Homebuying optimism at highest level in nearly 3 years
Fannie Mae’s latest purchase sentiment index is up more than 10 points in the past year, with a record share of consumers expecting mortgage rates to fall.
December 9, 2024
Dave Gallagher
Director, News Reporting
Dave's journalism career spans 24 years covering business, the economy and real estate in Northwest Washington. He's also a numbers nerd, examining data to spot emerging trends in industries. Having started his career as a sports writer, he's a lifelong baseball and soccer fan and recently discovered pickleball. He grew up in Yosemite National Park and earned his journalism degree at Humboldt State University in northern California.
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- How are agents sharing compensation info?Most are simply asking the listing agent directly, while sharing via websites is uncommon, a new survey found. And so far, commissions are largely unchanged.December 9, 2024
- What a better-than-expected jobs report means for mortgage ratesThe good news is that an interest rate cut is still on the table as other signs point to a cooling labor market. The Fed will decide later this month.December 6, 2024
- Homebuying activity picks up as mortgage rates fallPurchase applications and home tours are on the rise as rates drop to the lowest level in six weeks.December 5, 2024
- Uncertainty in 2025 clouds housing market forecastsFederal policy changes could impact real estate in surprising ways, but economists are predicting fairly modest shifts in the new year.December 4, 2024
- A flurry of court activity bookended the holiday weekendMultiple filings were submitted last week related to the NAR settlement, eXp deal and a homebuyer case, with several new appeals filed this week.Updated December 3, 2024
- Compass to acquire @properties, Christie's International Real EstateThe $444 million deal brings the 8th-largest brokerage firm into the Compass fold and represents the brokerage giant’s first major move into the global market.December 2, 2024
- Baird & Warner settles in buyer agent commissions suitThe Chicago-area powerhouse filed its agreement in the Gibson/Umpa case on the same day that NAR and HomeServices finalized their settlements.November 27, 2024
- Something to be thankful for: Pending sales up, rates dipBuyers found a bit of relief last month, leading to more sales activity — but rising inflation is lurking heading into the holidays.November 27, 2024
- Judge approves $700 million in deals with NAR, HomeServicesA last-minute filing by the DOJ and a handful of objections failed to derail the settlements, which cap more than five years of litigation in Sitzer/Burnett.Updated November 26, 2024
- Texas broker piles on to mandatory membership challengesA new complaint, like others filed in Michigan and Pennsylvania, claims that requiring association membership as a precondition for MLS access is monopolistic.November 26, 2024
- The DOJ has spoken. Are buyer agreements at risk?With the NAR settlement on the cusp of approval, a filing from the Department of Justice cast a shadow on a core part of the deal. Now what?November 26, 2024
- DOJ’s Sunday filing raises issues with NAR dealThe agency takes no position on the settlement’s approval but says it’s not an antitrust shield — and expresses concern over buyer agent agreements.November 24, 2024
- NAR, HomeServices prepare to close the chapter on litigationBarring any surprises, the two largest settlements in the Sitzer/Burnett commissions case — totaling nearly $700 million — will be finalized in just a few days.November 23, 2024
- ‘Forced membership’ case now alleges deceptive practicesAgents suing NAR over membership requirements say associations no longer offer any benefit, while eight defendants were dropped from a Georgia commissions case.November 22, 2024
- Home sales jumped in October, but rally may be short-livedThe turnaround for existing sales came at a time when mortgage rates were closer to 6%. With rates on the rise, economists are dialing back sales forecasts.November 21, 2024
- Home values now rising faster in areas with lower climate risksThe reversal follows 14 years of larger gains for homes in high-risk areas, suggesting that buyers may be less willing to move to disaster-prone regions.November 20, 2024
- In the courts: Settlement objectors, Homie, and mandatory membershipJudge holds firm on rules for objectors to NAR settlement; Homie says defendants created a "weapon"; another broker challenges association membership.November 19, 2024
- Builders more optimistic about home sales post-electionThe construction industry expects the new administration to loosen regulations, which could boost sales, though other challenges remain.November 18, 2024
- Homebuying demand ticks up despite elevated ratesWith the election over and rates appearing to stabilize, more would-be buyers were looking at homes this past week.November 14, 2024
