18.7% of survey respondents have gotten in a disagreement with a neighbor over politics, including 27.1% of men and 13.4% of women. 11.9% have gotten into a disagreement with a neighbor over racial issues. 30.4% regularly engage in political conversations with neighbors, with younger generations more likely to engage than older generations. Nearly one in READ MORE

AuthorBill Gassett.  Date: October 22, 2024 2:09 pm Learn how to negotiate the best deal on your home with these 6 tips from an expert real estate agent with over 40 years of experience! The post How to Negotiate the Best Deal on Your Home appeared first on FastExpert.

Home prices grew 0.5% month over month in September, the fastest pace since April. On a year-over-year basis, home prices rose 6%, the smallest annual increase since December. 13 of the 50 most populous U.S. metros recorded a drop in home prices month over month. U.S. home prices grew 0.5% from a month earlier in READ MORE

Pending sales rose 2.5% month over month as mortgage rates hit a two-year low and the Federal Reserve cut interest rates. Rates have since ticked up. Existing home sales, which are a lagging indicator, fell to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4,023,067. That’s the lowest level on record aside from the start of the READ MORE

Pending home sales posted their biggest increase since 2021 this week. But some house hunters are starting to pull back.  Home sales are rising. Pending U.S. home sales rose 3.2% year over year during the four weeks ending October 13, the biggest increase in three years. On a local level, pending sales are up in READ MORE

23% of buyers who are likely to purchase their first home in the next year said they are waiting until after the election.  26.1% said they are waiting to see if Harris’ housing affordability plan goes into effect; 15.9% are waiting to see if Trump’s housing affordability plan is enacted. Personal finances and timing are READ MORE

32% of surveyed renters say housing affordability is a top-three issue when it comes to deciding which presidential candidate they’ll support. That compares with 17% of homeowners. The economy, inflation and health care are the most common top-three issues for survey respondents as a whole. 52% of surveyed homeowners say they’re better off financially than READ MORE

For homeowners, keeping values high is typically a good thing because much of their wealth is tied to the equity they have in their home. Roughly two in five (41.6%) U.S. homeowners believe Donald Trump would be best for keeping home values high, while 35.3% believe Kamala Harris would be best. The survey data in READ MORE

Redfin’s rental tools are now available nationwide! Starting today, homeowners, investors, property managers and agents anywhere in the U.S. can list rental properties for free on Redfin, connect with interested renters searching on Redfin’s family of sites, and manage the application and renter screening process all in one place. “Whether you’re renting your home out READ MORE

AuthorAmanda Dodge.  Date: October 11, 2024 7:44 pm Bathroom remodels have one of the biggest positive impacts on resale value. Homeowners can expect to get back 72.7% of what they invest when it comes time to sell while also enjoying the updated bathroom as long as they live in the house. Bathroom upgrades can range READ MORE

Most homeowners and renters want to live in a place where abortion is legal, with some survey respondents indicating they’re moving to a different area to live somewhere abortion is legal and accessible.  Broken down by age, millennials are most likely to want to live somewhere abortion is legal, with nearly 60% indicating they prefer READ MORE

A tad warmer-than-expected September inflation report will keep mortgage rates at the levels they’ve risen to since last Friday’s blowout jobs report. With the Fed laser-focused on the job market, today’s report allows the Fed to cut rates by another 25 bps at their November 7 meeting, barring another surprising jobs report on November 1. READ MORE

Two in five (40.8%) Florida residents have set aside funds for home repairs relating to unpredictable events caused by climate change.  That’s according to a Redfin-commissioned survey conducted by Ipsos Sept. 11-25, 2024. The survey was fielded to 1,802 U.S. residents aged 18-65, 152 of whom indicated that they live in Florida. This report focuses READ MORE

The median asking rent rose 0.6% year over year in September to $1,634, but was down 0.2% month over month. Washington, D.C. recorded the biggest rent increase, while Jacksonville posted the biggest decrease. Rents dropped slightly across all bedroom counts for the second time in three months. The typical U.S. asking rent ticked up 0.6% READ MORE

Home sales are rising in most major U.S. metros as housing payments sit near their lowest level since January, but they’re falling in coastal Florida as hurricanes hit the southeastern U.S. Mortgage rates rebounded over the weekend; that could soon begin to impact homebuyer demand. Pending U.S. home sales rose 2% from a year earlier READ MORE

AuthorChristy Crouch.  Date: October 9, 2024 7:04 pm Home buyers are now required to sign a contract outlining the agent’s responsibilities and commission payment. The post Real Estate Commission Changes Impact Buyers and Sellers appeared first on FastExpert.

We can’t keep debating the consumer benefits of Clear Cooperation, the National Association of Realtors’ policy against pocket listings. The data is clear that sellers get higher prices by publicly marketing listings, and that buyers, especially buyers of color, want to see all the homes for sale.  One Reason Clear Cooperation Is Under Attack: To READ MORE

AuthorMargo Christophilis.  Date: October 8, 2024 4:21 pm Real estate agents are advising sellers to pay all Realtor fees. Find out why it is in their best interest to pay. The post Expert Advice: Should Home Sellers Pay All Realtor Fees? appeared first on FastExpert.

AuthorKelsey Heath.  Date: October 8, 2024 6:52 am If you have signed a purchase agreement on a new home, you’re probably excited. Most people enter a home purchase with the mindset that they will follow through with the purchase. However, circumstances can arise, and there are valid reasons to back out of buying a house. READ MORE

Almost one-quarter of respondents overall expect insurance premiums in their area to increase after the storm. Nearly one-third (32%) of U.S. residents aged 18-34 say they’re reconsidering where they want to move in the future after seeing or hearing about the damage caused by Hurricane Helene, according to a survey commissioned by Redfin. That compares READ MORE