Great Spaces: Paradise Property for Sale, Walls Optional

Want to move to paradise? Who could blame you! This Hawaiian estate, located on the big island of Hawaii, is called Laule’a, or “a place of peace and happiness.” Happiness, indeed! Overlooking More »

The Future of Mortgages

The current trend in real estate has been quite positive. For an extended period of time, we have seen pretty consistent growth in sales and home prices. After years of dealing with More »

Builder Confidence Improves in May

Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes improved three points to a 44 reading on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) for May, released More »

Great Spaces: Paradise Property for Sale, Walls Optional

Want to move to paradise? Who could blame you! This Hawaiian estate, located on the big island of Hawaii, is called Laule’a, or “a place of peace and happiness.” Happiness, indeed! Overlooking the fifth green of the Kona Country Club’s mauka course in the prestigious Keauhou Estates, this stunning property mixes tropical design with contemporary [...]
RISMedia » Consumer News and Advice

The Future of Mortgages

The current trend in real estate has been quite positive. For an extended period of time, we have seen pretty consistent growth in sales and home prices. After years of dealing with poor market conditions, we are all breathing a sigh of relief. Nevertheless, the industry must be vigilant in ensuring that nothing is done [...]
RISMedia » Consumer News and Advice

Builder Confidence Improves in May

Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes improved three points to a 44 reading on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) for May, released recently. This gain, from a downwardly revised 41 in April, reflected improvement in all three index components – current sales conditions, sales expectations [...]
RISMedia » Consumer News and Advice

Positive Equity Is Driving Down Defaults

Homeowners with positive equity in their homes have fewer problem loans and are outperforming the national average for defaults. Their default rates are close to pre-crisis norms. The latest data from Lender Processing Servicers shows that the overall equity trend has been a very positive one. “LPS’ latest data shows that the share of loans [...]
RISMedia » Consumer News and Advice

Improving Markets List Includes 258 Metros in May

The number of U.S. housing markets showing sustained improvement in three key measures fell slightly to 258 in May from 273 in April, according to the NAHB/First American Improving Markets Index (IMI), released recently. This total includes entrants from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The IMI identifies metropolitan areas that have shown [...]
RISMedia » Consumer News and Advice

Top Homebuyer Questions

Buying a house is the biggest investment most people will make in their lifetime, and the complex process can be intimidating to many homebuyers. Knowing the right questions to ask and receiving professional advice will help your clients make a sound investment for their future. Whether they are buying their first home or moving across [...]
RISMedia » Consumer News and Advice

Miami Ranked 2nd among Foreign Consumers Searching U.S. Properties

Attention from foreign consumers searching U.S. properties increased for Miami in March, according to the 26,000-member MIAMI Association of REALTORS® (MIAMI). South Florida, the top area in the nation for international real estate buyers, remains the focus of consumers from a diverse group of nations. Miami Top Market for Foreign Consumers In March, Miami ranked [...]
RISMedia » Consumer News and Advice

Housing Tax Incentives Critical to Maintain Thriving Middle Class

To meet the nation’s growing need for affordable rental housing and homeownership opportunities, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) recently called on Congress to maintain its support for vital housing tax incentives, including the Low Income Housing Tax Credit, the mortgage interest deduction and real estate tax deductions. “Home building is an industry dominated [...]
RISMedia » Consumer News and Advice

Investors and the Home-Rental Market

In traditional housing recoveries, individuals and households provide the bulk of the demand the market needs to rebound. This time, though, a different kind of buyer has been powering the housing recovery: investors looking for valuable rental property. Along with individual investors, institutional investors have poured into the single-family home market, buying enough foreclosed and [...]
RISMedia » Consumer News and Advice

March Pending Home Sales Improve 1.5%

Pending home sales increased in March and remain above year-ago levels, but contract activity in recent months shows only modest movement, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings, rose 1.5 percent to 105.7 in March from a downwardly revised 104.1 in February, and [...]
RISMedia » Consumer News and Advice