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“Participants generally noted a high degree of uncertainty surrounding the economic outlook,” the minutes noted. “FOMC minutes reinforced the ’wait and see’ policy stance was unanimous. Focus was on tightening in financial conditions and slowing in inflation and labor market. The central bank will meet on Dec. 12 for a two-day meeting of its monetary policy committee, but the markets are pricing in no increase in interest rates. “I’m expecting continued relief concerning inventory and mortgage rates as the Fed begins cutting rates in the first half of next year,” Torres says.

Persons: “, ” Kathy Jones, Jose Torres, “ I’m, ” Torres, Torres Organizations: Schwab Center, Financial Research, Fed, National Association of Realtors, Interactive

☆ US existing home sales hit more than 13-year low; prices push higher
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

"The combination of high prices, high mortgage rates, and millions of homeowners unwilling to move, given they've locked in low rates, has frozen the market," said Robert Frick, corporate economist at Navy Federal Credit Union in Vienna, Virginia. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast home sales would slide to a rate of 3.90 million units. Existing home salesTIGHT SUPPLYThere were 1.15 million previously owned homes on the market last month, down 5.7% from a year ago. Most homeowners have mortgage rates under 5%, making many reluctant to sell. At October's sales pace, it would take 3.6 months to exhaust the current inventory of existing homes, up from 3.3 months a year ago.

Persons: Sarah Silbiger, Robert Frick, Freddie Mac, Lawrence Yun, Yun, Jeffrey Roach, Lucia Mutikani, Paul Simao Organizations: REUTERS, WASHINGTON, National Association of Realtors, Navy Federal Credit Union, homebuyers, Reuters, Treasury, realtors, U.S, Congress, Builders, LPL Financial, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Vienna , Virginia, Northeast, West, Midwest, Charlotte , North Carolina

Sales of existing homes fell by 4.1% in October as a shortage of houses for sale and higher mortgage rates dampened activity, the National Association of Realtors said on Tuesday. The annual level of sales reached 3.79 million, down 14.6% from a year ago when sales were 4.44 million. “Prospective home buyers experienced another difficult month due to the persistent lack of housing inventory and the highest mortgage rates in a generation,” said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. There is some relief, however, as mortgage rates have fallen in the past week. Some housing industry analysts believe rates could trend under 7% early next year as overall interest rates begin falling amid expectations the Federal Reserve is done raising rates.

Persons: ”, Lawrence Yun, ” Yun, “, Danielle Hale Organizations: National Association of Realtors, Midwest, Federal Locations: “

☆ October home sales fell because of high mortgage rates, soaring prices and low inventory
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Anna Bahney | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Sales slumped in October and prices continued to climb, as mortgage rates surged last month and inventory remained extraordinarily low. Home sales remained at 13-year lows as buyers competed for the few available homes on the market and continued to push up prices. Elevated prices, together with the average rate for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage nearing 8% in October, have created the least affordable market in several decades. Home sales were down in lower priced categories – under $750,000 – due to lack of inventory and sales grew in higher price categories where there was more inventory. “The lack of inventory and higher interest rates really hitting the home sales market,” said Yun.

Persons: —, ”, Lawrence Yun, Yun, “ Organizations: DC CNN —, National Association of Realtors, West, NAR, “ Locations: Washington, Northeast, Midwest, South

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes slumped in October to their slowest pace in more than 13 years as surging mortgage rates and rising prices kept many prospective homebuyers on the sidelines. That’s weaker than the 3.90 million sales pace economists were expecting, according to FactSet. They have fallen five months in a row, held back by climbing mortgage rates and a thin supply of properties on the market. Political Cartoons View All 1260 Images“Lack of inventory along with higher mortgage rates (are) really hindering home sales,” said Lawrence Yun, the NAR’s chief economist. That amounts to just a 3.6-month supply, going by the current sales pace.

Persons: ”, Lawrence Yun, Freddie Mac, homebuyers Organizations: ANGELES, National Association of Realtors, Homes, NAR Locations: U.S

☆ Home sales fell to a 13-year low in October as prices rose
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The October sales count is based on closings from contracts likely signed in August and September. At the end of October there were 1.15 million homes for sale, down 5.7% from a year earlier. Sales fell in all price categories up to $750,000, but there was an increase in sales of higher end homes. Yun also noted that there are more homes available for sale on the higher end of the market. First-time buyers represented 28% of October sales, unchanged from a year ago and still significantly lower than the 40% share they have represented historically.

Persons: Lawrence Yun, Yun Organizations: National Association of Realtors

☆ Baby boomers got rich off real estate and they are in perfect position to do it again
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( Cork Gaines | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Nearly one-fourth of that was built through real estate equity. With less pressure from interest rates, they can take advantage of the current real estate market, too. They're also in the perfect position to help themselves by taking advantage of the current real estate market. However, boomers can make stronger bids on homes for sale because of their savings and real estate equity. AdvertisementMeanwhile, more than one-third of house purchases in September were all-cash, according to the real estate broker RedFin.

Persons: —, They're, Jessica Lautz, RedFin, Jeremy Grantham, Grantham, David Rosenberg, Rosenberg, Merrill Lynch Organizations: Service, National Association of Realtors, NAR, Brigade, Census Bureau, Federal, Rosenberg Research, North, Federal Reserve Locations: North American

☆ Millennial and Gen Z parents are struggling
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +16 min

AdvertisementMillennial and Gen Z parents are finding themselves isolated. But they and Gen Zers behind them have finally caught up to previous generations in terms of their income, Jean Twenge, a psychologist and the author of "Generations: The Real Differences Between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers, and Silents—and What They Mean for America's Future," told me. As fast as the money comes in from the pay raises that millennials and Gen Zers have secured, for parents the money goes right back out. These realities can force many millennial and Gen Z parents to make tough choices. But, at the same time, young parents are fleeing those walkable cities for the towns next door.

Persons: Kyle Taylor doesn't, Taylor, they're, Gen, they've, We've, Natalie Groff, Gen Zers, Jean Twenge, Gen X, Silents, Twenge, Groff, she's, Jimmy Gomez, Gomez, of Labor He's, Zers, It's, millennials, they'd, Brittany Pettersen, we've, Pettersen, that's, She's, Becca Balint, didn't, Balint, That's, who's, isn't, Juliana Kaplan Organizations: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bank of America, Department of Labor, Congressional, Caucus, of Labor, Pew Research Center, National Association of Realtors, Deloitte, Democratic Locations: The Alabama, New York City, California, Younger, Colorado, America, Vermont

☆ US housing starts rise moderately; tight supply supporting new construction
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Single-family housing starts, which account for the bulk of homebuilding, rose 0.2% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 970,000 units last month, the Commerce Department's Census Bureau said. Overall housing starts rose 1.9% to a rate of 1.372 million units in October. The number of housing under construction dipped 0.1% to a rate of 1.674 million units. The inventory of single-family housing under construction declined 0.6% to a rate of 669,000 units, the lowest level since May 2021. The stock of multi-family housing under construction edged up 0.1% to 987,000 units, not far from recent record highs.

Persons: Jeffrey Roach, Ben Ayers, Freddie Mac, Bill Adams, Thomas Ryan, Lucia Mutikani, Chizu Nomiyama, Nick Zieminski Organizations: WASHINGTON, Commerce Department, LPL Financial, Commerce, Data, National Association of Home Builders, Nationwide, Federal Reserve, Treasury, Comerica Bank, Reuters, Realtors, Capital Economics, Thomson Locations: Charlotte , North Carolina, homebuilding, Commerce Department's, Northeast, Columbus , Ohio, Dallas, West, South, Midwest

☆ 11 U.S. cities where you need to earn more than $200,000 to buy a home
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Mike Winters | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

You'll need to make over $200,000 annually to afford a home in some California cities, a recent National Association of Realtors report reveals. Perhaps unsurprisingly, cities that require the highest income are large urban coastal hubs where homes tend to be more expensive. In California, homes are both desirable and scarce, which is why the state has some of the highest home prices in the U.S. Here are the 11 metro areas where households need to earn over $200,000 to afford a median-priced home. Similarly, homes in smaller rust belt and rural cities are much cheaper compared with some cities in California.

Persons: Warren Buffett Organizations: National Association of Realtors, Thousand Oaks, San Locations: California, San Jose, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara , California, Anaheim, Santa Ana, Irvine , California, Francisco, Oakland, Hayward , California, Honolulu, Hawaii, Diego, Carlsbad , California, Salinas , California, Oxnard, Ventura , California, Angeles, Long, Glendale , California, San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles , California, Boulder , Colorado, Naples, Marco Island, Florida, Decatur , Illinois, Charleston , West Virginia, Erie , Pennsylvania, Youngstown , Ohio

☆ Spiking mortgage rates are pricing poorer Americans out of the housing market – with a third of all homes bought in cash, Redfin says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( George Glover | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Mortgage rates have soared north of 7% in recent months, driven higher by the Federal Reserve's war on inflation. One-in-three homebuyers are paying all-cash rather than taking out a mortgage, according to data from Redfin. AdvertisementMore than a third of homes are being bought in cash, according to data from Redfin, with low affordability and high mortgage rates pricing poorer Americans out of the housing market. That's a sign that wealthier Americans are making up a greater share of homebuyers with sky-high mortgage rates pricing out the rest of the population, Redfin said. Existing homeowners have also opted to cling to the historically low mortgage rates they locked in over the last 15 years.

Persons: —, Redfin, Dana Anderson, Freddie Mac Organizations: Federal, Service, National Association of Realtors, Business Locations: That's

☆ After a Landmark Verdict, Realtors Ask, ‘What’s Next?’
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Ronda Kaysen | More About Ronda Kaysen | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Similar suits are making their way through the courts, with more filed after the verdict, adding additional pressure on the industry. The ruling “will reshape the housing market," said Ryan Tomasello, a managing director covering real estate technology at the investment bank Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, affecting “the industry not just from the perspective of the consumer, but from the perspective of real estate brokers and agents.”N.A.R. said it plans to appeal the verdict. Interviews with real estate agents in markets around the country revealed an industry wrestling with its identity and uncertain about the road ahead. Others are convinced that the verdict will result in only modest changes, perhaps a few more disclosure forms atop an endless pile of paperwork.

Persons: brokerages, Ryan Tomasello, Keefe, ” N.A.R Organizations: National Association of Realtors Locations: Missouri

☆ At their annual mega-party, real estate agents on edge over the potential erosion of their commissions
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Anna Bahney | Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Courtesy National Association of RealtorsKasper echoed those sentiments in a keynote address to agents at the convention on Tuesday, telling agents: “We will continue to listen closely to your feedback. Real estate agents generate about $100 billion in commissions a year, according to the Department of Justice. And about half of that, plaintiffs in the recent case argue, goes to buyers’ agents. Visitors at the National Association of Realtors convention on November 14 in Anaheim, California. She said that buyers’ agreements may have to have wording that says that if a seller doesn’t agree to pay the buyer’s agent commission, the buyer is on the hook for that money.

Persons: Keller Williams, Tracy Kasper, Berkshire Hathaway, Silverhawk, ”, ” Tracy Kasper, National Association of Realtors Kasper, Renée Roqué, Alexis McGee, “, Liu Guanguan, John Natale, Natale isn’t, Lynn Madison, Madison, Chuck Simons, “ It’s, Matt Troiani, Troiani, it’s, ” Troiani, ” ‘, Jim Flanagan, Flanagan, isn’t, Nate Johnson, haven’t, Johnson Organizations: California CNN, National Association of Realtors, NAR, of Justice, NXT, Department of Justice, China News Service, Social Media, Realtors, Coldwell, RedKey Realty Locations: Anaheim, California, Missouri, America, Texas, Berkshire, Boise , Idaho, Stevenson Ranch , California, San Mateo County , California, New Jersey, Anaheim , California, Illinois, Valencia , California, Ocean County , New Jersey, Flanagan’s, St, Louis , Missouri

☆ Mortgage rates fall for third straight week, bringing some homeseekers off the sidelines
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Anna Bahney | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Mortgage rates have cooled in recent weeks as markets absorbed the latest economic indicators, including an improving inflation picture. “For the third straight week, mortgage rates trended down, as new data indicates that inflationary pressures are receding,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. When Treasury yields go up, so do mortgage rates; when they go down, mortgage rates tend to follow. “The gap between the 10-year Treasury yield and the 30-year fixed rate mortgage rate is historically around 180 basis points,” she said. “While the gap has narrowed somewhat, the 30-year mortgage rate remains 280 basis points higher than the bond yield.”By historical norms, she said, mortgage rates should be under 6.5%.

Persons: Freddie Mac, ”, Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s, Price, Jiayi Xu, Jerome, Powell, ” Xu, Bob Broeksmit, Lawrence Yun, ” Yun, “, Lisa Sturtevant, ” Sturtevant Organizations: DC CNN —, Mortgage, Association, Federal Reserve, Treasury, Consumer, “, National Association of Realtors, Bright MLS Locations: Washington

☆ How Real-Estate Brokers Are Reacting to the Historic Commission Verdict
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Nicole Friedman | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The recent verdict against the National Association of Realtors and large residential brokerages is likely to change the amount of commissions paid by home buyers and sellers, as well as how they are paid out. WSJ’s Laura Kusisto joins J.R. Whalen to discuss. Photo: Tamir Kalifa For The Wall Street JournalResidential real-estate brokerages are seeking to reassure investors after last month’s $1.8 billion verdict against the National Association of Realtors, another potential blow to an industry already reeling from a severe housing-market slowdown. Industry analysts say the historic verdict could prompt changes in how real-estate agents are paid and eventually push commissions down. A federal jury on Oct. 31 found NAR and two large brokerages conspired to keep costs artificially high.

Persons: WSJ’s Laura Kusisto, Whalen, Tamir Kalifa, brokerages Organizations: National Association of Realtors, Industry

☆ Cooler monthly inflation report pushes mortgage rates even lower
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The drop was due to a sharp bond market rally, after the government's monthly inflation report came in lower than analysts had predicted. As bond yields fell, so too did mortgage rates, which loosely follow the yield on the 10-year Treasury . Mortgage rates had already been declining from their recent highs. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate jumped over 8% on Oct. 19, the highest level in more than two decades. "The interest rate rises should be over, and the Fed will have to consider cutting interest rates seriously.

Persons: Matthew Graham, Lawrence Yun Organizations: Mortgage News, Treasury, National Association of Realtors, CNBC PRO Locations: Chatsworth, Los Angeles , California

☆ You can thank China and record US oil output for lower gas prices
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

But the cost of crude oil has been largely declining since the middle of October. The average for a gallon of gas in the United States, meanwhile, dropped to $3.37, according to AAA. This “steady, if slow” decline in gas prices, said an AAA spokesperson, may soon gain speed if oil prices continue their descent. They’re more concerned with economic weakness in China and an increase in oil production in the United States. In the first week of November, US crude oil production reached a new record of 13.2 million barrels per day.

Persons: ” David Kelly, ”, ” David Morrison, refiners, ” Craig Erlam, Brent, Chris Isidore, “, Ted Decker, Refinitiv, Read, Homebuyers Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, AAA, Asset Management, Federal Reserve, Trade, China’s National Bureau of Statistics, . West Texas Intermediate, International Energy Agency, Revenue, National Association of Realtors, Census Locations: New York, Europe, Saudi Arabia, Russia, United States, China, Iran, America, United

☆ Manhattan real estate brokerages are sued for inflating commissions
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Jonathan Stempel | Companies Need To Integrate Climate Reporting Across Functions To Comply With California S New Law | Henry Engler | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Nov 13 (Reuters) - A lawsuit filed on Monday accuses the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) and more than two dozen brokerages and companies of conspiring to artificially inflate commissions paid to agents who help sell residential real estate in Manhattan. That verdict, which a judge can triple to more than $5.3 billion, could upend decades-old practices that require sellers to pay commissions to buyers' brokers. March said it is unclear whether this would result in lower commissions, or delay sales while buyers' brokers negotiate with sellers. The lawsuit seeks damages for sellers of Manhattan residential property in the last four years who paid buyer brokers' commissions under REBNY rules. The case is March v. Real Estate Board of New York et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No.

Persons: Douglas, Mike Segar, Douglas Elliman, Monty, Carl Hum, Corcoran, REBNY, Jonathan Stempel, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: REUTERS, Real, Board, New, Corcoran, National Association of Realtors, NAR, ., Court, Southern District of, Thomson Locations: Manhattan's, New York City , New York, U.S, New York, Manhattan, Missouri, Brooklyn, Southern District, Southern District of New York

☆ The Upending of One of America’s Most Popular Professions
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Anne Marie Chaker | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Realtors across the country are rethinking their jobs, and some are backpedaling from the profession, fearing that the heyday of their business is over. A court verdict last month stands to radically alter the way real-estate agents are paid for their work, and could result in far lower pay for the 1.6 million men and women who sell homes as their main job or as a side hustle.

Organizations: Realtors

☆ Here’s how much you need to make to afford a home in America
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Anna Bahney | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

“First-time buyers tiptoed back into the market this year with less competition and fewer multiple-offer scenarios,” said Lautz. The age of the typical repeat buyer also dropped slightly to 58 from an all-time high of 59 last year. In comparison, the typical downpayment for repeat buyers was 19%, which is the highest share since 2005, when the typical downpayment was 21%. First-time buyers increased their reliance on financial assets this year, which grew to 24% from 20% last year. Of recent homebuyers, 7% were Latino, 7% were Black, 6% were Asian or Pacific Islander and 6% identified as some other race.

Persons: ”, Jessica Lautz, today’s, homebuyers, downpayment, Homebuyers, “ Organizations: DC CNN, National Association of Realtors, Census Locations: Washington, United, United States

☆ 'Selling Sunset' agents are freaking out about LA's new mansion tax — but it's not just millionaires who should be worried
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | Eliza Relman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

This time, it hinges on Los Angeles' new mansion tax, which impacts homes sold for over $5 million. She added of the city's mansion tax, "This is a very reasonable and equitable way to generate some resources that can support those needs." Unintended consequences of a mansion taxColloquially known as a mansion tax, United to House LA (Measure ULA) passed in November 2022 with 58% support. Shane Phillips, a UCLA housing researcher whose work helped inspire LA's mansion tax, is worried about the mansion tax depressing new development, particularly of multi-family buildings. Phillips argued that if the law is tweaked to exempt first-time sales, the mansion tax "will unquestionably do more good than harm."

Persons: —, Mary Fitzgerald, Nicole Young, Jason Oppenheim, It's, Oppenheim, — aren't, Mari Castaldi, Karen Bass, Shane Phillips, Phillips, that's, Billy Rose, you'll, Rose, doesn't, Castaldi, Phillips isn't Organizations: Service, Netflix, Oppenheim Group, realtors, California Association of Realtors, Budget, House, LA Times, UCLA, Agency Locations: Angeles, Los Angeles, New York, Washington, Massachusetts, Chicago, Santa Fe, California, LA

☆ Home prices are falling fastest in these 25 cities, helping buyers escape the least affordable housing market since 1985
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( James Faris | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Would-be buyers remain out of luck as property prices steadily climb. The median US home cost $406,900 in Q3, which was 2.2% higher than last year, according to the NAR's Q3 US housing market report released on November 9. 25 cities where home prices receded in Q3Contrary to some pundits' predictions , property prices didn't crater due to lofty mortgage rates. Even more striking is that 11% of metropolitan areas saw prices grow by double digits, which was more than double the prior quarter's 5% rate. Thirty-eight metro areas saw prices fall from 2022 in Q3, and 25 of those saw significant drops of over 1%.

Persons: Lawrence Yun, Yun Organizations: National Association of Realtors, NAR, Homeowners Locations: Northeast, Midwest, West

☆ Buying a House Isn’t Happening, So They’re Spending and Saving Differently
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Rachel Wolfe | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Would-be home buyers are giving up on the housing market and finding other ways to use the money they had been saving. With mortgage rates near 8% and average home prices hitting record highs, sales of existing homes were down 15.4% year-over-year in September, according to the National Association of Realtors.

Organizations: National Association of Realtors

☆ When You Give Up on Buying a House, What Do You Do With the Down Payment?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Rachel Wolfe | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Organizations: National Association of Realtors

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Voters have approved a tax on mansions to pay for affordable housing initiatives in New Mexico's capital city of Santa Fe. Tuesday's vote signals newfound public support for so-called mansion taxes to fund affordable housing and stave off homelessness. The buyer would pay $6,000 to the city’s affordable housing trust fund. Santa Fe voters previously shied away from prominent tax initiatives, rejecting a 1% tax on high-end home sales in 2009 and defeating a tax on sugary drinks to expand early childhood education in 2017. The Santa Fe Association of Realtors has filed a lawsuit aimed at blocking the tax, arguing that it the city overstepped its authority under state law.

Organizations: SANTA FE, —, Voters, Santa Fe, Santa Fe Association of Realtors Locations: SANTA, New Mexico's, Santa Fe, Los Angeles, Chicago, Santa

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