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☆ National Association of Realtors president says she is resigning after blackmail threat
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-08 | by ( Dan Mangan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The president of the National Association of Realtors on Monday said she was resigning due to a blackmail threat that sought to "compromise" her leadership role. NAR President Tracy Kasper said she had notified the group's leadership team "that she recently received a threat to disclose a past personal, non-financial matter unless she compromised her position at NAR." President-elect Kevin Sears will immediately step into the post at the group, which represents more than 1.5 million members working in the residential and commercial real estate industries. and the majority owner of two other real estate companies in the state, according to her NAR bio. Also, the article was updated to reflect that Kasper wasn't president of the NAR in 2016.

Persons: Tracy Kasper, Kasper, Kevin Sears, Kenny Parcell, Bob Goldberg, Berkshire Hathaway, Silverhawk, CNBC's Diana Olick, Kasper wasn't Organizations: National Association of Realtors, NAR, New York Times, CNBC PRO Locations: Berkshire, Boise Valley , Idaho

☆ The state of the US housing market in 5 charts
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-05 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewThe US housing market is facing historic unaffordability and it's kept countless Americans sidelined or forced to face hefty monthly home payments. This lock-in effect has created a tale of two markets: those who have been crushed by high mortgage rates and those who have mostly gotten by unaffected. Many Americans secured lower mortgage rates during the pandemic. AdvertisementBut in 2023, that dearth of supply for existing homes was a boon for homebuilders — and Wall Street took notice. William BlairFreddie Mac Multi-family Home Serious Delinquency Rate William Blair, Freddie MacUltimately, in 2024 William Blair forecasts supply to improve, mortgage rates to fall, and existing homeowners to return to the market out of necessity.

Persons: —, it's, William Blair, Richard de Chazal, homebuilders, William Blair's, de Chazal, William Blair Freddie Mac, Freddie Mac Organizations: Service, Industry, Business, National Association of Realtors, Federal, Wall, Bloomberg

☆ The state that left millennials behind
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-04 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Millennials might be stuck California dreaming — and not able to do much more than fantasize. In the Golden State, homeownership is becoming more elusive, especially for millennials. In California, just about 38% of people ages 35 to 45 can say the same. That's not to say that millennials outside California are experiencing completely smooth sailing. A RentCafe analysis found that just over half of millennials now own, not rent.

Persons: Millennials —, That's, millennials, Insider's Kelsey Neubauer, Noah Sheidlower, Texas's Organizations: Golden State, Terner Center, Housing Innovation, UC Berkeley, National Association of Realtors, Survey Locations: California, Golden, it's, New York, Midwest, Texas , Arizona, Florida, Texas

☆ November pending home sales were unchanged, despite a sharp drop in mortgage rates
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-28 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Mortgage rates are key in this report, with the average rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage soaring over 8% in mid-October before dropping sharply to 7.5% in the first week of November, according to Mortgage News Daily. Analysts had expected the drop to cause a slight gain in pending sales, but apparently it wasn't enough, given steep home prices and tight supply. Regionally, pending sales rose 0.8% month over month in the Northeast and 0.5% in the Midwest. Mortgage rates are now solidly in the mid-6% range, but the supply of homes for sale is still very low. "With mortgage rates falling further in December – leading to savings of around $300 per month from the recent cyclical peak in rates – home sales will improve in 2024," Yun added.

Persons: Lawrence Yun, –, Yun Organizations: National Association of Realtors, Mortgage News, Midwest ., Builders, CNBC PRO

☆ Virtual-reality tech is helping real-estate agents and homebuyers save time and close deals — even remotely
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-14 | by ( Ngozi Nwanji | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. AdvertisementIn a world filled with news about seemingly endless types of emerging technology, virtual-reality, or VR, tech has become a tool that many businesses are leveraging. Research from Goldman Sachs estimated that 130,000 real-estate agents used VR to show homes in 2020, per Encora. Indeed, virtual tours were key to keeping the real-estate market alive while COVID-19 restrictions were in place. For properties that have a Matterport virtual tour available, people can "enter VR" and move within the virtual space online, Bowerman told BI.

Persons: —, it's, Goldman Sachs, Isamar Troncoso, homebuying James Bowerman, Bowerman, you'll, hadn't, Patricio Navarro, Navarro, there's Organizations: Realtors, realtors, Service, Grand View Research, VR, Research, Goldman, Harvard Business School, Real Creative Group, Compass, Property Locations: Matterport, Maryland, Miami, New York City

☆ Why are real estate commissions 6%? – and why that’s about to change
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Anna Bahney | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Many thought the internet would eventually kill the 6% real estate commission. Even as the ranks of stockbrokers and travel agents have dropped in recent years as commissions petered out, the number of real estate agents has grown and their typical commissions are bigger than ever as home prices have risen. That is largely because of the power of the National Association of Realtors, an influential lobbying group that represents 1.5 million real estate agents. How real estate commissions workHome sellers are usually on the hook for their real estate agent’s commission as well as for paying the agent that represents the buyer. Real estate agents will tell you commissions are negotiable — and they are.

Persons: Sellers, ”, Jordan Barry, “, Tiffany Hagler, won’t, Babiracki Barlow, “ we’ve, Vasi Organizations: DC CNN, Kansas City, Brookings Institution, stockbrokers, National Association of Realtors, University of Southern, National Association of Real, Exchanges, NAR, Association, Geard, Bloomberg, Getty, realtors, Agents, MLS, Department of Justice, DOJ, California Association of Realtors, New, Real, Board Locations: Washington, New York City, University of Southern California, Larchmont , New York, Boston, New York, New York —, York

☆ Millennials have become their own worst enemy in the housing market
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Cork Gaines | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The housing demand from millennials has made it harder for the generation to get into the game. Meanwhile, housing prices are still high but have started to pull back recently in some areas of the country. In September, Zillow reported that the total US housing market reached a record value of $52 trillion, a 49% jump since before the pandemic. AdvertisementMillennials are in danger of creating a housing bubbleThe research from Indiana University warns that the larger millennial population could lead to a housing bubble and a crash in the housing market. Demand from this generation is expected to wane just as baby boomers start to leave the housing market.

Persons: —, millennials, Zillow, ZIllow, Paul Bradbury, Millennials, boomers, Ariel Skelley, Xers, Tom Grill Organizations: Service, Federal Reserve, Indiana Business Research Center, IU Center, Real Estate, Getty, Education Data Initiative, National Association of Realtors, Indiana University Locations: millennials

☆ 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

☆ Why millennials say they need more than double the salary of other generations to be happy
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Millennials said in a recent survey that they need $525,000 a year to be happy. It's likely due to high debt loads millennials hold, along with childcare and housing costs. The average respondent said they think they need a $284,167 annual salary to be happy, and for millennials, that amount was much higher at $525,000. As Business Insider recently reported, millennials' financial well-being has plummeted, according to Morning Consult's latest iteration of its well-being index. Big debt loads are a contributor to millennials' financial well-being right now.

Persons: Millennials, —, Gen Z, Gen X, millennials, Fannie Mae, it's, Jimmy Gomez, Joe Biden Organizations: Service, Federal Reserve, Consumer Financial, Federal, New York Federal Reserve, of Labor Statistics, National Association of Realtors

Both are yet another indication that inflation has moderated from its pace of last year when consumer inflation was running at a 9.1% annual rate. “After fears of "sticky" and "persistent" inflation, the month to month slowing in the core pce readings is encouraging. Core pce has risen by 0.3% or less for 8 consecutive months. Political Cartoons on Inflation View All 19 Images"This report hit the trifecta,” said Navy Federal Credit Union corporate economist Robert Frick. “During October, mortgage rates were at their highest, and contract signings for existing homes were at their lowest in more than 20 years,” said Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist.

Persons: ” Kathy Jones, ”, Robert Frick, “, Zumper, Lawrence Yun, Curt Long Organizations: Federal Reserve, pce, Schwab Center, Financial Research, Federal Credit Union, National Association of Realtors, NAR, Fed, Labor, National Association of Federal Credit Unions, Dow Jones Industrial Locations: “

☆ Pending home sales drop to a record low, exceeding the decline seen during the 2008 housing collapse
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Matthew Fox | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Pending home sales dropped to their lowest level on record in October as mortgage rates remain high. The decline in pending home sales exceeds the drop seen during the 2008 housing bust. AdvertisementPending home sales fell in October to its lowest level on record, exceeding the decline seen during the 2008 housing collapse. But a decline in interest rates since then has pushed mortgage rates back down to about 7.3%. That slight decline in mortgage rates should help open up the housing market, but it's likely still not enough to completely thaw the frozen market.

Persons: —, Lawrence Yun, Freddie Mac, Yun Organizations: Service, National Association of Realtors

☆ 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

☆ US pending home sales fell to their lowest level in 20 years last month
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Anna Bahney | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Washington, DC CNN —US pending home sales fell to their lowest level in 20 years in October as mortgage rates surged to their highest levels of the year, according to a report released Thursday. Pending home sales dropped 1.5% last month from September, monthly data from the National Association of Realtors showed. The pending home sales index — a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings rather than closings — was down 8.5% from a year ago. Completed sales of existing homes and sales of new construction homes, which are also based on contract signings, also fell in October. In October, existing home sales fell to the lowest level in 13 years, remaining below 4 million for the first time since October 2010.

Persons: —, ”, Lawrence Yun, Yun, Hannah Jones, October’s, Jones, — Jones, ” Jones, “ Organizations: DC CNN, National Association of Realtors, Northeast, NAR, Realtor.com, “ Locations: Washington, Midwest, South, West

☆ Average homebuyers are beating out Wall Street landlords
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( James Rodriguez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

The shutdowns of 2020 created a perfect storm for the housing market — and supercharged the clash between Wall Street and regular homebuyers. Given the attention these markets received during the pandemic, it's no wonder that the battle between Wall Street and Main Street became the dominant story of COVID-era homebuying. Advertisement"If Wall Street was really gobbling up Main Street," Sharga told me, "we would see homeownership rates go down." Wall Street landlords have also been increasingly selling off homes to regular people, a Business Insider analysis found. Still circlingWhile average homebuyers have staged a comeback over the past three years, Wall Street isn't ready to jump out of the housing market altogether.

Persons: homebuyers, That's, Wall, elbowed, Rick Sharga, CJ Patrick Company, they're, who've, Axios, Sharga, CoreLogic, Pretium —, John Voorheis, Voorheis, —, Freddie Mac, James Rodriguez Organizations: Rage, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, Parcl Labs, Labs, National Association of Realtors, Wall Street, Investor, Wall, Tricon, Associates, Investors, Center for Economic Studies, Census Locations: Phoenix, Chicago, homebuilders, homeownership, Dallas, Charlotte, North Carolina, Atlanta

☆ Hong Kong October home prices drop to lowest since March 2017
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A general view of Two International Finance Centre (IFC), HSBC headquarters and Bank of China in Hong Kong, China July 13, 2021. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsHONG KONG, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Hong Kong private home prices extended a fall in October, dipping to their lowest since March 2017, official data showed on Tuesday, weighed down by higher interest rates and weak buying sentiment. Home prices in the financial hub, one of the most expensive markets in the world, dropped 2.2% in October from the previous month. Prices have dropped 4% in the first 10 months of the year after the sixth monthly decline in October. Investment bank UBS has forecast that Hong Kong's home prices could drop another 10% in 2024 as borrowing costs in the city have surged to the highest level since 2007.

Persons: Tyrone Siu, Martin Wong, Knight Frank, Clare Jim, Robert Birsel Organizations: International Finance Centre, HSBC, Bank of China, REUTERS, Realtors, Investment, UBS, Thomson Locations: Hong Kong, China, HONG KONG

☆ How much the typical first-time home buyer puts toward a down payment and where they get the money
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The typical first-time home buyer made a down payment of 8% and relied on their savings to do so. Why has the typical down payment for first-time buyers reached an over two-decade high when the housing market is so expensive? In part, it's because wealthier first-time buyers — who can more easily afford a higher down payment — have been particularly active in the housing market. In 2023, the typical first-time homebuyer had a household income of $96,000, up from $71,000 in 2022. Last year, the share of first-time homebuyers reached 26% , the lowest level since the survey began in 1981.

Persons: —, homebuyer, Jessica Lautz, it's, homebuyers Organizations: Service, National Association of, NAR

☆ US new home sales fall more than expected in October
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

New home sales dropped 5.6% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 679,000 units last month, the Commerce Department said on Monday. September's sales pace was revised lower to 719,000 units from the previously reported 759,000 units. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast new home sales, which account for a small share of U.S. home sales, would fall to a rate of 723,000 units. Most homeowners have mortgage rates under 3%, making many reluctant to sell, boosting demand for new construction. Mortgage rates soared as the Federal Reserve aggressively raised interest rates to fight inflation.

Persons: Sarah Silbiger, Freddie Mac, Torsten Slok, Lucia Mutikani, Paul Simao Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S, Commerce Department, Reuters, National Association of Realtors, Federal Reserve, Treasury, Apollo Global Management, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, U.S, New York

☆ Americans ditched big cities during the pandemic. Now many are regretting it.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Kelli María Korducki | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Susan, a 30-something artist, lived in New York City when the pandemic struck. The pair had talked about moving to a smaller town someday — the pandemic just shortened their timeline. As rent prices in big cities shot up and jobs went remote, cash-strapped people were quick to take advantage of an unprecedented situation and try someplace new. It was also a favor to her husband, who never felt at peace in the bustle of the big city. A few months ago, she and her husband found a renter for their house and returned to the city.

Persons: Susan, Eager, Riordan Frost, Millennials, Frost, Alex Gatien, he's, Gatien, Alexander von Hoffman, von Hoffman, Sandro Galea, Galea, Kelli María Korducki Organizations: Harvard's, for Housing Studies, National Association of Realtors, New, Boston University School of Public, Boston University School of Public Health Locations: New York City, McMansions, Toronto, St, Lawrence, Canada, New York

☆ It's never been harder to build wealth. Blame high interest rates and the US housing market.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( Jennifer Sor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

That's largely because it's become much harder to buy a home, the "big ticket" to wealth for most Americans. Less wealthy Americans have also been slammed by high inflation, high borrowing costs, and meager wage gains. An inaccessible housing market spells trouble for those looking to build up their nest eggs, according to BankRate senior industry analyst Ted Rossman. With ever-more Americans priced out of the housing market, that gap could grow wider. The struggle to build wealth — by way of the housing market or other means — has been reflected in the latest economic data.

Persons: It's, it's, —, Ted Rossman, Rossman, aren't, Fannie Mae, Michael Neal, Neal, Bankrate's Rossman Organizations: Service, Federal Reserve, Business, Federal, National Association of Realtors, Realtor.com, Urban Institute Locations: –

☆ Homebuyers can expect mortgage rates in the 6% range next year, says NAR's Lawrence Yun
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailHomebuyers can expect mortgage rates in the 6% range next year, says NAR's Lawrence YunLawrence Yun, National Association of Realtors chief economist, joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss the state of the housing market, why he believes it's a strange market of record-high home prices, deep-slumping home sales, and more.

Persons: NAR's Lawrence Yun Lawrence Yun Organizations: National Association of Realtors

☆ Mortgage demand jumps to six week high as interest rates continue to drop
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Total application volume increased 3% last week from the previous week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's seasonally adjusted index. Most mortgage rates in our survey decreased, with the 30-year fixed mortgage rate decreasing to the lowest rate in two months," said Joel Kan, MBA's deputy chief economist. Applications to refinance a home loan increased 2% for the week and were just 4% lower than the same week one year ago. Applications for a mortgage to purchase a home increased 4% week to week but were still 20% lower than one year ago. Mortgage rates moved slightly lower this week, but analysts are not expecting any major moves in the near future.

Persons: Joel Kan, Kan, Matthew Graham Organizations: U.S . Mortgage, Mortgage, National Association of Realtors, Mortgage News Locations: Columbus , Ohio, U.S

Mortgage rates have been falling consistently for several weeks now, and 30-year mortgage rates are finally back down near 7% after spiking close to 8% last month. So far this year, high mortgage rates have made homeowners reluctant to sell and give up the low rates they're currently paying. See more mortgage rates on Zillow Real Estate on ZillowMortgage CalculatorUse our free mortgage calculator to see how today's mortgage rates will affect your monthly and long-term payments. 15-Year Fixed Mortgage RatesAverage 15-year mortgage rates were 6.76% last week, according to Freddie Mac data, which is a five-basis-point drop from last week. Now that the Fed has paused hiking rates, mortgage rates have come down a bit.

Persons: It's, Lawrence Yun, Freddie Mac Organizations: homebuyers, National Association of Realtors, NAR, Zillow, Fed Locations: Chevron

☆ Soaring mortgage rates take their toll on the US housing market as sales slump to a 13-year low
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( George Glover | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Activity is now at a 13-year low as rising borrowing costs take their toll on the US housing market. Mortgage rates have cleared 7.5% this year, driven higher by the Federal Reserve’s war on inflation. AdvertisementThe spike in mortgage rates dragged on the US housing market once again last month, as activity plunged to a 13-year low even as prices ticked up. Soaring mortgage rates, driven to their highest level since the turn of the century by the Federal Reserve's war on inflation, have fueled the housing-market slowdown. As a result, existing homeowners have opted to cling to the historically low mortgage rates they locked in over the last 15 years rather than move house.

Persons: —, Freddie Mac, Lawrence Yun, Yun Organizations: National Association of Realtors, Federal, Service, Biden Administration, NAR

☆ October Home Sales Likely Fell to New 13-Year Low
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Nicole Friedman | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

Even as home-buying demand has fallen, the inventory of homes for sale remains low because high rates make homeowners unwilling to sell and move. Photo: Jamie Kelter Davis for The Wall Street JournalTuesday’s existing-home-sales report is expected to show that the number of home sales in October fell to a new 13-year low. Economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal estimate sales of previously owned homes fell a seasonally adjusted 1.5% in October from September. High home prices and elevated mortgage rates have made home purchases far less affordable for buyers, pushing many out of the market. Even as home-buying demand has slumped, the inventory of homes for sale has stayed low because high rates are making homeowners unwilling to sell and move.

Persons: Jamie Kelter Davis Organizations: The Wall, Wall, National Association of Realtors

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