March 2017

We can comfortably consider the first quarter to have been a good start for
residential real estate in 2017. There was certainly plenty to worry over when the
year began. Aside from new national leadership in Washington, DC, and the policy
shifts that can occur during such transitions …

February 2017

The start of the year ushered in a wave of good news about a hot stock market,
higher wages and an active home sales environment. At the same time, housing
prices have continued to rise, and the low inventory situation and affordability
crunch has been particularly hard on …

January 2017

January brings out a rejuvenated crop of buyers with a renewed enthusiasm in a
new calendar year. Sales totals may still inevitably start slow in the first half of the
year due to ongoing inventory concerns. Continued declines in the number of homes
available for sale may …

December 2016

Most of 2016 offered the same monthly housing market highlights. The number of homes for sale was drastically down in year-over-year comparisons, along with days on market and months of supply. Meanwhile, sales and prices were up in most markets. Unemployment rates were low, wages improved and, as …

November 2016

The story has remained consistent as concerns residential real estate. In year-overyear
comparisons, the number of homes for sale has been fewer in most
communities. Meanwhile, homes are selling in fewer days and for higher prices. This
hasn't always been the case, but it has occurred with …

October 2016

As we enter the final quarter of 2016, not much has changed since the year began.
Market predictions have been, in a word, predictable. A relatively comfortable pace
of activity has been maintained thanks to continuing low unemployment and
mortgage rates. The one basic drag on market acceleration …

September 2016

As anticipated at the outset of the year, demand has remained high through the first
Three-quarters of 2016, propping up sales and prices despite heavy reductions in
inventory and months of supply across the country. With rental prices and
employment opportunities in a consistent climb, year-over-year increases in …

August 2016

Closed sales began to cool for much of the country last month, and conventional
wisdom indicates that year-over-year declines are going to be present for the
remainder of the year, given the low inventory situation in most markets. Demand is
certainly present, and has created competitive situations that …

July 2016

Even as prices rise in many communities, homes are selling faster now than they
have in the past several years. This creates a situation where buyers need to move
fast in order to secure homes, and they may have to pay more for them. While
increasing prices generally …