Vacation Home Sales Reach 2nd Highest Mark Since 2006 [INFOGRAPHIC]
Some Highlights:
- 58% of vacation homes purchased were single family homes.
- 51% of vacation homes that were purchased were found online.
- The median price of a vacation home is up 28% from 2014.
More & More Singles Are Falling For Their Dream Home [INFOGRAPHIC]
Some Highlights:
- 24% of all recent home buyers were single at the time of purchase.
- 47% of single men cite the desire to own a home of their own as the primary reason to buy.
- 18% of first-time buyers were single women.
Don't Be Fooled... Homeownership Is A Great Investment! [INFOGRAPHIC]
Some Highlights:
- Harvard University's Joint Center of Housing Studies recently released the top financial & emotional reasons to own a home.
- Owning is a good way to build up wealth that can be passed along to your family as it is usually a form of "forced savings."
- Whether you rent or own, you are paying a mortgage. Yours when you own, your landlord's when you rent.
Home Sales Up Year-Over-Year [INFOGRAPHIC]
Some Highlights
- This is the 48th consecutive month with year-over-year price gains.
- Lawrence Yun, NAR's Chief Economist says that, "The main issue continues to be a supply & affordability problem. Finding the right property at an affordable price is burdening many potential buyers."
- Inventory is still below historic norms at a 4.4 month supply.
The Mortgage Process: What You Need To Know [INFOGRAPHIC]
Some Highlights:
- Many buyers are purchasing a home with a down payment as little as 3 percent.
- You may already qualify for a loan, even if you don't have perfect credit.
- Take advantage of the knowledge of your local professionals who are there to help you determine how much you can afford.
The Difference An Hour Makes This Spring [INFOGRAPHIC]
Some Highlights:
- Sunday, March 13th, we "Spring Forward" one hour for Daylight Savings Time (except for our friends in HI & AZ).
- Every hour in the United States, 624 homes will sell and 118 homes will regain positive equity.
- The median home value will also increase each hour in the United States by $1.84.
Home Prices Up 5.76% Across The Country! [INFOGRAPHIC]
Some Highlights:
- The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) recently released their latest Quarterly Home Price Index report.
- In the report, home prices are compared both regionally and by state.
- Based on the latest numbers, waiting to move may end up costing you more!
Existing Home Sales Inch Up In January [INFOGRAPHIC]
Some Highlights:
- Existing Home Sales rose to an annual rate of 5.47 million, representing an 11% increase year-over-year.
- Inventory levels remain below the 6-month supply needed for a normal market at a 4.0-month supply.
- Lawrence Yun, NAR's Chief Economist, warns: "The spring buying season is right around the corner and current supply levels aren't even close to what's needed to accommodate the subsequent growth in housing demand."
How To Create Real Family Wealth [INFOGRAPHIC]
Some Highlights:
- Buying a home is often the biggest financial decision that any family will make.
- The average net worth of a homeowner is 45x greater than that of a renter.
- Homeownership puts your housing costs to work for you.
- Infographic was created in cooperation with Jensen & Co.
How Do You Know If You've Found Your 'Perfect Match'? [INFOGRAPHIC]
Some Highlights:
- Every agent brings a different set of skills & specialties to their clients.
- It is important to find an agent who you can trust to guide you through the entire process step-by-step.
- Having a conversation about your goals & expectations will not only save you unneeded frustration, but will also make the transaction as smooth as possible.
Where Are Americans Moving? [INFOGRAPHIC]
Some Highlights:
- For the 4th year in a row the Northeast saw a concentration of High Outbound activity.
- Oregon held on to the top stop of High Inbound states for the 3rd year in a row.
- Much of this Outbound activity can be attributed to Boomers relocating to warmer climates after retiring.
Existing Home Sales Bounce Back [INFOGRAPHIC]
Some Highlights:
- Sales in December were 14.7% higher than those in November, marking the largest month-over-month increase ever recorded.
- Inventory levels are still below historic norms at 3.9-months supply.
- Median home price is up 7.6% from last year, marking the 46th consecutive month with year-over-year price gains.
Should I Buy Now Or Wait Until Next Year? [INFOGRAPHIC]
Some Highlights:
- The Cost of Waiting to Buy is defined as the additional funds it would take to buy a home if prices & interest rates were to increase over a period of time.
- Freddie Mac predicts interest rates to rise to 4.8% by next year.
- CoreLogic predicts home prices to appreciate by 5.3% over the next 12 months.
- If you are ready and willing to buy your dream home, find out if you are able to!
Why Do Americans Consider Moving? [INFOGRAPHIC]
Some Highlights:
- In a recent Harris Poll, Americans listed "change in climate/weather" as their top reason for wanting to relocate.
- 41% would move for a better job opportunity.
- Being closer to loved ones filled out 3 of the top 6 reasons why American's move.
Change in Home Sales by Price Range [INFOGRAPHIC]
Some Highlights:
- Home Sales are up year-over-year in the top 4 price ranges and only slightly below last year's numbers in a fifth.
- A lack of distressed property inventory has led to a slow down in sales in the under $100K price range.
- As home prices continue to rise, there will be less homes available for sale in the lower ranges.
Resolve to Hire a Real Estate Professional in 2016 [INFOGRAPHIC]
Some Highlights:
- Happy New Year!
- If you plan to buy your dream home or sell your house in 2016, resolve to use a real estate professional!
- Real Estate Professionals are there for you through the entire process to help with paperwork, negotiations, pricing, and so much more!
- Let's get together to discuss the difference having a professional in your corner can make!
NAR's Latest Existing Home Sales Report [INFOGRAPHIC]
Home Equity Increasing as Home Prices Rise [INFOGRAPHIC]
Some Highlights:
- 91.9% of homes in the US have positive equity
- 256,000 homes regained equity in the third quarter of 2015
- 37.5 million homes have significant equity (defined as more than 20%)
Foreclosure Inventory Drops As Economy Improves [INFOGRAPHIC]
Some Highlights:
- Foreclosure Inventory has dropped year-over-year for the last 4 years (48 months).
- Only 3.4% of US homes are in serious delinquency.
- 29 states have a foreclosure inventory rate lower than the national average.
- For more information you can download the full report here
Do You Know The Difference Your Interest Rate Makes? [INFOGRAPHIC]
Some Highlights:
- Interest rates have come a long way in the last 30 years.
- The interest rate you secure directly impacts your monthly payment and the amount of house that you can afford.
- Experts predict that rates will increase by 3/4 a percent over the next 12 months.
- Secure a low rate now to get the most house for your money.
Existing Home Sales Up 3.9% [INFOGRAPHIC]
Some Highlights:
- The annual adjusted sales are currently at a 5.36 million pace.
- 14,684 homes sell every day in the United States.
- October marked the 44th consecutive month of price gains.
Singles Are Falling For Their Dream Home [INFOGRAPHIC]
Some Highlights:
- 24% of all recent home buyers were single at the time of purchase
- 47% of single men cite the desire to own a home of their own as the primary reason to buy
- 18% of first-time buyers were single women
Slaying Myths About Buying A Home [INFOGRAPHIC]
Some Highlights:
- Interest Rates are still below historic numbers.
- 88% of property managers raised their rent in the last 12 months!
- Credit score requirements to be approved for a mortgage continue to fall. The 723 average score is the lowest since Ellie Mae began reporting on scores in August 2011.
- The average first-time home buyer down payment was 6% in 2015 according to NAR.
Fannie Mae's Housing Forecast [INFOGRAPHIC]
Some Highlights:
- 30-year fixed mortgage rates are projected to increase steadily over the next year.
- Housing Starts will well surpass 2015 numbers.
- Home Sales will reach an annual rate of over 6 million by the fourth quarter of 2016.
The Difference An Hour Can Make [INFOGRAPHIC]
Every Hour in the US Housing Market:
- 634 Homes Sell
- 347 Homes Regain Positive Equity
- Median Home Values Go Up $1.46