Wednesday, August 31, 2022

REALTOR® REVOLUTION CONFERENCE BRINGS VALUE TO THE SHIFTING MARKET






Real Talk for Realtors® Leaning into the Market




 


The Realtor® Revolution Conference is back, and this year provides Realtors® with the insight they need to stay ahead of the curve. The Broward, Palm Beaches & St. Lucie Realtors® (RWorld) is hosting its annual Realtor® Revolution Conference on Friday, September 9th, at the Palm Beach County Convention Center. The market is shifting, and RWorld wants its Realtor® members to have the right tools and content to remain steps ahead of the competition.




The conference will give Realtors® the information they need to succeed in today’s market climate. As well as feature economic experts to give real estate professionals insight on navigating the future market and help buyers and sellers accomplish their real estate goals.




 


Conference Speaker




The Bowtie Economist, Dr. Elliott Eisenberg, will be giving an exclusive look at the Nation’s real estate market and what to expect as we enter 2023. Dr. Eisenberg is an internationally acclaimed economist and public speaker specializing in making the arcana and minutia of economics fun, relevant and educational.


Conference Speaker


Dr. Brad O’Connor, Chief Economist for Florida Realtors®, will dive into a Florida Market Update and explore the latest trends that we see in South Florida. As the head of the Florida Realtors® Research Department, Dr. O’Connor oversees the production of the association’s widely-cited monthly housing market statistics and numerous other economic and statistical research projects.


Conference Speaker


Matthew Ferrara, Philosopher, will share his always inspiring message of growth for real estate professionals in every market. Matthew will explore the opportunities that intelligent, dedicated, and change-ready Realtors® can find in today’s normal market. His session will inspire Realtors® to tell their story and remain professional to their clients, colleagues, and themselves.







“In today’s marketplace, it’s all about leverage. Realtors® must stay steps ahead of the competition when it comes to market knowledge and negotiation. They need to adapt to help buyers and sellers navigate this changing market. Our members will leave the Realtor® Revolution Conference with the confidence and tools they need to win in this housing market shift.”






An awards ceremony will also take center stage during the conference. RWorld will proudly recognize the Broker, Realtor®, and Affiliate of the Year for community leadership, education, and volunteerism. In addition, members will meet their 2023 Leadership Team and cheer on their peers during the annual RWorld Awards Ceremony.


For the conference schedule, visit Revo22.com.





Tuesday, August 30, 2022

Treasure Coast Home Sales Stabilizing




It’s an unexpected trend for summer in Florida


 


Treasure Coast home sales are continuing to slow, in some areas down nearly50% in July compared to the same time last year — an unexpected trend a ssummer typically is prime time for people to relocate to Florida.


Simultaneously, housing inventory is more than double what it was last year, according to market data released Aug. 18. It’s a welcome sigh of relief as the area experienced critically low levels mid-2021 that continued into this year.


This additional inventory could be helping to stabilize prices. The tri-county region saw a decrease in its median sale price last month. July was also the third consecutive month prices declined in Martin County.


Consistently rising inventory and decreasing sales may indicate the Treasure Coast housing market cool-down is here to stay. Here’s what industry experts predict:


Home sales continue to slow


Summertime, when school is not in session, is the most convenient time for families to move, and closed single family home sales typically increase this time of year. That hasn’t been the trend so far.


They’re down compared to July 2021 by: 46.9%: Martin  •  24.3%: Indian River  •  18%: St. Lucie.


June sales fared roughly the same, dropping: 32.7%: Martin  •  28.6%: Indian River  •  13.5%: St. Lucie


There are a few reasons home sales have declined in the last few months, said Joe Rosen, of EXP Realty based in Port St. Lucie: Higher mortgage rates, less competition and inflation.


“We were expecting higher (summer) sales,” Rosen said. “It’s just so many things added together that create this very intense, very high anxiety feeling.”


Prices stabilizing, but still high


Median home sale prices aren’t increasing at the same staggering rate seen last year and have even been fluctuating this year in Martin and Indian River counties.


All three Treasure Coast counties saw the median sale price dip from June to July, but overall this year, prices have increased: 1.4%: Indian River  •  8%: Martin  •  13 .1% : St. Lucie


One reason prices aren’t escalating as much is because of additional inventory slowing competition.  Before, buyers were vying for properties in high demand but low supply —forcing buyers to act quickly and pay top dollar.


Prices are still high, though, and likely won’t decrease significantly any time soon, experts predict. In July, the median sale price was: $565,000: Martin  •  $396,950: St. Lucie  •  $360,000: Indian River.


People are still being priced out of the Treasure Coast, Rosen said, because of higher sale prices, rising mortgage rates and overall inflation that has been forcing residents to spend more on other necessities such as gas and food.


Mortgage rates have been steadily increasing throughout the year. In Florida, a conventional, 30-year fixed mortgage

rate was 5.6% as of Aug. 19, according to financial services company Bank Rate.


“This is scaring people who can buy, and can afford it, but just have high anxiety so they’re not going to make that move in this market,” Rosen said.


Housing inventory increasing


The housing inventory has been increasing throughout the year — up every month since January in Martin County, and consecutively since March in St. Lucie and Indian River.


There are a few reasons why more existing homes were going on the market:



  • More locals selling to relocate during summer

  • Sellers capitalizing on high sale prices before the market cools

  • Loosened CO VID-19 restrictions nationwide. People aren’t feeling the need to move to Florida, and newcomers are moving back to their home states.

  • Houses aren’t flying off the market as fast because of rising mortgage and insurance rates.


 


From January to July, active listings in the Treasure Coast market jumped: 224%: Martin  •  140%: St. Lucie  •  96%: Indian River.  The tri-county region is inching closer to having a “healthy real estate market,” defined as about three to four months worth of supply.


In July, there was: 2.6: Martin  •  2.5: Indian River  •  2.3: St. Lucie.  The additional supply is pushing the market to stabilize, Rosen said. There is less competition for buyers, he added, who now aren’t having to offer tens of thousands more over asking price.


“We’ve kind of trended from a strong sellers market — a record-setting sellers market — to now it’s more of a neutral market,” Rosen said. “Data is trending downward, so it wouldn’t surprise me at all if in a month or two we’re over four months worth of inventory.”


Is the real estate market cooling?


The short answer: Yes, Rosen believes.


Houses are still selling fast — the telltale sign demand is still there. It’s not as competitive as it has been in past months though. In July, the median time to go under contract — meaning when the seller accepts an offer from a buyer —was: 11 days: St. Lucie  •  14 days: Martin  •  19 days: Indian River.  This shift in the real estate market is still early, Rosen said, and it could be months before significant changes take effect. But it is imminent.


“I would absolutely say that it’s cooling,” he said. “We’ll see blips … but we now have multiple months of trending data with increasing inventory, increasing (mortgage) rates and stagnant or even decreasing sales. There’s no catalyst to change that in the foreseeable future.”


 


Catie Wegman is TCPalm’s housing and real estate reporter. You can keep up with Catie on Twitter @Catie_Wegman, on Facebook @catiewegman1 and email her catie.wegman@tcpalm.com.



Monday, August 29, 2022

LET'S TALK





News





Mortgage News









MMG Tips & News





Single-Family Construction Is Going Soft




Builders are growing concerned that demand for new homes is leveling off, and they’re slowing production out of fear that too many buyers have been priced out of the market. Single-family construction in June dropped to its lowest level since April 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic was just beginning, the Census Bureau reported Tuesday. Further, housing permits—a gauge of future construction—also fell, indicating a further decline is ahead in single-family construction.


The news came after a separate report this week showed that builder sentiment posted its second-worst single-month drop on record, behind only the April 2020 level. Builders expressed concern about slowing buyer traffic and sales, and according to a recent survey by John Burns Real Estate Consulting, about a quarter of builders are reducing their prices.


“Homebuilders have become extremely cautious about the prospect of single-family home sales,” says Lawrence Yun, chief economist at the National Association of REALTORS®. “There have been frequent reports of contract cancellations by buyers of newly constructed homes because they had signed a contract at the early stage of construction when mortgage rates were low. But as the completion of construction has taken longer, the home now requires finances at a much higher mortgage rate.”


Adding to the industry’s woes, new-home projects are facing significant delays because of supply chain disruptions. Many homes that were started several months ago have yet to be completed, Yun notes, adding that “homebuilders are waiting to see how these homes will sell before starting new construction.”


A bumpy road is likely to be ahead for the new-home market as housing affordability worsens. Only 10% of new homes sold for under $300,000 in May; the median sales price that same month was $449,000, census data shows. Further, costs are increasing for building materials, and lumber prices alone have added $14,345 to the average price of a single-family home since 2020, the National Association of Home Builders reports. Also, mortgage rates have nearly doubled in the past year, and monthly mortgage payments have climbed 51% in that time, according to NAR data.


“The softening of single-family construction data should send a strong signal to the Federal Reserve that tighter financial conditions are producing a housing downturn,” says NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz. “Price growth will slow significantly this year, but a housing deficit relative to demographic need will persist through this ongoing cyclical downturn.”


A Bright Spot: The Rental Market


Meanwhile, multifamily activity remains robust. Multifamily starts reached 577,000—one of the highest levels in the last 30 years, Census Bureau data showed this week.


CoreLogic reported that single-family rental growth continued to remain at a record high in May. Property owners are finding a larger pool of prospective tenants as higher home sales prices sideline more consumers. “Increases in mortgage rates and high home prices can be headwinds to the for-sale housing market but may be continually pushing up single-family rents,” says Molly Boesel, principal economist at CoreLogic.



Friday, August 26, 2022

We drive 25 for the safety of our neighborhoods




The City of Port St. Lucie is putting the brakes on excessive speeding and reckless driving on residential streets. Residents can show their support by driving 25 mph, taking the “We Drive 25” Pledge to commit to keeping our streets safe and spreading the word about the speed limit change to their families, neighbors and friends.


25 mph neighborhood speed limit sign


The City Council, on July 26, 2021, passed Ordinance 21-64, Areawide Speed Limit Reduction Within Specified Neighborhoods, and directed staff to replace the street signs. The installation of 1,130 residential street signs is now complete across Port St. Lucie, excluding gated communities, lowering the neighborhood speed limits from 30 to 25 mph.


“We made this change for the protection of our residents and neighborhoods,” said Mayor Shannon Martin. “But it all comes down to individual choices and decisions, and we all must work together for it to be successful.”


“Speed is too often a factor in preventable crashes where Port St. Lucie residents, particularly seniors and children, are killed or injured,” said Police Chief John Bolduc. “When drivers are going 25 mph, drivers and pedestrians have more time to see each other and react. This small 5-mph decrease in speed means many crashes can be avoided altogether. If a crash happens, it’s less likely to cause serious injury or death.”


Window Cling We Drive 25


To help inform our residents of the new speed limit, the City created a “We Drive 25” for the safety of our neighborhoods campaign with educational tools to help remind motorists to drive 25. One way residents can display their support of the initiative is by completing the online “We Drive 25” Pledge, then picking up a free yard sign or window decal, while supplies last, at City Hall, 121 SW Port St. Lucie Blvd., Building A, during business hours. Another way residents can show their support is by circulating messaging. A downloadable social media toolkit, printable brochures and tips on how to prevent speeding are located on the City’s website at www.CityofPSL.com/Speeding.


For the past 12 years, Port St. Lucie has been named the Safest Large City in Florida, according to Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s crime stats. In addition, U.S. News and World Report named Port St. Lucie as the second safest city in the nation. Together, drivers can extend that safety to our roadways ensuring safe use of public rights-of-ways for all citizens, including walkers, cyclists, runners, dog walkers, stroller pushers and letter carriers.


Learn more at www.cityofPSL.com/Speeding.


We Drive 25 Proclamation


Photo Caption: City Council Meeting on Aug. 22, 2022

(Left to right) City Manager Russ Blackburn; Police Chief John Bolduc; Deputy City Manager Teresa Lamar-Sarno; Councilman David Pickett, Councilwoman Stephanie Morgan; Mayor Shannon Martin; Senior/Transportation Planner Laura Dodd; Vice Mayor Jolien Caraballo; Councilman Anthony Bonna; and Communications Department Creative Team Leader Melissa Yunas


Thursday, August 25, 2022

Recycling to resume in Port St. Lucie week of Sept. 5




The City of Port St. Lucie is pleased to announce that beginning the week of Sept. 5, curbside recycling will resume. For customer convenience and simplicity, recycling will be collected once a week on the same day as garbage and yard waste.


The City is working together with FCC Environmental Services Florida (FCC), Port St. Lucie’s new contracted waste hauler, to reduce waste that is sent to the landfill. Each household can do its part by placing clean and dry accepted materials loose, not bagged, in the green cart.


“There are only five materials that belong in your recycling cart,” said Port St. Lucie’s Neighborhood Services Director Carmen Capezzuto. “Something as simple as a greasy pizza box, or a plastic bag, can contaminate an entire load, which is then sent to the landfill.”


So what materials are accepted in the green recycling cart?



  1. Paper: Almost any kind of paper is recyclable, including junk mail, newsprint, magazines, copy paper and phone books. Items that are not accepted curbside include shredded, waxed, metallic or soiled paper.

  2. Metal cans: Emptied and rinsed aluminum or steel (tin) cans can be recycled and there is no need to remove the labels.

  3. Cardboard: Any kind of box is accepted unless it held a liquid (such as those used to hold milk, juice, wine and broth). Flatten and cut the box to ensure it fits in the cart and to make room for more recyclables. Pizza boxes typically have residue and should be considered garbage.

  4. Plastic containers: Emptied and rinsed bottles, tubs, jugs and jars are all accepted, with or without the lid.

  5. Glass: Green, brown and clear bottles and jars that are emptied and rinsed are acceptable materials.


Residents can find a searchable list by clicking here.


Recycling materials will be collected separately from garbage. Residents are asked to please place both carts by the curb, about 3 feet apart, by 7 a.m. on their collection day. If a household was using the recycling cart as a trash can, if possible, please rinse the cart before use. This cleaning is important to prevent residue from contaminating recyclables.


As FCC drivers learn their routes, residents are asked to continue to be patient. In the first few weeks, new drivers will have to tackle a multi-week backlog of trash. FCC has the resources and equipment to bring reliable and efficient service back to Port St. Lucie, but it will take time.


The City’s voluntary drop-off site will continue to serve Port St. Lucie’s waste needs. Residents can drop off clean recyclablesyard and bulky waste seven days a week, from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., at the Public Works Complex on the corner of Cameo Boulevard and Crosstown Parkway, behind the green, fenced-in area, just west of Florida’s Turnpike overpass.


Learn more about the positive changes happening with the solid waste program at the second open house on Monday, Aug. 29 from 6-8 p.m. at the Port St. Lucie’s Community Center, 2195 SE Airoso Blvd., Port St. Lucie, FL 34984. FCC’s new waste collection schedule can be found at www.CityofPSL.com/SolidWaste.



Wednesday, August 24, 2022

Know When That Phone Call Is a Real Estate Scam




Bad actors are taking advantage of surging demand for remodeling projects and home warranties to dupe consumers. Share these warning signs with your clients.


 







Housing-related phone scams surged by more than 300% in May, according to telecommunications technology provider First Orion’s 2022 Mid-Year Phone Scam Report. Scammers increasingly are trying to dupe consumers on home-related items, including remodeling projects and home warranties.


Home warranty scams targeting seniors are skyrocketing, the report shows. Such schemes typically provide a callback number that captures the personal information of those who respond. First Orion estimates that U.S. mobile subscribers received more than 100 billion scam phone calls during the first six months of 2022. That resulted in financial losses of up to $40 billion.


Overall, the most common and emerging phone scams across industries involved vehicle warranties, health care, Social Security, life insurance, financial assistance and home warranties, the First Orion report finds. Kent Welch, First Orion’s chief data officer, recently spoke with REALTOR® Magazine about the growth in home-related scams and what consumers need to watch out for.


Q: What’s behind the big jump in the number of housing-related scams lately?


A: Scams are a big business, and we see scammers alter their tactics and their ploys to fit the season or the current events. We often notice seasonal trends; for example, tax scams soar during the first-quarter tax preparation season. Scammers also tend to take advantage of consumers’ needs, which can be tied to current events or pending legislation around themes such as student loan forgiveness.


It’s been a seller’s market lately in housing. During the pandemic, record numbers of consumers quit their jobs or retired early, opting to downsize or sell to take advantage of inflated pricing associated with the recent demand for homes. Likewise, consumers working from home have fueled an increase in demand for homes outside the typically strong job markets. Also, remodeling projects and home enhancements are in demand.


Interest rates are also going up, which can spark a rush on the housing market from buyers who are anxious to lock in rates or renters who want to move but can’t commit to a long-term loan.


What housing-related scams are you noticing increasing the most?


In June, housing-related scams were still growing, but by more like 90%, as opposed to the more than 300% growth in May. Here are some examples from more recent phone call scams:



  • “Hi, this is Suzie. I’m a homeowners associate calling on a recorded line in regards to safety concerns within your home. How are you doing today? I’m with Consumer Council regarding home improvement. My callback number is…”

  • “Hi, this is Laura. I’m a homeowners associate calling on a recorded line in regards to making improvements within your home. How are you doing today? I’m with remodeling loans. My callback number is…”

  • “Hi, this is Stephanie. I’m a homeowners associate calling on a recorded line in regards to safety concerns within your home. How are you doing today? I’m with customer care regarding home improvement. My callback number is…”


Some of the buzzwords like “remodeling” and “safety concerns” are interesting. The scams are targeting more of the homeowner population as opposed to the mix of homeowners and renters, like in May.


The reference to “Consumer Council” is very common with other scams like Medicare, health care and vehicle warranty, suggesting the same scammers are alternating the theme, but the messaging is mostly the same or similar to other scams.


How can homeowners or renters avoid becoming a victim of these scams? Any more tips or red flags they should beware of?


First and foremost, don’t answer unknown numbers. If it’s important enough, they’ll leave a voicemail.


Perhaps one of the biggest mistakes people make on these calls is giving out personal information like their Social Security number or birth date over the phone. And definitely don’t give away banking information if you’re unsure if the person calling is in fact from your bank or, in this case, an homeowners association or a landlord. If they ask you to pay with a gift card or wire transfer, it’s definitely a scam. Hang up, look up the phone number to verify it and call them back.


Additionally, if you hear a robotic voice asking you if you’d like to be placed on the “do not call list,” don’t fall for it. Don’t press the button, don’t say yes—because that’ll put you on a list of active callers. Just hang up.


Lastly, consider getting a call tagging or call blocking service or consider registering with the federal Do Not Call registry.


Is there anything you’d like the real estate community to know about helping to educate their clients on this?


Branded communication is helping to restore trust between businesses and their customers over the phone. Businesses can brand calls with their logo, company name, department and reason for calling on the recipient’s mobile device at the time of the call and in the call log afterward, increasing the likelihood the customer calls back. With so many people now conditioned to ignore calls from unknown numbers, this reduces the number of unanswered calls and also helps identify the real calls from the fraudulent ones.







 


 














Tuesday, August 23, 2022

REALTORS® Foresee Strong But Calmer 2023 Market




CEOs of associations nationwide predict the highs and lows the real estate industry will face over the next year.


 







Buyers will feel a little less pressure as home prices stabilize and the inventory crunch begins to slowly loosen over the next year, CEOs of five REALTOR® associations across the country predicted during a Tuesday webinar, “2022 Housing Market: Boom or Bust?” virtual briefing presented by the Northern Virginia Association of REALTORS®. The leaders—from associations in Colorado, Nevada, North Carolina, Texas and Virginia—offered insights into their local markets and how they compare to the nation as a whole for the remainder of the year and into 2023.


 






Chrlotte, N.C.



© Pgiam – E+/Getty Images




 


Charlotte, N.C.: Normalcy on the Horizon


Anne Marie DeCatsye, CEO of the Canopy REALTOR® Association in Charlotte, N.C., said the city’s explosive growth—which was happening even before the COVID-19 pandemic began—has created affordability challenges for home buyers. Charlotte is a magnet for new residents and businesses because of the city’s thriving finance sector, status as a major distribution hub with international airports and ports, and low corporate tax rate. Inventory there is tight, with homes on the market selling in an average of just 14 days. The median sales price of a home in Charlotte hit $462,000 in May. “Buyers have little room to negotiate,” DeCatsye said.


While rising interest rates, inflation and general economic uncertainty could lead to some slowing in the Charlotte market, “‘slower’ is a relative term,” says DeCatsye. “But the market is starting to look a little more like 2019. And our inventory started to rise for the first time [since 2020] between May and April.” DeCatsye predicts that prices are unlikely to decrease, but the sharp increases of the last two years may level off.


 






Denver cityscape



© Brad McGinley Photography – Moment/Getty Images




 


Denver: Inflation Hits Hard


Inflation is a significant issue in Denver, said Nobu Hata, CEO of the Denver Metro Association of REALTORS®. The area has a sizeable population of blue-collar workers that are more sensitive to the effects of rising prices, and with a steady influx of newcomers—as well as supply-chain issues and labor shortages—home prices are surging. “A $1 million home is no longer considered luxury,” Hata said.


Despite the supply constraints and labor problems, new construction is booming in the region. Hata said he sees migration into the Denver area continuing, which will affect both the homebuying and rental markets. The Denver suburbs are seeing a sharp increase in institutional buyers who plan on renting their properties rather than returning them to the market, Hata said. The result is higher rents and less For Sale inventory. DMAR is working with the local government to create and promote programs designed to help renters move into homeownership, such as rent-to-own education and down payment assistance. “When consumers are ready to own, we’ll be there as a REALTOR® association to help them out,” Hata said.


 






Las Vegas Strip



© Siegfried Layda – The Image Bank/Getty Images




 


Las Vegas: Diversified Economy Attracts Newcomers


Las Vegas is another city experiencing a steady stream of new residents, said Wendy DiVecchio, CEO of the Greater Las Vegas Association of REALTORS®. The greatest percentage of incoming residents are flocking from the neighboring states of California, Arizona and Utah. While Las Vegas is known for its casinos, the economy is rapidly diversifying—attracting warehousing facilities for Amazon and Apex, several new professional sports teams and manufacturing facilities for driverless cars. The area, which attracts snowbirds and retirees, is likely to continue seeing rising prices. But DiVecchio said she believes the lack of a state income tax in Nevada will help to keep the area affordable. In addition, the association is working with the local government on land-leasing options to increase affordability. “[The Bureau of Land Management] is leasing land, and then we build housing on it,” DiVecchio said. “People own the homes, but they don’t have to pay the land prices.”


 






Alexandria City Hall and Market Square in Northern, Virginia



© traveler1116 – iStock/Getty Images Plus




 


Fairfax, Va.: Home Prices, Sales Leveling Off


Fairfax, Va., is fortunate to have low unemployment and high average income, says Ryan McLaughlin, CEO of the Northern Virginia Association of REALTORS®. The economic stability is due in part to the city’s proximity to the nation’s capital and a large population of federal employees and defense contractors. The area also boasts a booming tech sector that includes Amazon, Google, Facebook and Raytheon Technologies. Despite the solid economic underpinnings, the region also has experienced surging home prices, and inventory currently sits at a tight 0.8-month supply. McLaughlin predicts that both sales and prices will level off, with prices increasing by only 3% by the end of the year. In addition, the association is looking at ways to increase inventory and affordability, with one possible avenue being zoning reform in Fairfax’s Arlington County. “Arlington is looking at eliminating single-family zoning to allow for multifamily and building more units,” says McLaughlin. “We’re looking at all potential positives and negatives.”


 






San Antonio Riverwalk



© Gabriel Perez – Moment Open/Getty Images




 


San Antonio: An Affordability Haven


The efforts that the San Antonio Board of REALTORS® has put into advocacy for its members and consumers have paid dividends for affordability, said SABOR CEO Gilbert Gonzalez. Though the region has experienced a sharp increase in population—Texas as a whole has gained 500,000 new residents every year since 2019—the local San Antonio market still offers homes at many different price points. The National Association of REALTORS® recently dubbed San Antonio a “hidden gem” for real estate. Gonzalez credits the strong local economy and SABOR’s work with the local government and the San Antonio Housing Authority with keeping the market open to more consumers. “We worked with the city to make San Antonio affordable now and in the future,” says Gonzalez. “The city continues to remain the most affordable metroplex in the state.”







 


Catherine MesickCatherine Mesick – Catherine Mesick is a writer and a member of the National Association of REALTORS® Advocacy Group. She can be reached at cmesick@nar.realtor.



Monday, August 22, 2022

US housing market sliding into recession




Experts coincide on data, although home prices still robust amid reduced profit margins for brokers and lenders


 


The US housing market is heading for a recession, various sources have confirmed.




The latest figures from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) show that mortgage applications fell 18% year on year – the lowest level in 22 years – while refinance volume plunged 82% compared to 2021.


Meanwhile, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) this week reported that existing home sales fell by 5.9% in July and by more than 20% compared to last year. Except for the dip experienced at the start of the COVID pandemic, this was the slowest sales pace in more than six years.





The NAR added that the inventory of unsold existing homes rose to 1.31 million last month – the equivalent of 3.3 months at the current monthly sales pace.




The data prompted NAR’s chief economist Lawrence Yun to remark: “We’re witnessing a housing recession in terms of declining home sales and home building.”


Only home prices have continued to rise nationally, he added, with nearly 40% of homes still commanding the full list price.


But according to home price data from John Burns Real Estate Consulting, 83% of home builders have reduced their prices in the last three months. It added that most of the 17% that had not reduced them were located in the Eastern US.





The drop in homebuilder sentiment is another issue affecting the housing market. Data from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) shows the buyer traffic number has fallen to the lowest level since 2014. This follows eight consecutive months of declines for single family homebuilder confidence.




Robert Dietz, NAHB’s chief economist, said he expected single-family housing starts this year to post their first decline in more than a decade, a consequence of higher mortgage rates, and ongoing higher construction costs.


He also agreed that the housing market was in recession.


Homebuilder stocks are also down, with builders Lennar, Toll Brothers, KB Home and D.R. Horton (the largest builder in the US by volume) all reporting negative numbers.


Odeta Kushi, First American’s deputy chief economist, said home sales were “likely to further fall”, while her colleague, chief economist Mark Fleming, said prices were still going strong, but “less so than three months ago”.





Robert Shiller, economics professor at Yale University, added his weight to the debate by saying this week that the housing market “is headed for trouble”.




He said that “things look almost as bad as the 2007/09 recession” but was quick to add that it “would not be as catastrophic”.


Significantly, although home prices have maintained their overall upward pace, Shiller noted that prices might also be heading for a decline and that negative equity was a possibility. “That’s when people have an incentive to default,” he told CNBC.


The latest figures from real estate data curator, ATTOM, also show that foreclosure activity is on the rise.





A total of 270,470 residential properties were in the process of foreclosure in Q3, up 4.4% from the second quarter of 2022, and up 25.5% from the third quarter of 2021.




From the point of view of brokers and lenders, they are also facing additional costs and reduced profit margins.


According to the latest data from the MBA, independent mortgage banks (IMBs) and mortgage subsidiaries of chartered banks reported a net loss of $82 on each loan they originated in Q2, down from a reported gain of $223 per loan during the previous quarter this year.


It found that average production volume was down $103 million in the second quarter compared to Q1, and that total production revenue (fee income, net secondary marketing income and warehouse spread) dropped by 335bps in the second quarter.


On a per-loan basis, production revenues decreased slightly to $10,855 per loan during the same period, down from $10,861 per loan in the first quarter.





Marina Walsh, MBA’s VP of industry analysis, said the average pre-tax net production income per loan had reached its lowest level since the fourth quarter of 2018.




“Combining both production and servicing operations, only 57% of the companies in our report were profitable. Pulling out a profit in these difficult conditions is no easy feat,” she said.


Mortgage Professional America reached out to brokers to gauge the mood in the sector.


Dean Rathbun, senior vice president at California-based United American Mortgage, said: “We have definitely seen a slowdown, not only in actual closings but in general inquires and activity. While that has been the case from the beginning of July to last week, we have seen an uptick in calls this week which is good news. I am not sure if that is due to rates lowering a bit, or people coming back from vacations and focusing on housing.”


He said the market had been “eerily quiet in July”, adding that while employees were still busy, the company “can certainly handle much more”.






Whitney Bulbrook, president of Carolina Ventures Mortgage, based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, about 30 miles from Raleigh, which is considered one of the country’s top locations for homebuyers, according to recent surveys, said she had noticed a slowdown in mid-June, coinciding with rates reaching almost 6%.


“With the significant uptick in rates, we are in a purchase market predominantly. Compared to 2020 and 2021, we are closing fewer refinance transactions.”


However, she added: “Now with rates in the fours, we’re seeing an uptick in mortgage applications. I reviewed my August 2021 purchase closings for comparison and it’s identical to this August in terms of units.


“North Carolina continues to see a tremendous amount of growth. I am not seeing a slowdown in home prices or homebuyer interest. We are still in multiple offer situations for most clients.”




 


19 Aug 2022





Friday, August 19, 2022

Weekend Happenings




Blowing Rocks Preserve Evening Shoreline Cleanup



Date: Event occurs the third Friday of every month.

Time: 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm

Location: Blowing Rocks Preserve

Address: 574 S. Beach Road

Price: Free

Category: Community


FREE family-friendly volunteer opportunity! Enjoy a self-guided evening stroll in the outdoors through the trails and beaches of Blowing Rocks Preserve to collect debris that has been washed ashore or left behind. Your contribution helps to beautify our beaches and prevent wildlife disasters. Volunteers will be instructed by preserve staff upon arrival and given collection supplies.

Advance registration is required, and space is limited to a maximum of 18 attendees. Please note that all youth under the age of 18 years old must be accompanied by an adult.



 


****************************************


 


Geocaching For Beginners



The Children’s Museum of the Treasure Coast

Date: Saturday August 20, 2022

Time: 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Location: The Children’s Museum of the Treasure Coast

Address: 1707 NE Indian River Drive, Jensen Beach, FL, 34957

Price: $10 & $15

Category: Arts / Exhibits


Learn how to treasure hunt right in our local park using your cellphone. Each registration is up to a Family of 4, & includes pizza & drinks.


 


****************************************


 


Artists For MS Present: Summer Bash The Pure Zeppelin Experience


Sunrise Theatre

Date: Saturday August 20, 2022

Time: 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Location: Sunrise Theatre

Address: 117 S. 2nd Street, Fort Pierce, FL, 34950

Price: $33

Category: Concert / Live Music


Artists For MS Present Summer Bash The Pure Zeppelin Experience:

The top Led Zeppelin tribute show in the Southeast delivers all the musical majesty of Great Britains rock titans complete with a mesmerizing, state-of-the-art laser light show with portion of proceeds to benefit Multiple Sclerosis.

FEATURING A SPECIAL ACOUSTIC PERFORMANCE FROM THE PURE HEART BAND WITH A TRIBUTE TO ANNE AND NANCY INTRODUCING A SPECIAL PERFORMANCE WITH THE FLORIDA AERIAL DANCE CIRCUS ON STAGE LIVE


 


****************************************


 


Farmers Market and Craft Show at the Fort Pierce Marina


Farmers MarketSt. Lucie County

Date: Event occurs every Saturday of every month.

Time: 8:00 am – 12:00 pm

Location: Downtown Fort Pierce

Address: 1 Avenue A – Fort Pierce

Category: Other


Come enjoy the extraordinary Downtown Fort Pierce Farmers’ Market where there are over 70 friendly vendors that offer a wonderful and diverse selection of delicious foods, exotic plants, savory spices, and much much more!


 


****************************************


 


FAU Harbor Branch Campus Immersion Tours


City of Fort Pierce

Date: Thursday June 9, 2022 through Saturday December 24, 2022.

Time: 10:30 am – 12:00 pm

Location: The City of Fort Pierce

Address: 100 North US 1, Fort Pierce, FL, 34950

Price: $20 per person

Category: Educational


FAU Harbor Branch welcomes you to go behind the scenes with one of our outreach scientists to learn more about the research being conducted by the Institute. During this 1.5-hour golf-cart tour, participants will explore our 144-acre waterfront campus, learn about our history, hear highlights of the cutting-edge research being conducted by our marine scientists and engineers, and discover the impact that our work has on their everyday lives. Spaces fill fast, so book your tour today over the phone (772-242-2293) or in person at the Ocean Discovery Visitors Center.

Price: $20 per person

Dates: Tuesday- Saturday

Hours: 10:30- Noon



Thursday, August 18, 2022

Slowing Inflation Suggests Mortgage Rates Have Topped Out




NAR’s chief economist shares what now needs to happen to bring down borrowing costs and increase affordability for home buyers.


 


Inflation eased slightly in July, which could bode well for the housing market in the months ahead, says Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of REALTORS®. Overall, inflation slowed from 9.1% in June to 8.5% in July, but prices for food and rent continued to climb, the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index showed Wednesday.


Still, the slight deceleration suggests that consumer price inflation may have peaked, which suggests that mortgage rates also may have peaked, Yun says. The level of inflation “is still high and uncomfortable but may indicate the start of a steady retreat,” Yun adds.


Gasoline prices posted a 7% monthly decline, a significant contributor to the recent moderation in inflation. However, prices remain 44% higher than a year ago and 104% higher than two years ago. Also, the CPI showed that the rising costs of food, up 10.9% in July, continue to hit many Americans’ pocketbooks. That’s the highest increase in food prices since May 1979. Household energy costs were up 20.5%, and furniture costs were up 14.8%.


Rents continued to rise in July, up 6.3% compared to a year prior, the CPI showed. “That is a testament to the ongoing housing shortage,” Yun says.


But could the worst of sky-high inflation be behind Americans? Yun thinks so. “If there is a sustained decline in gasoline prices and more production of apartments and single-family homes, consumer prices will pull back, encouraging the Federal Reserve policy to be less aggressive,” Yun says. “Mortgage rates will fall.”


On Wednesday morning, the 10-year Treasury yield stood at 2.7%. “That should translate into 30-year mortgage rates pulling back to under 5%,” Yun says. “Some recent potential home buyers who were pushed out of the market may now be able to get back in and qualify for a mortgage.”



Wednesday, August 17, 2022

Homeowner equity soars across US




Half of all US mortgaged homes are now considered equity-rich, according to a new report by real estate data curator, ATTOM.


According to the US Home Equity and Underwater report for Q2, 48.1% of mortgaged residential properties in the country were considered equity-rich in the second quarter this year, meaning that the combined estimated amount of loan balances secured by those properties was no more than 50% of their estimated market values. Data was collected on more than 155 million properties across the US.


The report provides counts of properties based on several categories of equity — or loan to value (LTV) — at the state, metro, county and zip code level, along with the percentage of total properties with a mortgage that each equity category represents.


‘Equity-rich’ properties are those with a loan to value ratio of 50% or lower, meaning the property owner had at least 50% equity, while ‘seriously underwater’ properties are those with a loan to value ratio of 125% or above, meaning the property owner owed at least 25% more than the estimated market value of the property.


The portion of mortgaged homes that were equity-rich in the second quarter increased from 44.9% in the first quarter and from 34.4% in the second quarter.


The latest increase, covering almost half of all mortgage payers in the US, marked the ninth straight quarterly rise in the portion of homes in the equity-rich territory. The report found that at least half of all mortgage-payers in 18 states were equity-rich in Q2, compared to only three states a year earlier.


Rick Sharga, executive vice president of market intelligence at ATTOM, said he was not surprised by the report’s findings, given how property prices had been rising for so long.


He said: “After 124 consecutive months of home price increases, it’s no surprise that the percentage of equity rich homes is the highest we’ve ever seen, and that the percentage of seriously underwater loans is the lowest.


“While home price appreciation appears to be slowing down due to higher interest rates on mortgage loans, it seems likely that homeowners will continue to build on the record amount of equity they have for the rest of 2022.”


ATTOM’s report also revealed that only 2.9% of mortgaged homes, or one in 34, were considered seriously underwater in Q2, with a combined estimated balance of loans secured by the property of at least 25% more than the property’s estimated market value. That was down from 3.2% of all homes with a mortgage compared to the previous quarter and 4.1%, or one 24 properties, a year earlier.


Across the US, every state except one saw equity-rich levels increase this year due to the fact that home values have kept increasing, while seriously underwater percentages fell in 46 states.


After a flat first quarter, the median single-family home price shot up another 9% quarterly and 15% annually during the Spring of this year to a new high of $346,000.


The report noted that for owners keeping up with mortgage payments – including many that weren’t – that meant a widening gap between what they owed and what their homes were worth, boosting more home values into equity-rich status.


Equity continued “on a relentless upward path” despite home-mortgage rates doubling this year, inflation soaring to a 40-year high and rising fuel costs, among other issues.


Despite the economic uncertainty, the report stressed that there was “little immediate sign that equity gains will flatten out”, mostly because of a “historically tight” supply of properties for sale.


Broken down by region, seven of the 10 states where the equity-rich share of mortgaged homes increased the most between Q1 and Q2 were in the south.


The biggest increases were in Wyoming, where the portion of equity-rich mortgaged homes rose from 26.1% in the first quarter to 33.9% in Q2, Maine, Florida, Mississippi and South Carolina.


By contrast, states where the equity-rich share of mortgaged homes decreased, or went up the least, during the same period were New Jersey (down from 38.6% to 37.9%), Utah, Idaho, North Dakota and West Virginia.


In addition, the largest declines in seriously underwater properties spread across the Northeast, South and Midwest, led by Mississippi (share of mortgaged homes seriously underwater down from 17% to 8.1%), Wyoming, Missouri, Maine and Connecticut.




The only states where the percentage of seriously underwater homes increased from the first quarter to the second quarter were Montana (up from 3% to 3.9%), New Jersey and New York.


Significantly, more than 90% of homeowners facing foreclosure have at least some equity.





Only about 214,800 homeowners were facing possible foreclosure in Q2, the equivalent of just four-tenths of 1% of the 58.2 million outstanding mortgages in the US. Of those facing foreclosure, about 195,400, or 91%, had at least some equity built up in their homes.




Sharga said: “The fact that over 90% of homeowners in foreclosure have positive equity is good news for borrowers who find themselves in financial distress. These homeowners have the opportunity to leverage this equity to either secure short-term financing to resolve their delinquencies, or to sell their properties at a profit and avoid a foreclosure auction.”




 


By Richard Torne / Mortgage Professional America (MPA)



Tuesday, August 16, 2022

Setting Your Sights on Sustainability




Sure, it’s become a corporate buzzword. But your actions can help owners save money and conserve resources, and give your business an edge.


 


After paring gasoline use with the purchase of two electric vehicles, Christopher Matos-Rogers, a former marine biologist, and husband Heroildo, a database architect, took a deeper dive into sustainability. They purchased a mid-century modern house in Atlanta and transformed it into an efficient electric home (a home that uses no or significantly less power from the grid). The work was guided by EarthCraft, a residential green building program in Georgia.


Soon after embarking on this path, Matos-Rogers, GREEN, AHWD, decided to earn his real estate license. He saw it as an opportunity since few salespeople in his market focused on sustainability. His Coldwell Banker Realty team raises awareness of sustainability’s merits. (Hear Matos-Rogers’ story on the Drive With NAR podcast.)


“We now have 50,000 properties in Georgia with some level of green certification. We have seen particular growth in homes with solar, thanks to [power company] incentives,” says Matos-Rogers, 2021 recipient of an EverGreen Award from the Green REsource Council, which confers the National Association of REALTORS®’ GREEN designation. “While market inventory has been down by 50% over the last two years, the number of homes with solar for sale in our MLS has increased by more than 50% during the same time.”


As concerns mount regarding climate risk, depletion of natural resources, and higher energy bills, a small but growing number of real estate professionals are seeking sustainable solutions.


Still a Nascent Effort


Eric Rehling, GREEN, a broker with RE/MAX Ready in Conshohocken, Penn., became interested in sustainability 10 years ago because of his young daughters. Once educated, he was ready to explain to home buyers the true cost of homeownership. “It isn’t just about the down payment, taxes, and mortgage, but what comes after when they pay for heat, air conditioning, or a well or public sewer,” he says. “A high-performance house (tight and well insulated) might cut costs 30 percent,” he adds.


After Nashville, Tenn.–based architect Betsy Littrell earned a real estate license and the GREEN designation, she and her contractor husband Austin started Maypop Building Workshop, a company focused on sustainable architecture and construction.


“We wanted to construct environmentally conscious houses with plant-based materials so they’d be a tool to combat climate change,” she says. “We also wanted to help clients optimize their investment in healthy homes.”


Scottsdale, Ariz., pro Jan Green teaches fellow agents and homeowners about ways to pare costs and save resources. She also specializes in selling high-performance homes, like this Pearl Gold–certified house. (Pearl Certification was a National Association of REALTORS® REACH technology accelerator participant in 2017.)


Jan Green, SFR, GREEN, a salesperson at HomeSmart in Scottsdale, Ariz., took yet another path to bring knowledge about sustainability to her market. As an instructor for her local REALTOR® association, she has taught colleagues and homeowners about energy efficiency. She refers them to companies that perform audits to pare utility bills, save water, and improve indoor air quality.


Despite the high value these practitioners and others place on energy efficiency and sustainability, only about 3,100 of NAR’s members have earned the GREEN designation.


Finding the time can be a challenge, particularly now when finding inventory has become tougher. “It’s one of those things you have to make the time for,” says Melisa Camp, ABR, GREEN, a salesperson with HomeSmart in Phoenix. She did so a decade ago, despite having a newborn. “I wanted the core knowledge to gain credibility and build my business,” she says.


Overall, buyers’ interest has also been slow to ramp up, lagging behind “‘location, location, location’ as the main reason to buy one house versus another,” says John Rosshirt, CRS, GREEN, C2EX, associate broker and co-owner of Stanberry, REALTORS®, in Austin, Texas.


But proponents are laying the groundwork. The state of California passed a voluntary building code more than a decade ago, dubbed “CALGreen,” encompassing planning, design, operation, construction, use, and occupancy regulations and guidelines. Since then, the state has added mandatory provisions, and several other states and localities have adopted green codes.


Christopher Matos-Rogers and Jan Green discuss the growing demand for eco-friendly housing and how to sell their benefits beyond the environmental aspect in an episode of the Drive With NAR podcast.


“We see a shift, particularly among prior homeowners and millennials. Buyers will pay a premium if they see there is long-term value,” Rosshirt says.


Add to that a 3%–5% sales price differential as more appraisers learn to value houses with energy-efficient and sustaining features, says Punta Gorda, Fla.–based practitioner and certified residential appraiser Sandra K. Adomatis, GREEN.


John Shipman, an agent with Barraza Group, Surterre Properties, in Laguna Beach, Calif., and manager of professional development, workforce education, and training programs at the Port Washington, Wis.–based Franklin Energy, thinks the knowledge that improved air quality increases homeowners’ health and comfort trumps all reasons for the growth in sustainability.


How to Seed the Conversation


Before broaching the topic of sustainability with clients, Shipman listens or looks for clues. “Maybe they have an electric vehicle,” he says. “Once we start talking, I listen and answer their questions.”


Architect Nate Kipnis used features such as cement fiberboard siding atop a rainscreen system, reclaimed wood, a no-grass front lawn, and a solar PV panel array on the garage for this Chicago project.


Craig Foley, AHWD, GREEN, chief sustainability officer for LAER Realty Partners in Melrose, Mass., and founder of Sustainable Real Estate Consulting Services, suggests asking, “What did you hate about your past home?”


Another first step: Advise buyers to have a utility company or independent expert perform an energy audit to assess the home’s condition and the return on investment of each potential fix. Some utilities don’t charge for this service since decreased use puts less strain on a local grid, Foley says. Jan Green suggests doing this as part of a home inspection and wrapping improvements into the mortgage.


If a number of changes are to be made, owners should proceed in a proper order according to a master plan. If they’re replacing a roof, for example, they might first install skylights for light and ventilation, prewire for solar panels, add a battery backup, and check if the electrical amp rating can service the load and, if not, add more, says Nate Kipnis of Kipnis Architecture + Planning in Evanston, Ill.


Buyers might start with the simplest, affordable changes—low-hanging fruit such as LED lights, which have fallen in price from as high as $80 apiece in 2008 to $1.50 today, Kipnis says.


Other easy changes are recycling, composting, smart thermostats, and Energy Star–rated appliances, says Rehling. Camp, a 2011 EverGreen award recipient, suggests buying a $5 can of foam insulation to spray into easy places, installing rain barrels to collect water, and adding low-flow faucets. “Reduce demand so you don’t need as much renewable energy,” she says.


Adomatis put a timer on her electric water heater, which helped lower her monthly bill by $20. Matos-Rogers replaced a gas range he loved with an induction cooktop. Once-pricey solar panels have dropped from $6.44 per watt in 2012 to $2.22 now, Kipnis says.


Last on a homeowner’s to-do list might be big-ticket items such as energy-efficient windows. “They’re one of the most expensive upgrades and take a long time for a payback,” Adomatis says. Foley agrees, and prefers the lower-cost alternatives of air sealing and insulation.


The bottom line, Camp says, is “nothing else matters if we don’t figure out the sustainable piece. You can have cool cars, but they’re not worth anything if we don’t have a habitable planet.”


3 Ways to Earn Your Sustainability Creds


Get a GREEN designation.


It’s the National Association of REALTORS®’ coursework on energy-efficient systems and sustainability, says John Rosshirt.


Jan Green earned her designation after attending an NAR convention and learning how one broker lowered her carbon footprint. She replicated that colleague’s business model and developed a website to list area providers of green services. “Any time you lower the carbon footprint, it benefits everyone,” she says. She went on to add to her area multiple listing service 65-plus green features that show what sustainable features a house includes, such as solar power, a tankless water heater, and low- or no-VOC paints. (Listen to Green’s story on the Drive With NAR podcast.)


When architect Nate Kipnis opened an office in Boulder, Colo., he researched which real estate sales pros had a GREEN designation. “I called to meet and share that I was available,” he says.


Connect with experts.


There are countless ways to test the waters. Green has attended home shows and conferences, volunteers with the U.S. Green Building Council, and is a member of the Arizona Green Chamber of Commerce. Betsy Littrell participates in conferences on high-performing houses including one in Nashville that NAR and the National Association of Home Builders co-promoted on social media with a tour of a high-performance house her firm had designed. The Appraisal Institute has a registry of appraisers who have taken its coursework to value sustainable buildings. RESNET—the Residential Energy Services Network—provides information to gauge a home’s energy efficiency. Earth Advantage has a green building registry at which users can check properties by address to see if they are certified as green or energy-efficient. Also, green lenders share how to finance sustainable projects; the NAHB offers a national green building certificate; and, in about 20 states, Pearl Certification documents a home’s high-performance features when a house is listed.


Live it.


One of the best ways to gain credibility is to live your own sustainable story so that you can give clients a first-hand view of the costs and savings and the sheer joy of a lifestyle that benefits others and the planet.


Carl Lantz, AHWD, a salesperson with Coldwell Banker Realty in West Hartford, Conn., and his wife post photos on social media of their now all-electric, 100-year-old house with solar panels, a more efficient boiler, new windows, and insulation. “The sustainability payback is a long-term investment, but solar has already paid us back,” he says,. His January 2022 bill was one-half the previous month; February was one-third of it; and, in March, the cost fell to zero. “The personal experience holds weight with clients,” says Lantz.


Green improved her 1979 house so it met net-zero criteria, using spray foam insulation, sealed ducts and registers, LED lights, EnergyStar appliances, a 16-SEER HVAC system, and solar panels, which also power her electric vehicle. Eric Rehling’s nine-year-old colonial-style home includes a high-efficiency furnace, pellet stove, LED lights, and organic garden, whose yield feeds his family and others. A well is used to water the garden. Craig Foley embarked on a deep energy audit of his 1890s Victorian house, shifting from fossil fuel to electricity. He thinks it will prove a smart investment to lower costs, especially when he and his wife retire. And Shipman, a 2014 EverGreen winner, built a green-certified, all-electric accessory dwelling unit that he and his wife rent out. The income helps to pay for their son’s college costs.


 


 Barbara Ballinger – Barbara Ballinger is a freelance writer and the author of several books on real estate, architecture, and remodeling, including The Kitchen Bible: Designing the Perfect Culinary Space (Images Publishing, 2014). Barbara’s most recent book is The Garden Bible: Designing Your Perfect Outdoor Space, co-authored with Michael Glassman (Images, 2015).



Monday, August 15, 2022

Could Solving the Housing Shortage Help Close the Racial Gap, Too?




A report highlights housing supply issues and how a multifaceted approach could be key to improving housing equity as well.


The nation’s housing shortage has also fueled a housing inequity problem, Bryan Greene, vice president of policy advocacy for the National Association of REALTORS®, writes in an essay included in a new report, “Housing Underproduction in the U.S.” To close the widening racial gap in ownership, housing’s underproduction must be widely addressed, he notes.


And that problem is only worsening: The Up for Growth report puts a new number on the nation’s housing shortage—3.8 million homes, more than double where it stood in 2012. The deepening inventory crisis is widening in scope, affecting urban, suburban and rural areas alike and hitting certain minority groups particularly hard, according to the report.


A map of the U.S. with a color-coded key showing the severity of housing underproduction across the country.


A map of the U.S. with a color-coded key showing the severity of housing underproduction across the country.


Source: “Housing Underproduction in the U.S.”


 


“Underproduction in this country has many causes,” Greene writes. “Local zoning and land-use restrictions have, for decades, proved to be one of the greatest barriers to housing construction, affordable housing and diverse communities.”


The report notes long historical racial inequities in access to housing, such as from past discriminatory government grants and programs, widespread exclusionary zoning policies originally designed with racial segregation in mind, racially restrictive covenants written into home deeds from the 1910s to the 1940s, redlining practices that limited access to capital investments to prospective homeowners of color, and urban renewal projects that caused displacement and gentrification. These have led to a widening racial wealth gap that has stretched over generations and has made it more difficult for families of color to qualify for loans and afford homeownership, according to the report. The gap between Black and White homeownership rates has widened over recent years. These historic and systemic constraints combined with housing underproduction and high prices make homeownership even less attainable for buyers of color, the report notes.


‘Double Trouble’


In a report released earlier this year, NAR called record-high home prices and record-low housing inventories “double trouble” for real estate, particularly for Black Americans. The report found that about half of the homes for sale would require a household income of $100,000 or more to purchase. That has placed homeownership increasingly out of reach for a number of households: 50% of Asians, 65% of Whites, 75% of Hispanics and 80% of Blacks do not earn enough income to buy these homes, the report notes.


Where to Go From Here


Housing supply and housing equity can be addressed on multiple fronts such as by expanding the types of housing available for greater income levels and a broadening focus on land use. Greene points to zoning reforms, investments in new construction, expansion of financing, and tax incentives that prompt investment in housing and convert unused commercial space to residential spaces. NAR continues to advocate for incentives in the tax code to promote zoning and land-use changes, such as tax credits or other support to communities that ease zoning rules that had been limiting the supply of homes, like minimum lot sizes and bans on multifamily housing. Such policies can not only help ease housing shortages but ultimately help expand housing opportunities to more people, Greene writes.


“For more than a half-century we’ve witnessed how land-use decisions can limit housing development, affordability and equity,” Greene notes. “We cannot stand by and lament this lack of progress. Now, it is time to act.”



Friday, August 12, 2022

Protect Your Website From Copyright Claims




Use this risk management strategy, especially if you’re using any third-party content on your website or business materials.


 


Copyright claims are growing in the real estate industry, and many cases end in a judgment against the agent or brokerage accused of violations. Your website or business materials may put you at greater risk for litigation than you think.


You could be held liable for copyright infringement even for photos from the MLS that are provided by a third party but appear on your website through an IDX display. Having a risk management strategy in place can help protect you and your business, says Chloe Hecht, senior counsel at the National Association of REALTORS®, in NAR’s latest “Window to the Law” video.










 


The Digital Millennium Copyright Act, or DMCA, which was passed in 1998, may offer some protections when posting third-party content—but it’s not a foolproof defense. The DMCA is a federal law that provides a “safe harbor” to avoid some copyright infringement claims, but certain procedures must be met.


Hecht highlights some of those steps in the video, including:



  • Designate a copyright agent. This person will be responsible for receiving any takedown notices in case of copyright claims and will need to be listed as a contact and copyright owner on your website, along with their contact information. Also, register the copyright agent with the Copyright Office.

  • Comply with the DMCA’s takedown procedure. After receiving any takedown notice due to a copyright allegation, promptly remove the content in question. Then, notify the person filing the complaint of its removal. “If the alleged infringer submits a counternotice, provide a copy of that counternotice to the copyright owner and state that the allegedly infringing content will be restored in 10 business days unless the copyright owner initiates a lawsuit,” Hecht says in the video. “Absent such a lawsuit, you may restore the content to your website.”

  • Include a notice at your site. Inform website users of your copyright policy and include it within your website’s terms of use. View an example under the “Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)” section at nar.realtor/terms-of-use. Also, view the “Termination” section, which informs website users of enforcement for terminating repeat infringers.


 


Access additional copyright resources at nar.realtor/copyright.



Thursday, August 11, 2022

Help Sellers Stay Organized at Home




Six steps to livable, attractive spaces.


 


As homeowners hunkered down during the pandemic, many accumulated more possessions—supplies to work from home, utensils to cook more, games to relax. All the extras increased the need to get organized. To homeowners who are getting ready to sell, recommend these steps to kickstart decluttering and maintain a market-ready space.


30+ Lists to Take Your Business Higher


Our tips are here to provide inspiration as you work to generate new business, delight your customers, and stay on the right side of the law.



  1. Before finding a home for everything, assess what’s to be kept. Homeowners should touch each object or paper once, and decide whether to save, pitch, sell, or donate. They can scan, digitize, and save to the cloud their important documents and sentimental photos to pare more, says Marco Angelucci, design director at Philadelphia-based Marguerite Rodgers.

  2. Advise homeowners to keep often-used stuff in sight near where it’s used and put away what they don’t need often, but still keep it visible—on a wall or in labeled bins in a closet, attic, basement, under a bed, or on shelves no more than 14 inches deep so nothing gets hidden, says Charlotte, N.C., designer Laura VanSickle, owner of a Closets by Design franchise.

  3. Retailers offer myriad storage products to enhance decor: baskets for a country-themed bedroom, colorful bins for kids’ closets, matching plastic containers for a refrigerator, pegs that separate dishes in drawers.

  4. Get help. For owners who find it hard to start or become stuck, there are experts. Real estate agents and stagers are adept at decluttering, often advising not to put more than three items on counters. Designers are detectives who know how to find storage such as dead space underneath stairs or furnishings with tops that open. Members of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing offer more advice and can be found through its website, napo.net.

  5. To avoid starting over repeatedly, urge homeowners to return things to assigned places after use, curtail buying, and share what they don’t need through groups like the Buy Nothing Project.

  6. People’s needs change, and so does what they stored. “When you have young children, you may need a cabinet for sippy cups and art supplies. When they’re older, you need space for backpacks. Adjust how you live,” says Raleigh, N.C., designer Leslie Cohen.


 


 Barbara Ballinger – Barbara Ballinger is a freelance writer and the author of several books on real estate, architecture, and remodeling, including The Kitchen Bible: Designing the Perfect Culinary Space (Images Publishing, 2014). Barbara’s most recent book is The Garden Bible: Designing Your Perfect Outdoor Space, co-authored with Michael Glassman (Images, 2015).



Wednesday, August 10, 2022

8 Steps to Build (or Rebuild) Your Social Media Presence




New agents starting out and seasoned pros returning from a hiatus can use these tips to engage followers.


 


From 6:30 to 7:45 every morning, Andrew Finney is in his “creative zone.” He turns off his phone and other distractions to focus on crafting engaging social media content. “If content creation is your thing, you’ll find the time,” says Finney, CRS, SRS, leader of the Andrew Finney Team at King Realty Group in Las Vegas. “When your content style is in harmony with your passion, you’ll follow through and be consistent.”


Whether you’re a new agent just launching your business presence on social channels or a seasoned pro who’s reengaging with followers after taking a break, building (or rebuilding) a social media presence doesn’t have to be a heavy lift, social marketers say. “Show up, be present first, and comment [on others’ posts] with complete sentences,” says Carrie J. Little, CIPS, PMN, a technology trainer and managing broker at CarMarc Realty Group in Warrenville, Ill. “This will help your social media feeds once you begin posting your own content.”


Before posting anything, search for yourself on Google and review the top five to 10 results, says social media speaker Katie Lance, founder and CEO of Katie Lance Consulting. “Click through each of them to see if your contact information is up to date, check for any broken links in your biography, and update your profile photos and cover photos,” she adds. Here are more steps to take to establish your social media presence without much hassle.



  1. Decide on a goal for the content you’ll create. Do you want to draw new customers or strengthen existing relationships? View your content from a business paradigm and consider the value you’re offering to those reading your copy or watching your videos.

  2. If you’re returning from a social media break, acknowledge your absence in your first post, says Michael Glazer, co-founder and CEO of Encino, Calif.–based automated marketing company Back At You, a REALTOR Benefits® partner. “Don’t just start asking for business. Tell followers that you took a break from social media and you miss them all,” he adds.

  3. Become knowledgeable on the local farmers market, a charity or sporting event, the new restaurant, or whatever will interest people in your area, Glazer suggests. Create posts to share that local knowledge, and follow up with some cool listings as an added value.

  4. Little suggests sharing a personal photo or family photo and telling a story about real estate or something else going on in your own life. “Our networks like to engage when we are coming from the human side,” she says.

  5. Ensure that you have the ability to capture the emails of those who like your social media pages.

  6. Don’t overwhelm yourself trying to use every social platform at the same time. Focus on perfecting your message on one network at a time—or maybe two, since Instagram and Facebook are connected, Glazer says. “Keep it simple but consistent, whether it’s a post every week or a weekly ad.”

  7. Video is paramount, Lance says. “Share the behind-the-scenes of a listing or an open house. With tools like Instagram and Facebook Reels, you can create video content quickly and easily,” she adds. Don’t be afraid to go through a trial-and-error period; video takes practice. Little shares a video every Wednesday on YouTube. She sends an email to her network after the video posts to remind her followers that it’s there. “I also go live [on Instagram and Facebook] every Friday at 9 a.m.,” she says, to share her wisdom with followers.

  8. Don’t get caught up in the buzzwords, like “algorithms” or “hashtags,” Glazer says. Just focus on creating engaging content to start, and think about adding hashtags and using other marketing tools on social media once you’ve found your voice.


 


Choosing the Right Platforms


“Everyone talks about TikTok; it’s a great platform. But for the average agent, it’s probably a bit too much for now,” Glazer says. “You can’t be everything to everyone.”


He suggests that real estate pros should understand which client segments are buying the most homes in their market and then becoming familiar with who they are and where they spend time on social media. For instance, millennials aged 25 to 40 represent about 37% of home sales nationwide, he says. However, baby boomers aged 57 to 76 and Gen Xers aged 41 to 56 are right behind them, each representing about 25% of home sales. “The social networks of choice for boomers and Gen X are Facebook and Instagram,” he adds.


Millennials like those two platforms, too, but also tune in to YouTube. Generation Z—those under 25—are more attracted to Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.


 


 Lee Nelson – Lee Nelson is a freelance journalist from Illinois. She writes for several state REALTOR® association magazines along with LawnStarter.com and Nurse.org. She has written for Yahoo! Homes, MyMortgageInsider.com, and TheMortgageReports. Contact Lee at leenelson77@yahoo.com.