National News

How sellers can — and should — improve curb appeal

The vast majority of Realtors — 92% — suggest that sellers improve the “curb appeal” of a home before listing. But how exactly should they go about that?

Housing starts post major gains in February 

A shortage of existing-home inventory is driving more people to the market for newly built homes. 

Builder confidence rises again in March 

Homebuilders expressed “cautious optimism” that the lack of existing inventory would drive demand for new homes despite high construction costs and interest rates, the National Association of Home Builders reported.    

MBA: Mortgage applications rise 7.4% despite increased rates 

The Mortgage Bankers Association noted the increase in borrowing activity came despite the 30-year fixed mortgage rate climbing to its highest level since November 2022. 

CoreLogic: Home-price growth slides to June 2020 pace 

In January, home prices were up 5.5% annually and down 0.2% monthly, CoreLogic reported, citing its monthly Home Price Insights report. 

What history tells us about today’s interest rates

Keeping things in historical perspective can be tough when mortgage rates have roughly doubled in the last year. Mike Del Preto, a senior mortgage advisor at Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation, helps provide a closer look at the numbers.

The racial gap in homeownership rates endures 55 years after the Fair Housing Act

Nearly 55 years after the Fair Housing Act was signed into law, Black homeownership still lags behind white homeownership.

Zillow: Regrets from first-time sellers

Many feel they could have made a higher profit if they’d made better decisions. But are those regrets valid?

Bellevue and Tacoma among suburbs with most plentiful coworking options

As coworking spaces become more and more popular across the country, an increasing number of these remote-work locales have been popping up in the suburbs.

Annual home-price gains slow in latest Case-Shiller as Seattle sees a decline

The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index rose 5.8% year-over-year in December, compared to a 7.6% gain in November.

NAR: Pending-home sales jump in January 

The 8.1% month-over-month increase in the National Association of REALTORS® Pending Home Sales Index was the largest gain since June 2020. 

New-home sales jump 7.2% in January 

The median sales price of a new home declined on both a monthly and yearly basis, however, the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development reported.        

FHA cuts mortgage insurance premium, touts expected savings for homebuyers 

Mortgage insurance premiums on loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration will drop from 0.85% to 0.55% beginning March 20. 

Mutual of Omaha Mortgage acquires Keller Mortgage 

The former Keller Williams lending unit will operate alongside Mutual of Omaha Mortgage’s existing mortgage divisions. 

NAR: Existing-home sales post 12th monthly decline in January, as prices rise again 

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.32% as of Feb. 16, up from 6.12% a week before and 3.92% a year earlier. 

Mortgage applications decline after rate increase 

The pace of mortgage applications fell 7.7% in the week ended Feb. 10, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported. 

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