The latest quarterly report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows home purchasing power remained high in the first quarter even as median prices continued their upward trend. Nationally, the median existing single-family home price was $176,600, up 11.3 percent year-over-year--the strongest yearly price increase since the fourth quarter of 2005, when the national median price jumped 13.6 percent over the prior year.
Read More »Experts Voice Concern on Fed Policies
Only 4 percent of respondents in a recent Zillow survey are not at all worried about a bubble resulting from the Fed's monetary policy that is keeping mortgage rates down.
Read More »CoreLogic: Home Price Gains Accelerate to 7-Year High in March
Including distressed sales, home prices rose 10.5 percent year-over-year in March, marking the biggest annual gain in seven years, according to CoreLogic's Home Price Index (HPI). "For the first time since March 2006, both the overall index and the index that excludes distressed sales are above 10 percent year over year," said Dr. Mark Fleming, chief economist for CoreLogic. "The pace of appreciation has been accelerating throughout 2012 and so far in 2013 leading into the home buying season."
Read More »Consumers Show Record-High Levels of Confidence in Housing
April saw continued growth in American optimism when it comes to housing health, according to results in Fannie Mae's monthly National Housing Survey. More than half of those who took the survey (51 percent, up from 48 percent in March) said they expect home prices to climb in the next year, while 10 percent--flat for the fourth straight month--expect declines. Thirty-five percent expect no changes. April's report marks the first time in survey history that more than half of respondents projected price gains.
Read More »NAHB Improving Markets Index Tips Down Further in May
According to NAHB, the number of housing markets showing "sustained improvement" fell to 258 from April's 273.
Read More »Texas Market Picks Up Pace in Q1
Texas' real estate market experienced a healthy first quarter, picking up right where 2012 left off, the Texas Association of Realtors revealed in its latest Quarterly Housing Report.
Read More »AREAA Global Summit Points to Momentum in U.S., Global Markets
The Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA) wrapped up its annual Global Summit this week with greater confidence in the U.S. housing market and in opportunities to facilitate global real estate business.
Read More »Are Housing Headwinds Actually a Blessing?
Gains in home prices over the last year haven't provided enough lift to offset the headwinds holding the recovery down, but that might not be such a bad thing.
Read More »Case-Shiller Indices Continue Rapid Gains in February
Despite weakness in the Midwest, home prices posted their strongest year-over-year gain in almost seven years in February, according to the Case-Shiller 10- and 20-city Home Price Indexes released Tuesday. Month-over-month, the 10-city index improved 0.4 percent in February, while the 20-city index was up 0.3 percent. On a yearly basis, the 10-city index was up 8.6 percent, and the 20-city index rose 9.3 percent. Economists had forecast the 20-city index would rise slightly to 146.16, essentially unchanged from January.
Read More »LPS: Home Prices Up 1% in February
Lender Processing Services' (LPS) Home Price Index rose 1 percent in February to $210,000, the company reported. Currently, prices are 20.6 percent below the June 2006 peak of $265,000. California cities dominated the top 10 list for metro area price gains, with 9 out of ten metros representing the state. Price decreases were also concentrated. According to LPS data, five out of the six states where prices fell month-over-month were in Connecticut.
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