After getting the results of commercial real estate’s annual physical, we can see how truly healthy that market is tracking. Fortunately for data purposes, The National Council of Real Estate Investment Fiduciaries (NCREIF), a non-profit trade association for tax-exempt investors (such as pension funds) in… Read more

The National Association of Realtors® release on December 2012 housing sales and related data again illuminates the path of recovery of U.S. housing markets. While many would focus on the improving home prices, the story once again is how few homes are currently available for… Read more

As housing markets continue to recover, the story to be told is how quickly the supply of homes for sales is shrinking. And as inventory contracts, homes sell quicker and prices rise. That is exactly what is happening in many parts of the country. Realtor.com… Read more

It’s all about jobs. Trulia’s Chief Economist Jed Kolko analyzed multiple data sources to arrive at the 10 healthiest residential markets for 2013 in the U.S. Kolko focused on “solid fundamentals,” as reported by MarketWatch which separates these markets from others. Data sources and focus… Read more

November 2012 foreclosure filings (default notices) were off sequentially 3 percent from October and down a resounding 19 percent from November 2011 as reported by RealtryTrac, one of the premier providers for default and foreclosure data. During November 2012, one out of every 780 houses… Read more

Frequently I am asked either what historical lending has been, or what total lending will be next year. Unlike the ebb and flows of the ocean tide, residential lending volume changes have been more akin to the wildest roller coaster ride in the world. And… Read more

The stagnant economy and massive liquidity actions from the Federal Reserve have driven interest rates to record lows. Freddie Mac, which has tracked residential mortgage loan rates since 1971, reported 30-year fixed loans this week at 3.31 percent while 15 year rates were 2.63 percent…. Read more

Housing continues to make a comeback following the real estate depression of 2007 through 2011. Job growth (albeit tepid), rising rents and population growth are the trifecta to increased sales and prices. October 2012 saw a Seasonally-Adjusted Annualized Sales Rate (SAAR) of 4.79 million existing… Read more

As the U.S. continues deeper into the abyss given massive federal deficits and looming spending increases on entitlements, Congress and the President are scrambling for potential spending cuts and tax increases. Included in this discussion is a potential to limit or eliminate the mortgage interest… Read more

Jobs are everything creating demand for real estate. Period. Then add to that the supply and demand for real estate, and most questions are answered regarding value changes and price trajectory. That said, national median list prices of homes for sale increased 2.54 percent in… Read more