“Have clean hands in whatever you do. Integrity is doing the right thing when people are watching you and still making it right when they keep their eyes off.”
― Israelmore Ayivor
Cocktail chattables: With ultra-low interest rates, buying a home has become substantially more affordable — for all
Despite the average home price increasing $13,000 from a year ago, the mortgage payment required to buy that same home dropped 10% over that same span due to falling interest rates.
https://www.denverpost.com/2020/03/12/real-estate-voices-cocktail-chattables-with-ultra-low-interest-rates-buying-a-home-has-become-substantially-more-affordable-for-all/
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Homebuyers Have Significantly More Purchasing Power in 2020, But Must Contend with Low Inventory and Coronavirus Concerns
Statisticians in their work can account for many factors, but there's no equation to represent the fleeting nature of joy
https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/state/redfin-homebuyers-have-significantly-more-purchasing-power-in-but-must/article_bc898371-cecd-578b-97c9-491f02fef4c0.html
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Home Selling in the Age of Coronavirus: It's a Whole Different World
In the not so distant past, Seattle open houses were packed with home buyers eagerly poking their heads in closets, perusing spec sheets, munching on snacks, and offering bids above asking price in this ultracompetitive market.
https://www.realtor.com/news/real-estate-news/home-selling-in-the-age-of-coronavirus-its-a-whole-different-world/
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Coronavirus Fears Are Driving Down the Stock Market. How About the Housing Market?
Everyone, it seems, is finally coming to grips with the threat posed by the rapidly spreading coronavirus. And would-be home buyers and home sellers? Well, they're buckling in for a bumpy ride with plenty of blind corners.
https://www.realtor.com/news/trends/how-falling-stock-market-and-coronavirus-fears-could-affect-housing-market/
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How to Coronavirus-Proof Your Home—and Your Life
If you're jittery and want some extra assurance that you're doing all you can to stay safe, here are several things you can do to protect your home in case of the coronavirus
https://www.realtor.com/advice/home-improvement/how-to-coronavirus-proof-your-home-and-your-life/
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Real estate: coronavirus, mortgage rates and inventory
As the virus has spread across the world the Federal Reserve has issued a surprise interest rate cut.
https://www.kirklandreporter.com/business/real-estate-coronavirus-mortgage-rates-and-inventory/
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COVID-19 is a wild card in the important real estate market
This is typically the time of year when the real estate market really heats up. A big question this year, is will the coronavirus outbreak make a difference?
https://komonews.com/news/consumer/covid19-is-a-wild-card-in-the-important-estate-marketUVGSW1Ja0RhYzd0VTJmU0NZQ1FNQ0FIRHlLVkNtcVBTRkU3akl6NEVHd2prT3hzT2NPXC9BYjZwYzQ1NFc3SHNQemxDUHFlMVcifQ==
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This interactive map from Johns Hopkins University shows the effects of coronavirus in real time
Since Jan. 22, the dashboard has shown the location and number of confirmed cases as they are reported, along with casualties and recoveries.
https://qz.com/1814380/interactive-map-from-johns-hopkins-shows-coronavirus-in-real-time/
“interactive web-based dashboard” https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html
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Energy Prices Fall in February
The Consumer Price Index (CPI), released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), rose by 0.1% in February on a seasonally adjusted basis, the same increase as in January.
http://eyeonhousing.org/2020/03/energy-prices-fall-in-february/
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Top 5 Seattle Submarkets for Development by Number of Units
Seattle’s top five submarkets by development volume accounted for nearly half of the metro’s pipeline, which was in excess of 22,000 units in March.
https://www.multihousingnews.com/post/top-5-seattle-submarkets-for-development-by-number-of-units/
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Colliers Breaks Down COVID-19’s Impact on Puget Sound CRE
COVID-19 has hit the Puget Sound harder than any other metro in the United States, and the number of cases continues to grow in the Pacific Northwest’s other large metro area, Portland. New research by Colliers International predicts long-term impacts on commercial real estate will likely include increased janitorial expenses, as landlords realize the importance of proactive hygiene.
https://www.connect.media/colliers-breaks-down-covid-19s-impact-on-puget-sound-cre/
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Seattle's Best Neighborhoods in 2020
Find yourself a place to call home
http://www.seattlemag.com/best-neighborhoods/seattles-best-neighborhoods-2020
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Seattle's Best Neighborhoods: Lower Queen Anne
The sky’s the limit for career-driven Seattleites who land here
http://www.seattlemag.com/best-neighborhoods/seattles-best-neighborhoods-lower-queen-anne
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For sale: Seattle-area properties, tiny, skinny, inaccessible and unbuildable
“Absolutely illogical.”
https://www.seattletimes.com/business/real-estate/for-sale-seattle-area-properties-tiny-skinny-inaccessible-and-unbuildable/
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Mortgage rates reverse course from last week's all-time low
The average U.S. rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage rose to 3.36% this week
https://www.housingwire.com/articles/mortgage-rates-reverse-course-from-last-weeks-all-time-low/
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Coronavirus leading to lower interest rates that spur house hunters to make a bid
As economic uncertainty about the coronavirus drives down interest rates, house hunters are applying for mortgages at a level not seen in more than a decade.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/03/11/coronavirus-house-hunters-take-advantage-low-interest-rates/5020032002/
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Mortgage refinance applications spike 79% as homeowners rush to take advantage of lower rates
Another major drop in mortgage rates caused a massive jump in borrowers applying to refinance their home loans.
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/11/mortgage-refinance-applications-spike-79percent-as-interest-rates-sink.html
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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