If automated text messaging is part of your marketing strategy, you could be setting yourself up as a tempting target for plaintiff's lawyers.  A growing number of class action lawsuits are claiming that automated test messages fall under the restrictions imposed by the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, a 1991 law that was enacted to curb … [Read more...]

More young adults are still living with their parents and not branching out on their own, and that could have a long-term, negative impact to their finances, according to a new study from the Urban Institute.  Researchers found there is no long-term advantage financially for young adult who live with their parents.  The share of young adults aged … [Read more...]

If you receive an email with the subject line "Signature requested by National Association of REALTORS," it is NOT from NAR.  The email spoofs a Citrix ShareFile site and asks you to sign an "important file" from NAR. If you receive this fraudulent email, please alert NAR Member Support at ContactNAR@realtors.org and then delete the email. CLICK … [Read more...]

The Federal Reserve voted to leave interest rates unchanged Wednesday and signaled it's not in any hurry to resume rates in 2019.  Fed Chairman Jerome Powell used words like 'patient" to describe the Fed's latest approach to increases.  His change in tone follows four rate hikes last year.  The Fed's benchmark rate is not directly tied to mortgage … [Read more...]

Twenty-four days into the partial government shutdown--the longest in U.S. history--the impact on the real estate industry appears minimal, with many federal agencies that are crucial to the business operating normally.  Applications for federally backed mortgages are being processed with not delay, FEMA is continuing to administer flood insurance, … [Read more...]

Homeowners and non-homeowners both strongly consider homeownership as part of their American Dream.  A recent survey of consumers show that approximately 75 percent of non-homeowners believe homeownership is part of their American Dream, while nine in 10 current homeowners said the same thing.  Over the last quarter of 2018, 43 percent of … [Read more...]

The partial federal government shutdown continues into its third week.  As a result, a partial shutdown of some government operations has occurred.  This partial shutdown includes some federal housing, mortgage and other programs of interest to the real estate industry.  NAR has compiled a summary of the impact on selected agencies. CLICK HERE TO … [Read more...]

The Federal Housing Administration has announced that most of the country will see an increase to loan limits in the new year.  The loan limit for lower-cost areas will be set at $324,827 or 65 percent of the national conforming loan limit of $484,350.  In high-cost areas, the new FHA limit for 2019 will increase to $726,525 up from $679,650.  The … [Read more...]

The number of For Sale  by Owner transactions fell to a record low of 7 percent of all home sales in 2018, down from 8 percent last year, according to the 2018 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers produced by the National Association of REALTORS.  FSBOs-homeowners who try to sell their properties themselves without a real estate agent-have decreased … [Read more...]