Realtor News

S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller: Buyer demand pushed Nov. prices 9.1% higher year-to-year – the biggest increase since May 2014. For 2020, price increases hit a 14-year high.

Americans think current conditions aren’t great – but they’ll get better. The overall index rose more than 2 points but a future expectations index rose 5.5 points. It also had positive housing news, suggesting “the pace of home sales should remain robust in early 2021.”

The Fla.-operated insurer wanted a 3.7% increase last month but was pressured to request more to make Citizens less desirable than policies offered by private insurers.

Almost every internet photo this week featured a cold Bernie Sanders with knitted mittens, and a Vermont Realtor who placed Sanders on a porch watched the listing go viral.

Realtor volunteers can receive $1,000 grants to boost their project and mentoring to help extend their community outreach. Deadline for applications: Feb. 28, 2021.

Urban Institute: Virtually all household growth (new households minus leaving households) over the next 20 years will be either Hispanic, Black or Asian.

More than $15T will likely be inherited by Gen X and millennials before 2030. Like their parents, these buyers will also expect excellent above-and-beyond service.

Pres. Biden considered homeownership an important issue during his campaign and has already instituted some changes. Congress will likely focus on housing-related pandemic aid first and, once the disease fades, turn to other issues, such as a proposed $15K new-buyer tax credit.

Debt-to-income ratios became skewed for anyone who temporarily lost a percentage of income, and forbearance programs are giving lenders fits in the loan approval realm.

HUD Acting Secretary Matthew Ammon said he acted on Pres. Biden’s request, calling it “a critical first step” to ensure families “will not be forced from their homes.”

An analysis by Pew Charitable Trusts: 16 states’ populations have declined since the Great Recession, but the big winners are Texas (up 374K) and Fla. (up 241K).

Chief Economist Brad O’Connor, NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz and others will discuss residential outlook, new-home construction trends, more at Feb. 4 virtual event.

The highest offer tends to win a bidding war, but frustrated buyers hoping to increase their odds have made Harry Potter videos and offered sellers Academy Award tickets.

Predictions can go spectacularly wrong, but a new focus on consumers could bolster lending rules (CFPB) and perhaps turn Fannie and Freddie into a “utility” (FHFA).

U.S. buyers keep snatching up homes as soon as they hit the market. Dec. existing home sales rose 0.7%, and 2020 yearly sales were up 5.6% – the most since 2006.

Florida Realtors Dec. data: More closed sales (single-family sales up 21%, condo-townhouse sales up 27.7%), more new pending sales, higher median prices and more new listings year-over-year. Chief Economist O’Connor: Higher pending sales “strongly signal” higher closed sales into 2021.

Immigrants under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program who are legally allowed to work in the U.S. may also now qualify for an FHA loan.

Fla. Supreme Court: State-run Citizens Property Ins. doesn’t have to compensate a Brevard County apartment owner for rental income lost after hurricane-caused damage.

The surge follows a 9.8% increase in Nov. Total housing starts for 2020 increased 7% compared to 2019, but builders voice concerns about “supply-side challenges.”

According to top agents, 2021 stories will relate in some way to the pandemic, with the tight inventory of homes topping their list. Also: How will vaccinated sellers react? Will a lot decide to list their home this year after months of waiting? And how many homes will go into foreclosure?