Housing economists and experts are raising their price forecasts for the balance of the year as relentlessly low inventories and strong demand continue to drive prices up prices and crippled affordability, especially for entry-level buyers in more active markets. The 2017 Q2 Zillow Home Price Expectations Survey found that the more than 100 participants in its latest survey expect prices … Read More »

Unable to afford to buy, unwilling to pay rising rents and underpaid compared to previous generations, more and Millennials are not only living with parent far into their twenties, they are also moving much less often than previous generations. Millennials – whether they are living with their parents or not – are moving significantly less often than earlier generations of young … Read More »

The supply of homes for sale this spring is so depleted that one of the nation’s valuation firms predicts that the inventory drought will reduce total home sales this year as shortages drive up prices and buyers fail to find properties they can afford, according to the latest analysis from Pro Teck Valuation’s Home Value Forecast. “The lack of inventory … Read More »

March buyers blew the roof off housing markets as they heeded warnings about the limited supplies of home for sale and found houses in record time.  National monthly market reports on March transactions chronicled surge of sales as the spring season kicked off and tens of thousands of new listings turned over in a matter of days. “We expected a … Read More »

Donald Trump’s rise through the GOP primaries and a surprise victory in November unmasked a deep and widespread angst over the quality of nation’s economic recovery. While national numbers on job growth and income levels have looked encouraging to national journalists and Washington-centric politicians, from the perspective of corner cafes and assembly line floors in heartland states, the picture has … Read More »

During the Foreclosure Flood, four to six million foreclosures—about as many homes as are sold nationally every year—switched from ownership to rental, bringing the total of single family rentals to about 14 million, more than ever recorded. The boom in single-family rentals has left an indelible mark on the nation’s housing economy.  The loss of these properties, most of the … Read More »

February is a critical month, a time when the spring market is opening in warmer states and is just weeks away in the upper Midwest and New England.  In a typical year, it is a month when the best stagers are booked, painters are busy, landscapers are trimming hedges and sodding lawns of homes soon to be listed, and agents … Read More »

For buyers and real estate professionals, the specter of consistently rising rates over the balance of the year is not a pleasant one.  Higher rates raise the total cost of buying a home for the majority of buyers who finance their purchases.  At some point, rising rates will hurt sales. If so, won’t rising rates also dampen the torrid price … Read More »

January is the month when real estate markets traditionally take a breather to restock their shelves for the spring season. In the final quarter of 2016 record demand powered by concern over interest rates and rising prices encouraged buyers to clear the shelves of depleted supplies and strong sales continued into the new year. An analysis of the January market … Read More »

Last year was not a great one for the housing economists who forecast home sales.  Most, include NAR[1] and Fannie Mae[2], predicted that existing homes sales would end up south of a 3 percent increase over 2015.  In fact, sales did a little better, rising 3.2 percent for the best sales year since 2006.[3] This year, experts are low-balling sales … Read More »