Research Commentary from REALTOR.org.

Quick Take: The Job Market

Thu, 2 Jul 2009 12:00:31 -0400

The job market remains weak, but declines are occurring at a slower pace than in previous months.

Did You Know: Interest Rates and Mortgage Pay Off

Thu, 2 Jul 2009 11:59:41 -0400

Did you know that lower mortgage rates enable a borrower to pay off a greater share of the loan much faster?

Economists' Commentary: Going Back to Plain Vanilla Financing

Thu, 2 Jul 2009 11:53:47 -0400

A recent Wall Street Journal article suggests that the new consumer protection agency will bring a return to plain vanilla financial products.

Quick Take: PHS, Employment, Manufacturing, Construction Spending and Mortgage Applications

Wed, 1 Jul 2009 11:50:27 -0400

NAR’s pending home sales index increased for the fourth consecutive month, a hint that sales may have already reached bottom.

Did You Know: Interest Rates and Yearly Payments

Wed, 1 Jul 2009 11:48:17 -0400

Did you know that today's mortgage rates, which have been between 5 and 5.5 percent, are generationally low.

Did You Know: FSBO and Agent-Assisted Sales Price

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:44:59 -0400

Did you know that all sellers in the Home Buyer and Seller survey reported a median sales price of $204,900?

Economists' Commentary: Second Quarter Retail Demand Declines

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:43:42 -0400

The retail sector is trying to regain its footing due to the low level of consumer spending.

Economists' Commentary: Office Demand Declines as Unemployment Rises

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:37:59 -0400

Accelerated by the financial crisis of 2008, employment in office-using sectors has been declining.

Did You Know: REALTORS® Staying in the Field

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 11:37:58 -0400

Did you know that 73 percent of REALTORS® reported they were very certain they would stay active in the field?

Quick Take: Personal Income/Consumption, Consumer Sentiment

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 11:37:57 -0400

This marks the fourth consecutive monthly increase in consumer sentiment.

Today's Quick Take

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:17:02 -0500

Today’s increase in jobless claims was unexpected as the pace in claims has been slowing.

Did You Know: High End Homes by State

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:13:50 -0500

Did you know Connecticut had the highest percentage of homes valued at over a million dollars?

Distressed Property: Below Market Prices in a Bifurcated Market

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:13:09 -0500

The existing home sales market is currently bifurcated between distressed and non-distressed sales.

Quick Take: Purchase Applications, Durable Goods Orders, New Home Sales

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:59:34 -0500

Overall, today’s economic news shows positive signs yet also indicates that the recovery will be slow.

Did You Know: Homebuyers and Social Media

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:58:19 -0500

Did you know half of recent buyers are on social networking sites?

Economists' Commentary: State Fiscal Conditions and Property Taxes: 2009

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:56:35 -0500

States and local governments spend and raise money in a variety of ways. Understanding how your state raises revenue will help you understand how it might be affected by the down turn.

Did You Know: Long Term Investment by Gender

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:49:39 -0400

Do you know how investors' views of long-term investment vary by gender?

New Economic Data: May Existing-Home Sales

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:49:39 -0400

Existing-home sales showed another gain in May, benefiting from favorable affordability conditions and a first-time buyer tax credit.

Quick Take: Credit Crunch Easing?

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:39:25 -0400

The credit market should not be considered back-to-normal until credit returns to all real estate loans.

Did You Know: Long Term Investment Trends

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:39:24 -0400

How do perceptions of stocks, bonds, savings and real-estate vary in terms of long-tern investment?

Did You Know: Different Residential Property Tax Rates

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:38:02 -0400

Property taxes are an important component of state and local government funding.

Quick Take: Appraisal Nightmare

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:34:55 -0400

The bottom line is that consumers today often pay more to order appraisals.

Economists' Commentary: Industrial Vacancy Rate Rises in Second Quarter

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:34:54 -0400

The industrial sector is facing mounting economic pressure, compounding a general decline in demand.

Did You Know: REALTOR® Business Expenses are Declining

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:32:29 -0400

The average total real estate business expenses are declining for all REALTORS®.

Quick Take: Weekly Unemployment Claims and Conference Board's Leading Indicator

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:29:40 -0400

Economic recovery may occur this year according to today’s data.

Economists' Commentary: The Realtors®' Confidence Index: Insight on Market Trends

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:29:39 -0400

The appraisal process has become a major problem, according to many respondents.

Did You Know: Age of First-Time Homebuyers

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 14:22:24 -0400

Did you know that home affordability is opening the market to younger buyers?

Quick Take: Housing Starts, Producer Prices, Industrial Productivity

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 16:23:39 -0400

Declines in the producer price index and the capacity utilization rate suggest that deflation, and not inflation, is the immediate threat to the economy.

Did You Know: Member Demographics

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 16:22:21 -0400

Did you know that as the housing market has changed so have NAR member demographics?

Quick Take: Housing Market Index

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:31:06 -0400

Mortgage rates have risen sharply the past few weeks, going from around 4.8 percent to almost 5.6 percent.

Did You Know: Different Residential Assessment Standard

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:30:24 -0400

Did you know that property taxes are an important component of state and local government funding?

Economists' Commentary: Is the Stimulus Bill Too Small?

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:29:25 -0400

The application of Okun’s law suggests that the current spending bill is having less of an impact than is desirable.

Did You Know: Home Improvement Projects

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 12:03:27 -0400

Did you know that the typical buyer spent $4,350 on home improvement projects within the first three months of their home purchase?

Quick Take: Mortgage Rates and Expanding Home Buyer Tax Incentives

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 11:38:11 -0400

It is vital for the Fed to not to lose sight of the importance of housing recovery.

Economists' Commentary: FHA Mortgages vs. Subprime Mortgages

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 11:34:48 -0400

Both FHA and subprime mortgages have rising incidences delinquencies, but there is a significant difference in the foreclosures rates between the two.

Quick Take: Retail Sales, Jobless Claims

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:57:51 -0400

Today’s news on better-than-expected jobless claims and growth in retail sales pushed stocks higher this morning.

Did You Know: Home Types Purchased

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:57:24 -0400

Did you know that eighty-two percent of home buyers reported purchasing a detached single-family home?

Economists' Commentary: June Market Forecast

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:22:02 -0400

Lawrence Yun gives insight on what we can expect from the economy in June and for the rest of 2009.

Did You Know: Location of Home Purchase

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:23:20 -0400

Did you know that the majority of buyers purchase homes located in suburban areas?

Quick Take: Trade Deficit, Mortgage Applications

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:24:03 -0400

The U.S. economy is currently in recession, and the export outlook does not appear to provide the stimulus it needs.

Quick Take: Wholesale Trade

Tue, 9 Jun 2009 15:24:56 -0400

Wholesale trade continues on a downward trend.

Did You Know: Most Desired Home Features

Tue, 9 Jun 2009 15:24:20 -0400

Did you know that the most desired home feature is central air conditioning?

Quick Take: Rising Mortgage Rates, Future Federal Reserve Chairman

Mon, 8 Jun 2009 15:01:53 -0400

Mortgage rates are almost certain to be higher this time next year, but the path is never a smooth line.

Did You Know: Commercial Real Estate Market Survey

Mon, 8 Jun 2009 14:49:20 -0400

Did you know that in April, 43.79 percent of Commercial Realtors® reported financing as their market’s greatest challenge?

Quick Take: Employment Report

Fri, 5 Jun 2009 15:26:42 -0400

The pace of job losses was nearly cut in half in May in comparison to the prior six months of job losses.

Did You Know: REALTORS® and Websites

Fri, 5 Jun 2009 15:26:41 -0400

Did you know that 60% of all REALTORS® reported having a Web site?

Did You Know: Magnet v. Sticky States

Thu, 4 Jun 2009 11:04:39 -0400

Did you know that Nevada is the top "magnet" state, while Texas is the top "sticky" state?

Did You Know: Demographics of Realtors®: Homeownership

Wed, 3 Jun 2009 11:35:05 -0400

Did you know that most members own their primary residence?

Quick Take: Mortgage Refinance Applications

Wed, 3 Jun 2009 11:15:46 -0400

Higher interest rates and a smaller pool of potential owners to refinance have precipitated a decline in refinancing activity.

Did You Know: Affiliate Memberships

Tue, 2 Jun 2009 16:48:40 -0400

Did you know that a quarter of REALTORS® have an affiliate membership?

Quick Take: World Stock Market Upturn, Income and Consumption, ISM Index

Mon, 1 Jun 2009 16:49:44 -0400

Slow yet positive economic growth can be expected in the second half of this year. The growth will likely maintain its momentum going into 2010.

New Economic Data: Pending Home Sales Rise

Tue, 2 Jun 2009 16:49:43 -0400

Bolstered by record low mortgage interest rates and the first-time buyer tax credit, pending home sales rise for the third consecutive month.

Did You Know: Net Regional Migration

Mon, 1 Jun 2009 16:48:39 -0400

The largest net regional migration is between Northeast and South.

Quick Take: Weekly Unemployment Claims, Durable Goods, and New Home Sales

Thu, 28 May 2009 15:23:09 -0400

April’s rebound of durable goods may be an indication that the overall economy is on the way to stabilization

Did You Know: Prior Careers of Realtors®

Thu, 28 May 2009 15:19:16 -0400

Did you know that of REALTORS® who held jobs in fields other than real estate, 19 percent were in business, management or finance?

Economists' Commentary: Distressed Real Estate--Prices Narrow in Bifurcated Market

Thu, 28 May 2009 15:19:16 -0400

In March ’09 distressed property sold at a discount of 20 percent to market, declining in April ’09 to a 9 percent discount relative to market.

Economists' Commentary: Existing-Home Sales in April

Wed, 27 May 2009 15:19:15 -0400

Existing home sales rose 2.9 percent in April. Lawrence Yun discusses the EHS numbers in depth.

New Economic Data: Existing-Home Sales Rise in April

Wed, 27 May 2009 15:24:00 -0400

Existing-home sales rose in April with strong buyer activity in lower price ranges.

Did You Know: Demographics of Realtors®: Age

Tue, 26 May 2009 16:32:14 -0400

Did you know that the median age of REALTORS® is 54-years-old?

Quick Take: Case-Shiller Index, Consumer Confidence

Tue, 26 May 2009 16:31:16 -0400

Consumers seem to be more optimistic about the economy and job prospects, while still postponing big-ticket purchases.

Jumbo Loans: Spotlight on Realtors®' Survey

Fri, 22 May 2009 14:38:47 -0400

The higher mortgage rates are taking a toll on the market for jumbo homes.

Did You Know: Demographics of Realtors®: Gender

Fri, 22 May 2009 14:30:35 -0400

Did you know that sixty percent of Realtors® are female?

Quick Take: UK Ratings, US Debt & Bond Yields

Fri, 22 May 2009 14:32:59 -0400

A high deficit and unsustainable debt growth will harm the economy over the long haul.

Did You Know: Real Estate Investments of Realtors®

Thu, 21 May 2009 14:29:57 -0400

Did you know that 40 percent of Realtors® noted that they owned other residential properties for investment?

Quick Take: Jobless Claims and Mortgage Rates

Thu, 21 May 2009 14:25:23 -0400

Low mortgages rates should induce buyers into the market, but economic questions continue to dog consumer confidence.

Economists' Commentary: Realtors® Confidence Index: Insight on Market Trends

Thu, 21 May 2009 14:25:23 -0400

The RCI provides monthly information gathered from Realtors® concerning the existing home sales outlook measuring current and future housing activity.

Did You Know: Realtors and Web Presence

Wed, 20 May 2009 14:38:41 -0400

Did you know that in 2008 three-fifths of all REALTORS® reported having a Web site?

Economists' Commentary: Commercial Leading Indicator

Wed, 20 May 2009 14:15:39 -0400

The preliminary value of NAR’s CLI declined sharply, suggesting rough waters ahead for the commercial real estate business.

New Economic Data: Commercial Leading Indicator

Wed, 20 May 2009 14:17:42 -0400

The general economic downturn, complicated by a severe credit crunch in commercial real estate, is dampening commercial real estate activity.

Quick Take: Housing Starts

Tue, 19 May 2009 15:54:08 -0400

A credit targeted only for new home buyers does not help to absorb the high level of existing-home inventory.

Did You Know: Use of Technology

Tue, 19 May 2009 15:51:36 -0400

Did you know that technologies gaining popularity among Realtors® include smart phones, Instant Messaging, and GPS?

Quick Take: Home Market Index

Mon, 18 May 2009 15:49:28 -0400

We can expect muted growth in new homes as the inventory of existing homes still remains relatively high, and liquidity in this market is scarce.

Quick Take: CPI, PPI, Consumer Sentiment, Jobless Claims, and Industrial Production

Fri, 15 May 2009 15:01:50 -0500

Consumers are more optimistic, especially about the future. This is good news for REALTORS®.

Quick Take: Purchase Applications, Retail Sales, Import/Export

Wed, 13 May 2009 15:02:17 -0500

Although the mortgage rates are at historic lows, purchase applications have not shown significant improvements.

Quick Take: Trade Deficit, Larger Budget Deficit

Tue, 12 May 2009 14:11:13 -0500

In coming months we should expect rising trade deficits to coincide with record budget deficits, commonly referred to as the 'twin deficits'.

Did You Know: Types of Home Improvement

Mon, 11 May 2009 14:22:10 -0400

Did you know that the remodeling priorities were similar among first-time buyers, repeat buyers, and those who purchased previously owned residences?

Quick Take: Mortgage Rates, Oil Prices

Mon, 11 May 2009 14:20:52 -0400

If oil prices rise to $70 or $80 per barrel, then mortgage rates could also rise.

Economists' Commentary: Commercial Real Estate Faces Threat from CMBS Delinquencies

Mon, 11 May 2009 14:16:12 -0400

Adding to a difficult situation, commercial real estate is facing another threat--rising Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities (CMBS) delinquencies.

Did You Know: Amount Spent on Home Improvement

Thu, 7 May 2009 14:39:58 -0400

Did you know that the typical buyer spends $4,350 on home improvement projects within the first three months of purchasing a home?

Quick Take: Jobless Claims, Productivity, 10-Year Treasury

Thu, 7 May 2009 14:38:46 -0400

The decrease in the weekly jobless claims could point to a slowing of the decline.

Did You Know: Home Improvement Projects

Wed, 6 May 2009 14:36:03 -0400

Did you know that 59 percent of home buyers took on home improvement projects within three months of purchasing their home?

Quick Take: Weekly Mortgage Applications, ADP Employment Report

Wed, 6 May 2009 14:34:57 -0400

Low mortgage rates and improved confidence should help sales in the second half of 2009.

Economists' Commentary: Bank Stress-Tests

Wed, 6 May 2009 14:30:20 -0400

In February, the government began an evaluation of all domestic bank holding companies commonly referred to as a "stress test."

Did You Know: Business Generated from Web Site

Tue, 5 May 2009 14:29:34 -0400

Did you know that REALTORS® web site spending is correlated with both the number of online inquiries received and the percentage of business generated via the web site?

Quick Take: ISM Index

Tue, 5 May 2009 14:11:33 -0400

NAR predicts positive economic activity growth beginning in the third quarter of this year.

New Economic Data: March Pending Home Sales

Mon, 4 May 2009 11:29:13 -0400

Pending home sales rose with many first-time buyers taking advantage of historically good housing affordability conditions, according to the National Association of Realtors®.

Did You Know: Research is on Facebook?

Fri, 1 May 2009 12:29:36 -0400

Did you know that as of April 2009, Facebook has more than 200 million users? Now Research joins the social media trend.

Quick Take: Commercial Mortgages, Sticky Property Tax, 10-Year Treasury, Manufacturing

Fri, 1 May 2009 12:28:16 -0400

More loans will become available for commercial real estate but residential mortgage rates could be creeping higher.

Did You Know: Commercial Real Estate Market Survey

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 08:58:05 -0400

Did you know that in February, 2009, the most pressing challenge Commercial members reported facing was financing?

Quick Take: Personal Income and Consumption, Weekly Jobless Claims

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 08:56:56 -0400

Consumers have adapted to a weak job market by cutting back spending and increasing savings.

Quick Take: GDP, Weekly Mortgage Applications

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 12:52:40 -0400

Dropping mortgage rates reflect the slow residential housing markets; however, the good news is that interest rates remain low.

Economists' Commentary: Online Social Networking and Realtors®

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 12:50:54 -0400

As this medium of communication and information sharing grows, more Realtors® are getting involved and finding new uses for these tools.

Quick Take: The Case/Shiller Price Index, Consumer Confidence

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 12:56:41 -0400

The latest updates on the Case/Shiller Price Index and consumer confidence figures, including information on the California and Nevada markets.

Did You Know: Inflation Over Time

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 12:55:59 -0400

Did you know that core inflation has been remarkably stable for the last 20-30 years?

Quick Take: Monetary Exit Strategy

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:39:57 -0400

Inflation is nowhere in sight, but could easily pop up in a year or two.

Did You Know: Prior Career of Realtors

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:39:57 -0400

Did you know that, most often, a Realtor's previous career was the business or management fields?

Quick Take: Durable Goods, New Home Sales, Home Price Dispute

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 15:57:51 -0400

A decline in durable goods orders is not good news for the economy, but a slowing in the rate of decline is a positive sign.

Did You Know: Americans Who Moved in 2008

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 14:07:35 -0400

Did you know that the number of Americans who moved declined in 2008 to 35.2 million?

Economists' Commentary: March Existing-Home Sales Examined

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 14:11:07 -0400

Existing home sales fell in March, but the data still points towards stabilization.

New Economic Data: March Existing-Home Sales Decline; First-Time Buyers Rise

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 16:12:08 -0400

Existing-home sales declined 3.0 percent, but first-time buyers are responding to low mortgage interest rates and tax credits.
View the data>

Did You Know: CPI and Inflation

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 14:11:55 -0400

Did you know that core inflation has historically remained in the 1 to 3 percent range?

Quick Take: Weekly Mortgage Rates

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 14:16:14 -0400

Despite the Easter holiday, trend housing demand remains surprisingly tepid given all of the financial incentives to buy in the current market.

Did You Know: Compromise

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 11:40:34 -0400

Did you know that 19 percent of recent buyers made some compromises or lowered their expectations about the price of the home they purchased?

Quick Take: Short-Sale Lender Approval, Deflation Threat & the Dollar, $100 Million Savings

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 11:39:39 -0400

Though not perfect, a little relief is on the way in speeding up the short-sales process.

Did You Know: Expected Tenure in Home

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 16:48:49 -0400

Among recent buyers, the median expected tenure is ten years, although a large number do not know how long they plan to stay in the home they purchased.

Quick Take: Conference Board Leading Indicators

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 16:40:48 -0400

Economic recovery is not around the corner, according to today’s data. Any meaningful recovery will occur in the fourth quarter at the earliest.

Did You Know: Interactive Median Home Price Map

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:53:46 -0400

Did you know that you can find out the median home price, the percent change from last quarter, and the average commute time for your area, using NAR's interactive maps?

Quick Take: Jobless Claims and Housing Starts

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:53:45 -0400

Did You Know: House Price Indices

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 15:51:06 -0400

Did you know that there are four major home price indexes that market participants follow? Do you know what they are?

Quick Take: Purchase Applications, the CPI, Industrial Production and the Housing Market Index

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 15:51:00 -0400

Low prices are good for consumers who can also benefit from Fed’s attempt to unlock credit markets and perk up growth.

Did You Know: Hours Worked Per Week

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 15:44:25 -0400

Did you know that sixty percent of REALTORS® worked at least 40 hours a week, and 15 percent worked 60 hours or more?

Quick Take: PPI, Retail Sales, and Bank Profits

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 15:44:24 -0400

Based on recent bank earnings releases, the consumer credit market appears to be improving.

Did You Know: Firm Affiliations for Realtors®

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 12:52:56 -0400

Did you know that four out of five appraisers are affiliated with an independent non-franchised firm?

Did You Know: Where Home Buyers Found Their Homes

Fri, 10 Apr 2009 14:50:02 -0400

Did you know that 34 percent of recent buyers found the home they purchased through their real estate agent in 2008?

Economists' Commentary: Wealth Gain for Homeowners

Thu, 9 Apr 2009 14:45:48 -0400

Homeowners store wealth in a variety of places, but chief among the options is their primary residence.

Quick Take: Jobless Claims, Mortgage Rates, and International Trade

Thu, 9 Apr 2009 14:45:48 -0400

The economic news out today shows a glimmer of hope that we might now be approaching a bottom of this recession.

Did You Know: First Step in the Home Buying Process

Thu, 9 Apr 2009 14:45:31 -0400

Given the convenience of the internet, it is not surprising that one-third of buyers first searched for properties online.

Did You Know: Most Difficult Task for a FSBO Seller

Wed, 8 Apr 2009 10:29:07 -0400

Did you know that two-thirds of FSBO sellers found some aspect of the home sale to be difficult?

Economists' Commentary: Commercial Real Estate--Multi-Family Investment

Wed, 8 Apr 2009 10:27:54 -0400

The multi-family sector, while more resilient, is feeling the effects of the economic recession.

Quick Take: Consumer Credit

Tue, 7 Apr 2009 10:26:55 -0400

Consumer credit outstanding in February 2009 is 2.56 trillion, down from 2.58 trillion in July 2008.

Did You Know: Aging Populations

Tue, 7 Apr 2009 10:25:45 -0400

Did you know that the group of metro areas gaining the most baby boomers are not typically associated with aging populations?

Quick Take: Long Term Interest Rates and Re-Defaulting Mortgages

Mon, 6 Apr 2009 10:24:48 -0400

The key to housing stabilization is whether or not there are sufficient buyers of foreclosed homes.

Economists' Commentary: Fuzzy Housing Inventory

Mon, 6 Apr 2009 10:23:10 -0400

There is a lot of fuzziness in what exactly constitutes excess housing inventory. Lawrence Yun clarifies.

Economists' Commentary: Affordability - Big Improvement in Most Markets

Fri, 3 Apr 2009 10:21:42 -0400

Affordability has been a major concern as home prices in some markets more than doubled earlier in the decade.

Quick Take: Employment Report and the ISM Non-Manufacturing Index

Fri, 3 Apr 2009 10:18:30 -0400

Despite the negative job market report, the lower mortgage rates can trump the impact of job cuts on home sales.

Did You Know: Immigrant Destinations

Fri, 3 Apr 2009 10:17:02 -0400

Did you know that metropolitan areas in the South in general are among the fastest growing immigrant destinations?

Quick Take: Weekly Unemployment Insurance and Mark-to-Market

Thu, 2 Apr 2009 10:04:05 -0400

Relaxing "mark-to-market" accounting rules is good news for the mortgage backed securities market.

Did You Know: Shift in Growth Patterns

Thu, 2 Apr 2009 10:03:18 -0400

Did you know that Americans have one of the highest rates of within-country movement in the industrialized world?

Did You Know: Timing the Home Purchase

Wed, 1 Apr 2009 10:02:46 -0400

Did you know that fourteen percent of buyers were prompted to purchase a home when they did based on improved affordability?

Quick Take: Mortgage Applications, ISM Index, Pending Home Sales

Wed, 1 Apr 2009 10:00:17 -0400

Although record-low mortgage rates have not significantly jump-started the home buying activity, they have certainly tripped a surge in refinancing.

Did You Know: Median Age of REALTORS®

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 09:59:30 -0400

Did you know that over time, the median age has remained relatively constant at 51 or 52?

Quick Take: Case/Shiller Price Index, Consumer Confidence

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 09:58:58 -0400

The low level of consumer confidence continues to be a drag on the housing market.

Economists' Commentary: The Second Home Market in 2008

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 09:44:17 -0400

To assess the state of the vacation and investment buyers market in 2008, NAR Research recently released the latest survey of second-home buyers.

Quick Take: Mortgage Rates, Second Home Activity

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 09:44:16 -0400

The mortgage rates have fallen below 5 percent to their lowest point in roughly 50 years.

Did You Know: Vacation and Investment Property Sales

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 09:43:07 -0400

Did you know that in 2008, Vacation home sales fell 30.8 percent?

Economists' Commentary: How Home Sales Stimulate the Economy

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 09:42:15 -0400

The National Association of Realtors® estimates that each home sale at the median generates $63,101 of economic impact (2008)

Did You Know: Commercial Real Estate Outlook

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 09:40:47 -0400

Did you know that the retail sector is in contraction, fueled by the recession, mounting job losses and a sharp drop in consumer spending?

Quick Take: First-Time Unemployment Insurance Claims and Gross Domestic Product

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:10:49 -0400

For the week ending March 21, the Labor Department has reported that first-time claims for unemployment insurance rose by 8,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 644,000.

Did You Know: 'Green' Features

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 16:34:05 -0400

With rising energy costs home buyers are increasingly aware of energy efficiency and other environmentally friendly features of homes.

Quick Take: Mortgage Applications, New Home Sales, Advanced Manufacturers' Report

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 16:32:24 -0400

Mortgage applications registered a jump during this past week, but it was mostly pushed by refinancing activity.

Economists' Commentary: Commercial Real Estate--Multi-Family

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 16:20:33 -0400

The multi-family sector is displaying softening, but positive fundamentals

Quick Take: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 16:42:37 -0400

Housing prices as measured by the FHFA house price index rose 1.7 percent from December to January.

Did You Know: What Sellers Want Most

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 16:39:11 -0400

Did you know that sellers indicated that what they wanted most from their agent was help pricing their home competitively?

Economists' Commentary: On February Existing-Home Sales

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 14:32:05 -0400

Today's data of rising sales are likely to stand, though it is more susceptible to bigger revisions due to winter months.

Did You Know: Where The High-Income Tax Payers Are

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 13:37:18 -0400

The share of returns at or over $200,000 ranges from 1.5 percent or less in Mississippi and West Virginia to greater than 5 percent in Washington, DC and Connecticut.

Did You Know: Consumption and Income in the US

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 13:36:29 -0400

The relationship between income and consumption is more variable than that between wealth and consumption, but has averaged around 90 percent.

Quick Take: Unemployment and the Conference Board Index

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 13:35:50 -0400

Federal efforts to stabilize the housing market will hopefully offset some of the deleterious effects of rising unemployment and reduced consumer demand.

Economists' Commentary: Commercial Real Estate: Retail Investment

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 13:32:31 -0400

The retail sector is in contraction, fueled by the recession, mounting job losses and a sharp drop in consumer spending.

Quick Take: Mortgage Applications, CPI, and the FOMC Meeting

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 13:31:28 -0400

Low inflation or even deflation is the risk the Fed sees for the economy and the CPI numbers support that.

Did You Know: How Much Mortgage Interest Tax Filers Deduct

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 13:30:23 -0400

Did you know that more than $480 billion in mortgage interest was deducted from 2006 tax returns in the US?

Economists' Commentary: Commercial Real Estate: Retail Fundamentals

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 13:28:11 -0400

Consumer spending, the main driver of the economy over the past years, is in decline.

Quick Take: Housing Starts, Building Permits and the Producer Price Index

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 13:26:58 -0400

Today's Quick Take examines the latest housing starts and building permits data as well as the new PPI release.

Did You Know: Personal Consumption vs. Net Worth

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 13:25:50 -0400

Did you know that changes in net worth generally dwarf consumption related changes?

Economists' Commentary: Commercial Real Estate: Industrial Investment

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 13:20:46 -0400

Lack of consumer demand and diminished international trade is driving down industrial investments.

Quick Take: Homebuilder Sentiment and Zero Down Payment Loans

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 15:46:54 -0400

Lawrence Yun examines homebuilder sentiment and zero down payment loan options.

Did You Know: REALTOR® Referrals

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 15:45:32 -0400

Did you know that experienced REALTORS® business originates mostly from referrals?

Quick Take: Unemployment Insurance Claims and Retail Sales

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 15:30:53 -0400

It is not clear whether the retail sales figures mark a cessation in the downward trend of consumer spending, or are only a temporary development.

Did You Know: Home Buyer Financing

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 15:30:52 -0400

Did you know that ninety-three percent of home buyers reported that they financed their home purchase with a mortgage?

Did You Know: REALTORS® Home Ownership

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 13:07:02 -0400

Did you know that, compared with a national homeownership rate of approximately 68 percent, 92 percent of REALTORS® own their home?

Quick Take: Mortgage Applications

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 13:05:19 -0400

Mortgage rates moved down during this past week, with consumers seeking mortgage refinances.

Did You Know: REALTOR® Blogs

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 14:58:14 -0400

Did you know that nearly one in ten REALTORS® younger than 60 years of age has a blog?

Quick Take: Whole Sale Trade, Market-to-Market Accounting

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 14:56:18 -0400

Spotlight on wholesale trade and the needed step of relaxing mark-to-market accounting.

Quick Take: Spotlight on Oil Price, Mortgage Interest Deduction Tweak

Mon, 9 Mar 2009 14:37:18 -0500

Spotlight on oil prices and more on why the mortgage interest deduction tweak is a bad idea.

Economists' Commentary: Homes Sales-- A Bifurcated Market

Mon, 9 Mar 2009 14:59:52 -0400

Jed Smith, Managing Director, Quantitative Research, looks normal and distressed sales in the current housing market.

Did You Know: REALTOR® Education

Mon, 9 Mar 2009 14:36:24 -0500

Did you know that overall, the education among REALTORS® exceeds that of the general population?

Did You Know: Relocation Reports

Fri, 6 Mar 2009 14:00:38 -0500

Did you know that Research produces Relocation Reports for hundreds of counties, free to members?

Quick Take: Employment and Mortgage Interest Deduction

Fri, 6 Mar 2009 13:58:59 -0500

Spotlight on the grim employment situation and why the mortgage interest deduction tweak is a bad idea.

Economists' Commentary : Industrial Commercial Real Estate

Fri, 6 Mar 2009 13:58:02 -0500

Industrial real estate is experiencing a contraction.

Did You Know: RCI By Region

Thu, 5 Mar 2009 13:57:05 -0500

Did you know that Realtors®' Confidence Index was highest in the Northeast in January?

Economists' Commentary: Commercial Real Estate--Office Investment

Thu, 5 Mar 2009 13:45:50 -0500

Office investment was down 75 percent in 2008.

Quick Take: Productivity, Mortgage Rates, and Factory Orders

Thu, 5 Mar 2009 13:47:37 -0500

Spotlight on productivity, mortgage rates, and factory orders.

Did You Know: Spanish Speakers

Wed, 4 Mar 2009 13:44:25 -0500

Did you know that 12.3 percent of people in the US speak Spanish at home?

Quick Take: Mortgage applications, jobless claims, and the ISM non-manufacturing index.

Wed, 4 Mar 2009 13:43:39 -0500

Mortgage applications, jobless claims, and the ISM non-manufacturing index.

Economists' Commentary: Commercial Real Estate--Office Vacancies

Wed, 4 Mar 2009 13:43:03 -0500

The recession continues to take a toll on the commercial real estate sector, and the office market is feeling the pain.

Did You Know: Veteran Population

Tue, 3 Mar 2009 13:42:08 -0500

Did you know that in 2007, Alaska had the highest percentage of Veterans in its civilian population at 15.4 percent?

Economists' Commentary: Pending Home Sales in January

Tue, 3 Mar 2009 13:41:06 -0500

Lawrence Yun gives his insight on the latest Pending Home Sales Index numbers and what they mean.

New Research: Pending Home Sales January 2009

Tue, 3 Mar 2009 14:50:49 -0400

Pending home sales declined on the heels of a weakening economy and with some buyers waiting for clarity on housing stimulus provisions.

Quick Take: Stock Market, Economic Outlook, and ISM Index

Mon, 2 Mar 2009 13:38:22 -0500

The stock market, economic outlook, and the ISM index examined.

Did You Know: Environmental Concerns

Mon, 2 Mar 2009 13:12:30 -0500

Did you know that despite the dire state of the economy, 34 percent of American consumers are more likely to buy environmentally friendly products?

Did You Know: Realtors®' Confidence Index

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 13:11:55 -0500

Did you know that the Realtors® Confidence Index rose for the first time in eight months to 23.2?

Quick Take: Government Spending

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 13:10:57 -0500

Government spending has stepped into the void left by the private sector and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.

Quick Take: Unemployment and Economic Conditions

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 13:10:00 -0500

Unemployment continues to grow, as economic conditions worsen.

Did You Know: Hours Spent at Home

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 13:07:36 -0500

Did you know that the average person spends 7.3 hours at home on any given day?

Economists' Commentary: Existing-Home Sales January 2009

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 13:06:13 -0500

January sales were low, no doubt due to worsening economic conditions.

New Research: Existing-Home Sales January 2009

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 14:51:52 -0500

January Existing-Home Sales Fall, Inventory Down

Did You Know: Owner Occupancy

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 13:04:55 -0500

Did you know that 67.2 percent of occupied housing units are "owner-occupied" in the United States?

Did You Know: Time Spent at Home

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 13:01:31 -0500

Did you know that the average person spends half of any given day at home?

Quick Take: Consumer Confidence and the SP?Case Shiller Index

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 13:00:18 -0500

Spotlight on consumer confidence and the SP/Case-Shiller index.

Did You Know: Housing Costs

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 12:56:58 -0500

Did you know that according to the 2007 American Community Survey, owners are spending more than 30 percent of their income on monthly housing costs?

Economists' Commentary: Economic Stimulus and the Foreclosure Prevention Plan

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 12:56:18 -0500

On February 17, President Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Find out what this will mean for REALTORS®.

Quick Take: Consumer Price Index, Producer Price Index and more. . .

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 12:55:06 -0500

Today's Quick Take looks a the Consumer Price Index, the Producer Price Index and Mortgage Rates.

Did You Know: Newest Homes

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 12:53:35 -0500

Did you know that according to the 2007 American Community Survey, 3.3 percent of the houses in the U.S. were build in 2005 or later?

New Research: Commercial Real Estate Forecast: February

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 14:50:22 -0500

Commercial Real Estate Activity Continuing To Decline

Did You Know: Rising Global Trade

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 12:52:45 -0500

Did you know that international trade activity has been rising much faster than overall economic activity since 1980?

Quick Take: Mortgage Modification Plan, Unemployment Claims, and more. . .

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 11:00:15 -0500

Today's Quick Take discusses the details in the mortgage modification plan, unemployment claims, and the CLI.

Did You Know: Distance of Moves

Mon, 9 Mar 2009 10:57:46 -0500

Did you know that overall, home buyers moved a median of 12 miles from their previous residence?

Quick Take: Mortgage Relief and Applications, and Housing Starts

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 10:56:27 -0500

Today's Quick Take discusses mortgage relief, mortgage applications, and housing starts.

Did You Know: Working From Home

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 10:52:41 -0500

Did you know that nearly one-third of multiple job holders worked from home on an average workday in 2007?

Did You Know: First Time Home Buyers

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 10:31:43 -0500

Did you know that first time buyers make up 41 percent of purchasers?

Economists' Commentary: Home Sellers Seeking Professional Representation Rising

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 10:30:40 -0500

Anna Barlett takes a 'behind the scenes' look at FSBO transactions - and why they can appear misleading.

New Research: Metro Area Home Prices

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 14:46:16 -0500

4th Quarter Metro Area Home Prices Down as Buyers Purchase Distressed Property

Quick Take: Unemployment Insurance, Retail spending and more. . .

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 10:29:54 -0500

Today's Quick Take looks at unemployment insurance claims, retail spending, Fannie Mae easing investor loan rules, and the home buyer tax credit.

Quick Take: Mortgage Applications, International Trade, and more. . .

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 10:28:23 -0500

Today's Quick Take looks at mortgage applications, international trade, and the recently passed stimulus package.

Did You Know: Environmentally Friendly Features

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 10:10:20 -0500

Did you know that with rising energy costs, home buyers are increasingly aware of energy efficiency and other environmentally friendly features of homes?

Quick Take: Stimulus Package, TARP Plans

Mon, 9 Mar 2009 10:09:30 -0500

Today's Quick Take discusses the stimulus package that was just passed, and the still murky TARP plans.

Did You Know: US Dollar Getting "Stronger"

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 10:06:33 -0500

Did you know that recently amid the global financial crisis the dollar has rebounded against many foreign currencies?

Did You Know: Consumer Confidence

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 10:05:39 -0500

Did you know that Consumer Confidence hit a record low in January? Find out how this compares to previous records.

Quick Take: Stimulus Package, TARP

Mon, 9 Feb 2009 10:04:13 -0500

Today's Quick Take discusses the stimulus package and TARP plans still being debated in the Senate, and the ten-year Treasury yield.

Quick Take: Unemployment Statistics, Mortgage Rates

Mon, 9 Mar 2009 10:03:39 -0500

Today's Quick Take looks at Census Bureau employment statistics, and mortgage rates.

Quick Take: Unemployment Insurance Claims, Manufacturers' Orders, and more. . .

Thu, 5 Feb 2009 10:00:18 -0500

George Ratiu examines unemployment insurance claims, manufacturers' orders, shipments and inventories, and a proposed Senate tax credit.

Did You Know: The Misery Index

Mon, 9 Mar 2009 09:58:29 -0500

Jed Smith, Manager of Quantitative Research, examine the Misery Index.

Did You Know: Housing Wealth Trend

Wed, 4 Feb 2009 09:57:43 -0500

Lawrence Yun, NAR's Chief Economist, looks at trends in housing net equity.

Did You Know: Value of Web Site Features

Tue, 3 Feb 2009 09:56:22 -0500

Meredith Dunn, Research Communications Representative, examines what web site features buyers are using to find homes.

Pending Home Sales in December and Forecast

Tue, 3 Feb 2009 09:55:38 -0500

By Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist

New Research: Pending Home Sales December 2009

Tue, 3 Feb 2009 14:44:21 -0500

Pending home sales show healthy gain and the Housing Affordability Index rose by 10.9% in December.

Quick Take: ISM Manufacturing Index, Economic Stimulus

Mon, 2 Feb 2009 09:54:56 -0500

Lawrence Yun, NAR Chief Economist, looks at the ISM Manufacturing Index and current legislative events surrounding the economic stimulus package.

Did You Know: Age and Size of Home

Mon, 2 Feb 2009 15:28:37 -0600

Meredith Dunn, Research Communications Representative, compares the square footage of sold homes to newly purchased homes for several age groups of home buyers.