News
RealEstateRama News
Existing-Home Sales Bounce Back Strongly in May as First-time Buyers Return
Fueled partly by an increase in the share of sales to first-time buyers, existing-home sales increased in May to their highest pace in nearly six years, according to the National Association of Realtors®. Led by the Northeast, all major regions experienced sales increases in May.
International Sales Dollar Volume Increases as More Upscale Buyers Enter Market, Say Realtors
While total unit sales from international home buyers decreased from last year, total sales dollar volume increased 13 percent, according to the National Association of Realtor Profile of Home Buying Activity of International Clients
Realtors® Applaud CFPB Extension of TRID Implementation
National Association of Realtors® President Chris Polychron, executive broker with 1st Choice Realty in Hot Springs, Ark., released the following statement in response to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s announcement of a two-month delay for the implementation of the new Truth in Lending Act and Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act Integrated Disclosure, or TRID, regulation.
Realtors® Report Increase in Commercial Transactions, Income and Sales Volume
Commercial real estate markets are improving with Realtors® specializing in commercial real estate reported an increase in annual gross income, the number of sales transactions and sales volume, according to the 2015 National Association of Realtors® Commercial Member Profile.
CFPB Takes First Steps Toward Greater Clarity on RESPA-TILA Integrated Disclosure Enforcement
The following is a statement from National Association of Realtors® President Chris Polychron, executive broker with 1st Choice Realty in Hot Springs, Ark., in response to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s announcement of “sensitivity” to companies making a good-faith effort to comply with the new Truth in Lending Act and Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act Integrated Disclosure regulation.
NAR Member Survey Reveals Slight Dip in Realtor® Business in 2014
After gradually climbing for three consecutive years, the decline in existing-home sales in 2014 resulted in a slight reduction in Realtor® business activity and income last year, according to the 2015 National Association of Realtors® Member Profile. The survey also found that Realtors® are increasingly more comfortable using multiple communication channels, including social media, to connect and interact with their clients.
Pending Home Sales Climb in April to Highest Level since May 2006
Pending home sales rose in April for the fourth straight month and reached their highest level in nine years, according to the National Association of Realtors®. Led by the Northeast and Midwest, all four major regions saw increases in April.
Modest Growth Expected in Commercial Real Estate Markets
A stronger labor market and increasing household formation should keep commercial real estate demand on a gradual incline, according to the National Association of Realtors® quarterly commercial real estate forecast.
Existing-Home Sales Lose Momentum in April
Despite properties typically selling faster than at any time since July 2013, existing–home sales slowed in April but remained above an annual sales pace of five million for the second straight month, according to the National Association of Realtors®. All major regions except for the Midwest experienced sales declines in April.
Let Rural Housing Service Provide Direct Endorsement Authority to Lenders, Say Realtors
The following is a statement by National Association of Realtors® President Chris Polychron in support of the Rural Housing Service and today’s testimony from RHS Administrator Tony Hernandez before the U.S. House Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance
Realtors Help Make Home Possible for Vets, Say VA Officials
Officials from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs encouraged Realtors® to help debunk misconceptions regarding the VA Home Loan Guaranty Program yesterday at an agency briefing held during the REALTORS® Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo.
Realtors® Eagerly Await A-OK to Fly UAVs
There will be a time when Realtors® can legally fly an unmanned aerial system, or drone, around property listings to capture images for marketing purposes, but that time has not yet arrived, at least not completely. That’s according to Federal Aviation Administration officials who told Realtors® today during the When, Where and How can I Use My Drone session at the REALTORS® Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo
NAR Board Approves Nationwide Broker Data Entry System
The NAR Board of Directors at its 2015 meeting May 16 in Washington, D.C., approved a partnership between NAR and its wholly owned subsidiary Realtors Property Resource® and another company, UpStream RE, LLC, to create a data entry and collection system for the brokerage community using the RPR® advanced Multi-list platform (AMP™)
Walkable Urban Places are the Future of Real Estate Development
Realtors® from across the country gathered today to learn about the importance and benefits of walkable urban communities in real estate development during a panel organized by the REALTOR® University Richard J. Rosenthal Center for Real Estate Studies during the REALTORS® Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo.
Realtor.com® Strengthens Ties to Realtors® with New Website Improvements
In a move to better position itself for the future and further align itself with Realtors®, Move, Inc., operator of realtor.com®, the official listing site of the National Association of Realtors®, this week introduced new site features to better connect Realtors® and consumers. The announcement, made at the 2015 REALTORS® Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo, comes at a time when realtor.com® is experiencing substantial year-over-year growth.
Commercial Market Continues Recovery, Says NAR Chief Economist
While the commercial market still faces its share of challenges, Realtors® specializing in commercial real estate expressed confidence in the marked improvement seen in the market over the last year at a commercial economic issues and trends forum at the REALTORS® Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo.
Existing-Home Sales on the Rebound Despite Some Affordability Concerns
Existing-home sales are expected to finish the year at their highest pace since 2006, but accelerating price growth and rising mortgage rates have the potential to slow sales, according to an economic forecast forum here at the2015 Realtors® Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo.
NAR Unveils New Realtor® Safety Resources
To aid members and Realtor® associations in developing safety protocols, the National Association of Realtors® has expanded its Realtor® Safety Program resources with new classes and materials
Realtors® help Families Own Piece of American Dream, Says Secretary Castro
The path to opportunity has always been, and will continue to be, paved by homeownership and the benefits it affords to families and communities, U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro told a packed ballroom of Realtors® and guests this afternoon while participating in a fireside style chat with NAR President Chris Polychron during the Realtors® Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo.
Realtors® and Rural Housing Officials Work Together to Change Lives
The partnership between Realtors® and the Rural Housing Service supports homeownership in rural areas and helps those communities thrive, according to officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the agency that administers the RHS program, who held a briefing today during the Realtors® Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo.
