Builders are making efforts to ramp up construction, but a large portion of home starts are in luxury markets, leaving inventory shortages in lower price brackets that are helping to sideline many first-time buyers. In the first two months of 2018, first-timers made up 29 percent of all home buyers, down from 32 percent a year ago, according to the latest REALTORS® Confidence Index Survey. Nearly 44 percent of properties were listed at $250,000
REALTORS® are remembering the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Fair Housing Act by further advocating for inclusion and diversity in the nation’s communities.The National Association of REALTORS® designates April as Fair Housing Month and is promoting this year's landmark anniversary through a series of education offerings and events for its 1.3 million members and state and local associations.“As REALTORS® join our industry partne
In the absence of legislative reform by Congress, there’s only so much the Federal Emergency Management Agency can do to encourage the growth of private flood insurance. But FEMA, which oversees federal flood insurance, has come up with a few small but meaningful program changes that will make it easier for households to switch to private insurance if they can get a better deal that way.First, the agency has lifted the requirement that househol
Wallpaper tends to be highly flammable and can be a major contributor to house fires. But researchers at Shanghai’s Institute of Ceramics are developing wallpaper that can detect fire and even act as a flame retardant.The wallpaper is made from fire-resistant materials like graphene oxide and hydroxyapatite nanowires. Graphene is electrically insulated and can be used like a sensor switch. When heat rises above a certain temperature, it will cl
With a record low number of listings this spring, more buyers may be finding themselves in a bidding war for the home they want. CNBC recently highlighted a few tips on how buyers can be successful in a bidding war, including:Set the maximum price from the start. Home shoppers should factor in the monthly mortgage payment, property taxes, homeowners insurance, and any homeowner association or condo fees. They’ll want to arrive at a general est
Homeowners care about the entertainment value a backyard offers, and they’re devoting money to sprucing these spaces up, according to the latest Houzz Landscaping Survey, based on responses by more than 750 homeowners who are either in the middle of a landscaping project or planning one.Homeowners are investing in several landscaping projects to make their outdoor areas more livable, such as adding more seating with lounge furniture, dining fur
Real estate professional Laura Lucky was showing a home to a couple in Scottsdale, Ariz., when they drove up on a sight taken straight from the Wild West: a hungry bobcat versus an undeterred rattlesnake along the road.Lucky began recording the snake as it took a bite out of the bobcat. The two fought for several minutes. She posted her video on social media. As of Thursday, the video had nearly 1 million views.“The rattlesnake had come up and
The multifamily sector has seen a frenzy of apartment construction over the last decade, but it’s single-family homes that were the fastest growing type of rental between 2007 and 2016, according to a new study by RentCafe. Over the last decade, single-family rentals rose by 31 percent, while the multifamily sector grew by 14 percent. In net gain, the growth makes up 3.6 million units versus 3.2 million units added, respectively.Single-family r
President Donald Trump has threatened to impose a tax on steel and aluminum from China and other countries. Both sides have threatened to impose tariffs on multiple products. In reaction, the stock market has been volatile. But will the trade disputes leave Chinese buyers skittish about U.S. real estate?“At this point, most Chinese buyers are cautiously optimistic,” Carrie Law, CEO of Juwai.com, a Chinese international real estate website, to
A jury in California ruled that a Coldwell Banker real estate agent did not breach his fiduciary duty in a case involving discrepancies in a home’s reported square footage. The case stems from a dispute that arose after Hong Kong millionaire Hiroshi Horiike purchased a Malibu mansion for $12.25 million in cash in 2007. Chris Cortazzo, the listing agent, provided Horiike with a flier that stated the home had 15,000 square feet of living space
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