Today’s real estate market is challenging and competitive, but this year’s REALTOR® Magazine “30 Under 30″ honorees haven’t let that deter them. The 2012 class is following in the strong entrepreneurial tradition of real estate, creating their own pathways to success. “I am always astonished to see the “30 Under 30″ professionals every year and [...]
RISMedia » Consumer News and Advice
’30 Under 30′ REALTORS® Represent Future of Real Estate Profession
Future of Housing Finance Will Be Top Issue for Next President
The future of housing finance in the U.S. will be a key issue facing the winner of the upcoming presidential election. That’s what a panel of industry experts told several thousand Realtors® gathered at a symposium, Housing Policy in 2013: Challenges, Opportunities and Solutions, during the REALTORS® Midyear Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo this week. [...]
RISMedia » Consumer News and Advice
Housing Affordability Indices Reach Records in First Quarter
Housing affordability conditions for all buyers reached a milestone in the first quarter, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. NAR’s composite quarterly Housing Affordability Index rose to a record high of 205.9 in first quarter, based on the relationship between median home price, median family income and average mortgage interest rate. The higher the [...]
RISMedia » Consumer News and Advice
Builder Confidence Rises Five Points in May
Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes gained five points in May from a downwardly revised reading in the previous month to reach a level of 29 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), released today. This is the index’s strongest reading since May of 2007. “Builders [...]
RISMedia » Consumer News and Advice
Opportunity Knocks with Property Management
Many agents across the country are experiencing strong and stable sales. For others, the market is more uncertain. And if the recent economic situation of the last couple of years has taught us anything, it’s reinforced that old adage: You shouldn’t put all of your eggs in one basket. One solution that agents all across [...]
RISMedia » Consumer News and Advice
Six Keys to Selling Your Home in Today’s Market
According to the National Association of Realtors®, more than 4.25 million homes sold in 2011. That’s a lot of real estate and such numbers raise the question: How are sellers doing it? “Because individual homes are unique, there isn’t one single strategy that works equally well for every property,” says Wendy Forsythe, the executive vice [...]
RISMedia » Consumer News and Advice
Americans’ Expectations Align to Encourage Home Buying
More consumers may be looking to purchase homes with a shift in several key housing market indicators, according to Fannie Mae’s March 2012 consumer attitudinal National Housing Survey. More Americans now expect both home rental and home purchase prices to increase over the next year. In addition, confidence in consumers’ views of their own finances [...]
RISMedia » Consumer News and Advice
Kitchens and Bathrooms Remain Top Remodeling Jobs
A new survey released by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) shows common remodeling projects have increased, compared to a similar survey from 2010. The survey, released in conjunction with National Home Remodeling Month, describes the changes the remodeling market has undergone in recent years. Remodelers report that kitchen and bathroom projects remain the [...]
RISMedia » Consumer News and Advice
Eye on the Economy: Waiting for Stronger Growth
The new year opened with hope that the 3 percent growth rate of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) reported for the end of 2011 would lead to stronger job growth and improving housing markets. While January and February offered positive economic news, March and April reporting suggested that unusually warm weather may have accelerated some economic [...]
RISMedia » Consumer News and Advice
Are Sellers Waking Up?
It’s no secret that this is a good time to buy, but more and more sellers are beginning to agree. The uptick in seller confidence recorded by two recent surveys is uplifting, but concern is growing that seller withdrawal from the market is creating record low inventories that are limiting buyer choice, and curtailing sales [...]
RISMedia » Consumer News and Advice
