Market Updates

Increasing energy efficiency has long been the mission of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and in 2015, two new regulations involving air conditioning equipment and water heaters will take effect to support this goal.  REALTORS need to be familiar with the new regulations because the regulations will likely force...

(TNS)-Home prices are ending the year on a stable note, according to new data out Tuesday morning.  The Case-Shiller Index - which tracks prices nationwide and in 20 major cities - reported prices grew 4.6 percent in October compared to a year earlier.  That's the slowest pace since September 2012,...

The housing market received both good and bad news as of lately:  the good news is that America's housing stock is now worth $27.5 trillion, an increase of $1.7 trillion over the last year.  The bad news is that U.S. home values rose to 6 percent year-over-year through November, the...

Last week, housing-data giant RealtyTrac released an analysis of fair market rents and median home prices in more than 500 U.S. counties, which shows that buying is still more affordable than renting in the majority of U.S. housing markets.  While this offers positive news for the housing industry, the report...

The answer can vary wildly depending on where you're working, how many hours a week and with whom. The following infographic will explain some of the variables.  Whether you're an agent, a potential buyer or just someone thinking about getting into the real estate business, we think you'll find it...

Freddie Mac recently released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS), showing average fixed mortgage rates slightly up from a few weeks ago, but with the average 30 year fixed-rate mortgage remaining below four percent. "Fixed mortgage rates rebounded with the 30-year fixed mortgage rate increasing to 3.93 percent...

We're closing out the best year in the U.S. economic recovery since the recession hit in 2008.  For the most part, the housing market has rebounded.  And plenty of places are reaping the benefits. Where can you find these housing markets?  Realtor.com Chief Economist Jonathan Smoke offered up his top 10...

Distressed homeowners and commercial property investors with transactions in 2014 will enjoy two more weeks of tax breaks following the approval of legislation by Congress late Tuesday. The National Association of REALTORS lauds the passage of these tax extensions, which will continue to prevent tax liability for underwater borrowers on any...

The number of U.S. homeowners upside down on their mortgages has fallen by more than 40 percent since early 2012, according to the third quarter Zillow Negative Equity Report. More than 7 million Americans who at one point owed more on their mortgages than their homes were worth have escaped -...