NAR Partnership Gets Realtors $50 Off Junk Removal
Realtors, their families and association employees can use the discount for themselves or their clients through NAR’s newest partner, 1-800-GOT-JUNK?
HUD Program Helps Older Owners Age in Place
Two Fla. agencies will receive almost $2M. The program helps older residents make functional home modifications that enable them to stay in the home as they age.
First-Time Homebuyers Out of Luck in Hot Housing Market
Historically, first-time buyers got a 1,400-square foot starter home and traded up later. But builders offered 418K of those yearly in the 1970s – only 55K in the 2010s.
Redfin Delays Reopening, Mandates Shots for Workers
Seattle-based Redfin has made vaccines mandatory for all personnel as it reopens offices, though non-vaccinated workers will continue to have a work-from-home option.
Freddie Mac Rolls Out New Lower-Cost Renovation Mortgage
The mortgage giant says “CHOICEReno eXPress” helps buyers and owners reduce costs compared to using credit cards or unsecured financing for small-scale projects.
Most Consumers Now Comfy with Online Closings
After a year of the pandemic, 81% of adults say they’re okay buying things – even expensive things – online, especially with extra authentication and verification steps.
Outlook Brightens for Apartment Landlords Amid Rising Rents
Moody’s Analytics REIS: The national average effective rent, a key industry measure, rose 0.6% in 2Q 2021, lifting the average U.S. effective rent to $1,394.79.
Latest ‘Blow Me Away’ Amenity for Buyers? Home Classrooms
Some parents home-schooled their kids even before the pandemic. But after the recent lockdowns, more buyers with kids see it as a golden amenity.
Calm Before the Storm? Forecasters Add to Hurricane Predictions
NOAA: 7-10 hurricanes will still form out of 15-21 named storms (includes tropical storms). If true, 2021 will be a record sixth straight year of above-normal activity.
Prediction: Lots of International Buyers Over the Next Year
The pandemic’s border closures and lockdowns dinged the international buyer market over the past year, but signs point to a resurgence among new buyers and those who postponed a purchase. Economists say today’s buyers should expect to face even more competition.