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Coldwell Banker Bain Releases Annual 2019 Pacific Northwest Market Report For Puget Sound, SW Washington And Oregon Regions
Coldwell Banker Bain, a leading provider of real estate brokerage services throughout Washington and Oregon, and a market leader in home sales in 2019,* releases its 2019 annual market report providing a variety of statistics for the sale of homes in neighborhoods and counties throughout the Puget Sound region and SW Washington and Oregon, as well as for segments including luxury and condos. This report reflects activity between Jan 1, 2019 and Dec 31, 2019.**
https://www.coldwellbankerbain.com/blog/2020/01/17/coldwell-banker-bain-releases-annual-2019-pacific-northwest-market-report-for-puget-sound-sw-washington-and-oregon-regions
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The five priciest Seattle-area homes last year sold for a combined $113M. Four went to mystery buyers.
Western Washington’s five priciest homes in 2019 were — surprise, surprise — all on the Eastside.
https://www.seattletimes.com/business/real-estate/the-five-priciest-seattle-area-homes-last-year-sold-for-a-combined-113m-four-went-to-mystery-buyers/
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Average U.S. Home Seller Profits Hit $65,500 in 2019, Another New High
The latest profit figure, based on median purchase and resale prices, marked the highest level in the United States since 2006 – a 13-year high.
https://www.attomdata.com/news/market-trends/home-sales-prices/attom-data-solutions-year-end-2019-u-s-home-sales-report/
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Real estate startup Curbio expands to Seattle aiming to speed up home renovation projects
The startup is a licensed general contractor that partners with realtors to renovate houses that homeowners are preparing to sell. It handles the entire renovation process from start to finish, and sellers don’t have to pay until the home sale closes.
https://www.geekwire.com/2020/real-estate-startup-curbio-expands-seattle-aiming-speed-home-renovation-projects/
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Why Transit-Adjacent Placemaking Is The Future Of Urban Villages
When it comes to knowing where to develop in a growing city, follow the transit.
https://www.bisnow.com/seattle/news/construction-development/northgate-exemplifies-placemaking-potential-102656
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Hottest 'Hoods: These 50 Portland-area ZIP codes had outstanding real estate activity last year
The median time it took to sell a house took almost three days longer than in 2018.
https://www.kgw.com/article/money/business/portland-area-zip-codes-had-outstanding-real-estate-activity/283-b8024ad5-998d-49df-b3de-ec50ec6f24aa
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Existing Home Sales End Year with Solid Gain
After a slight decline last month, existing home sales, released by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), surged to near two-year high in December.
Curious just how far your dollar goes in Seattle?
http://eyeonhousing.org/2020/01/existing-home-sales-end-year-with-solid-gain/
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December 2019 Existing-Home Sales
NAR released a summary of existing-home sales data showing that housing market activity this December increased 3.6%. December’s sales of existing homes surged 10.8 % from December 2018. December’s existing-home sales reached a 5.54 million seasonally adjusted annual rate.
https://www.nar.realtor/blogs/economists-outlook/december-2019-existing-home-sales
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Housing Affordability Modestly up in November 2019
At the national level, housing affordability conditions improved in November 2019 compared to last a year ago and modestly rose compared to October, according to NAR’s Housing Affordability Index. Median home prices rose 5.4% in November from one year ago.
https://www.nar.realtor/blogs/economists-outlook/housing-affordability-modestly-up-in-november-2019
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List Your Vacation Home Closer to High Season to Get the Best Sales Price
Selling a vacation home comes with its own set of considerations. In contrast to selling a primary residence, for instance, holiday homeowners must think about the on and off seasons for their property’s location, carefully timing their listing to reach the most prospective buyers dreaming of a vacation retreat.
https://www.mansionglobal.com/articles/list-your-vacation-home-closer-to-high-season-to-get-the-best-sales-price-211413
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This ‘incredibly powerful’ home-insurance policy will make payouts even if your property isn’t damaged
Climate change is making extreme weather worse and, right now, Americans are paying the price.
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/this-powerful-home-insurance-policy-it-pays-out-even-if-your-property-isnt-damaged-2020-01-17?mod=home-page
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FICO just updated its credit scores — here’s how to improve yours
Longtime small-housing advocate Kol Peterson studied data from the city of Portland and found permits for accessory dwelling units decreased in 2019.
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/fico-just-updated-its-scores-heres-what-you-need-to-know-2020-01-24?mod=MW_story_top_stories
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Less Stress for Buyers as Housing Market Adjusts — Yet Remains Strong — Following Recent Boom Years
The real estate market continues to benefit from low interest rates — just below 4 percent for a 30-year fixed conventional mortgage. With these low rates, buyers are relishing their great timing and banks are inundated with homeowners who are refinancing.
https://425business.com/less-stress-for-buyers-as-housing-market-adjusts-yet-remains-strong-following-recent-boom-years/
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Sweat equity can be a push up to homeownership
Habitat for Humanity may be among the best-known sweat-equity programs, but others include USDA direct loan program, Fannie Mae’s HomeReady mortgage and Freddie Mac’s Home Possible mortgage. These loan programs are primarily designed for lower-income households.
https://www.seattletimes.com/business/real-estate/sweat-equity-can-be-a-pushup-to-homeownership/
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On the market: 10 Oregon homes with a splashy, indoor pool
An outdoor pool is a luxury. An indoor pool is a pricey, year-round exercise opportunity. Is it worth the expense?
https://www.oregonlive.com/life-and-culture/j66j-2020/01/49f0d978554490/on-the-market-homes-with-a-splashy-indoor-pool.html
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A Smarter Home-Buying Option is Now Available in the Seattle Area
ZeroDown is now available in the following Washington counties: King, Snohomish, Pierce, Thurston, Kitsap, Skagit Island, Lewis and Mason. People can choose any home on the market as their ZeroDown home, whether it’s in Seattle, Everett, Redmond, Bellevue, Olympia, Tacoma or somewhere in between.
http://business.itbusinessnet.com/2020/01/17/a-smarter-home-buying-option-is-now-available-in-the-seattle-area/
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4 Ways to Make Your Open House Event More Sustainable
Planning a sustainable event takes a lot of careful consideration – after all, as a famous puppet said some years ago, “It’s not easy being green”.
https://blog.coldwellbanker.com/4-ways-to-make-your-open-house-event-more-sustainable/
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Instagram's Most Popular Bathrooms Show Off Just a Touch of Vintage
There's something about the dark days of winter that makes us crave old-time simplicity and coziness—after all, would you rather drink that hot cocoa by a farmhouse fireplace, or in a cavernous modern mansion with cold concrete floors?
https://www.realtor.com/advice/home-improvement/instagrams-most-popular-bathrooms-show-off-modern-farmhouse-magic/
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10 Home Improvement Projects That Return The Most At Resale
If you want to get the biggest return on your investment in home renovation projects, it would be wise to take your to-do list outdoors. The 2020 Cost vs. Value report by Remodeling magazine found that nine out of the top 10 high-return projects are exterior replacement projects. Only the minor kitchen renovation rivals the rate of return of most exterior projects.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/brendarichardson/2020/01/14/10-home-improvement-projects-that-return-the-most-at-resale/#7828c43c6201
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Market Hotness Index
Metro Hotness - Zip Code and County Hotness
https://www.realtor.com/research/reports/hottest-markets/
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HOUSING STATISTICS
Housing Statistics offers 43 different sets of data, downloadable either as Excel or PDF files (updated weekly). Housing data and primary indicators of the industry are housed in one easy-to navigate location containing historical and current sets of statistics such as: Housing Starts (by Region & Structure Type), Homes Sold by Region, Producer Price Indexes (for Building Materials), Manufactured Homes, New Home Characteristics, Residential Vacancy & Absorption Rates, Units Under Construction, Value of New Construction, and many more.
http://www.nahbclassic.org/reference_list.aspx?sectionID=819&channelID=311
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Economic Indicators
U.S. Census Bureau Economic Indicators
https://www.census.gov/economic-indicators/
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CoreLogic Home Price Insights
The most geographically comprehensive and current home price index.
http://www.corelogic.com/about-us/researchtrends/corelogic-home-price-insights.aspx?WT.mc_id=crlg_151103_aHqc0&elq=d6379903117d41bcbe7b9f6a82f2189a&elqCampaignId=2692&elqaid=7659&elqat=1&elqTrackId=097f671c98fc48249757d8ddbd229326#.Vj1WlvnnuUl
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Bureau of Economic Analysis
U.S. Economy at a Glance
http://www.bea.gov/index.htm
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U.S. Housing Market Tracker
The U.S. housing market has struggled to find equilibrium after the bubble of the past decade. Here’s a look at where various gauges of supply and demand stand today.
http://graphics.wsj.com/us-housing-market/
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Mortgage Market Survey Archive
Compilation of Weekly Survey Data for 2015
http://www.freddiemac.com/pmms/archive.html
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Housing Economics
NAHB produces in-depth economic analyses of the home building industry based on private and government data. Our economics group surveys builders, home buyers, and renters to gain insight into the issues and trends driving the industry.
https://www.nahb.org/en/research/housing-economics.aspx