Zillow's Home Value Index registered a national value of $158,100 last month, which represents a slight 0.1 percent increase from January.
Read More »Why Are Some Markets Less Impacted by Low Rates?
Pro Teck recently examined the effect of the Federal Reserve's commitment to keep interest rates low on home prices, which have historically increased during such programs.
Read More »Existing Home Sales, Prices Up in February
Existing-home sales rose 0.8 percent in February to 4.98 million, the National Association of Realtors reported Thursday. Economists had expected the sales pace to climb to 5.01 million from January├â┬ó├óÔÇÜ┬¼├óÔÇ×┬ós originally reported 4.92 million. January sales were revised up to 4.94 million.
Read More »Trulia: Gap Closing Between Cost of Buying vs. Renting
Data from Trulia shows that once all costs are factored, buying a home is 44 percent cheaper than renting at this point.
Read More »Deloitte: Consumer Spending Largely Flat in February
Deloitte's Consumer Spending Index experienced a minor bump in February as "a decline in initial unemployment claims and a rise in real average hourly earnings offset negative forces," the company reported Wednesday. The index, which tracks consumer cash flow as an indicator of future spending, rose slightly to 4.0 last month from a reading 3.9 in January. While the increase was relatively small, it turned around three straight months of declines and showed consumers are weathering the payroll tax increase well.
Read More »Capital Economics Examines Housing Recovery’s Impact on Growth
While the economy has already seen a slight bump from homebuilding, researchers from Capital Economics contend the burgeoning recovery may provide even greater lift to gross domestic product (GDP). In the firm's latest U.S. Economic Update, senior U.S. economist Paul Dales says the recovery in residential building contributed 0.3 percentage points to last year's 2.2 percent rise in GDP. In addition, recent developments have further highlighted the impact of the recovery on the larger economy.
Read More »Redfin: Prices Up, Sales Sluggish as Buyers Go to War
Prices rose in February for the 11th straight month as markets across the country picked up speed, according to Redfin's Real-Time Price Tracker.
Read More »Panelists Forecast 22% Home Value Growth by End of 2017
If projections hold out, home values will rise 22 percent cumulatively by the end of 2017, according to Zillow's first-quarter Home Price Expectations Survey. On average, the panel forecasts price growth of 4.6 percent in 2013 and 4.2 percent in 2014. More moderate growth is expected after that, with annual appreciation rates between 3.6 percent and 3.8 percent for 2015, 2016, and 2017, leading to an average 4.1 percent growth annually for the next five years.
Read More »Realtor.com: Homeowners Eager to Kick Off Selling Season
A new report from Realtor.com shows listing inventories increased by 1.15 percent month-over-month in February, while median list price rose 1.55 percent.
Read More »RE/MAX: Hopeful Trends Continue, Inventory Still a Problem
RE/MAX's latest report shows home sales rose 0.9 percent month-over-month and 2.3 percent year-over-year. The median home price also increased, rising to $160,500--3.5 percent above January and 7.0 percent above February 2012. RE/MAX CEO Margaret Kelly said today's low prices and low interest rates create "an attractive combination that most of us will never see again in our lifetimes." Meanwhile, inventory remains a major concern as the spring selling season dawns.
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