is not always smooth sailing.

Persons: ”, Ted Tozer, Ginnie Mae —, Tozer, Ellen Harper, Harper, “, ” Harper, ” Tozer, homebuyers, he’d, Raunaq Singh Organizations: CNN, of Housing, Urban, Urban Institute, Intercontinental Exchange, Federal Housing Administration, US Department of Veterans Affairs, Realtors Locations: Georgia, Georgia , Arizona , Colorado , Texas, Florida

☆ Home sales slipped unexpectedly in April, despite big gains in supply
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Sales of homes priced below $100,000 fell 7.1% year over year, while sales of those priced over $1 million jumped 40%. The median price of an existing home sold in April was $407,600, an increase of 5.7% year over year. The median price in the Northeast was $458,500, up 8.5% year over year. The median price in the West was $629,600, up 9.3% from April 2023. Correction: The supply of homes priced at more than $1 million was up 34% year over year.

Persons: Lawrence Yun, Yun Organizations: National Association of Realtors, Realtors Locations: Issaquah Highlands, Issaquah , Washington, US, Midwest, West

☆ A homebuyer's guide to the real-estate revolution
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( James Rodriguez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +16 min

Real-estate agents' commissions have fluctuated between 5% and 6% of the sale price for decades, despite advances in technology and an influx of agents. The recent lawsuits, which accused the NAR and some of the country's largest brokerages of conspiring to keep agents' commissions unfairly high, could signal the start of a new era. If sellers aren't paying out commissions to buyers' agents, buyers themselves could end up on the hook. For example, what happens if the seller isn't willing to pay the buyer's agent's commission? In most states, the buyer's agent can technically just rebate that extra money to their client.

Persons: Austin Whitt, Whitt, —, I've, Steve Brobeck, Sabrina Brown, they've, Michael Warren, Sellers, Prentiss Cox, it'll, you've, doesn't, Jack Ryan, Ryan, homebuying, Rob Hahn, Wendy Gilch, Gilch, I'm, it's, David Dworkin, Dworkin, Cox, It's Organizations: Realtors, National Association of Realtors, NAR, Consumer Federation of America, Getty, University of Minnesota, MLS, Consumer Federation of, National Housing Conference, Justice Department Locations: Tennessee, Nashville, America, North Carolina, United Kingdom, Australia

☆ 5 cities that will give you a house or land for free
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Jordan Pandy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Some towns and cities want people to move there so badly that they give things away for free. Some places are offering property to free homes or land. Here's a list of cities across the country that give free property to movers. According to the latest data from the Realtors' Land Institute, sales of American land increased 1.2% from 2022 to 2023, while its cost jumped 1.9%. Perks range from $10,000 cash, like in Tulsa, to free childcare and access to coworking spaces.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, Realtors, Land Institute, Business Locations: Tulsa

☆ 5 US cities that will give you a free house or land
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-06 | by ( Jordan Pandy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Some cities in the US try to lure people to move there by giving away property for free. In some spots, land is given for free, but the recipient is responsible for building a home. Here's a list of cities across the country that give free property to movers. Some towns, meanwhile, are offering movers land or entire homes at low or no cost. Here are a few places across the country that are offering land or property to movers.

Persons: —, they're Organizations: Service, Realtors, Land Institute Locations: Tulsa, In Kansas, Iowa

☆ The Realtors settlement is already changing the way some Americans buy and sell homes
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-30 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The mere prospect of a future settlement has already caused some Americans to change their behavior when buying and selling their homes. If approved by a judge, the settlement comes with new rules for Realtors. Potential for lower homebuying costsThe new rules could help lower home prices, experts say. Sales commissions, traditionally shared between a buyers’ agent and the agent who lists a home on the market, are usually between 5% and 6% of a home’s selling price. But, for the time being, buyers’ agents will still be able to see that Hanley isn’t offering them compensation, potentially disincentivizing them from showing his home to clients.

Persons: homebuyers, ”, Debra Dobbs, Jeremy Cannon, Cannon, ” Cannon, “, Matt Hanley, ” Hanley, “ I’m, Hanley isn’t, Hanley, “ We’ve, ‘ Let’s, ’ ”, Mariya Letdin, Letdin, ” Letdin Organizations: CNN, National Association of Realtors, Realtors, ”, NAR, Florida State University Locations: Chicago, Corona , California, Minnesota

☆ The Realtors’ Big Defeat
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( David Leonhardt | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Free-market economic theory suggests that the American real estate market should not have been able to exist as it has for decades. Americans have long paid unusually high commissions to real estate agents. Some real estate brokers, recognizing the chance to win business by charging lower commissions, would have done so. Instead, an average home sale in the U.S. has cost between $5,000 and $15,000 more than it would have without the inflated commissions. This money has been akin to a tax, collected by real estate agents instead of the government.

Locations: U.S, Germany, Australia, Britain

☆ A Threat to the American Way of Real Estate
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

A sign advertises a home for sale in Washington, Aug. 23. Photo: Michael Reynolds/Zuma PressRecent antitrust developments and potential regulatory changes could reshape the U.S. real-estate landscape, making the American dream a potential nightmare (“A Big Legal Defeat for the Realtors,” Review & Outlook, Nov. 1). In Missouri, U.S. District Judge Stephen Bough found that settlements in the first of numerous antitrust class actions are “fair, reasonable and adequate.” We agree, and we welcome improvements that enhance commission transparency, ensure an open marketplace and maintain a framework that ensures agents are representing the interests of both the seller and the buyer. Overreach beyond these rules—as contemplated in some quarters—may jeopardize one of the pillars of fair transactions: buyer agency. This risks leaving the next wave of home buyers navigating the financial decision of a lifetime without professional support.

Persons: Michael Reynolds, Stephen Bough Organizations: Realtors, ”, District Locations: Washington, In Missouri, U.S

The Justice Department, during the Trump administration, closed an investigation into the realtors organization. The Biden administration re-opened it in 2021 so it could probe how broadly housing listings are available and what fees home sellers pay to the brokers who represent buyers. The government's concern focused on private listings of homes, which NAR banned but left some exceptions, and a rule that requires sellers to pay the buyer's broker. Because of concern about "pocket listings," or private listings not available to the public, the NAR adopted a "Clear Cooperation Policy" in 2019 that was supposed to ban pocket listings but has been criticized for allowing exceptions. The NAR's Participation Rule had required brokers who listed a house to offer compensation to the buyer's broker.

Persons: Sarah Silbiger, Trump, Biden, Judge Florence Pan, Frederick Liu, Chris Michel, Diane Bartz, Chizu Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Justice Department and National Association of Realtors, The Justice Department, realtors, U.S ., Appeals, Circuit, NAR, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S

☆ Pending home sales drop to a record low, even worse than during the financial crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Pending home sales, a measure of signed contracts on existing homes, dropped 1.5% in October from September. They hit the lowest level since the National Association of Realtors began tracking this metric in 2001, meaning it's even worse than readings during the financial crisis over a decade ago. Because the index measures signed contracts, it is the most recent indicator of housing demand. The realtors continue to say it's not just high rates but still very low supply of homes for sale that is deflating activity. The Realtors noted that sales of homes priced above $750,000 have been increasing simply because there is more supply on the high end of the market.

Persons: it's, Lawrence Yun Organizations: National Association of Realtors, Mortgage News, The realtors, NAR, Realtors Locations: Northeast

☆ Courts Throw the Book at the Realtors
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

Photo: Gene J. Puskar/Associated PressIn the aftermath of “A Big Legal Defeat for the Realtors” (Review & Outlook, Nov. 1), there will be some chaos in the real-estate market. Will a buyer trust the seller’s agent to represent him properly? The United Auto Workers can conspire against three auto makers to increase the cost of automobiles. The teachers unions can conspire for more pay—without any improvement in student results—or to close down schools. Yet it is the real-estate agents and National Association of Realtors who are accused of conspiring to set commission levels, which, from personal knowledge, I know they don’t.

Persons: Gene J Organizations: Associated Press, Realtors, United Auto Workers, National Association of Realtors

☆ A Big Legal Defeat for the Realtors
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( The Editorial Board | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Journal Editorial Report: The week’s best and worst from Kim Strassel, Bill McGurn and Dan Henninger. Images: AP/Reuters Composite: Mark KellyThe National Association of Realtors has objected to our editorials challenging its anti-competitive business model, but what do you know. On Tuesday a federal jury found the Realtors liable under U.S. antitrust laws for conspiring to fix prices in the class-action case Burnett v. NAR. Missouri home sellers challenged a Realtor rule requiring seller agents to provide a blanket offer of compensation to a buyer’s broker to list a home on the association’s affiliated multiple-listing service (MLS). These databases of homes for sale are similar to stock exchanges in that they match brokers and sellers.

Persons: Kim Strassel, Bill McGurn, Dan Henninger, Mark Kelly, Burnett Organizations: Reuters, National Association of Realtors, Realtors, NAR Locations: Missouri

☆ Home Sellers Win $1.8 Billion After Jury Finds Conspiracy Among Realtors
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Debra Kamin | More About Debra Kamin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The realtors’ group and brokerages were ordered to pay damages of nearly $1.8 billion. The verdict allows the court to issue treble damages, which means they could swell to more than $5 billion. rule, a home seller is required to pay commissions to the agent representing the buyer, which sellers claimed forced them to pay excessive fees to the agents. The home sellers said the brokerages collaborated with N.A.R. For example, a home seller with a $1 million home can now pay as much as $60,000 in agent commissions — $30,000 to their agent and $30,000 to the buyers’ agent.

Persons: brokerages Organizations: National Association of Realtors, realtors ’ Locations: United States

☆ What it will take to make homes affordable again for millions of Americans
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Tim Mullaney | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +12 min

"At the current 8% mortgage rate, mortgage payment[s] are 38% of median income," Moody's Analytics chief economist Mark Zandi said. The National Association of Realtors measures affordability through its 34-year old Housing Affordability Index, or HAI. And even if home prices do the decline, that trend won't be sustainable unless America builds millions of more homes. And spreads will likely remain extra-wide until short-term interest rates drop below the rates on longer-term treasuries, Duncan said. "Mortgage rates will not go back to 3% – we'll be lucky if we get back to 5," Yun said.

Persons: —, John Burns, maven Mohamed El, Lawrence Yun, Yun, Mark Zandi, That's, Doug Duncan, Fannie, Duncan, Daryl Fairweather, They've, Fairweather, they've, Freddie Mac, –, Zandi, it's Organizations: Nurphoto, Getty, National Association of Realtors, John Burns Real Estate Consulting, NAR, Redfin, Allianz, America, Federal Reserve, realtors, Builders, Fed Locations: Florida, Austin , Texas, Boise , Idaho, Fannie Mae, America, New York, California, Phoenix, Tampa, Louisville, Indianapolis, Chicago

☆ Home Sellers Take On the Realtors Cartel
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Allysia Finley | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

Journal Editorial Report: The week's best and worst from Dan Henninger, Mary O’Grady and Kim Strassel. Images: Reuters/AFP/Getty Images/Bloomberg News Composite: Mark KellyThe 1.5 million-member National Association of Realtors spent $81.7 million on political lobbying in 2022, more than any other business group. Consider Burnett v. NAR, a federal class-action suit that Missouri home sellers have brought against the association. The case, which went to trial last week, presents an existential threat to the cartel. If the plaintiffs prevail, home buyers and sellers could save $120 billion in fees each year.

Persons: Dan Henninger, Mary O’Grady, Kim Strassel, Mark Kelly, Burnett Organizations: AFP, Getty, Bloomberg, National Association of Realtors, NAR Locations: Missouri

☆ Home sales fall again in July, as supply drops to near quarter-century low
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Homes sold at the slowest July pace since 2010. This count is for closings, so contracts were likely signed in May and June, when mortgage rates went from around 6.5% to well over 7%. Sales fell month to month in all regions except the West, where they rose 2.7%. Roughly three-quarters of the homes sold were on the market for less than a month, indicating still strong demand. "The housing market is at a pivotal point as we head into fall," said Lisa Sturtevant, chief economist at Bright MLS, noting higher mortgage rates in particular.

Persons: it's, Lawrence Yun, Danielle Hale, Buyers, Lisa Sturtevant Organizations: National Association of Realtors, Homes, Realtor.com, Realtors, Federal Housing Administration, Bright MLS

☆ Foreign buyers are bailing on the U.S. housing market. Here's why
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The survey does not count new construction, where international buyers are also active. In total, 15% of foreign buyers bought homes worth more than $1 million. Chinese buyers in particular like California, as they often buy so that their children can attend local schools and universities. The drop in overall foreign purchases is unlikely to ease the competition for domestic buyers, as international buyers only made up a little more than 2% of all buyers. But it could help on the margins in certain local markets favored most by foreign buyers.

Persons: Lawrence Yun, Juwai, Kashif Ansari, Juwai IQI, Yun Organizations: National Association of Realtors, Realtors, U.S Locations: China, Mexico, Canada, India, Colombia, California, Asia, American, Florida, Texas, North Carolina, Arizona, Illinois, Florida , Texas

☆ June home sales drop to the slowest pace in 14 years as short supply chokes the market
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Sales are unlikely to recover any time soon, as mortgage rates weigh heavy on affordability. Mortgage rates hung in the mid 6% range during that time and then shot up over 7% at the very end of May. The higher end of the market, however, appears to be recovering. While sales were down across all price points, they were down least at the higher end. Sales are unlikely to rebound soon in the existing home market, but sales of newly built homes are reaping the benefits.

Persons: Lawrence Yun, Yun, DR Horton, Donald Horton Organizations: National Association of Realtors, Realtors

☆ A Manhattan loft has been listed for $4 million, but you have to take on a tenant who's paying well below the area's average and has been there for decades
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A loft for sale in Manhattan comes with a tenant who's paying well below the area's average. The current rent doesn't cover the common charges for the property, listed as $2,802 per month. According to the Compass listing, the tenant in place pays a monthly stabilized rent of $2346.21. The current rent doesn't even cover the maintenance and common charges for the property, listed as $2,802 per month. The sixth-floor apartment in the same building with five bedrooms sold for $9.5 million in February, City records show.

Persons: —, appraisers Miller Samuel, Douglas Elliman, Steven Hochberg, Miller Samuel, Hochberg Organizations: Service, Bloomberg, realtors, Compass Locations: Manhattan, Greenwich Village, New York City, Golenbock

That could necessitate a second round of debt restructuring eventually at some of the developers, they said. Private developers have been in turmoil since mid-2021 following a crackdown on debt levels by Beijing that ensnared China Evergrande Group (3333.HK), then the No.2 developer, and eventually spread in the sector. Evergrande and Sunac China (1918.HK) are the most prominent among the handful of companies that have announced their offshore debt restructuring terms so far. More are expected to do so in the coming months, which will also include terms such as longer maturity extensions, lower coupons, and converting some debt into equity, developers and advisers said. Moreover, the private developers are staring at lower potential future revenues as they are unable to build on their land banks due to their precarious financial positions.

☆ A California-based woman bought 3 abandoned houses in a Sicilian village for $3.30, cashing in on Italy's desperation to repopulate its fast-emptying ghost towns
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Amanda Goh | Cheryl Teh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Rubia Daniels flew to the town of Mussomeli in Sicily after hearing about its cheap homes. Many Italian towns have introduced similar schemes in an attempt to repopulate rural Italy. Rubia Daniels standing in front of one of her Mussomeli properties Rubia Daniels. Rubia Daniels. She currently splits her time between San Francisco and Mussomeli and spends at least a month in the Italian village each time.

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