MAY 2009 Newsletter
Housing Trends eNewsletter is filled with U.S. Census Bureau key market indicators, consumer videos, blogs, a real estate glossary, mortgage rates and calculators, consumer articles, real estate radio, REALTOR.com local community reports and local and national real estate sales and price activity provided by local MLSs and the National Association of REALTORS®.
What's Happening in Local Markets?
Local Market Reports for 150 Metropolitan Housing Markets *Local Prices & State Sales
*Prepared by National Association of REALTORS®
**Prepared by Clarus MarketMetrics
Brandi Chapman Messages
Buying is now cheaper than renting in 74 percent of the nation’s largest cities. Low home prices and “rock-bottom” interest rates as well as tax advantages of homeownership are the reasons why it’s now cheaper to BUY a 2-bdrm home than to rent one. Check out this CNN Money article with the details. more...
Home Ownership matters…to people, to communities, and to America. Why? • For every two homes sold, one job is created in the U.S. • Each purchase generates as much as $60,000 in economic activity over time. more...
Disclaimer:The views, opinions, statements and/or ideas expressed in this Message Section do not reflect the ideas, policy, position, views or opinion of eFrogPond,Inc.
Community Reports on REALTOR.com
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Source: REALTOR.com
National Real Estate Market Update
March Existing-Home Sales Ease but First-Time Buyers Rise
WASHINGTON, April 23, 2009 Existing-home sales eased in March but first-time buyers are responding to low mortgage interest rates and tax credits, according to the National Association of Realtors®. More...
Houston Named Ambassador City for Increasing Affordable Housing, Revitalizing the Community
WASHINGTON, April 21, 2009 The National Association of Realtors® and the U.S. Conference of Mayors have named Houston a 2009 Ambassador City for its Houston HOPE Homes program, an initiative to reinvest in some of Houston’s historic neighborhoods with housing development and infrastructure improvements. More...
Pending Home Sales Rise, Housing Affordability Near Record
Washington, May 04, 2009 Pending home sales rose with many first-time buyers taking advantage of historically good housing affordability conditions, according to the National Association of Realtors®. More...
National Real Estate Market Articles
Source:NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.
April 2009 Existing Home Statistics
Source: NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.
Metropolitan Prices & State Sales
View Prices / % Changes for 159 Cities & Metropolitan Areas
Economists' Commentaries provide an in-depth look at trends and current news related to housing and the real estate market.
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Contact Me for all of your Real Estate needs Brandi Chapman Realm Real Estate Professional
Consumer Tips & Cool Properties
Eco-Friendly...and Frugal
Homebuilders are boosting sales by attracting cost-conscious consumers seeking to save money. With a drop in home prices, environmentally friendly building materials and energy-saving features, Green Homes are more attractive to buyers than ever. More...
Outdoor Staging also Important for Home Sellers
How homebuyers view your home before they even step in the front door is just as important as staging the interior. Read some low-budget tips that – combined with some elbow grease – will add up for positive results for your home sale. More...
Price Reduced $10 Million
It’s not just regular folks: movie stars and other high-profile homebuyers are driving tough deals in this tough housing market, too. Consider one couple who have benefited from some “bargain-basement” home prices: Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner. More...
Punta del Este Beach Resort Trophy Penthouse
Tiny Uruguay is one of the richest countries in South America and home to the six-story, 34-unit Edificio Acqua project. Designed by renowned architect Rafael Vinoly, an 18,500-square-foot penthouse unit recently sold for $7.3 million. View SlideShow
Homebuyers Can Expect to See Gains
Both investors and new homebuyers are finding great deals, mostly with foreclosures. However, a University of Southern California economist says big returns are a thing of the past. View Video...
Sizable Homebuyers Tax Credit Expires in Fall
Mortgage rates are at 50-year lows. Home prices have dropped in many markets. Potential homebuyers with stable employment who are still on the fence, beware: the $8,000 tax credit expires on Nov. 30. View Video...
It's Not the Housing Market, It's Lives
I watched a very special movie last night called Marley and Me. I can only describe it as a journey of a couple’s life that was joined together with the addition of "Marley” the Dog. The story was peppered with plenty of important symbols of one family's journey played out through children, spouses, careers, choices and their three homes. More...
Mortgage Rates
Mortgage Calculator
National
Housing Indicators
Existing Home Sales (March) 4.57 millions units*
Existing Home Median Price (March) $175,200
Housing Starts (March) 510,000 units*
New Home Sales (March) 356,000 units*
*seasonally adjusted annual rate SourceNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.
National
Economic Indicators
Homeownership Rate
1st Qtr 09
1st Qtr 08
67.3%
67.8%
The homeownership rate (67.3 percent) for the current quarter was lower than the rate in first quarter 2008 (67.8 percent), but not statistically different from the rate in fourth quarter 2008 (67.5 percent).
New Home Sales
Mar 09
Feb 09
-0.6%
+ 8.2%
Sales of new one-family houses in March 2009 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 356,000. This is 0.6% below the revised February 2009 estimate of 358,000.
Information contained in this eNewsletter is compiled from a variety of sources. The accuracy and authenticity has not been verified by eFrogPond, Inc., is subject to change, is provided "as is" and is not guaranteed. The views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of eFrogPond, Inc.
eFrogPond, Inc. makes no representations or warranties of any nature with regard to the privacy and/or business practices of the websites linked from or to this eNewsletter nor the accuracy and authenticity of any information contained in such websites, and is not responsible for any content contained in any linked site or for any action or lack of action by any linked site whatsoever, including their use of any information they may collect.
Buying is now cheaper than renting in 74 percent of the nation’s largest cities. Low home prices and “rock-bottom” interest rates as well as tax advantages of homeownership are the reasons why it’s now cheaper to BUY a 2-bdrm home than to rent one. Check out this CNN Money article with the details. more...
Metropolitan Prices & State Sales
National Home Sales
-3.0%
