NAR: U.S. Existing-Home Sales Jump 4.3% in October
Year-to-year, Oct. sales rose 26.6%, up for the fifth month in a row. “The housing sector has performed remarkably well” considering everything, says NAR economist.
NAR Forecast: 2021 Could Be Real Estate’s Best Winter Ever
NAR Chief Economist Yun predicts low mortgage rates (3.1%) next year, a 3% home price increase, 9% existing-home sales increase and a 23% surge in new-home sales.
Are You Lookin’ at Me? Are YOU Lookin’ at ME?
How do you get noticed online? To gain a following, you must offer something unique by first understanding your audience – and it doesn’t hurt to be funny.
Some Staging Is Ineffective – and Some Increases Liability
If a stager’s furniture is damaged when a home is on the market, who pays? Usually, it’s the homeowner. Use contracts and vet possible stagers before hiring them.
Home Construction Increased 4.9% in Oct.
The increase follows a more modest 1.9% increase in Sept. Building permits – a sign of future activity – remained steady in Oct. but are still up 2.8% year-to-year.
Mortgage Forbearance Helped Homeowners – and the RE Market
Freddie Mac: Forbearance did more than help at-risk owners. It also stopped a foreclosure surge from hurting the market and helped all homeowners retain their value.
Fla. Legislators Could Limit Covid-19 Lawsuits
Should a business be protected from lawsuits that allege COVID-19? Florida Realtors supports change, and lawmakers will likely consider the issue in 2021. They must work out details to shield businesses from frivolous claims but also keep them accountable for their actions.
Business: Did the Pandemic Finally End the Open Floor Plan?
Created as a way to boost collaboration, open floor plans started to fall out of favor even before the pandemic, in part because workers still found ways to form barriers.
Survey: Gen Z Expects Homes to Come with Tech
The RE industry is watching Generation Z as the leading edge turns 24. What do they want in a home? One survey found 62% expect to have smart-home technology.
Builder Confidence at Record High, 6% Above Previous Record
Builders are almost giddy. An Index of 50 suggests a balance between optimism and pessimism, but Nov.’s confidence number hit 90 after a record-breaking 85 in Oct.