Market News

• Housing Affordability Indices Reach Records in First Quarter

  January 01, 1970

  WASHINGTON (May 15, 2012) – Housing affordability conditions for all buyers reached a milestone in the first quarter, according to the National Association of Realtors®.

  NAR’s composite quarterly Housing Affordability Index* rose to a record high of 205.9 in first quarter, based on the relationship between median home price, median family income and average mortgage interest rate. The higher the index, the greater the household purchasing power. This is the first time the quarterly… Read More

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• Member Profile

  January 01, 1970

  In 2011, the housing market continued to stabilize and some areas of the country saw improvement in sales. Data from the Investment and Vacation Home Buyers Survey shows that while primary residence buyers dipped, the share of investment buyers entering the market rose to 27 percent from 17 percent. Investment buyers entered the market via buying distressed properties and often working with a real estate professional to assist in their purchase.

  Resonating with a strengthening economy, commercial real estate markets turned the corner. Demand stabilized in 2011 and is expected to… Read More

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• 2012 NAR Member Survey Shows Rising Incomes

  January 01, 1970

  WASHINGTON (May 14, 2012) – The income and business of Realtors® is growing after many years of decline, according to the 2012 National Association of Realtors® Member Profile. 

  The study’s results are representative of the nation’s Realtors®, who are members of NAR.  Realtors® account for about half of the 2 million active real estate licensees in the U.S.*  Realtor® members go beyond state licensing requirements by subscribing to NAR’s Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, commit to continuing education and… Read More

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• First Quarter Metro Area Home Prices Stabilizing, Sales Up and Inventory Down

  January 01, 1970

  WASHINGTON (May 9, 2012) – Median existing single-family home prices are firming in many metropolitan areas, while improving sales and declining inventory are creating more balanced conditions, according to the latest quarterly report by the National Association of Realtors®.

  The median existing single-family home price rose in 74 out of 146 metropolitan statistical areas¹ (MSAs) based on closings in the first quarter from the same quarter in 2011, while 72 areas had price declines.  In… Read More

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• Commercial Lending Survey

  January 01, 1970

  The Commercial Real Estate Lending Survey is conducted annually and provides an overview of lending conditions that impact commercial transactions nationally, based on responses from commercial real estate members. The 2012 survey shows that while commercial markets turned a corner in 2011, commercial lending standards have tightened in the past year for small businesses and have remained an obstacle to a major portion of contracted transactions for smaller properties.

  Report Highlights

  • Sixty-seven percent of REALTORS® found that the lack of available… Read More

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  • Tight Lending Standards Hindering Commercial Real Estate Recovery

    January 01, 1970

    WASHINGTON (May 3, 2012) – Although commercial real estate markets showed signs of recovery in 2011, commercial lending standards have tightened in the past year for small businesses and scuttled a major portion of contracted transactions for smaller properties, according to the National Association of Realtors® annual Commercial Real Estate 2012 Lending Survey.

    Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said there is a significant split in commercial lending depending on value. “This is very much a tale of two markets. There have been notable improvements in capital for large… Read More

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  • Social Benefits of Homeownership and Stable Housing

    January 01, 1970

    This 16-page paper looks at how homeownership leads to positive social outcomes. It examines not only the ownership of homes, but also the impact of stable housing.

     

    

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  • March Pending Home Sales Rise, Market Recovering

    January 01, 1970

    WASHINGTON (April 26, 2012) – Pending home sales increased in March and are well above a year ago, another signal the housing market is recovering, according to the National Association of Realtors®.

    The Pending Home Sales Index,* a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings, rose 4.1 percent to 101.4 in March from an upwardly revised 97.4 in February and is 12.8 percent above March 2011 when it was 89.9.  The data reflects contracts but not closings.

    The index is now at… Read More

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