Despite Pandemic, U.S. Home Prices Could Very Well Hold Steady in 2020
Sales are likely to decline precipitously, but the housing market faces far fewer challenges than in the last economic downturn
https://www.mansionglobal.com/articles/despite-pandemic-u-s-home-prices-could-very-well-hold-steady-in-2020-214084
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Weekly mortgage applications increase as interest rates plummet to historic low
Mortgage rates last week dropped to the lowest level ever in the Mortgage Bankers Association’s weekly survey, causing a surge in applications to refinance a home.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/weekly-mortgage-applications-increase-interest-111256485.html
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Coronavirus changes to real estate: How to navigate the industry as a buyer or seller
Coronavirus has turned the real estate world on its head with a myriad of new challenges for buyers and sellers. This is how you can get ahead of the game.
https://www.news.com.au/finance/real-estate/coronavirus-changes-to-real-estate-how-to-navigate-the-industry-as-a-buyer-or-seller/news-story/9c173d7192b2c7faa5a35f106314c711
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Seattle Retail Will Come Back Slowly, With Social Distancing In Place
Seattle’s office and residential real estate sectors are holding up, but its restaurants and retail are another story.
https://www.bisnow.com/seattle/news/retail/retail-will-come-back-slowly-with-social-distancing-in-place-103970
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How Do You Sell a Home Safely During the COVID-19 Crisis? Here Are the Steps To Take
Selling a home can be a headache. It often takes longer and costs more than you think, and it can be an emotional drain. That’s in normal times. Selling a home during a pandemic will add a slew of new safety concerns to the mix.
https://www.realtor.com/advice/sell/is-it-safe-to-sell-your-home-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic/
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6 APPS TO HELP YOU TAKE BETTER LISTING PHOTOS
The onset of COVID-19 has thrust the world into uncertain times. With safety in mind and everyone staying at home to flatten the curve, it’s more important than ever for agents to bolster their online presence and keep their business running.
https://blog.homesnap.com/6-apps-to-help-you-take-better-listing-photos/?utm_source=homesnap&utm_medium=desktop
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Coronavirus is crushing US homebuilding
Despite the sharp month-over-month drop, housing starts were still up from a year ago.
https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/16/economy/housing-starts-march-coronavirus/index.html
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Pandemic takes toll on Portland residential real estate market
Pending home sales fell in the Portland-metro area in March as the coronavirus pandemic took hold, according to data from real estate listing service RMLS.
https://djcoregon.com/news/2020/04/16/pandemic-takes-toll-residential-real-estate-market/
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West Seattle Bridge could be closed through end of 2021
The West Seattle Bridge is slated to remain closed for the rest of 2020 and could be off limits to traffic through all of 2021 as well, city officials said Wednesday.
https://komonews.com/news/local/west-seattle-bridge-could-be-closed-through-end-of-2021
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During Stay At Home Order, Seattle Real Estate Is Moving Fast
Just a quick update on Seattle real estate activity. Homes are selling and they are selling fast. 56% of all sales that went pending this last week have sold in less than 7 days. 23 of those sales sold in less than 3 days. The real estate market in Seattle is clearly looking past Covid-19
https://blog.seattlepi.com/urbancondospaces/2020/04/14/during-stay-at-home-order-seattle-real-estate-is-moving-fast/
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Here’s why mortgage rates are all over the place – and how to find a good one
In just the past four weeks, the average rate on the 30-year fixed has lifted above 4%, plunged to 3.25% and then rocketed back up and back again multiple times. In normal times, interest rates don’t do that.
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/14/coronavirus-how-to-find-good-mortgage-rates-during-volatility.html
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How to take advantage of low interest rates and save money on 4 different kinds of debt
When the Federal Reserve cut its benchmark interest rate to zero last month, it was taking a preemptive step toward mitigating the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on the economy.
https://grow.acorns.com/how-to-refinance-debt-take-advantage-low-interest-rates/
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Customers Having Trouble With Airbnb, Vrbo Refunds
The COVID-19 crisis has thrown the industry into chaos, as companies work to issue refunds back to travelers
https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/coronavirus/customers-having-trouble-with-airbnb-vrbo-refunds/2352397/
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Despite Stay-at-Home Order, Seattle’s Real-Estate Market Continues to Show Up
Home buyers looking for a deal amid the coronavirus pandemic might be hard-pressed to find one. (Subscription required)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/despite-stay-at-home-order-seattles-real-estate-market-continues-to-show-up-11586800867
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Recent data details which U.S. housing markets are most vulnerable to COVID-19 impact
In a recent report that examines county-level housing markets and their vulnerability to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, Attom Data Solutions found that 24 of the 50 most at-risk markets are in New Jersey and Florida.
https://www.mpamag.com/news/recent-data-details-which-u-s--housing-markets-are-most-vulnerable-to-covid19-impact-219801.aspx
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Home Prices Remain Resilient in Spain Despite Covid-19
Online viewings of prime properties saw an uptick in mid-March, Knight Frank says
https://www.mansionglobal.com/articles/home-prices-remain-resilient-in-spain-despite-covid-19-214036
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Optimize Your Home Internet With High-End Wi-Fi Routers
From home office to home entertainment, it all starts with staying connected
https://www.mansionglobal.com/articles/optimize-your-home-internet-with-high-end-wi-fi-routers-213976
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Sellers in Remote Areas of U.S. Should Consider Keeping Their Listings on the Market
Vacation-home buyers show increased interest in investing in rural areas amid the Covid-19 pandemic
https://www.mansionglobal.com/articles/sellers-in-remote-areas-of-u-s-should-consider-keeping-their-listings-on-the-market-214116
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Content Ideas to Share on Social Media to Help Clients Through the Crisis
By Paige Brown
https://rismedia.com/2020/04/07/content-ideas-social-media/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email
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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