for sellers
What The Media Missed In September’s New Home Sales Report
October 29, 2009 by MikeRosen · Leave a Comment
Some days, newspaper headlines are a terrible place to get your real estate news.
Today is one of those days.
After the September New Home Sales report showed sales volume down from August, the mainstream media jumped on the story:
New Home Sales fall a surprising 3.6%
Surprise Drop In New Home Sales
Stocks slide as New Home Sales fall
But the headlines miss [...]
Home Values In 95% Of Case-Shiller Markets Are Improving Year-To-Year
October 28, 2009 by MikeRosen · Leave a Comment
For August, the Case-Shiller Index showed annual home values improving across 19 of 20 U.S. markets, including our very own metro Washington D.C. market. It’s the first time in 3-plus years that the benchmark housing index has shown such strength.
According to a Case-Shiller Index spokesperson, “The rate of annual decline in home price values continues [...]
Falling Home Supplies Mean More Multiple-Offer Situations For Buyers
October 27, 2009 by MikeRosen · Leave a Comment
The national housing supply fell to a 2-year low last month, according to the National Association of Realtors®.
At the current sales pace, existing home inventories would sell out in 7.8 months — 30 percent faster versus November 2008.
For a 10-month window, that’s a major housing supply reduction and it helps to explain why multiple-offer situations [...]
Pending Homes Sales Gain For The 7th Straight Month
October 6, 2009 by MikeRosen · Leave a Comment
Buoyed by a generous tax credit, affordable homes, and low mortgage rates, the Pending Home Sales Index posted its seventh consecutive monthly gain in August.
It’s the longest winning streak in the index’s history and the highest reading in 2-1/2 years.
It’s also another signal that the housing market is in recovery.
“Pending home sales” are a forward-looking indicator, [...]
The Case-Shiller Shows Home Prices Are Still On Their Way Up
September 30, 2009 by MikeRosen · Leave a Comment
For the second month in a row, 18 of the 20 Case-Shiller real estate markets posted higher home values. It’s the 6th consecutive strong showing for the benchmark private-sector housing index.
Combined with falling home supplies and rising sales figures, this month’s Case-Shiller Index suggests that housing may have bottomed sometime earlier this year.
It’s cause for optimism.
Even Case-Shiller [...]
Existing Home Supply Falls By Nearly A Year
September 25, 2009 by MikeRosen · Leave a Comment
As reported by the National Association of REALTORS®, the number of Existing Home Sales dipped last month, ending the metric’s 5-month winning streak.
Newspaper headlines today are overwhelmingly negative on housing. You’d almost believe this year’s housing recovery had ended.
That’s hardly the case.
See, the other side of the Existing Home Sales story is that — while the number of units [...]
Home Prices Rise Again In July
September 23, 2009 by MikeRosen · Leave a Comment
As reported by the government, home prices are rising nationwide, up 0.3 percent in July.
Furthermore, versus November 2008, the Home Price Index has clawed back to unchanged.
The housing market appears to be holding its own.
However, we have to be careful about putting our full faith in the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s data. It’s somewhat flawed.
The Home Price Index is a [...]
Housing Starts Slip, But Don’t Think The Recovery’s Been Halted
September 18, 2009 by MikeRosen · Leave a Comment
Housing Starts on single-family homes took a step backwards last month, falling month-over-month for the first time since January.
A “housing start” is new home on which construction has started.
Don’t let the slowdown fool you, however – the housing market’s recovery is still very much underway.
Sales volume is up in most cities
Home values are up in most places
Low mortgage rates are making homes [...]
The Housing Market Index Reaches A 16-Month High
September 17, 2009 by MikeRosen · Leave a Comment
According to the country’s home builders, the housing market is looking good.
Each month, the National Association of Home Builders releases its Housing Market Index report, a survey geared at taking “the pulse of the single-family housing market”.
Respondents report on three facets of their business, each series weighted and averaged:
How are market conditions today?
How do market conditions [...]
Lowball Offers
September 16, 2009 by MikeRosen · Leave a Comment
Should a seller be upset when they get a lowball offer on their house?
