Marketing & Statistics

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 20, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Nationwide housing starts declined 4.3 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 529,000 units in the final month of 2010, according to newly released figures by the U.S. Commerce Department. While this was the slowest pace of starts activity since October 2009, the year-end data indicate that production of new homes improved 6.1 percent in 2010 from the previous year. On another positive note, permit issuance for construction of new homes and apartments rose 16.7 percent in December to a rate of 635,000 units, the strongest pace since March of 2010

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 19, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) today released its Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending January 14, 2011. The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, increased 5.0 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index increased 6.4 percent compared with the previous week

Denver, CO - January 19, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Defying the seasonal trend, December home sales rose by 13.2% from November in a survey of 54 metropolitan areas. Home sales dropped 5.0% from December 2009, but this is the lowest year-over-year drop the survey has seen in five months.

McLean, VA - January 18, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) today released the results of its 27th Annual Adjustable-Rate Mortgage (ARM) Survey of prime loan offerings, which was conducted January 3 to January 5 of this year

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 18, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes held unchanged at a relatively low level of 16 for a third consecutive month in January, according to the latest National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), released today."As we emerge from the traditionally slow holiday season, builders continue to look for signs of improvement in the economy, home buyer demand and builder and consumer credit conditions," said 2011 NAHB Chairman Bob Nielsen, a home builder from Reno, Nev. "Unfortunately, a severe lack of construction financing, and widespread difficulties in obtaining accurate appraisal values, continue to limit builders' ability to prepare for anticipated improvements in buyer demand in 2011."

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Housing will see gradual improvements in activity this year as the nation’s economy and job market continue to move to higher ground, establishing momentum that will produce more considerable gains in 2012, according to economists who appeared at the NAHB International Builders’ Show in Orlando on Jan.

Destin, FL - January 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The best and worst housing market forecasts for 2011 have been issued by Housing Predictor, which selects the 25 best and 25 worst markets annually. Markets selected have the highest probability of reaching their forecasts, and are updated over the entire year as housing market conditions change

NEW YORK, N.Y. - January 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mortgage rates were mostly lower this week, except for the benchmark conforming 30-year fixed mortgage rate, which held at 4.94 percent according to Bankrate.com's weekly national survey. The average 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.38 discount and origination points.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- A joint study by the 50+ Housing Council of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the MetLife Mature Market Institute shows the recession has made 55+ buyers more practical when selecting a new home. Design considerations have become less important, and financial concerns have become more prominent.Previous studies from these two organizations found that most 55+ buyers depended on home sale proceeds to finance a new purchase. The most recent data shows that option diminished during the economic downturn.

WASHINGTON, DC - January 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development today awarded nearly $127 million in grants to 48 local projects to conduct a wide range of activities intended to protect children and families from potentially dangerous lead-based paint and other home health and safety hazards (see chart below)

McLean, VA - January 13, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®). The survey results showed lower mortgage rates for both long- and short-term rates, with the 30-year reaching a four-week low

EMERYVILLE, CA - January 12, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The number of price-reduced homes on the market this December remained at high levels compared to 2009, rising 23.4 percent according to a report surveying 26 US markets issued by national real estate brokerage, ZipRealty (www.ziprealty.com; NASDAQ: ZIPR)

WASHINGTON, DC - January 12, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- This morning, the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH) released a report indicating increases in foreclosures and families experiencing homelessness, including those living doubled up due to economic hardship.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 12, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) today released its Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending January 7, 2011. The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, increased 2.2 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index increased 47.5 percent compared with the previous week, which included the New Year’s holiday

AUSTIN, TX - January 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- As leisure travel continues to rebound, owners of vacation rentals are expressing optimism about their bookings in 2011. In fact, HomeAway®, Inc. – the world’s leading online vacation rental marketplace – finds in its latest “HomeAway Vacation Rental Marketplace Report” that eight of 10 vacation rental owners anticipate their rental business this year will be stronger or about the same as it was in 2010.

Boston, MA - January 7, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The national vacancy and availability rates in the U.S. office and industrial markets, continued to decline in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2010, according to the latest analysis from CBRE Econometric Advisors (CBRE-EA). In Q4, the national office vacancy rate fell by 20 basis points (bps) to16.4%, the second consecutive quarterly decline. The national industrial availability1 rate decreased by 30 basis points in Q4 to 14.3%, marking the second consecutive decrease in availability and providing further proof that the industrial sector continues to heal.

EMERYVILLE, CA - January 7, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The number of home listings within 26 major U.S. metropolitan areas slipped 5.27 percent in December 2010, compared to a month prior, according to a monthly report of homes listed for sale on Multiple Listing Services (MLS) in the markets surveyed by national real estate brokerage, ZipRealty (www.ziprealty.com; NASDAQ: ZIPR).

McLean, VA - January 6, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey®(PMMS®). The survey results showed lower mortgage rates for both long- and short-term rates

NEW YORK, N.Y. - January 6, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mortgage rates continue to yo-yo up and down, with the average rate on the benchmark conforming 30-year fixed mortgage rate falling back to 4.94 percent, according to Bankrate.com's weekly national survey. The average 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.42 discount and origination points

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) today released its Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the weeks ending December 24, 2010 and December 31, 2010. For the week ending December 24, 2010, the Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, decreased 3.9 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from the prior week. For the week ending December 31, 2010, this index increased 2.3 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis.