The Appraisal Institute announced the 14th edition of The Appraisal of Real Estate, the newest update to the profession's most comprehensive source of information for appraisers and other real estate professionals.
Read More »Consumers Remain Upbeat on Home Prices
Even as price increases start to lose momentum, the majority of Americans polled by finance site Bankrate.com anticipate more gains over the next year. According to Bankrate, 55 percent of Americans surveyed think prices will go up over the next 12 months, while 27 percent said they expect prices to stay flat. "It seems like Americans' love affair with real estate has returned," said Greg McBride, CFA, senior financial analyst for Bankrate, though he admitted there are still "some clear headwinds."
Read More »Entitle Direct Group Appoints CFO, Corporate Secretary
Entitle Direct Group, Inc. (EDG), the parent company of EnTitle Insurance Company, announced the appointment of John Sheffield as its new CFO and corporate secretary.
Read More »Price Growth Slows as Some Markets Top Pre-Crash Peaks
Home price increases slowed on a monthly basis in July as more markets approach their pre-crash peaks, Lender Processing Services (LPS) reported in its monthly Home Price Index (HPI) report. Nationally, LPS' index was up to $231,000 in July, a 0.6 percent gain over June. Compared to last year, July's index was up 8.7 percent. Meanwhile, several of the largest metros across the United States--including many of Texas' bigger cities--continue to outperform their pre-recession highs.
Read More »RE/MAX Reports Strong Finish for Summer Selling Season
Home sales and prices both improved year-over-year for the 19th straight month in August, according to multiple listing service (MLS) data from RE/MAX.
Read More »Trulia’s Kolko: Vacancy Rate to Blame for Weak Construction Growth
In a blog for the company, Trulia chief economist Jed Kolko posits his own theory for why new construction is moving so slowly.
Read More »360 Mortgage Announces New Regional Manager
360 Mortgage Group, a privately owned mortgage banker headquartered in Austin, Texas, announced the hiring of Scott Brackett as regional manager for the western region of the United States.
Read More »Existing-Home Sales Rise to Highest Pace in 6 1/2 Years
Existing-home sales rose an unexpected 6.5 percent to an annual sales rate of 5.48 million, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported Thursday. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg expected existing home sales to drop to 5.255 million from July's originally reported July's 5.39 million sales pace which was unchanged in today's report. The increase in sales came as the median price of an existing single family home in August dipped slightly from July, down $300 to $212,100.
Read More »Initial Jobless Claims Up Less Than Expected
Following a sharp drop in first-time claims for unemployment insurance a week earlier, initial filings rose 15,000 for the week ending September 14 to 309,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday. Economists had expected the number of claims to jump up 49,000 to 341,000, from the 292,000 originally reported for the week ending September 7. The number of filings for that week was revised up to 294,000.
Read More »FOMC Votes No Change in Policy, Foresees Slower Growth
While noting improvement in economic activity and labor market conditions, the Federal Open Market Committee voted Wednesday to continue its policy of near-zero interest rates and its $85-billion-per-month bond-buying program. At the same time, the Federal Reserve's own economic projections suggested the economy might not grow this year as fast as it expected just three months ago.
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